Outlook Blogs

It's Football Season: Five Matches You Shouldn't Miss In February

Outlook Web Desk — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 22:33:47 GMT

With the European football season coming thick and fast, here are five matches to look forward to in the next fortnight:

1. Manchester City Vs Leicester City: Saturday, February 6, 6:15 PM

A game between the top two in the division is always a headline act but no one would have predicted Leicester to be topping the league after 24 games. It has been such a fairy-tale for the Foxes that a movie on their striker Jamie Vardy is already in the pipe line. Adrian Butchart, the man behind the Goal! movie series was in the stands to watch Leicester make light work of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side with his man Vardy scoring a 25-yard peach. This is a different prospect however, and Man City will be waiting to lay out the fireworks in welcome.

2. Athletico Madrid Vs Eibar: Saturday, February 6, 8:30 PM

It is almost now or never for Diego Simeone's side in terms of staying in the race for the La liga crown. Always the lesser fancied side in the capital, Athletico risk losing second place to Real and will lose quite a bit of ground to the Barcelona juggernaut this weekend. While Real and Barca gear up to face two sides fighting relegation, Simeone and Co. will be warming up to the prospect of hosting plucky Eibar, who are punching way above their weight. Set to be demoted last season, the men from a 27,000-strong-town with a 6000 seater stadium are in eighth place and seventh heaven. After raising 1.7 million euros at the beginning of last season to even compete, Eibar will be chasing every ball at the Vicente Calderon with the gumption that has kept them in the top half of the table.

3. Chelsea Vs Manchester United : Sunday, February 7, 9:30 PM

If the sides in the above fixture are fighting it out at the 'right' end of the table, the reigning champions have been in crisis since the beginning of the campaign. It is also interesting that Chelsea's dear and departed manager, the inimitable Jose or that ****** Mourinho, depending on who you speak to, has been batting his eyelids at their opponents this weekend. He is eyeing Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's job and although King Louis is just managing to hold on to his office at United with his captain Wayne Rooney finally coming good towards the end of the campaign, this one has hovering drama written all over it.

4. Arsenal Vs Barcelona: Wednesday, February 24, 1:15 AM

When the Champions league round of 16 fixtures was being drawn, Arsene Wenger drew the shortest straw: they got Barcelona. The problem though is that the side from North London has been drawing the magical pygmy constellation that is Barcelona far too often for their liking. Not to their liking will also be the fact that Barca have Neymar and Suarez(whom Arsenal tried to buy with a cheeky 40,000,001 bid some summers ago) who have stepped up in the bit of the season where magical Messi was nursing ailments. With the Gunners playing catch up in the English title race too and with Wenger being prodded with the same 'Where is your backup striker' question, its make or break time for Arsenal.

5. Juventus Vs Bayern Munich: Wednesday, February 24, 1:15 AM

If Arsenal vs Barcelona is the mouth-watering prospect of the Champions League draw, the battle between the Bianconeri and FC Hollywood as they are known is probably the glamour tie. While Juventus have replaced Carlos Tevez quite suitably with a coming-of-age Paulo Dybala and with Paul Pogba starting to shine at his brightest again, the side will need to be in prime condition for probably their biggest test yet. Pep Guardiola may be departing to Mancheter this upcoming summer but the array of stars that is Bayern Munich with Ribery, Muller, Lewandowski and Robben may be too much to stomach for the Old Lady of Italian football.

You Fit Right Here: Obama Tells Muslims-Americans At Baltimore Mosque

Outlook Web Desk — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:12:13 GMT

During a visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, his first to a mosque in the United States as president, Barack Obama praised American Muslims as a crucial part of America’s history and vital to the nation’s future.

He said that Muslims were an essential part of the one "American family" and implicitly slammed the Republican presidential candidates and the "inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans" in a warning to citizens to not be "bystanders to bigotry."

"Let me say as clearly as I can as president of the United States: you fit right here," Obama told the audience at the 47-year-old mosque with thousands of attendees. "You're right where you belong. You're part of America too. You're not Muslim or American. You're Muslim and American."

Watch the full speech here:

And in case you like reading better, the full text of the speech:

Well, good afternoon. And, Sabah, thank you for the wonderful introduction and for your example -- your devotion to your faith and your education, and your service to others. You’re an inspiration. You’re going to be a fantastic doctor. And I suspect, Sabah, your parents are here because they wanted to see you so -- where are Sabah’s parents? There you go. (Applause.) Good job, Mom. She did great, didn’t she? She was terrific.

To everyone here at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, thank you for welcoming me here today. I want to thank Muslim Americans leaders from across this city and this state, and some who traveled even from out of state to be here. I want to recognize Congressman John Sarbanes, who is here. (Applause.) As well as two other great leaders in Congress -- and proud Muslim Americans -- Congressman Keith Ellison from the great state of Minnesota -- (applause) -- and Congressman Andre Carson from the great state of Indiana. (Applause.)

This mosque, like so many in our country, is an all-American story. You’ve been part of this city for nearly half a century. You serve thousands of families -- some who’ve lived here for decades as well as immigrants from many countries who’ve worked to become proud American citizens.

Now, a lot of Americans have never visited a mosque. To the folks watching this today who haven’t -- think of your own church, or synagogue, or temple, and a mosque like this will be very familiar. This is where families come to worship and express their love for God and each other. There’s a school where teachers open young minds. Kids play baseball and football and basketball -- boys and girls -- I hear they’re pretty good. (Laughter.) Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts meet, recite the Pledge of Allegiance here.

With interfaith dialogue, you build bridges of understanding with other faith communities -- Christians and Jews. There’s a health clinic that serves the needy, regardless of their faith. And members of this community are out in the broader community, working for social justice and urban development. As voters, you come here to meet candidates. As one of your members said, “just look at the way we live...we are true Americans.”

So the first thing I want to say is two words that Muslim Americans don’t hear often enough -- and that is, thank you. Thank you for serving your community. Thank you for lifting up the lives of your neighbors, and for helping keep us strong and united as one American family. We are grateful for that. (Applause.)

Now, this brings me to the other reason I wanted to come here today. I know that in Muslim communities across our country, this is a time of concern and, frankly, a time of some fear. Like all Americans, you’re worried about the threat of terrorism. But on top of that, as Muslim Americans, you also have another concern -- and that is your entire community so often is targeted or blamed for the violent acts of the very few.

The Muslim American community remains relatively small --several million people in this country. And as a result, most Americans don’t necessarily know -- or at least don't know that they know -- a Muslim personally. And as a result, many only hear about Muslims and Islam from the news after an act of terrorism, or in distorted media portrayals in TV or film, all of which gives this hugely distorted impression.

And since 9/11, but more recently, since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, you’ve seen too often people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith. And of course, recently, we’ve heard inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim Americans that has no place in our country.

No surprise, then, that threats and harassment of Muslim Americans have surged. Here at this mosque, twice last year, threats were made against your children. Around the country, women wearing the hijab -- just like Sabah -- have been targeted. We’ve seen children bullied. We’ve seen mosques vandalized. Sikh Americans and others who are perceived to be Muslims have been targeted, as well.

I just had a chance to meet with some extraordinary Muslim Americans from across the country who are doing all sorts of work. Some of them are doctors; some of them are community leaders; religious leaders. All of them were doing extraordinary work not just in the Muslim community but in the American community. And they’re proud of their work in business and education, and on behalf of social justice and the environment and education. I should point out they were all much younger than me -- (laughter) -- which is happening more frequently these days. And you couldn’t help but be inspired, hearing about the extraordinary work that they’re doing. But you also could not help but be heartbroken to hear their worries and their anxieties.

Some of them are parents, and they talked about how their children were asking, are we going to be forced out of the country, or, are we going to be rounded up? Why do people treat us like that? Conversations that you shouldn’t have to have with children -- not in this country. Not at this moment.

And that’s an anxiety echoed in letters I get from Muslim Americans around the country. I’ve had people write to me and say, I feel like I’m a second-class citizen. I’ve had mothers write and say, “my heart cries every night,” thinking about how her daughter might be treated at school. A girl from Ohio, 13 years old, told me, “I’m scared.” A girl from Texas signed her letter “a confused 14-year-old trying to find her place in the world.”

These are children just like mine. And the notion that they would be filled with doubt and questioning their places in this great country of ours at a time when they’ve got enough to worry about -- it’s hard being a teenager already -- that’s not who we are.

We’re one American family. And when any part of our family starts to feel separate or second-class or targeted, it tears at the very fabric of our nation. (Applause.)

It’s a challenge to our values -- and that means we have much work to do. We’ve got to tackle this head on. We have to be honest and clear about it.   And we have to speak out. This is a moment when, as Americans, we have to truly listen to each other and learn from each other. And I believe it has to begin with a common understanding of some basic facts. And I express these facts, although they’d be obvious to many of the people in this place, because, unfortunately, it’s not facts that are communicated on a regular basis through our media.

So let’s start with this fact: For more than a thousand years, people have been drawn to Islam’s message of peace. And the very word itself, Islam, comes from salam -- peace. The standard greeting is as-salamu alaykum -- peace be upon you. And like so many faiths, Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity. Whoever wants to enter paradise, the Prophet Muhammad taught, “let him treat people the way he would love to be treated.” (Applause.) For Christians like myself, I’m assuming that sounds familiar. (Laughter.)

The world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are as diverse as humanity itself. They are Arabs and Africans. They're from Latin America to Southeast Asia; Brazilians, Nigerians, Bangladeshis, Indonesians. They are white and brown and black. There’s a large African American Muslim community. That diversity is represented here today. A 14-year-old boy in Texas who’s Muslim spoke for many when he wrote to me and said, “We just want to live in peace.”

Here’s another fact: Islam has always been part of America. Starting in colonial times, many of the slaves brought here from Africa were Muslim. And even in their bondage, some kept their faith alive. A few even won their freedom and became known to many Americans. And when enshrining the freedom of religion in our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, our Founders meant what they said when they said it applied to all religions.

Back then, Muslims were often called Mahometans. And Thomas Jefferson explained that the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom he wrote was designed to protect all faiths -- and I’m quoting Thomas Jefferson now -- “the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan.” (Applause.)

Jefferson and John Adams had their own copies of the Koran. Benjamin Franklin wrote that “even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach to us, he would find a pulpit at his service.” (Applause.) So this is not a new thing.

Generations of Muslim Americans helped to build our nation. They were part of the flow of immigrants who became farmers and merchants. They built America’s first mosque, surprisingly enough, in North Dakota. (Laughter.) America’s oldest surviving mosque is in Iowa. The first Islamic center in New York City was built in the 1890s. Muslim Americans worked on Henry Ford’s assembly line, cranking out cars. A Muslim American designed the skyscrapers of Chicago.

In 1957, when dedicating the Islamic center in Washington, D.C., President Eisenhower said, “I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution … and in American hearts…this place of worship, is just as welcome…as any other religion.” (Applause.)

And perhaps the most pertinent fact, Muslim Americans enrich our lives today in every way. They’re our neighbors, the teachers who inspire our children, the doctors who trust us with our health -- future doctors like Sabah. They’re scientists who win Nobel Prizes, young entrepreneurs who are creating new technologies that we use all the time. They’re the sports heroes we cheer for -— like Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon. And by the way, when Team USA marches into the next Olympics, one of the Americans waving the red, white and blue -- (applause) -- will a fencing champion, wearing her hijab, Ibtihaj Muhammad, who is here today. Stand up. (Applause.) I told her to bring home the gold. (Laughter.) Not to put any pressure on you. (Laughter.)

Muslim Americans keep us safe. They’re our police and our firefighters. They're in homeland security, in our intelligence community. They serve honorably in our armed forces -- meaning they fight and bleed and die for our freedom. Some rest in Arlington National Cemetery. (Applause.)

So Muslim Americans are some of the most resilient and patriotic Americans you’ll ever meet. We’re honored to have some of our proud Muslim American servicemembers here today. Please stand if you're here, so we can thank you for your service. (Applause.)

So part of the reason I want to lay out these facts is because, in the discussions that I was having with these incredibly accomplished young people, they were pointing that so often they felt invisible. And part of what we have to do is to lift up the contributions of the Muslim American community not when there’s a problem, but all the time.

Our television shows should have some Muslim characters that are unrelated to national security -- (applause) -- because -- it’s not that hard to do. There was a time when there were no black people on television. And you can tell good stories while still representing the reality of our communities.

     Now, we do have another fact that we have to acknowledge. Even as the overwhelming majority -- and I repeat, the overwhelming majority -- of the world’s Muslims embrace Islam as a source of peace, it is undeniable that a small fraction of Muslims propagate a perverted interpretation of Islam. This is the truth.

Groups like al Qaeda and ISIL, they’re not the first extremists in history to misuse God’s name. We’ve seen it before, across faiths. But right now, there is a organized extremist element that draws selectively from Islamic texts, twists them in an attempt to justify their killing and their terror. They combine it with false claims that America and the West are at war with Islam. And this warped thinking that has found adherents around the world -- including, as we saw, tragically, in Boston and Chattanooga and San Bernardino -- is real. It’s there. And it creates tensions and pressure that disproportionately burden the overwhelming majority of law-abiding Muslim citizens.

And the question then is, how do we move forward together? How do we keep our country strong and united? How do we defend ourselves against organizations that are bent on killing innocents? And it can’t be the work of any one faith alone. It can’t be just a burden on the Muslim community -- although the Muslim community has to play a role. We all have responsibilities. So with the time I have left, I just want to suggest a few principles that I believe can guide us.

First, at a time when others are trying to divide us along lines of religion or sect, we have to reaffirm that most fundamental of truths: We are all God’s children. We’re all born equal, with inherent dignity.

And so often, we focus on our outward differences and we forget how much we share. Christians, Jews, Muslims -- we’re all, under our faiths, descendants of Abraham. So mere tolerance of different religions is not enough. Our faiths summon us to embrace our common humanity. “O mankind,” the Koran teaches, we have “made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” (Applause.) So all of us have the task of expressing our religious faith in a way that seeks to build bridges rather than to divide.

Second, as Americans, we have to stay true to our core values, and that includes freedom of religion for all faiths. I already mentioned our Founders, like Jefferson, knew that religious liberty is essential not only to protect religion but because religion helps strengthen our nation -- if it is free, if it is not an extension of the state. Part of what’s happened in the Middle East and North Africa and other places where we see sectarian violence is religion being a tool for another agenda -- for power, for control. Freedom of religion helps prevent that, both ways -- protects religious faiths, protects the state from -- or those who want to take over the state from using religious animosity as a tool for their own ends.

That doesn’t mean that those of us with religious faith should not be involved. We have to be active citizenry. But we have to respect the fact that we have freedom of religion.

Remember, many preachers and pastors fought to abolish the evil of slavery. People of faith advocated to improve conditions for workers and ban child labor. Dr. King was joined by people of many faiths, challenging us to live up to our ideals. And that civil activism, that civic participation that’s the essence of our democracy, it is enhanced by freedom of religion.

Now, we have to acknowledge that there have been times where we have fallen short of our ideals. By the way, Thomas Jefferson’s opponents tried to stir things up by suggesting he was a Muslim -- so I was not the first -- (applause.) No, it’s true, it’s true. Look it up. (Laughter.) I’m in good company. (Laughter.)

But it hasn’t just been attacks of that sort that have been used. Mormon communities have been attacked throughout our history. Catholics, including, most prominently, JFK -- John F. Kennedy -- when he ran for President, was accused of being disloyal. There was a suggestion that he would be taking orders from the Pope as opposed to upholding his constitutional duties. Anti-Semitism in this country has a sad and long history, and Jews were exclude routinely from colleges and professions and from public office.

And so if we’re serious about freedom of religion -- and I’m speaking now to my fellow Christians who remain the majority in this country -- we have to understand an attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths. (Applause.) And when any religious group is targeted, we all have a responsibility to speak up. And we have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias, and targets people because of religion.

We’ve got to make sure that hate crimes are punished, and that the civil rights of all Americans are upheld. (Applause.) And just as faith leaders, including Muslims, must speak out when Christians are persecuted around the world -- (applause) -- or when anti-Semitism is on the rise -- because the fact is, is that there are Christians who are targeted now in the Middle East, despite having been there for centuries, and there are Jews who’ve lived in places like France for centuries who now feel obliged to leave because they feel themselves under assault --sometimes by Muslims. We have to be consistent in condemning hateful rhetoric and violence against everyone. (Applause.) And that includes against Muslims here in the United States of America. (Applause.)

So none of us can be silent. We can’t be bystanders to bigotry. And together, we’ve got to show that America truly protects all faiths.

Which brings me to my next point: As we protect our country from terrorism, we should not reinforce the ideas and the rhetoric of the terrorists themselves. I often hear it said that we need moral clarity in this fight. And the suggestion is somehow that if I would simply say, these are all Islamic terrorists, then we would actually have solved the problem by now, apparently. (Laughter.) Well, I agree, we actually do need moral clarity. Let’s have some moral clarity. (Applause.)

Groups like ISIL are desperate for legitimacy. They try to portray themselves as religious leaders and holy warriors who speak for Islam. I refuse to give them legitimacy. We must never give them that legitimacy. (Applause.) They’re not defending Islam. They’re not defending Muslims. The vast majority of the people they kill are innocent Muslim men, women and children. (Applause.)

And, by the way, the notion that America is at war with Islam ignores the fact that the world’s religions are a part of who we are. We can’t be at war with any other religion because the world’s religions are a part of the very fabric of the United States, our national character. (Applause.)

So the best way for us to fight terrorism is to deny these organizations legitimacy and to show that here in the United States of America, we do not suppress Islam; we celebrate and lift up the success of Muslim Americans. That’s how we show the lie that they’re trying to propagate. (Applause.) We shouldn’t play into terrorist propaganda. And we can’t suggest that Islam itself is at the root of the problem. That betrays our values. It alienates Muslim Americans. It’s hurtful to those kids who are trying to go to school and are members of the Boy Scouts, and are thinking about joining our military.

That kind of mindset helps our enemies. It helps our enemies recruit. It makes us all less safe. So let’s be clear about that.

Now, finally, just as all Americans have a responsibility to reject discrimination -- I’ve said this before -- Muslims around the world have a responsibility to reject extremist ideologies that are trying to penetrate within Muslim communities.

Here at this mosque, and across our country and around the world, Muslim leaders are roundly and repeatedly and consistently condemning terrorism. And around the globe, Muslims who’ve dared to speak out have often been targeted and even killed. So those voices are there; we just have to amplify them more. (Applause.)

And it was interesting, in the discussion I had before I came out, some people said, why is there always a burden on us? When a young man in Charleston shoots African Americans in a church, there’s not an expectation that every white person in America suddenly is explaining that they’re not racist. They can Everybody is assumed to be horrified by that act. And I recognize that sometimes that doesn't feel fair.

But part of the answer is to make sure that the Muslim community in all of its variety, in all the good works that it’s doing, in all the talent that's on display, that it’s out there visible on a consistent basis -- not just at a certain moment. (Applause.)

But what is also true is, is that there is a battle of hearts and minds that takes place -- that is taking place right now, and American Muslims are better positioned than anybody to show that it is possible to be faithful to Islam and to be part of a pluralistic society, and to be on the cutting-edge of science, and to believe in democracy. (Applause.)

And so I would urge all of you not to see this as a burden, but as a great opportunity and a great privilege to show who you are. To use a little Christian expression -- let your light shine. Because when you do you’ll make clear that this is not a clash of civilizations between the West and Islam. This is a struggle between the peace-loving, overwhelming majority of Muslims around the world and a radical, tiny minority. And ultimately, I’m confident that the overwhelming majority will win that battle. (Applause.) Muslims will decide the future of your faith. And I’m confident in the direction that it will go.

But across the Islamic world, influential voices should consistently speak out with an affirmative vision of their faith. And it’s happening. These are the voices of Muslim clerics who teach that Islam prohibits terrorism, for the Koran says whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind. (Applause.) These are the voices of Muslim scholars, some of whom join us today, who know Islam has a tradition of respect for other faiths; and Muslim teachers who point out that the first word revealed in the Koran -- igra -- means “read” -- to seek knowledge, to question assumptions. (Applause.)

Muslim political leaders have to push back on the lie that the West oppresses Muslims, and against conspiracy theories that says America is the cause of every ill in the Middle East. Now, that doesn't mean that Muslim Americans aren’t free to criticize American -- U.S. foreign policy. That's part of being an American. I promise you, as the President of the United States, I’m mindful that that is a healthy tradition that is alive and well in America. (Laughter.) But like leaders everywhere, these leaders have been offering, and need to continue to offer, a positive vision for progress, and that includes political and economic progress.

And we have to acknowledge that much of the violence in places like the Middle East is now turning into fights between sects -- Shia, Sunni and others -- where differences are often exploited to serve political agendas, as I said earlier. And this bloodshed is destroying Muslim families and communities, and there has to be global pressure to have the vision and the courage to end this kind of thinking and this approach to organizing political power.

It’s not historically unique. It’s happened in every part of the world -- from Northern Ireland to Africa, to Asia, to right here in the United States -- in the past. But it is something that we have to fight against.

And we know it’s possible. Across the history of Islam, different sects traditionally have lived and thrived together peacefully. And in many parts of the world they do today, including here in the United States.

Like people of all religions, Muslims living their faith in a modern, pluralistic world are called upon to uphold human rights, to make sure that everyone has opportunity. That includes the aspirations of women and youth and all people. If we expect our own dignity to be respected, so must we respect the dignity of others. (Applause.)

So let me conclude by saying that as Muslim communities stand up for the future that you believe in, that you exhibit in your daily lives, as you teach your children, America will be your partner. We will -- I will -- do everything I can to lift up the multiplicity of Muslim voices that promote pluralism and peace. (Applause.) We will continue to reach out to young Muslims around the world, empowering them with science and technology and entrepreneurship, so they can pursue their God-given potential, and help build up their communities and provide opportunity. It’s why we will continue to partner with Muslim American communities -- not just to help you protect against extremist threats, but to expand health care and education and opportunity -- (applause) -- because that’s the best way to build strong, resilient communities.

Our values must guide us in this work. Engagement with Muslim American communities must never be a cover for surveillance. (Applause.) We can’t give in to profiling entire groups of people. There’s no one single profile of terrorists. We can’t securitize our entire relationship with Muslim Americans. We can’t deal with you solely through the prism of law enforcement. We’ve got to build trust and mutual respect. That’s how we’ll keep our communities strong and our communities united.

As I was in discussion with the young people before I came in here, I said this will be a process. Law enforcement has a tough job. Some of these groups are specifically trying to target Muslim youth. We’re going to have to be partners in this process. There will be times where the relationship is clumsy or mishandled. But I want you to know that from the President to the FBI Director, to everybody in law enforcement, my directive and their understanding is, is that this is something we have to do together. And if we don’t do it well, then we’re actually not making ourselves safer; we’re making ourselves less safe.

And here, I want to speak directly to the young people who may be listening. In our lives, we all have many identities. We are sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters. We’re classmates; Cub Scout troop members. We’re followers of our faith. We’re citizens of our country. And today, there are voices in this world, particularly over the Internet, who are constantly claiming that you have to choose between your identities -- as a Muslim, for example, or an American. Do not believe them. If you’re ever wondering whether you fit in here, let me say it as clearly as I can, as President of the United States: You fit in here -- right here. (Applause.) You’re right where you belong. You’re part of America, too. (Applause.) You’re not Muslim or American. You’re Muslim and American. (Applause.)

Don’t grow cynical. Don’t respond to ignorance by embracing a world view that suggests you must choose between your faith and your patriotism. Don’t believe that you have to choose between your best impulses and somehow embrace a world view that pits us against each other -- or, even worse, glorifies violence. Understand your power to bring about change. Stay engaged in your community. Help move our country forward -- your country forward. (Applause.)

We are blessed to live in a nation where even if we sometimes stumble, even if we sometimes fall short, we never stop striving for our ideals. We keep moving closer to that more perfect union. We’re a country where, if you work hard and if you play by the rules, you can ultimately make it, no matter who you are or how you pray. It may not always start off even in the race, but here, more than any place else, there’s the opportunity to run that race.

And as we go forward, I want every Muslim American to remember you are not alone. Your fellow Americans stand with you -- just as Sabah described her friends after she decided that she was going to start wearing a hijab. That’s not unusual. Because just as so often we only hear about Muslims after a terrorist attack, so often we only hear about Americans’ response to Muslims after a hate crime has happened, we don’t always hear about the extraordinary respect and love and community that so many Americans feel.

I’m thinking about the seven-year-old boy in Texas who emptied his piggy bank to help a mosque that had been vandalized. (Applause.) Or all the faith communities that rallied around Muslim Americans after the tragedy in Chapel Hill. The churches and the synagogues standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their local mosques, including the woman carrying a sign saying “We love our Muslim neighbors.” Think of our men and women in uniform who, when they heard that a little girl was afraid because she’s a Muslim, sent her a message -- “I Will Protect You.” (Applause.)

I want every American to remember how Muslim communities are standing up for others, as well. Because right now, as we speak, there are Muslims in Kenya who saved Christians from terrorists, and Muslims who just met in Morocco to protect religious minorities, including Christians and Jews. (Applause.) The good people of this mosque helped this city move forward after the turmoil of last year. Muslim Americans across the country helped African American churches rebuild after arson.

Remember the Muslim Americans in Boston who reached out to victims of the Marathon bombing; the Muslim Americans across the country who raised money for the families of San Bernardino; the Muslim Americans in Chattanooga who honored our fallen servicemembers, one of them saying, “in the name of God, the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, God bless our fallen heroes.” (Applause.)

We are one American family. We will rise and fall together. It won’t always be easy. There will be times where our worst impulses are given voice. But I believe that ultimately, our best voices will win out. And that gives me confidence and faith in the future. (Applause.)

After more than 200 years, our blended heritage, the patchwork quilt which is America, that is not a weakness, that is one of our greatest strengths. It’s what makes us a beacon to the world. It’s what led that mother who wrote to me -- the one who worries about her young daughter -- it led her to end her letter with hope, despite her fears. She said, “I still believe in one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” (Applause.)

May God's peace be upon you. May God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)

"Siri, Do You Ever Get Things Wrong?"

Outlook Web Desk — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:26:28 GMT

The new TV ads for Apple’s iPhone6 are built around Siri, the voice-activated program which answers verbally to questions put to it verbally.

In one ad, the Hollywood actor Penelope Cruz wishes to know who the prime minister of the United Kingdom was in 1868.

"Benjamin Disraeli," is Siri’s answer.

Really?

In 1868, UK had three prime ministers: Edward Smith-Stanley, Disraeli, and then William Gladstone.

When we asked Siri the same question Penelope Cruz asked, the answer we got was "Edward Geoffrey Stanley".

So, did Cruz really use Siri to get her answer?

Or does Siri give different people different answers at different times of the year?

Or is Siri all too human who can get things wrong?

We asked her that too, and she said "I’m sorry, I cannot answer that."

Media Forgets Section 377 Affects Heterosexuals Too

Outlook Web Desk — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:40:11 GMT

What would this morning's tea-and-newspaper ritual have felt like if the headlines read "SC holds out hope on non-vaginal intercourse"? That would have slightly rattled the saucer, for sure. What then explains the strange consensus among Indian media to report on Section 377 as an exclusively LGBTQ issue?

A day after the Supreme Court agreed to give the issue on decriminalising 'unnatural sex' one last chance in court, several of India's main news organisations reported it as a gay or homosexual issue. For example, their headlines this morning read "Supreme Court agrees to revisit law criminalising homosexuality" or "SC holds out hope on gay rights." The reporting has described the law as one that criminalizes same-sex relationships.

The reality of this 'crime' is that Section 377 affects the heterosexual and homosexual communities -- 'unnatural sex' is not the preserve of the LGBT community. But this entire issue, from the heights of intellectual debate to the grounds of activism, has run on one assumption -- that 'unnatural sex' is only performed by those within the LGBT community. Even recent press releases from Amnesty International and change.org have used this description.

In the past, some (like Huffington Post and Buzzfeed's foreign editions) have described the section as the 'sodomy-law,' which is a far more neutral and inclusive term. did this too. Human Rights Watch used both descriptions. Shashi Tharoor's petition to the Prime Minister on decriminalisation also uses both descriptions. The petition is signed by nearly 50,000 people and is titled 'Decriminalise homosexuality' although in the explanation he says that "It impacts the LGBTQ community, it even impacts married heterosexual couples."

Thus, media reporting has been misleading. By using the gay-shorthand, it has reduced the issue and isolated the community. When we read the news, we are made to understand that this is an issue for "that community" that wears bright clothes, parades once a year and does incomprehensible, unspeakable things in private. We understand that this is not something which can or should affect heterosexuals. It excuses us from saying neutral and inclusive things like 'unnatural sex' because that self-reflection makes us too comfortable. What this means is the continued demonisation of the LGBTQ community.

Legally too, it means that the opposition to the curative petition have been filed by religious groups who are also arguing on homosexual lines. What would happen if they are forced to speak more flatly across the board, and not recourse to arguing that homosexuality is prohibited in their religions?

Last year, Al Jazeera came forward to correct their reporting. In a bold statement they said they will no longer use the word 'migrants' to describe the refugee-crisis. They did this on the grounds of inaccuracy and argued that the words we use impact the value of the persons we describe. They explained that reductive terminologies help fester bigotry.

Similarly, in what is hopefully the last stretch of one of the biggest civil rights issues India has seen in recent times, can an editorial change in media reporting affect how the heterosexual masses interact with India's sexual minorities?

Video: The Goal The World Is Talking About

Outlook Web Desk — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:28:46 GMT

It is the goal that has grabbed global headlines. Leicester City's Jamie Vardy has hit the purple patch this football season but this goal is the cherry on a very well constructed cake. Depending on whose reaction you consider, it's either the goal of the decade, year, or month.

Here's what happened. As a long ball dropped in ahead of him from behind his shoulder, Vardy probably had one thing on his mind: Shoot! One bounce later it probably had a bit of Vardy's leather still on it. What a shot it was, a twenty-five yard rasping dropper that beat the otherwise efficient Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.

The reactions were effusive. His manager Claudio Ranieri said it was "unbelievable what Vardy did". Adrian Butchart, the man directing a movie on the Leicester striker, was in the stands and he would want to recreate that bit of magic on the field on the silver screen, it was just that good.

Liverpool's generally emotional manager Jurgen Klopp was pretty impressed yet not so much too. "It's nice to be in a stadium where Jamie Vardy scored goal of the month but in an ideal world not when you're manager of the other team," Klopp said.

And social media went into its usual 'Oh my God' season.

Watch this amazing goal. Here's the video:

Modi Offered To Free Italian Marine In Exchange Of Proof Against Sonia, Claims Arms Agent

Outlook Web Desk — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:43:27 GMT

British arms agent, Christian Michel, wanted by Indian investigators in helicopter scam has apparently accused the Narendra Modi government of offering Italy the freedom of two marines in exchange of information against Sonia Gandhi and her her family.

According to the Telegraph, Michel has made these claims in a letter to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas in Hamburg and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague where Italy and India are battling legally over murder charges against the marines.

Michel has claimed Modi made the offer at a secret "brush-by" meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during the UN General Assembly in September 2015 when both leaders were in New York.

"At this meeting, the issue of the two marines was discussed," Michel wrote through his lawyers in his letter dated December 23, 2015. "The Indian PM proposed to the Italian PM that in return for any evidence that the key adviser to Finmeccanica/ AgustaWestland (this is a reference to myself) had any relationship to any member of the Gandhi family, the honourable PM would assist in solving the case against the two Italian marines."

The Italian marines are accused of shooting two Kerala fishermen dead in February 2012 and the charges against them have had much impact on Italy and India's diplomatic relationship. While one of the marines has been allowed by the Indian Supreme Court to stay in Italy over health issues, the other one remains in India.

Video: At The Receiving End Of Police Brutality

Outlook Web Desk — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:45:02 GMT

On Saturday, Jan 30, the police brutality in the capital touched the lowest ebb. In a 30-second video- that has gone viral on the social media- Delhi Police personnel were seen brutaly thrashing the protesters and dragging female activists by their hair outside the RSS headquarter near Jhandewalan. The students were there demonstrating peacefully against dalit student Rohith Vemula's suicide on his birth anniversary.

Two journalists, Catch News' Vikas Kumar and an independent photo journalist Rahul, were allegedly beaten up for shooting the lathicharge- their camera thrashed. They claimed the police action was 'unprovoked' and that the protesters were beaten up mercilessly.

Wath the video here:

The video triggered sharp reactions on social media. The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged the police force was being used as RSS and BJP's 'private army' under a political dispensation that is at 'war' with students across the country.

Rahul and Kumar too rected on facebook.

I don't mind a few bruises. They are nothing compared to the atrocities being faced by common people on a regular...
Posted by Vikas Kumar on Sunday, 31 January 2016

How to break a camera?By Delhi Police1:Grab camera from photographer (me)2:Build momentum by spinning3:Smash it
Posted by Rahul on Sunday, 31 January 2016

Major Brouhaha Over Coldplay's 'Made In India' Video

Outlook Web Desk — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 21:57:52 GMT

Coldplay has a massive fan following in India. But their latest video "Hymn For The Weekend" which was shot in India with an intention to celebrate its vibrant and mystic hues has created a major furore for projecting a very 'stereotypical' image of the country and 'cultural appropriation'.

The video has been shot in the streets of Mumbai and other parts of India with its theme is anchored around the festival Holi. It is a collaborative effort with pop sensation Beyonce who has henna on her hands and is dressed in Indian ethnic clothes and jewellery. It also features Sonam Kapoor who appears for like three shots.(a rather short period considering the fact that she wants to narrate it to her grandkids).

i dont even know what to say about this coldplay video except can white rock bands please stop filming holi videos in india, thank you.
— ahmed ali akbar (@radbrowndads) January 29, 2016

Can white bands/artists stop filming holi/dance/slum based videos in India for profit or because you're on your gap yah thanks
— Anuradha Dameron (@anuradhadamale) January 29, 2016

New Coldplay music video ft. Beyonce isn't cultural appropriation, it's orientalism. India is the land of snakecharmers & colorful Gods.
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) January 29, 2016

when Kylie wears a bindi its appropriation but when Beyoncé is in full blown desi attire its appreciation??? ok
— champange nani (@syedaaaa_) January 29, 2016

While all this bashing went on, there were also those who asked the agitated junta to calm down saying that it was no big deal.

Really offended by Coldplay's video.
It's completely offensive to my culture.
Of being a person whose culture is to get offended.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) January 31, 2016

Cultural appropriation?! Haven't countless Indian videos shown belly dancing bedouins in dubai? Why so serious?!https://t.co/4qVSclcXxd
— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) January 31, 2016

The most Indian thing about the Coldplay video is the reaction.
— Sanjay Manaktala (@smanak) January 31, 2016

Ok people. Really. This #appropriation and Beyoncé and Coldplay is all a bit too "I've learnt a new word" for me. #GetReal #WeWearTrousers
— Aparna Jain (@aparna_jain) January 31, 2016

The Coldplay music video wasn’t supposed to be an advertisement for Indian tourism. Stop acting like it was.
— Overrated Outcast (@over_rated) January 30, 2016

Soumya Srivastava in Hindustan Times writes:

Did you just say playing Holi is a cliche? Why do we then make such a big deal of it every year in March? We rub each other’s faces with colours, dance on the streets every year. And yes, slum kids do it too. So are you not trying to snub their existence after all by not wanting to see them in movies, music and videos about India?
...Yes, it does show people from the slums, but they are having so much fun. They all look so happy dancing on the streets, skinny dipping in a pond and triple riding a bike. It is shot so beautifully that your heart would only want to enjoy and appreciate the colours of the country.

A piece by Nishita Jha in the Wire says:

When Indian characters travel or live abroad in Hindi cinema, they too reduce entire countries to a set of cultural clichés: Spain is a flamenco dance off, a bull run and the tomatina festival. If we routinely stereotype every place that’s not an Indian city, and every person that’s not a North Indian Punjabi, why can’t Coldplay’s “tribute video” do the same?

There is one other thing though and no one seems to have noticed it. What kind of a name is "hymn for the weekend"? And if you have managed to actually hear the song above all this noise, what kind of bizarre lyrics are "Put your wings on me....?" That's not even gramatically kosher. Oh, the kind of things we accept in the name of poetic licence!

This Photo Desperately Needs A Quirky Caption!

Outlook Web Desk — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 20:33:16 GMT

This photograph of French President Francois Hollande with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to India has been the talking-point all over social media, inspiring people to come up with captions ranging from witty to absolute bizarre.

So, dear readers, why don't you put your thinking caps on, let your creative juices flow and suggest a quirky caption for this photograph? And we promise that we will feature some of the best ones on this blog!

You can leave your captions in the comment box below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Here are some to start with:

"Get behind me. I need to face the camera"
Modi to Hollande: "Stand like that, just as all the other dummies."

Our readers have spoken. Here are some of the ones we ROFLed the hardest at:

I love you but still they are taking a picture. Don't be offended, I've done the same with mark -- Jaslin on FB
Hollande: "Hatto ji, koi dekh lega."
Modi: "jaaneman! Ishq par zor nahin." -- Vedita Cowaloosur on FB
'Bas yahi Apradh mai har baar karta hun........' -- Abdul Haque Khan on FB
I will hold your waist and rest my head
on your shoulder
My love, guess I am getting a bit bolder -- Partha Banerjee on FB
Old habits die hard. -- Harpal Singh Gill on FB
Serial hugger -- Vivek Nimale on FB
"Bola tha jyada daru mat pee. Rasta idhar hai..." -- Ravi Kafle on FB
Rajiv Chowk aa gaya. Aap yaha utarogay bhaiyya? -- SuperKid @illusionatorr on Twitter
Saamne se hatt jao, Cameras hai --Nitu Jha ‏@lack_a_daisy on Twitter
P.R. hota hai deewana sanam! --Kahanikaar™ ‏@vishalvkumar on Twitter
"Remember our last tango in Paris? Now let's do the cha cha cha pe charcha!" -- Ramesh Ramachandra on Outlook
Modi whispering sweet nothings into a blushing Hollande's ear... -- Ranganathan Sanjayan on FB

2016 Padma Awardees Who Featured In Outlook

Outlook Web Desk — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 21:33:44 GMT

1. In July 1996, Padma Vibhushan awardee Ramoji Rao wrote an opinion piece for an Outlook cover story.

A free and vibrant press is the best safeguard for democracy and all the values that it implies. Implicit in this argument is the fact that the press cannot be a monopoly. It is therefore necessary that the press, or for that matter the television medium, should be subject to competition. This is accepted without question insofar as the Indian media is concerned. Why should there be a change in the situation with respect to foreign media?

2. In 2015 for Outlook's 20th anniversary, Anupam Kher who is now a Padma Bushan, told us why he dislikes Outlook:

In terms of presentation, it’s crisp, to the point and has those interesting bits of humour. However, I often wonder if the coverage is biased or tilted, or is it really the point of view of the magazine? Because given the stature of the magazine, it should ideally have a rather unbiased ‘outlook’.

Also, read his answers to the 10 questions Outlook asked him.

3. In November 2012, Francois Gautier, the author of The Guru of Joy, did a piece on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, now a Padma Vibhushan awardee:

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was an exceptionally precocious adolescent, who showed a keen interest for the spiritual world early in life. He completed his degree in science and Vedic literature by 17. He was young, but already felt that a special destiny awaited him.

4. In 2014, Outlook carried exclusive extracts from Vinod Rai's memoir The Diary of The Nation's Conscience Keeper: Not Just an Accountant. He has been selected for a Padma Bhushan this year:

Why, and under what compulsion, did the prime minister allow Raja to have his way, which permitted a finite national resource to be gifted at a throwaway price to private companies—private companies that, going by the minister’s own admission, were “enjoying the best results...which was also reflected in their increasing share prices”? If only Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had responded differently; if only he had instead said—“I have received your letter of December 26, 2007. Please do not take any precipitate action till we or the GoM have discussed this.” Such a letter would have changed the course of UPA-II.

5. In July 2015, Neha Bhatt, in her piece on Architecture for Outlook, wrote about Hafeez Contractor who has been named a Padma Bhushan awardee:

Contractor, the much-sought after Mumbai architect, is used to finding himself at the other end of this debate. The man behind Infosys’s offices across south India and multiple structures in DLF city, Gurgaon, is often dismissed by those in the business for endorsing a copycat culture. He says he’s just making the most of the current swing of things. “We should be thankful to the builder lobby for driving the profession where the government is not. We have nothing to show post-independence because the government isn’t bothered. The construction boom has at least provided us some food for thought,” he says.

6. Celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer, Pratibha Parhlad, who has been named for a Padma Shri wrote a piece on her uncle CNR Rao in December, 2013 when he had been felicitated by the Bharat Ratna:

CNR bears his honours and the immense volume of his work—1,600 research papers, 49 books, membership of all the major science academies of the world, the 80-odd doctorates conferred upon him—lightly. He believes that life, for him, is “climbing a limitless ladder”, also the name of his autobiography. Besides his work, he loves music, his single regret in life is not learning to play the piano. He attends performances regularly and hosts artistes at his foundation and at IISC.

7. In June 2015, Madhavi Tata did a piece on director S.S. Rajamouli, who has now been named for a Padma Shri:

Rajamouli is one of the few directors stars call up to ask if he has a role for them. Producers offered him Rs 10 crore in fees way back in 2010. In an industry where movies are completely star-oriented, Rajamouli has changed the formula by never sticking to a formula.

8. In October 2015, right in the middle of the controversy over beef, historian and critic Pushpesh Pant wrote a piece for Outlook called 'There’s No Meat To The Vegetarianism Myth':

Kashmiri Brahmins take justifiable pride in their cuisine, which is predominantly meaty. It’s only on specific days, say a marriage, that the ritual meal is Vaishnavi—that is, prepared only with vegetables. Brahmins in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand treat the meat of goats sacrificed at Kali temples and at the altar of village deities as prasad and share it in community meals. The Maithili Brahmins of Bihar, or those of Bengal and Orissa too don’t deny themselves the pleasures of meat and fish delicacies. The Saraswat Brahmins who dwell along the western seaboard have for generations sustained themselves on ‘fruits of the ocean’.

9. Author and journalist Ashok Malik, now a Padma Shri, wrote a column on Narendra Modi in May 2014:

Has Modi over-promised and will he succeed? We will know in five years. What we do know already though is that he has broken the back of the Indira legacy. Thanks to Modi, India has finally accepted that Indira-Gandhianism—or its epigone versions, Sonia-Gandhianism and a caricature Rahul-Gandhianism—is past its sell-by date.

He has also written a number of other columns for Outlook.

10. In March 2013, Aravind Adiga did a piece on Kannada literature's controversial and pro-Hindutva writer S.L. Bhyrappa who has been named for a Padma Shri this year:

And who is Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa? Winner of the Sahitya Akademi award, he’s the author of 21 widely read and sometimes very controversial Kannada novels. These achievements are overshadowed, however, by a single fact: S.L. Bhyrappa is pro-Hindutva. His unvarnished political opinions—he opposes religious conversion and cow slaughter, and thinks that Tipu Sultan is a religious fanatic rather than a national hero—embarrass even his own admirers.

11. In 1998, journalist Sanjay Suri reviewed well-known thespian Saeed Jaffrey's autobiography calling it a sexual diary that revealed too much:

The chronology of sexual encounters gets a bit pointless—at times this begins to read less like the autobiography of a man than the biography of a penis.

12. In March 2015, Gauri Kamath did a piece for Outlook on Dilip Shanghvi became India’s richest man and is now a Padma Shri:

Dilip Shanghvi became India’s richest man like he did everything else—with minimum fuss. On March 4, the pharmaceuticals entrepreneur became wealthier than Mukesh Ambani. As shares of Shanghvi-controlled Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (he is founder and managing director), and group company sparc surged on the bourses, his net worth reportedly hit $21.7 billion, a shade ahead of Ambani’s at $21.6 billion.

'Whistleblower' Journo Alan Rusbridger's Insider's View Of Oxford Admissions

Outlook Web Desk — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 23:34:27 GMT

'Whistleblower' journalist Alan Rusbridger who was the editor-in-chief of the Guardian from 1995 to 2015 is perhaps the best known for his decision to destroy hard drives containing information leaked to media house by Edward Snowden, instead of complying with a government demand to hand over the data. Under his editorship, the Guardian published files of US intelligence – including warlogs from Iraq – in collaboration with WikiLeaks.

Last year, after he hung his boots as Editor, he was swiftly appointed the Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.

Now in a three-piece blog, Rusbridger has given a lucid, insider's view of the way admissions happen at Oxford. The blog is an absolute must read for anyone who wants to apply to the prestigious institution in the UK.

The first part of the blog series is called: Shortlisting

The complexity arises from the college system at Oxford.  In other universities there would be one central admissions funnel through which all applicants pass. At Oxford there are the faculties as well as 30 colleges (not to mention six permanent private halls) that admit undergraduates.

The second part is called: The Interview

Some are nervous, some ice cool. Most seem pretty adept at thinking under pressure - even with questions raining in on them (I counted 20 in 10 minutes from Pawel). There are moments when brains seem to freeze and the only human reaction is pity. Some visibly wilt after 15 minutes of intellectual cut and thrust. Others seem to draw energy from it.

And the third part is called: Pooling

They jokingly call it horse-trading – the meeting when admissions tutors from different colleges get together to agree a pool of candidates who deserve a place at Oxford, but aren’t among the first choices of the individual colleges.

Clearly, Mr. Rusbridger is missing his life as the Guardian Editor because his Principal's blog on life at Oxford is already running into several chapters.

Perhaps, someday, a book on it, Mr. Rusbridger?

Serving Intolerance

Outlook Web Desk — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:06:39 GMT

In the last couple of days, Indian journalists seem to have been at the receiving end of what can only be termed as growing intolerance and an inability to accept difference in opinion.

On January 20, senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan was held hostage for almost half an hour inside the Vice Chancellor's office, Allahabad University, when he went to meet the VC.

Varadarajan who was there to address a symposium at Senate hall of the Arts campus wasn't allowed to do so by the authorities after protests by the office bearers of the Students' Union who claimed that he is pro-naxal and his ideas are anti-national.

Despite this, Varadarajan addressed a gathering of almost a 100 students at a venue right outside the varsity. When he went to meet the VC, a large number of ABVP memebers along with the officer bearers of the Students' Union appeared at the portico of the VC's office and started shouting slogans against Varadarajan. It was only after the police intervened that he was allowed to leave.

So in the face of ABVP's threats, the Allahabad Univ admin & city admin have forced the cancellation of my talk on freedom of speech!
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) January 20, 2016

I will, however, be going to the Allahabad University campus today to register my protest at this blatant intimidation
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) January 20, 2016

Just delivered my lecture on freedom of expression at a hall outside Allahabad Univ campus. Now going into campus. pic.twitter.com/qXHkDfHyho
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) January 20, 2016

Very good interview by Allahabad Univ Students Union president Richa Singh on today's goondaism by ABVP https://t.co/hRlK3U30q5
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) January 20, 2016

On the same day, a convict in a Gujarat riots case, out on parole, allegedly assaulted journalist Revati Laul, who is writing a book on the convicts in the 2002 Naroda-Patiya massacre case, in Ahmedabad.

She alleged that she was punched and slapped by Suresh Chhara when she asked him some questions during an interview at his house. She managed to escape after Suresh Chhara's son and some neighbours intervened.

From The Archives: Mrinalini Sarabhai (1918 - 2016)

Outlook Web Desk — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:24:15 GMT

Renowned classical dancer and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai, who was wife of father of India's space programme Dr Vikram Sarabhai, passed away today due to old age-related problems.

She was 97..

Back in July 2013, Priyadarshini Sen, while doing a piece on India's senior citizens above the age of 90 having the time of their lives, wrote about how active she was even at the age of 95:

Mrinalini Sarabhai, danseuse and director of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, never really had the 20-30- year period to reconcile to the ageing process as she was always hyperactive. “Nowadays, short-term memory, poor vision and the death of her best friend have got her a little depressed,” says daughter Mallika. Even so, Mrinalini insists on walking to work every day to teach her students. “I get tired more easily. Otherwise, life is the same,” she says. So, what’s next on the agenda? “A small padam (lyrical number in Bharatanatyam) for my next film on my mother, where she’s also given many interviews,” says Mallika.

Genetic, biological and social factors naturally contribute to longevity, but the desire for an ‘independent existence’ matters as much. “It’s important for seniors to give vent to their ideas and feel appreciated. So a second career plan is always a good idea and keeps you free of negative thoughts,” says Nidhi Mishra. And just as dance remains the core of Mrinalini’s soul, there are others who’ve evolved in their long political and creative careers.

Also see: 10 questions with Mrinalini Sarabhai

Khushwant Singh's review of Mrinalini Sarabhai's autobiography

Discrimination Against Dalits? But We Were Always Like This

Outlook Web Desk — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:39:56 GMT

The recent suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Chakravarthi Vemula put into sharp focus the plight of Dalit students in college campuses as well as the Dalit community. The story brought into attention many similar cases where Dalits have faced discrimination at the hands of the upper castes. We dig up stories from Outlook’s archives on other instances of discrimination against the community.

1. 'How Is Dissent & Criticism Of The Govt's Policy "Spreading Hatred"?, May 29 2015

Last year the dean of IIT Madras derecognised the Ambedkar Periyar study circle accusing them of spreading hatred against prime minister Narendra Modi without giving the student body a chance to defend the charges levied against them. The issue was caught by national media when protests broke out against Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani. Outlook published the letter sent by the group to the dean defending their position on the ban.

2. The Problem Is That BJP Never Has Answers', April 14 2015, Pragya Singh

Pragya Singh interviewed Chandra Bhan Prasad, political commentator and advisor to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry about Dalit entrepreneurs and how Dalits revere Ambedkar even in liberalised India. He talks about how attacks on Dalits today are much more violent than before and how attacks now are often results of a 'clash'.

3. The Majority Is Hungry, Aug 25 2014, by Anuradha Raman

Anuradha Raman looks at the paradox that surrounds the consumption of beef in the country and how, even in educational institutes, political parties represented by a dominant upper class Hindu majority push agendas for no beef in canteens. This, she says led to student bodies in colleges all over the country to make beef a rallying point and demanding its inclusion in hostel and canteen menus. This, as expected led to further clashes between representatives of the ABVP and other students.

4. The Drona Syndrome, Oct 29 2012, Anuradha Raman

Anuradha Raman explores yet another case of discrimination against Dalit students, this time in Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College. Twenty five students of the college, all belonging to Schedule caste or schedule tribe were forced to move the high court after repeatedly failing exams because of alleged discrimination while teachers in the college did not seem to take the students problems seriously.

5. The Killing of Shambukas, April 16 2012, S. Anand

In March 2012, two Dalit student at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Anil Kumar Meena and Bal Mukund Bharti committed suicide in their hostel rooms. S Anand in this piece talks about the several issues students from the Dalit community face despite reservations; saying that most children from disadvantaged castes end up as maids, child labourers or dropouts. Much of what he wrote almost 4 years ago, still holds true in today's social and political scenario.

Playlist: Remembering Glenn Frey (1948 - 2016)

Outlook Web Desk — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:01:53 GMT

First it was David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Now it's Glenn Frey. The first month of 2016 hasn't been kind at all.

The Grammy-winning Eagles guitarist and co-founder of the band, known for hits including 'Hotel California', 'Tequila Sunrise' and 'Heartache Tonight', has died.

Throughout the early- to mid-1970s, Frey and the band released hit after hit, leading a renaissance of mellow California singer-songwriters with such artists as Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.

Frey and Don Henley co-wrote many of the band's biggest songs, including 'Best of My Love', 'Lyin' Eyes', 'One of These Nights' and 'Hotel California'. Frey also famously helped Browne finish writing the Eagles' first hit, 'Take It Easy', contributing the catchy verse, 'it's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford / slowing down to take a look at me'.

Frey played guitar and keyboard and took lead vocal duties for the band on tunes like 'Take it Easy' and 'Tequila Sunrise'.

Here's remembering some of the band's greatest hits. Rest in peace, Glenn Frey.

Why Are Illiterates Unfit For Indian Democracy?

Outlook Web Desk — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 21:09:26 GMT

In December 2015, The Supreme Court upheld a controversial law passed by Haryana that list criteria for disqualifying people from holding local panchayat office (and not, thankfully, from voting).

The most controversial exemption was that men and women running for office should be educated – that is, they should have at least attended middle school. The problem is that this would disqualify half of Haryana's rural voters. It would basically debar swathes of the poor, women and under-privileged from running for these local body elections.

Critics have argued that the basis for the exemption – that such model citizens would serve those bodies better – is actually against the very fundamentals of Indian democracy. A similar law has been passed in another BJP-ruled state, Rajasthan. Late last year, Outlook did a cover story on this burning issue titled 'The New Untouchables'. Our reporter found widespread anger against the move across Haryana.

Now, in a sharp piece in the New York Times titled 'India's Move Against The Poor', academic and columnist Mukul Kesavan has joined the growing outrage against a move that 'constrains liberty, corrodes equality and mocks fraternity'. He attacks it on three fronts. One, the fact that it is not true to the ideals of India's founding fathers.

It is also a deviation from the Indian republic's original idea of itself. Immediately after independence in 1947, the constituent assembly debated whether educational requirements should apply to either voters or political representatives. It decided against both options, prizing universal suffrage and political inclusiveness over any other consideration. Given that back then India's literacy rate hovered around 12 percent, this was a heroic bet on mass democracy. And it paid off: India has had more than six decades of stable, elected governance. So why, then, would the Haryana legislature try to fix something that wasn't broken?

The other issue is one of consistency and equality.

Under the new law, a citizen in Haryana must meet a much higher educational requirement to run for the lowest tier of local government than to contest elections for the state legislature or even the national Parliament. The second problem is that the law, in effect, punishes the poorer half of Haryana's population for the failure of both state and national authorities to provide free education to all Indians.

What next? Kesavan echoes the view of many right-thinking Indians that this issue should be re-examined by the Supreme Court.

The inconsistencies in this decision should be reason enough for the case to be re-examined by a larger bench of the Supreme Court. Another reason is the decision's possible seismic aftereffects: It opens the door to other attempts to qualify Indians' right to contest elections.

Now that is a truly scary thought for Indian democracy.

R.I.P. David Bowie (1947-2016)

Outlook Web Desk — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 19:39:57 GMT

The multi-talented David Bowie, died today after fighting a long 18-months battle with cancer. He was 69. Bowie worked in several musical genres over a career that spanned over 45 years.

Known for his iconic androgynous appearance, principally in the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie revolutionised the music industry. His folksy tunes infused with rock, and eternal lyrics delivered in a trademark deadpan style made Bowie a legend through the ages.

In David Bowie’s 2000 BBC interview with Jeremy Paxman, the avant garde artist predicted the evolution of music. Talking about the impact the internet will have on music and society. Bowie remarks- “I don’t think we’ve even seen the tip of the iceberg. I think the potential of what the internet is going to do society – both good and bad – is unimaginable. I think we’re actually on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying.”

He even, later in the interview, refers to its impact on “content.”

See the full interview here.

The music personality embarked on a solo career voyage that initially didn’t see much success either. Firstpost, in its tribute writes:

His eponymous debut album didn’t gain much traction and Bowie didn’t release any music for two years. The Bohemian musician instead signed up for dance lessons and pursued the stage while constantly writing music. It wasn’t until his song Space Oddity was released two days ahead of the Apollo 11 launch that Bowie actually tasted commercial success. Although, it is today rated among his most successful songs, it didn’t typecast his musical personality.

His music was as metaphorically schizophrenic as was his multi-faceted personality; where understanding Bowie often meant looking through a kind of kaleidoscope. He was a jukebox of talent and today that tin machine has gone silent. Bowie once said, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

Bowie was a style statement in himself. While his contribution to the art will always be remembered, his way with words should also be celebrated.

“I was virtually trying anything… And I think I have done just about everything that it's possible to do – except really dangerous things, like being an explorer. But anything that Western culture has to offer – I’ve put myself through it,” he said in an interview given to Telegraph in 1966.

Read his famous quotes here.

Bowie's final- Lazarus, released on his 69th birthday just two days before his death. The song opens with the lyrics: "Look up here, I'm in Heaven!" It's surreal how the last number shows him approach his death.

Many celebrities reacted on social networking sites after his demise:

David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 11, 2016

"But the key to the city is in the sun that pins the branches to the sky..." #DavidBowie
— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) January 11, 2016

I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016

Never imagined a world without him. He has ascended into the cosmos from whence he came. Farewell, David Bowie
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) January 11, 2016

Rest in peace David Bowie... Universe traveler dream bringer song singer... I'm glad you were here and will keep listening, as always...❤️
— regina spektor (@respektor) January 11, 2016

RIP David Bowie :( this was taken last night at my gig.. He was such an icon.. There is no other… https://t.co/vJH2J43FQQ
— Ruby Rose (@RubyRose) January 11, 2016

People always asked me what actor I wanted to work with the most, and I'd always say David Bowie. Sad I'll never get that chance. RIP
— Joe Manganiello (@JoeManganiello) January 11, 2016

Rip Father of all us freaks. Sad sad day. Love always Legendary singer David Bowie dies at 69 https://t.co/ezRx7NVhSC # via HuffPostEnt
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 11, 2016

Read:

12 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Bowie

David Bowie: What I've Learned

Listen to his greatest hits:

Review: Mediocre Sherlock Christmas Special

Dipsikha Thakur — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:37:22 GMT

The Sherlock Christmas special was released on New Year’s Day and thankfully sufficient time has passed for it to be fine to write a review with a few spoilers: I am working under the assumption that most (if not all) Sherlock fans have acquired this episode by now, whether with iPlayer or dubiously-sourced downloads.

Of course, it is entirely possible to write a review without spoilers. However in this case, the plot is so strange (arguably bordering on non-existent) that any discussion of why this special fails so spectacularly at everything it sets out to do needs a foray into the final bit of the episode.

Mediocre, flashy and dreadfully pretentious all at once, the plot shuttles between 1885 and present day as Sherlock tries to solve the case of a murderous bride who resurrects after her suicide to kill her husband and then decides it’s too much fun to stop. Her name is Emelia Ricoletti – a name that immediately reminds one of both Emilia in Othello as well as Emmeline Pankhurst, the militant 19^th century suffragist raised by a radical socialist (another group that a Victorian Watson panics about without the least bit of irony). Natasha O’Keefe is appropriately melodramatic and wooden as the bride: it is appropriate because it is constantly clarified that no one takes the story seriously, least of all Sherlock.

But once the corpse bride with a ‘crimson wound’ of a mouth shoots her husband dead, things start going downhill. The slew of metatheatrical jokes about narrative, plot and characterisation sound like a list of boxes being ticked for possible entry into New Media modules. Mrs. Hudson’s irate line, “I am your landlady, not a plot device” is the only one that got a grin. The rest were so saccharined up by the Holmes-Watson bromance and repetitive (enough with the deerstalker already) that it was all more tedious than funny.

And finally, an unfortunate project: trying to make Sherlock a feminist enterprise. The effort was half-hearted and almost an afterthought. For one thing, the high point is when a man explains feminism to a room full of dangerously competent women. He lectures. They listen with the occasional angsty glare and quip. Meanwhile his direct audience is Mary Watson who has “put herself in danger” by discovering a bunch of militant feminists in (quite literally) the male imagination. Such a grand feat of patronising lite feminism could only come from someone like Steven Moffat.

Of course, Amanda Abbingdon, who plays Mary, has already defended the politics saying it that since all of it happened in Sherlock’s head, it is fine. This is a bit hard to swallow since the ‘real’ events – Sherlock sitting on a jet, incoherent from substance abuse, being bratty and brilliant-- do not take up more than fifteen minutes in a one-and-a-half-hour long show. And, most importantly, it is not even a lot of fun to watch. No one wants empty political correctness to dilute a good story, but it is unforgivable when lazy politics passing for sensitivity leads to an expensive costume drama and nothing better.

Honestly, if this is what a Christmas present from BBC looks like, I would much rather wait till 2017 in fervent hope that they will have time to create better written episodes for this once-beloved adaptation TV adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes saga. Since that has not happened, perhaps it is better fill the time with rewatches of McKellan’s majestic performance in Mr Holmes (2015) and Johnny Lee Miller’s frantic and credible Sherlock in Elementary.

Review: Natsamrat's Biggest Strength, Its Weakness

Prachi Pinglay-Plumber — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:22:04 GMT

Natsamrat
Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
Cast: Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale, Medha M Manjrekar…

Natsamrat, the movie is based on the play of the same name, a Sahitya Akademi winner, written by Jnanpith awardee Vi Va Shirwadkar, about twilight years of Ganpatrao Belwalkar aka Natsamrat (Emperor of actors), who is treated badly by his children after he gives away all his wealth to them, loses his devoted wife on the streets and dies deeply disillusioned but still in love with theatre.

It is one of those movies where the script, setting, set designs and the supporting cast, all seek to overwhelm you through just one character, the protagonist. And perhaps its biggest strength is also its weakness. The play, which has been staged several times by stalwarts such as Dr Shriram Lagoo, makes comparisons inevitable. The unavoidable problem then, is of raising the pitch higher than the previous production. Cinema as it is magnifies and amplifies drama on the screen and Nana Patekar, though extremely sincere and committed to the role, tries to take it a notch higher all the time. While one feels deeply for Belwalkar, an eccentric, foul-mouthed, drunkard but a caring genius, one wonders if the soliloquies from Shakespeare and other monologues, poems that are belted out one after the other, are in fact counter-productive at times.

The movie has been faithful to script except for two things – one, addition of several characters, scenes and locations, which may not have been possible in the play, to help the story unfold as on a cinema screen and secondly, addition of Vikram Gokhale’s character, a friend, co-actor and a mirror to Patekar. Gokhale outshines Nana in the few scenes that he has and this is one cinematic liberty that must be upheld as a brilliant stroke by writer, director. Medha M Manjrekar deserves a mention for her subtle and consistent performance as the devoted wife.

The trend of making iconic plays into movies may bring these classics to today’s generation but the beauty and success of it would lie in what is highlighted and what is not. Many of the problems faced by the characters and their reactions may seem a bit contrived for 21st century, a necessary bane for any revival of classics. Watch Natsamrat for what it represents; writer's brilliant depiction of a successful actor's downfall owing to betrayal of children, but whose subconscious simply refuses to let go of theatre. And yes, it is Shakespeare who rules. Always.

R.I.P. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (1936- 2016)

Outlook Web Desk — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:42:48 GMT

J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, founder of the ruling People's Democratic Party of Jammu and Kashmir, died in Delhi today following a brief illness. He was 79.

He was famously called Delhi's man in the disputed territory, one who stood against Sheikh Abdullah and his party. This was his second term as chief minister of the state. Sayeed, who was also the Chief Minister of J&K from 2002 to 2005 in coalition with Congress, played a leading part in PDP and BJP coming together to form the first ever coalition involving the saffron party in the state.

Many paid tribute to Sayeed on social media including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He hailed Sayeed's statesmanship and said that he was a healing touch to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Here are the few reactions on twitter-

Read Outlook's stories on Sayeed here.

Watch The Oxford Boys Spread Some Christmas Cheer!

Outlook Web Desk — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:37:20 GMT

The all-male a cappella group from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University took the internet by storm in 2014 and shot to international fame after Shakira complimented them on Twitter for the fabulous medley they put together with three of the pop diva's popular numbers.

Take a look at what the Oxford boys have been up to this Christmas:

And if that made you feel all cheerful and Christmasy inside, you need to check out what they did last Christmas!