What a week! From Indian scientists being lauded globally for their moon mission to a chess champ wowing the world, to a much loved track and field athlete qualifying effortlessly for a world championship and the Olympics and a welfare scheme that builds on proven returns of the pioneering mid-day meal scheme in school. Action enough to edge Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death out of this column this week, in the interest of continuing to cover what’s unfolding in Iran.
#Chandrayaan3
Did we go over the moon with the successful moon mission? Yes and why not? There was enough reason to take pride as a nation for the achievements of the scientists and everyone working with them at ISRO – present and past.
The political credit game was on in full flow but that’s something one has learnt to ignore. But the attempts to colour achievements with religious identity were as sickening as one has come to expect.
On the positive side, what the mission has done to promote interest in space science among kids is incredible. The positive stories about women scientists are more than welcome. Goosebump moments indeed. Some brands and media did well to ride the moment. Some hardlanded and crashed while trying too hard.
https://twitter.com/IndianTechGuide/status/1694948091257049528?s=20
#Chandrayaan3 success inspires Gen Next pic.twitter.com/PbinzyUqcG
— Sandeep Adhwaryu 🇮🇳 (@CartoonistSan) August 25, 2023
Women Scientist of ISRO involved in Mission ISRO.#ISRO #ISROChandrayaan3 #Chandrayaan3 pic.twitter.com/GyWVFTdvxj
— The Flash…!⚡ ( Modi Ka Parivar ) (@Call_It_Flash) August 25, 2023
#Praggnanandhaa
What a champ, what a mother, what a family, and what a story! He is only 18. He beat the world’s second and third ranked players on the way to the final and held the eventual champ to draw and force a tie-breaker. He eventually lost and was runner-up but there’s a whole lot ahead of him. The fame came even earlier. Full credit to the family for the upbringing and for keeping him grounded through it all. The world will be watching his every move.
It brought me to tears!!!
Mother of the Indian 🇮🇳Champ Rameshbabu #Praggnanandhaa's after her son became the 2nd Indian after Vishwanathan Anand to advance to the semi-finals of Chess World Cup!
Pic credit: SportsKeeda pic.twitter.com/LcP9q49LVy
— Levina🇮🇳 (@LevinaNeythiri) August 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/VivekSi85847001/status/1694694350696087690?s=20
Well Played Champ #Praggnanandhaa ❤️#ChessWorldCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8Hs2Z6YMn0
— Milagro Movies (@MilagroMovies) August 24, 2023
#NeerajChopra
When a much respected and loved star does well, you feel a little more than national pride. Yes, they are all representing India, but why does one hold certain players in greater esteem than others? Think Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni. Or think Neeraj Chopra, who actually stood by the wrestlers during their protest for justice. Performance on the field and character off it is what makes stars superstars. An athlete who throws his weight behind what he believes is right, Chopra also threw the javelin on the first attempt with enough might to qualify for a world championship and a shot at another Olympic medal.
https://twitter.com/JustAFierceSoul/status/1695026314875736378?s=20
– Stood with farmers
– Stood with protesting wrestlers
– Spoke for Arshad Nadeem when fake news of hin snatching Neeraj's Javelin went viral
Today Qualified for Paris Olympics 2024 like a boss.
Gold, both in the field and out of the field. ✨ pic.twitter.com/9cLbOfLr7Z
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) August 25, 2023
Throw so far, it said Hi to Chandrayaan 3#NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/2x01FZVL9M
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 25, 2023
#TNBreakfastScheme
While we steer clear of politics in this column, there is almost nothing that escapes politics these days. Was there a need to advertise a welfare scheme in one state nationally? I am not sure. But in the absence of media that can report on the scheme neutrally in other parts of the country, advertising doesn’t hurt because it could possibly spark something similar elsewhere. WARC had predicted a 500 pc jump in political advertising globally in 2024 and all of this could well add to it. That apart, what was advertised is worth its weight in gold, never mind the usual calumny and whataboutery that comes with the territory.
Tamil Nadu is credited with pioneering the mid-day meal scheme many moons ago, and the story of how it began is the stuff of legend – something that could well be worth a full length feature with a fictional plot and some embellishments. It has been championed by different governments run by different parties over time. Unlike now, never has one party attempted to deride the scheme in the manner in which some segments are trying to now. The breakfast scheme by the current government was a pilot that is now across the state. Ask people who have seen the impact of the midday meal firsthand, whether working with schools or Akshaya Patra or the ISKCON Food Relief Foundation, and you will realise how it changes lives and elevates a strata with education – by eliminating hunger. The breakfast scheme takes things up a notch.
Tamil Nadu becomes the first state in India to provide Breakfast in all government run schools. Close to 31,000+ schools are being covered starting today ..#TamilNadu #BreakfastScheme
— Chennai Updates (@UpdatesChennai) August 25, 2023
With #TamilNadu Nadu expanding its free #BreakfastScheme scheme to all Govt schools, our story from July on how the scheme was functioning well in the pilot districts, teachers only suggesting a bit more variety in the menu. @dhamtnie https://t.co/rYxqdIGORn
— Ranjitha Gunasekaran (@ranjim) August 25, 2023
TN Chief Minister's Breakfast scheme: A 100-year-old scheme whose purpose evolved with time#BreakfastSchemehttps://t.co/AzFYrZIVpV
— Ezhilarasan (@ezhil_jkm) August 26, 2023
#MahsaAmini
Richard Branson is speaking his heart out for the protestors in Iran. The regime is not stifling their voices but silencing them. Bikers carrying women without head gear are being detained. Killings are still being claimed. Come September 16, the protestors want to go all out and the regime wants to quell anything that could disrupt the status quo. All eyes will be on Iran in the next 20 days. Or at least, they should be.
Throngs of Iranians gathered today in #Zahedan after Friday prayers to protest against the arrest of Fathi Mohammad #Naghshbandi, the Friday Prayer Imam in #Rask, who was detained by regime forces last week. #MahsaAmini #WomanLifeFreedom #Iranpic.twitter.com/dTPhqqHPLu
— Jonathan Harounoff (@JonathanHaroun1) August 25, 2023
🚨Today (19 Aug), Vali Asr Square, Tehran:
Regime suppressive forces attack & detain male motorcyclists giving rides to women without compulsory hijab.
We are 28 days from anniversary of #MahsaAmini’s murder with nationwide anti-regime protests forecasted #سالگرد_مهسا pic.twitter.com/81OJdubQ7B
— Kasra Aarabi (کسری اعرابی) (@KasraAarabi) August 19, 2023
More repression from the corrupt & broken regime. Doubling down on #GenderApartheid will not break the spirit of the majority of brave Iranians who have had enough – it will only strengthen their resolve: https://t.co/0Ojs60p0UN #MahsaAmini #WomenLifeFreedom #EndGenderApartheid
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) August 21, 2023
(The author observes posts @Goks140. Views are personal.)
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