Obama Surprises Joe Biden With Presidential Medal of Freedom

In a surprise ceremony in the East Room of the White House, President Obama surprised Vice President Joe Biden by bestowing upon him America's highest civilian honour- The Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Having invited Biden and his wife, Jill, to the White House for a private farewell, Obama instead brought him to a room where his friends, family and colleagues had gathered to witness the honouring ceremony. 

Moreover, for the first time, the outgoing president awarded the medal to Biden with distinction, an added level of veneration which had been reserved for recipients like Pope John Paul II and Colin L. Powell, the former secretary of state by previous presidents.

The ceremony saw Mr. Biden seemingly breaking down, turning his back to the audience to console himself, and pulling out a handkerchief, as the president called up a military aide to read the proclamation. However, once Mr. Obama hung the medal around the his neck, he cried openly. 

President Obama bestows the Presidential Medal of Honour upon Vice President Joe Biden
Credit: CNN

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden wipes his eyes as Preident Barack Obama presents him with Medal of Freedom
Credit: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

In the address that followed, Vice President Biden hurled a joke towards Steve Ricchetti, his chief of staff, saying, "Ricchetti, you’re fired! I had no inkling." Later, speaking of Mr. Obama, he said that he had never met anyone who had "the integrity and the decency and the sense of other people’s needs like you do." He also added, "Mr. President, you got right the part about my leaning on Jill,” referring to the president’s remarks about the couple’s love. "But I’ve also leaned on you and a lot of people in this room."

The ceremony is being seen as an emotional conclusion of a partnership, the success of which was deemed to be improbable and unlikely when in 2008 Barack Obama asked his former presidential rival to be his running mate. In the eight years that followed, the two men became not just the best of friends, but "brothers", as president Obama would like to put it.

Also read: Barrack Obama Bids Farewell With Emotional Speech

BSF Jawan's Video Triggers Government Probes

Recently, a video clip featuring a BSF soldier attained "viral" status in social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Twitter, owing to the bitter revelations the jawan seemed to lay before the eyes of the world. Complaining of poor food and facilities despite having to guard the borders amidst harsh conditions, the video showed a sorry condition of our Border Security Force soldiers. 

Responding to the nationwide outrage that followed the circulation of the video clip, the government stepped in to pacify the people, saying that they will look into the matter, and that the welfare of the country's soldiers shall be looked after. 

Hardly had Home minister Rajnath Singh ordered an inquiry into the matter, that another report broke into news, according to which civilians living near paramilitary forces' camps, particularly those of the Border Security Force (BSF), said that officers engage in selling fuel and food provisions meant for the personnel to outsiders at half the market rate.

However, the claims and the outrage were put to rest to some extent once Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju cleared the air by posting a photo of themselves alongside BSF officials, with the caption saying this: 

"We have taken serious note of the video posted by a BSF Jawan complaining poor food quality. The welfare of our Security Forces are in top priority. Rajnath Singh ji or I regularly enquire about the welfare of jawans while visiting the border posts. We found our jawans satisfied with the facilities but strong action will be taken if any anomaly is found."

Some angst still remains, though, following how BSF stated that the soldier in the video, a certain constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, was a habitual offender of absenteeism and a chronic alcoholic and misbehaved with superior officers.

The government, however, has assured that the matter will not be overlooked or left unaddressed. Union minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju has revealed that the Centre has sent teams of expert dietitians to border posts to ascertain the quality of food being served to security personnel.

He further added that the Centre has already instituted a brigadier-level probe into the allegations though the videos are yet to be verified. “I appeal to the media not to make an issue out of a video which is yet to be verified. We have taken the matter very seriously,” Rijiju said.

Moreover, on Wednesday the BSF submitted a second report regarding the matter to the home ministry, stating that the ‘dal’ shown in Yadav's video was uncanned from tinned food ration and the ‘parantha’ was cooked in the unit mess as per procedures followed at high-altitude locations.

The report has also confirmed that there are certain shortcomings that need to be mended. These include cooking and supply of food in a hygienic and stipulated quantity as per established rules.

A final report by the BSF, looking into Yadav's allegations is yet to be submitted. 

Manmohan Singh Hits Out At Note- Ban Yet Again

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday has pointed out at how India’s economy has gone from bad to worse following the government’s demonetisation move, before further stating that the worst is yet to come. 

Addressing members in a Congress party convention in Delhi, Singh – who also happens to be a noted economist – countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi by quoting that the latter's claims of a robust economy are “hollow”.

“The demonetisation move was disastrous. It hurt the country but the worst is yet to come,” he predicted before the Congress workers who had gathered at the Jan Vedna Sammelan.

It is to be noted that Manmohan Singh is credited as the man responsible for implementing reforms and transforming India’s economy as finance minister in the early 90s, and had, in November, foretold that demonetisation will shave two percentage points off India’s GDP.

Reiterating the claim, he said that almost all rating agencies had pared down growth estimates from 7.6% to 7% and as low as 6.3%.

“As a consequence, employment in fall in agriculture and informal sector, which contributes 45% to the national income,” Singh said.

Barack Obama Bids Farewell With Emotional Speech

United States President Barack Obama bid farewell on Tuesday night in a formal address to the nation from Chicago, his adopted hometown.

The outgoing President's speech emphasised the strengths of democracy and the threats that a democratic system constantly faces from the hands of those who remain in denial of change. In an address that found him exhibit both forceful energy and tearful emotion, Barrack Obama offered his suggestions for the manner in which the public could overcome the challenges the United States faces at the time of his exit.

"Yes, our progress has been uneven," Obama said to a crowd of about 18,000 people. "The work of democracy has always been hard, contentious and sometimes bloody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back."

Yet, he stated, that his faith in America had only grown stronger owing to all that he had experienced in the past eight years as the President of the United States of America.

Speaking about his family towards the conclusion of his speech, Obama paid homage to the sacrifices that his wife had made when she had entered the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue with their two daughters, who were just a couple of little girls at the time. He heaved appraisal on first lady Michelle Obama for taking on her role "with grace and grit and style and good humor" and for making the White House "a place that belongs to everybody."

For what he has done for his people as a president, this man sure deserves our respect. And definitely, for reasons that include his generosity, kindness, humility, style and humour (things that lie in stark contrast with the new President- elect), Barack Obama will be missed. Truly and dearly.

WATCH Barack Obama's full speech in the video above.

Meryl Streep Slams Donald Trump in Golden Globe Acceptance Speech

Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award- an honorary award "for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment- Meryl Streep used the time allotted to her for her acceptance speech to come down heavy upon the United States' President elect- Donald Trump. 

Taking the stage on the 74th Golden Globe Awards, Streep launched an all- out attack on Donald Trump for mocking and imitating a disabled reporter during his campaign. Calling Trump's mockery as a "performance" that stunned her, she went on to say, “It (the performance) sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good. There was nothing good about it. But it was effective, and it did its job. It made its intended audience laugh and show their teeth.

“It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter. Someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it. I still can’t get it out of my head because it wasn’t in a movie. It was real life.”

Further on, Streep highlighted the diversity of culture and geography that exists in harmony within Hollywood, before she emphasised the privilege of belonging to the society of actors and the press, and how the principled press is needed to "hold power to account, to call to them on the carpet for every outrage."

In the end, Meryl Streep concluded her speech with words, that a friend, the departed Princess Leia, had once told her: 

"Take your broken heart, make it into art."

Something all of us need to do for a better world.

When the Mahatma Turned Sexist: What Our History Books Do Not Tell

Growing up studying authentic literature that goes beyond "prescribed syllabus", one could, over the years, have come to the realisation that our history textbooks have been inefficient storytellers of an eventful past. And rightly so, owing to how the scribes of these records have portrayed historic heroes across printed pages meant for young minds: as figures and personalities who fought for the righteous causes they stood for; voicing their dissent against oppressive systems, and keeping astray of all the vices  known to humanity. Their actions which remarkably shaped the fate of the society, do inspire the budding learner to follow a path that would ultimately lead to the betterment of the society as a whole. What these syllabus- bound records fail to incite, though, is the will to question the beliefs upheld by the heroes of our past by leaving out those traits of our great leaders which could possibly blight their spotless character.

Take, for instance, the man we call the father of our nation. The Mahatma. 

An article published in The Telegraph* ahead of the alleged mass molestation in Bengaluru on New Year's Eve brings to light a little known aspect of the revered leader's character, the murmurs of which have often risen amidst the public; pretty much unlike the arguments raised above the whispers by the 11 Bengali women mentioned in the aforesaid article, which narrates how, on being asked by a Punjabi girl as to the manner in which girls could apply the principle of ahimsa to save themselves from being teased and harassed by young men, Gandhi had "spoilt his case by launching an unprovoked attack on the dress code of the modern woman." 

The Mahatma did remedy the problem in his answer, urging the victims to name and shame the culprits, and asking men of good character to come down heavy upon the defaulters among their own host, stating that "young men, as a class, should be jealous of their reputation and deal with every case of impropriety occurring among their mates”. Moreover, Gandhi also accepted the fact that women should engage in learning ordinary self- defence techniques to defend themselves from the unruly herd of perverted men.

But where he went wrong was when he dealt the case a sexist blow by expressing his disapproval towards how the modern woman dresses up, writing, “I have a fear that the modern girl loves to be Juliet to half a dozen Romeos. She loves adventure. My correspondent seems to represent the unusual type. The modern girl dresses not to protect herself from wind, rain and sun but to attract attention. She improves upon nature by painting herself and looking extraordinary. The non-violent way is not for such girls.”

For all the evil that young men indulge in, it all comes down to a woman's apparel, even in the eyes of a revered Mahatma. 

However, what's truly inspiring about the whole incident is how a group of 11 Bengali women took on Gandhi for generalising the modern woman as an exhibitionist hungry for attention merely on the basis of the dress she wears. 

To counter Gandhi's remarks on the modern woman's outfits, these 11 women wrote that "it was not very inspiring," on the Mahatma's part to “put the whole slur upon the injured female who suffers most due to the malevolent social custom”, before further stating that “some may find modern girls’ dresses and deportments a bit different than they wish them to be, but to brand them as exhibitionistic generally is a positive insult to her sex as a whole. Strength of character and chaste behaviour are necessary not only for modern girls but for men as well. There may be a few girls playing Juliets to a dozen Romeos. But such cases presuppose the existence of half a dozen Romeos, moving around the streets in quest of a Juliet, thereby pointing out where the proper correction lies.”

Unfortunately, what plagued the Mahatma's mind when he laid his disapproval upon the modern woman, is something that plagues our nation today. Despite the number of times women have made it clear that their outfit is not in any way an invitation for lewd remarks and groping arms, our society has continued to stand firm upon its self- constructed belief of labelling all modern women who choose to dress up according to their wish as exhibitionists of skin who are always "asking for it." 




*the article mentioned here has been penned by noted historian and writer Ramachandra Guha, and is the source of the statements of Mahatma Gandhi and the Bengali women which are quoted herein.

A Vehicle- free Connaught Place From February!

Traffic at Connaught Place. Source: The Indian Express

Pedestrian life in Connaught Place will be a stroll in the park once February comes!

The Ministry of Urban Development has decided to make the Inner and the Middle Circle of one of the capital's biggest financial hubs a no-entry zone for cars, buses and two wheelers. 

The implementation of the plan shall begin with February and will be carried out through a duration of three months.

In a meeting held on Thursday to discuss how the plan will be implemented, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu  was found quoting, “We will implement the pedestrianisation plan for Connaught Place on a pilot basis to see how this works on the ground"*, before laying emphasis on how a congestion free area will offer an accident free and crime free experience to visitors

.

Another senior government official supported the effort, saying, "Everything depends on the implementation, availability of alternative means of mobility and customer and trader response. If this is a success, it will be included in future master plans for cities across the country.” *

Following the implementation of the plan, a survey and study conducted by the government will analyse the people's response towards the set up.

The Centre, however, called  Thursday’s meeting just a preliminary discussion. “The Delhi traffic police and the NDMC have been asked to prepare detailed reports on the preparations to be made as part of the action plan which we will peruse later this month,”* a government official said.

Further, The Centre said that functional "park-and-ride" services at nearby parking complexes have been suggested by the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Police officials.

A government official further informed, “Those who want a ride to go from the parking complexes to Connaught Place will be able to hire cycles. Battery-operated vehicles will also be made available. The NDMC is going to provide this and the cost will be borne by them. Traffic police will deploy personnel to block entry points.”*

*Source: The Indian Express