First india ahmedabad edition-30 april 2020

The
FINAL
ACT!
7 J A N U A R Y 1 9 6 7 - 2 9 A P R I L 2 0 2 0
aipur’s very own Irrfan
Khan, the versatile Bol-
lywood actor, passed
away on Wednesday
leaving a void in the
world of cinema!
Born Sahabzada Irfan Ali Khan
on 7 January, 1967 in Tonk, Irrfan’s
mother’s family had a royal line-
age and his father was a wealthy,
self-made businessman.
A veteran character actor in
Bollywood movies, he is termed as
one of India’s best-known exports
to Hollywood. Irrfan made his
screen debut in the Academy
Award-nominated 1988 drama “Sa-
laam Bombay. He later worked
with directors like Mira Nair, Wes
Anderson and Ang Lee and gave
movies like Life of Pi, The Name-
sake, The Warrior etc,.
Irrfan was hospitalised due to a
colon infection on Tuesday and
died of subsequent complications.
“Irrfan was a strong soul, some-
one who fought till the very end
and always inspired everyone who
came close to him,” a statement
released by the actor’s team said.
Turn on P6 , City First
Classy Irrfan finally surrenders to death
Narendra Modi @narendramodi
Irrfan Khan’s demise is a loss to
the world of cinema and theatre. He
will be remembered for his versatile
performances across different
mediums. My thoughts are with his
family, friends and admirers. May
his soul rest in peace.
Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi
I’m sorry to hear about the passing
of Irrfan Khan. A versatile & talented
actor, he was a popular Indian brand
ambassador on the global film & tv
stage. He will be greatly missed. My
condolences to his family, friends &
fans at this time of grief.
Ashok Gehlot @ashokgehlot51
I am saddened and shocked to
know about the untimely demise
of one of our country’s most
versatile actors, #IrrfanKhan. My
heartfelt condolences to his family,
friends and fans. May God give
them strength. May his soul rest in
peace. #IrrfanKhan was one of the
most talented actors of Rajasthan,
who rose to heights on basis of his
acting. He would always remain
an inspiration for theatre artists &
budding actors in #Rajasthan.
CORONA
ALERT
AHMEDABAD l THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 154
27°C - 43°C
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD
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COVID-19
UPDATE
WORLD
2,25,604
DEATHS
31,87,952
CONFIRMED CASES
INDIA
32,936
CONFIRMED CASES
1,077
DEATHS
GUJARAT
197
DEATHS
4,082
CONFIRMED CASES
Guj heaves a small sigh of relief as 93 patients discharged in one day
First India News
Gandhinagar: In a big
relief, Gujarat saw its
highest number of
COVID-19 recoveries
in the past 24 hours,
with 93 patients dis-
charged in a single
day. This brings the
total number dis-
charged to 527.
However, with 308
fresh cases—234 from
Ahmedabad alone—be-
ing reported in the past
24 hours, the state now
has 4,082 positive cases
of COVID-19. The death
toll has risen to 197,
with 16 deaths reported
in the past 24 hours.
In a little more good
news, Porbandar,
Morbi and Jamnagar
have zero active cases.
Given that Devbhumi
Dwarka, Junagadh
and Amreli never re-
ported a single case to
begin with, this means
there are now six dis-
tricts in the state with
no active cases.
Principal Secretary
(Health) Jayanti Ravi
has said that the sar-
panches of 14 villages
have decided to con-
vince villagers to take
homoeopathic treat-
ments to boost immu-
nity. She also said that
private clinics are al-
lowed to open clinics
and out-patient servic-
es, a decision that fol-
lows discussions with
office bearers of the
Gujarat chapter of the
Indian Medical Asso-
ciation.
Meanwhile, Surat
Municipal Commis-
sioner Banchhanidhi
Pani has decided to
put 31,915 persons
living in 7,169 houses
in the city’s Limbayat
area under complete
home quarantine as
social distancing was
not being maintained
in these areas. Now,
anyone who violates
this home quarantine
will face action under
the Epidemic Diseas-
es Act and the Disas-
ter Management Act.
The Sars-Cov-2 virus
is strengthening its
hold on villages on the
outskirts of
Ahmedabad city, with
Ahmedabad Rural re-
porting a total of 29
positive cases.
Seven journalists
from Vadodara city
are infected with
Sars-Cov-2. Turn on P6
A medic takes the temperature of a policeman outside the Police Commissioner’s office in the
Shahibaug area of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE
Tally crosses 4K mark, with 308
fresh cases including 234 from A’bad
IN GUJARAT
DISTRICT TOTAL TOTAL NEW
CASES DEATHS DEATHS
AHMEDABAD 2777 137 9
VADODARA 270 16 3
SURAT 601 22 3
RAJKOT 58 1 1
BHAVNAGAR 43 5 0
ANAND 71 3 0
BHARUCH 31 2 0
GANDHINAGAR 38 2 0
PATAN 17 1 0
PANCHMAHAL 24 2 0
BANASKANTHA 28 1 0
NARMADA 12 0 0
CHOTA UDAIPUR 13 0 0
KUTCH 6 1 0
MAHESANA 8 0 0
BOTAD 20 1 0
DAHOD 4 0 0
PORBANDAR 3 0 0
JAMNAGAR 2 1 0
MORBI 1 0 0
SABARKANTHA 3 0 0
ARAVALLI 18 1 0
MAHISAGAR 11 0 0
KHEDA 6 0 0
GIR SOMNATH 3 0 0
VALSAD 5 1 0
TAPI 1 0 0
NAVSARI 6 0 0
DANG 2 0 0
SURENDRANAGAR 1 0 0
TOTAL 4082 197 16
New Delhi: Migrant
workers, tourists, stu-
dents and other people,
who are stranded in dif-
ferent parts of the coun-
try, were on Wednesday
allowed to move to their
respective destinations
with certain conditions.
In an order, Union
Home Secretary Ajay
Bhalla said buses shall
be used for transport of
such groups of strand-
ed people and these ve-
hicles will be sanitised
and will have to follow
safe social distancing
norms in seating.
“Due to lockdown, mi-
grant workers, pilgrims,
tourists, students and
otherpersonsarestrand-
ed at different places.
They would be allowed
to move,” he said in an
order issued to all states
and union territories.
Listing the condi-
tions, the ministry said
all states and union ter-
ritories should desig-
nate nodal authorities
and develop standard
protocols for receiving
and sending such
stranded persons.
The nodal authorities
shall also register the
stranded persons with-
in their states and un-
ion territories, it said.
In case a group of
strandedpersonswishto
move between one state
and union territory and
another state and union
territory, Turn on P6
‘Stranded migrants can move with caution’
Buses used for transport will be sanitised  Will have
to follow safe social distancing norms in seating
UGC ISSUES NEW
CALENDAR FOR
VARSITIES
New Delhi: The new
academic session for
freshers may begin
in universities from
September and for
already enrolled students
in August, the UGC told
varsities on Wednesday.
The admission process
will begin in universities
from August 1. UGC said
exams for final semester
students be conducted
in July. Turn on P6
‘ONLY 0.33%
PATIENTS ON
VENTILATORS’
New Delhi: Union
Health Minister Dr Harsh
Vardhan said, “Only
0.33% patients are on
ventilators, 1.5% patients
are on oxygen support
and 2.34% are in ICU,
which reflects the quality
of care being provided
across the country.
Highlighting India’s
approach in combating
COVID-19, he said,
Turn on P6
New Delhi: Countries like
India, Indonesia and Thai-
land that are among world’’s
largest vaccine manufactur-
ers from the South-East
Asia region must play a
lead role in overcoming
the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic,” WHO said on
Wednesday.It has organised
a virtual meeting of vaccine
manufacturers and national
regulatory authorities from
the region. Turn on P6
COVID VACCINE: WHO
LOOKS UP TO INDIA
New guidelines to fight Corona war
a day after lockdown ends: MHA
New Delhi: The Home
Ministry Wednesday said
the government will issue
fresh guidelines on May 4,
a day after the nationwide
lockdown ends on, which
shall give “considerable
relaxations” to many dis-
tricts. This comes even as
Ministry issued revised
guidelines allowing move-
ment of migrant workers,
students, tourists and pil-
grims stranded in differ-
ent states.
Meanwhile, the gov-
ernment is also working
on a mega plan to deploy
a raft of naval ships as
well as military and com-
mercial aircraft to evacu-
ate thousands of Indians
stranded in the Gulf and
other regions after the
nationwide lockdown
ends, official sources said
on Wednesday. Govern-
ment has already reached
out to several states ask-
ing them to make neces-
sary arrangements for
the Indians when they
are brought back home
under the multi-agency
operation.
The Civil Aviation Min-
istry has conveyed to the
core group planning the
operation that it is ready
to make available majori-
ty of the nearly 650 com-
mercial planes including
freighters for the mission,
the sources said.
Turn on P6
Only asymptomatic people would be allowed to travel & second assessment of their health would
be made upon their arrival in their home state, said MHA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Justin Trudeau, Prime
Minister of Canada during an event. —FILE PHOTO
NEWSAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
02www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
State cabinet to resume Tuvar procurement, address water issues
First India News
Gandhinagar: The
statecabinetwillresume
procurement of tuvar
dal(pigeonpea),andalso
start procurement of
chana (chickpea) and
mustardthroughtheGu-
jarat Cooperative Mar-
keting Federation (GUJ-
COMASOL).
The decision was tak-
en in a cabinet meeting
held via video confer-
ence on Wednesday,
Chief Minister Vijay
Rupani’s fifth since
lockdown began.
Making the an-
nouncement, Informa-
tion and Broadcasting
Secretary and Secre-
tary to the chief min-
ister Ashwani Kumar
said, district collec-
tors have been given
two important tasks
this summer. First,
they have to ensure
uninterrupted drink-
ing water supply in
villages and small
towns and get any
non-functional hand
pumps repaired on top
priority. Second, they
are to see that Sujalam
Sufalam Jal Abhiyan
work is undertaken up
on a war footing. Col-
lectors have been
asked to take up these
projects either with
people’s participation,
under MGNREGA, or
through government
agencies.
Kumar further said
that the state had pro-
cured 6,514 metric
tonnes of tuvar from
3,881 farmers at MSP
(minimumsellingprice)
when the lockdown was
imposed. However, the
interruption meant
12,467 of the 16,345
farmers who had reg-
istered for this were
still left. The state will
start procuring tuvar
from them beginning
May 1.
In another major
decision, the cabinet
will start procuring
chickpea and mus-
tard from farmers be-
ginning Friday, with
GUJCOMASOL as the
nodal agency.
In April, the state gov-
ernment has supplied
free rations to 68 lakh
BPL (Below Poverty
Level) and NFSA (Na-
tional Food Safety Act)
cardholders, as well as
to 60 lakh APL (Above
Poverty Level) card-
holders. It has ad-
dressed the issue of mi-
grants and unregistered
workers and distributed
rations to 5.50 lakh mi-
grant workers as well.
In the past few
days, the state gov-
ernment has trans-
ferred Rs1,000 into
the accounts of NFSA
cardholders. So far,
55 lakh cardholders
have benefited from
the Mukhyamantri
Garib Kalyan Yojana
and Rs 510 crore have
been transferred into
these accounts.
With the help of non-
government organiza-
tions, 10,000 ration kits
have been distributed to
needy people at the dis-
trict level.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani chaired a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.To his right are Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, Education Minister
Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja and Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, K Kailashnathan.
Sujalam Sufalam work to go ahead
with people’s participation, government
agencies or under MGNREGA
PILL-AR OF STRENGTH
FOR THE WORLD: INDIA
PM MODI’S ASSURANCE TO CANADIAN COUNTERPARTPM MODI’S ASSURANCE TO CANADIAN COUNTERPART
rime Minister Naren-
dra Modi conveyed
his assurance to his
Canadian counter-
part Justin Trudeau
that India's produc-
tive capabilities in the pharma-
ceutical sector would remain
available for assisting the citi-
zens of the world, including
those of Canada.
The assurance came during a
telephonic conversation between
the two leaders, where they talked
about the COVID-19 pandemic
situation.
"PM spoke on phone with Jus-
tin Trudeau, PM of Canada. The
two leaders discussed the pre-
vailing global situation regard-
ing the COVID-19 pandemic," a
release from the PMO said.
Both the leaders agreed on the
importance of "global solidarity
and coordination, the mainte-
nance of supply chains, and col-
laborative research activities."
"PM thanked the Canadian
PM for the assistance and sup-
port extended to the Indian
citizens present in Canada, es-
pecially Indian students," the
statement said.
On his part, Trudeau "appreci-
ated" the support provided by the
Indian government for Canadian
citizens in India.
"Prime Minister conveyed
the assurance that India's pro-
ductive capabilities in the
pharmaceutical sector would
remain available for assisting
the citizens of the world, in-
cluding those of Canada, to the
best of India's abilities," the
statement said. —ANI
P PM 1st to offer prayer as
Kedarnath shrine opens
Rudraprayag (Uttara-
khand): The doors of
the Himalayan shrine
the Kedarnath Dham
were opened on Wednes-
day at 6.10 a.m. and the
‘Rudrabhishek Pooja’
was offered by Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi. On the occasion,
Uttarakhand Chief
Minister also greeted
all devotees.
This is the first time
when the ‘abhishek’ and
‘arati’ have been conduct-
ed in the absence of devo-
tees as the Lord Shiva
shrine opened as per
schedule even amid the
Covid-19 lockdown follow-
ing the coronavirus out-
break. No one was allowed
to visit the temple.
A special worship was
conducted at the temple
at 3 a.m. and thereafter
chief priest Shiv
Shankar Ling did the
‘Samadhi Pooja’ along
with other formalities.
Harish Gaur, media in-
charge of Devasthanam
Board, said: “Keeping in
mind the social distancing
norms,ShivshankarLinga
performedthe‘Jalabhishe-
ka’ of Lord Kedarnath. Af-
ter the opening of the
doors, the first Rudrab-
hishek Pooja was per-
formed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.” —Agencies
The portals of 11th
Jyotirling
Kedarnath Dham
has opened today. My wishes
and congratulations to all of
the devotees. I wish that we
would always continue to get
the blessings of Shri
Kedarnathji. May Lord
Kedarnath make us capable of
fighting this pandemic.
Trivendra Singh Rawat,
Uttarakhand Chief Minister

GUJARATAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
Minoritybodywants
COVID-19whitepaperAsks what was done to prepare for outbreak, questions Trump event
First India News
Ahmedabad: In an
open letter addressed
to Chief Minister Vijay
Rupani, the Minority
Coordination Commit-
tee (MCC) has asked
that the state not
spread religious intol-
erance and bring out a
White Paper on the Co-
rona Pandemic in the
state instead.
MCC convener Muja-
hid Nafees has written
that, in his video com-
munication on April
24, the chief minister
said that the state gov-
ernment quarantined
6,000 people in March,
who had returned from
abroad, to curb the
spread of the pandem-
ic. Nafees has demand-
ed that the state declare
the names of all those
who took international
flights to land in the
state after January 30.
“CM Rupani has cat-
egorically asserted
that the spread of COV-
ID-19 in the state was
caused by the Tablighis
returning from Niza-
muddin in Delhi in
March. He has mali-
ciously attempted to
target a particular reli-
gious group in clear
violation of Article 51
of the Constitution,”
Nafees said, adding “I
am requesting the CM
to issue a white paper
on the steps taken by
the state government
to prepare for the out-
break.”
He also said that
were no facts in Rupa-
ni’s statement, and
added, “The first two
cases were from Surat
and Rajkot reported on
March 19. WHO de-
clared COVID-19 as a
public health emergen-
cy on January 30. The
state lost a cru-
cial month in not pre-
paring for an immi-
nent pandemic, even as
it splurged all available
resources in organiz-
ing the Namaste
Trump event on Febru-
ary 24 in Ahmedabad.
Did the state govern-
ment tested the partici-
pants of this event?”
Mata Vali Pol in Kalupur, one of the ﬁrst cluster containment zones in Ahmedabad. —FILE PHOTO
Rajkot reports
1st death due
to Sars-Cov-2
First India News
Rajkot: The city re-
corded its first COV-
ID-19 death on Wednes-
day when 60-year-old
Mominben Kureshi
breathed her last after
fighting the virus for
eight days..
Her 70-year-old hus-
band and two sons have
also tested positive and
are currently undergo-
ing treatment.
The family lives in
Jangleshwar area,
which has reported the
maximum positive cas-
es in the city.
An official from the
Rajkot Municipal Cor-
poration said, “The
twocausesof Kureshi’s
death were hyperten-
sion and old age. The
virus attack got too
much to handle and
her immune system
could not fight back
properly.”
Rajkot has recorded
58 cases, of which 15
have recovered.
Red-zone areas likely to remain
sealed until the end of May: SMC
First India News
Surat: In a briefing on
Wednesday, Surat mu-
nicipal commissioner
BanchhanidhiPanisaid
that if COVID-19 posi-
tive cases are reported
in red zones of the city,
then those areas will re-
main sealed until the
end of May. He also ap-
pealed to the masses to
take all necessary pre-
cautions and practice
social distancing.
In particular, around
26 cluster areas de-
clared by the local mu-
nicipality under the
red zone are likely to be
closed till the end of
May, due to growing
number of positive
cases. According to
Pani, the next 14 days
will determine further
action. If cases are re-
ported in these 26 clus-
ter (red zone) areas,
they will remain in the
red zone and if not a
single case is regis-
tered, it may take up to
14 more days to convert
a red zone area to an
orange zone area.
Meanwhile, Surat
police commissioner
also issued a notifica-
tion extending the im-
plementation of Sec-
tion 144 in the city till
May 14. This move
comes on the heel of
rise in COVID-19 posi-
tive cases in the city.
Section 144 prohibits
the gathering of four
or more people in a
public place.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT
SUMMER SOLUTIONS
An innovative
youngster
transports
a heavy jug
of water on
a hot day in
Ahmedabad.
—PHOTO
BY
HANIF
SINDHI
‘No pillion
riding on
2-wheelers’
First India News
Gandhinagar: The state
police has banned pillion
riders on two-wheelers and
has capped the number of
persons travelling in four-
wheelers at two, to better
ensure social distancing,
Director-General of Police
Shivanand Jha said.
Meanwhile, the cyber
cell of the police has
blocked 496 social media
accounts for spreading ha-
tred and false information.
State police have regis-
tered 544 cases of spread-
ing hatred and false infor-
mation on social media
and has arrested 1,124 per-
sons in this connection.
Panchmahal district au-
thorities have withdrawn
the relaxation granted
from the lockdown, as peo-
ple were gathering in large
numbers and social dis-
tancing was not followed.
The State Reserve Police
has been deployed to
maintain lockdown in
Godhra as well.
Some 4,039 cases have
been registered for viola-
tion of public orders,
quarantine norms and un-
der the Disaster Manage-
ment Act.
Soon, `1K-`50K fines
for not wearing masks
First India News
Ahmedabad: The
Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC)
commissioner Vijay
Nehra on Wednesday
announced that the pen-
alty for not wearing a
mask for shopkeepers
and its staffers has been
increased. Apart from
the penalty, the license
of the shop or vendor
will also be suspended
for a period of up to
three months.
“A penalty of Rs 1,000
to Rs 5,000 will be levied
on individuals not
wearing masks, but
from May 1, if a road-
side vendor is found
without a mask, he will
be fined Rs 2,000 and his
license will also be sus-
pendedfortwomonths,”
said Nehra.
“Similarly, if a shop-
keeper or his staff mem-
ber is found not wearing
a mask, they will be
fined Rs 5,000 and the
shop’s license will also
be suspended. A fine of
Rs 50,000 will be im-
posed on supermarkets,
mallsif theirstaff mem-
bers or security guards
are found without a
mask on,” he added.
He also said that, in
order to ensure that the
number of COVID-19
cases do not inflate,
each citizen will have to
wear masks including
shopkeepers, staffers at
malls, supermarkets,
who are likely to be the
super spreaders.
In another announce-
ment, Nehra also said
that the AMC will pro-
vide free masks and
sanitizers to each of the
vendors.
The civic body has
procured around 3.50
lakh masks from wom-
en self-help groups. In
the past ten days, a total
of 7,797 super spreaders
including vegetable
vendors, milkmen, gar-
bage collection work-
ers, grocery shopkeep-
ers, and even medical
shop keepers have been
screened and 2,098 sam-
ples collected. Of these,
115 were found to be
coronavirus positive.
Construction labourers in masks return to their shelters at the end of a work day.
A penalty of Rs1,000 to
Rs5,000 will be levied
on individuals not
wearing masks, while
supermarkets and malls will
pay Rs50,000 if their staff are
seen without masks.
—Vijay Nehra, AMC Commissioner
—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI
10% mango crop damaged
due to unseasonal rains
First India News
Ahmedabad: Thun-
dershowers and heavy
rains in some parts of
Saurashtra has dam-
aged 10% of the mango
crop, experts say.
Roads in Savarkund-
la were filled with wa-
ter after an estimated
1.5 inch rainfall in just
a few hours. Mean-
while, local MLA
Pratap Dudhat has de-
manded a financial
package for the farm-
ers.
Thursday is likely
to bring light rain and
thundershowers to
Amreli, Gir Somnath,
Junagadh, and Ra-
jkot. The remaining
parts of the state are
likely to witness dry
weather.
HEAT IS ON

G Vol 1 G Issue No. 154 G RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.
Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor: Jagdeesh Chandra, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
PERSPECTIVEAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
ost of the sports
world has
ground to a halt
over the corona-
virus pandemic.
The Tokyo Olympic Games,
theNBAseason,andsoccer’s
Champions League, along
withmanyothermajortour-
naments, have been post-
poned. Wimbledon has been
canceled for the first time
since World War II. These
cancellations and postpone-
mentsgoallthewaydownto
recreational competitions.
Given the impact that
any large gathering could
have on the further spread
of the pandemic, several
sports commentators, not-
ed that at this point in time,
sports did not matter. The
New York Times sports
commentator wrote, “Post-
pone it, cancel it, whatever.
There are more important
things to think about. It is
a sport, after all,” referring
to the cancellation of soc-
cer’s Champions League.
The present sentiment is
a reminder of a popular
phrase typically attributed
to former coach and player
Arrigo Sacchi that soccer
was “the most important
of the unimportant things
in life.”
At a time when the ut-
most urgency on every-
one’s mind is the fragility
of life itself, this couldn’t
appear to be more true.
At the same time, as phi-
losophers of sport, we be-
lieve that it is important to
recognise the role sports
play in our lives – even in
difficult times.
THE NATURE
OF SPORTS
The point of sports, as phi-
losopher Bernard Suits ar-
gues, lies in voluntarily at-
tempting to overcome arti-
ficial problems erected by
the rules.
Such rules stipulate the
use of specialised physical
skills to achieve the goal of
the game. For instance, the
rules of soccer prohibit
players to hit the ball with
their hands but allow kick-
ing and heading to put the
ball into the net.
Sports are activities gov-
erned, as Suits explains, by
a “gratuitous logic.” Under
this logic, participants at-
tempt to solve an unneces-
sary problem, such as kick-
ing a ball around a field and
into a net, just for the sake
of solving the problem.
THE VALUE
OF SPORTS
At the same time, there are
those who argue that
sports fulfill human func-
tions that are far from gra-
tuitous. For instance,
sports provide an arena for
honing different kinds of
capacities and fostering
character development.
Philosopher José Ortega
y Gasset argues that the
gratuitous character of
sports is a model for living
well – for a life with plenty
of vitality.
Herecommendsindividu-
alsapproachtheirliveswith
the “same spirit that leads
them to engage in sport.”
That is, individuals should
fill their lives with challeng-
ing activities that are not
necessary but voluntary.
Similarly, philosopher
Thomas Hurka includes
sports among some of the
challenging activities that
require dedication, plan-
ning and precision.
Hurka highlights that
these activities are valua-
ble because of the effort
required by the experience
of trying to achieve. In his
words, “We don’t call cross-
ingyourfingersanachieve-
ment because it’s too easy.
Achievements have to be
challenging, and the more
challenging the better.”
The attempt to achieve
difficult goals requires a
certain dedication. In this
sense, engagement in sport
represents a perfectionist
way of life.
As philosopher John
Rawls proposes in his dis-
cussion on justice and the
good life, perfectionism re-
quires the utmost dedica-
tiontoachievehumanexcel-
lence;inthiscase,weargue,
of the athletic variety..
FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO
WWW.THECONVERSATION.COM
Coronavirus: The role sports play in our lives
M
THE ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE DIFFICULT GOALS
REQUIRES A CERTAIN DEDICATION. IN THIS
SENSE, ENGAGEMENT IN SPORT
REPRESENTS A PERFECTIONIST WAY OF LIFE
Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all
we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work
within us. —Ephesians 3:20
Spiritual
SPEAK
Top
TWEET
Dharmendra Pradhan
@dpradhanbjp
#ModiGovt is committed to alleviate
the economic hardships of the
poor evolving from the #COVID19
situation. Shram shakti of Odisha
thank PM Shri @narendramodi for
resumption of work and higher wages
under MGNREGS amid these difﬁcult
times. #IndiaFightsCorona
Piyush Goyal
@PiyushGoyal
Aiding uninterrupted supply of
essential goods amid COVID-19
pandemic, Ministries of Railways
and Commerce & Industry have set
up helplines for citizens.Promptly
responding to queries, our Govt
under PM @NarendraModi ji’s
dynamic leadership is committed
to resolving all issues.
The UGC lays
too much
emphasis on
highly technical
criteria that are
extremely
detrimental
towards
attracting
talented and
wise individuals
to serve as vice-
chancellors. On
the other hand,
it pays no heed
to qualitative
attributes such
as placing a
premium on
possessing some
knowledge of the
history of higher
education
IRRFAN, AN ACTOR
EXTRAORDINAIRE
PASSES AWAY
ven as India counts it dead
from coronavirus the news of
actor Irrfan Khan’s demise has
come as a tragic blow. One of
Bollywood’s most versatile ac-
tors, a trailblazer, Khan passed away in
Mumbai’s Kokilaben hospital where he
was admitted on Tuesday where he lost
his battle to cancer.
Aged only 53, he has left behind his griev-
ing widow, two children and lakhs of fans. An
aspiring cricketer he was definitely Indian
cinema’s big gain.
Khan had been ailing since 2018 when
he was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine
tumour and went to Britain for treat-
ment. Aware of the seriousness of his ail-
ment, Khan said in a profound statement,
“I trust, I have surrendered.” Yet the
fighter that he was, he came back strong
enough to deliver another powerful per-
formance in Angrezi Medium. Because of
his illness the actor could not attend the
movie’s promotional events at which his
recorded message, in which he talked of
“unwanted guests in his body”, was
played to audiences. His alma mater, the
National School of Drama, New Delhi,
has all the reason to feel proud him.
He has bequeathed a rich body of cinemat-
ic work to perpetuate his memory for genera-
tions to come. Irrfan won wide acclaim for his
phenomenal and earthy acting in Pan Singh
Tomar, Maqbool, Haider, Piku, The Lunchbox,
The Namesake, Hindi Medium and Madaari
to name some of them. In each of his films he
put his heart and soul in the character he por-
trayed and left a lasting impression.
He was one Indian actor who was as
comfortable in Hollywood as he was in
Bollywood. Salaam Bombay, Danny
Boyle’s award winning Slumdog Million-
aire and Life of Pi made him a global star.
At times outspoken, he strongly denied
Bollywood aped Hollywood films.
Success did not come easy to Irrfan who
struggled for almost a decade doing theatre
and TV soap operas. It was a little known
British director Asif Kapadia who cast him
in his film The Warrior, which was shot in
Himachal Pradesh and released in 2002. The
film went on to win the Bafta award for best
British film. That gave Khan the much-need-
ed breakthrough. After Slumdog Millionaire,
in which he played a police inspector, he did
not look back.
Not just for his acting prowess, Irrfan
was a good human being who loved his
family. He was modest and soft-spoken.
In his death Rajasthan has lost a talented
artiste. Angrezi Medium gave a chance to
Khan, who was born Sahabzade Irfan Khan in
a Pathan family, to meet his kin. Sadly, he
couldnotattendhismother’sfuneralinJaipur
when she died on April 25 due to the lockdown.
Khan has left a void in the film world
but one can draw solace from the old say-
ing that those whom God loves die young.
Adieu Irrfan Khan.
IN-DEPTH
E
he debate about colleges hold-
ing timely online exams versus
delaying them until after the
coronavirus lockdown ends is
being conducted without any
historical knowledge.
It is almost a myopic debate
between the University Grants
Commission (UGC) and the
vice chancellors (VC). At the
heart of this debate are two
problem areas – the tradi-
tional insistence on complet-
ing syllabus instead of prun-
ing it and the quality of In-
dian VCs of late.
PRUNE THE SYLLABUS
As an illustration, I recall,
from my student days at Del-
hi University during the pe-
riod 1972-73, an occasion
when the university had to be
shut for more than three
months at a stretch due to
student disturbances. Yet the
university did not extend the
session but managed to con-
duct its examinations with-
out too much delay. My exams
were over by 12 May. It was de-
cided to prune the non-essential
partsof thesyllabiinwiseways.
Even the next session com-
menced on time. This was due
to a very wise pruning of the
teaching material, not an ob-
session with making sure eve-
ry single thing in the syllabi is
taught in complete detail.
The history of higher edu-
cation in India is replete
with innovative solutions
for such issues. In addition
to the instance of Delhi Uni-
versity, the example of the
Banaras Hindu University
(BHU) in 1985-86 and of the
Allahabad University in
1981-82 come to the fore.
Both these institutions had
dealt with such a problem in
creative yet simple ways.
At the Allahabad University
the academic session was run-
ning three years behind sched-
ule. It’s then VC UN Singh (my
late father) decided to provide
greater autonomy to the teach-
ers that helped the university
correct its academic calendar.
The BHU had also faced a
similar problem when Dr.
RP Rastogi was the VC. Ras-
togi too initiated similar
steps to restore the normal-
cy of the academic calendar.
QUALITY OF VCS
Such decisions to tricky prob-
lems depend a lot on the quality
of university VCs. It all comes
down to the business of recruit-
ingvice-chancellorsandtheUGC
has not displayed much wisdom.
The UGC lays too much em-
phasis on highly technical
criteria that are extremely
detrimental towards attract-
ing talented and wise individ-
uals to serve as vice-chancel-
lors. On the other hand, it pays
no heed to qualitative attributes
such as placing a premium on
possessing some knowledge of
the history of higher education.
It insists that to be eligible
for the post of VC, an indi-
vidual should possess ten
years of standing as a full
and formal professor. What
the UGC has failed to notice
or has willfully ignored is
that some of the truly great
vice chancellors in India’s
history would not have been
eligible to be considered for
the position had this always
been the case. In this galaxy of
distinguished names, we iden-
tify Pandit Madan Mohan
Malviya, Maurice Gwyer and
Hansa Jivraj Mehta. They did
not have a doctoral degree and
had never held the formal title
of professor. In fact, they were
not academics in the formal
meaning of the term. Yet they
are easily amongst the truly
great VCs that India has had.
This does not mean that
good VCs are not to be found
amidst formal academics. In
India, I can cite the example
of none other than Dr. Zakir
Husain who proved to be an
outstanding VC at the Ali-
garh Muslim University and
Dr. Amar Nath Jha who
steered Allahabad Universi-
ty so adroitly during the
years that spanned British
rule and beyond.
Another outstanding exam-
ple that comes to mind is that
of Robert Goheen at Princeton
University in the 1960s. Go-
heen was a 37-year-old assis-
tant professor on a contrac-
tual appointment at Prince-
ton when he was appointed
its president in 1957. He
proved to be one of the most
successful presidents of
Princeton University.
REFORM NEEDS LONGER
STAYS FOR VCS
There is another unfortunate
practice that has become almost
the norm in India during the
pastfewdecades.Itisbutrarefor
a VC to be re-appointed beyond
one term. Once again, it has not
struck the powers that be that
the truly great achievements of
thenamesthatIhavementioned
above happened over an extend-
ed period of time. Hansa Mehta
served for 9 years. Maurice Gw-
yer served for 12 years. Amar
Nath Jha served for 16 years and
Robert Goheen served for 17
years. Only then were they able
tobuildgreatinstitutions.Unfor-
tunately, the practice in India is
such that a VC is barely allowed
to complete a single term.
In fact, during the last five
years, there has been a very
disturbing trend that has be-
gun to manifest itself. It so
happens that VCs of five cen-
tral universities viz. Alla-
habadUniversity,CentralUni-
versity of Uttarakhand, Cen-
tralUniversityof SouthBihar,
Central University of Odisha
andtheMaulanaAzadNation-
al Urdu University, appointed
by the current government
have resigned before the com-
pletion of their tenures.
This does not augur well for
higher education in India, par-
ticularly in the light of my as-
sertion that for a university to
fare well, as history tells us, a
good VC must stay for more
than a single term.
The coronavirus lockdown
has put a lot of pressure on
universities, impacting their
activities, both on adminis-
trative as well as academic
fronts. Completing courses,
conducting exams, and start-
ing a new academic session
are the biggest challenges.
Perhaps, a well-structured aca-
demic administration would
have helped them sail through
the crisis with minimum diffi-
culty.
Academic administrators
would do well to take this pan-
demic as an opportunity to
identify the systemic problems
that hamper decision-making
in these difficult times and oth-
erwise. SOURCE: THEPRINT
SOMETHING’S WRONG
WITH QUALITY OF VCs
The practice in India is such that a VC is barely allowed to complete a single term
T
DINESH
SINGH
The author is the former
vice-chancellor of University of Delhi,
a distinguished mathematician and
an educationist

INDIAAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
Chandigarh: Punjab
Chief Minister Captain
Amarinder Singh on
Wednesday announced
to extend the curfew for
two more weeks to
check the spread of cor-
onavirus in the State.
“Though the curfew
has been extended by
two more weeks, there
will be relaxation from
7 am to 11 am every day.
During this time, peo-
ple can come out of
their houses. Shops will
also be allowed to
open,” said Chief Min-
ister Singh in a video
address to the State’s
people. The nationwide
lockdown was imposed
on March 25 to prevent
the spread of coronavi-
rus, which was to end
on April 14. It is now
slated to end on May 3.
However, during a re-
cent video conference
with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, several
state Chief Ministers
have requested to ex-
tend the lockdown pe-
riod.
Union Ministry of
Health, the total num-
ber of COVID-19 cases
in the country stands at
31,332, of which 7,696
have recovered/dis-
charged and 1,007 peo-
ple have succumbed to
the disease. —ANI
Punjab CM announces to extend curfew for 2 more weeks
PREVENTIVE MEASURE
New Delhi: The Centre
has made the use of
Aarogya Setu app com-
pulsory for all central
government employees
saying the use of the
mobile application will
help in breaking the
chain of transmission
of deadly Covid-19.
In the latest memo-
randum on the use of
the Aarogya Setu app
by the Ministry of Per-
sonnel, Public Griev-
ances and Pensions, the
government said offi-
cials who are catego-
rised as high risk or
moderate based on re-
cent contact with infect-
ed person should not
come to office.
Such persons should
self-isolate for 14 days
until the status comes
to low risk. “Before
starting for office, they
must review their sta-
tus on Arogya Setu and
commute only when the
app shows safe or low
risk,” the order dated
April 29, 2020 states.
The order has been
sent to all departments,
ministries, Cabinet Sec-
retariat and the Prime
Minister’s Office.
Arogya Setu is a mo-
bile application devel-
oped by the government
of India to connect es-
sential health services
with people in the fight
against novel coronavi-
rus.
Those who have
downloaded the appli-
cation are informed if
they have come in con-
tact with Covid-19 posi-
tive cases in their sur-
roundings.
It detects other de-
vices that have the ap-
plication installed that
come in the bluetooth
or GPS proximity of the
phone and captures in-
formation regarding
Covid-19 positive cases.
All departments have
been asked to issue sim-
ilar instructions to au-
tonomous, statutory
bodies , PSUs attached
to them. —Agencies
ArogyaSetuappmustforcentralgovtstaffIn a memorandum, the Centre has asked all its officials to download the Aarogya Setu app to help in the fight against novel coronavirus
Workers spray disinfectant on a car at the entrance of Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi. —FILE PHOTO
New Delhi: Those
COVID-19 patients
who are asymptomat-
ic or have mild symp-
toms of the infection
will be kept under
home quarantine for
14 days and will be
treatedattheirhomes,
Delhi Health Minister
Satyendar Jain said.
There are currently
3,314 COVID-19 cases
in Delhi. So far, 1078
have been cured. 53
are currently in ICUs
and 12 patients are on
ventilators, the
Health Minister said.
“According to the new
protocol, those who
are asymptomatic or
have mild symptoms
of COVID-19 will be
kept under home
quarantine for 14 days
and will be treated at
their homes. There is
no need to hospitalise
such patients,” Jain
told media persons
here.
The decision taken
by government comes
after Ministry of
Health has issued
guidelines for home
isolation of people
who either have very
mild symptoms or are
in the pre-symptomat-
ic phase. —ANI
Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients
to be treated at home: Delhi Min
Satyendar Jain
Mumbai: Caught in a
constitutional entangle-
ment over his member-
ship in the state legisla-
ture, Maharashtra CM
and Shiv Sena leader
Uddhav Thackeray has
approached PM Naren-
dra Modi for coopera-
tion in resolving the cri-
sis, sources said.
“He (Thackeray)
called Prime Minister to
talk about his nomina-
tion. He asked for help
saying if it does not hap-
pen he would have to
resign,” said a source.
The PM said he would
look into the matter.
Although the Maha-
rashtra cabinet had rec-
o m m e n d e d
Thackeray’s
name to be
nominated
to the Leg-
i s l a t i v e
C o u n c i l ,
the upper
House in Ma-
harashtra, from
the Governor’s nom-
inationquota,Governor
B S Koshyari has not ap-
proved it. BJP leaders
have pointed out that
the approval had legal
barriers, as it would be
violating the provisions
in The Represen-
tation of the
People Act,
1951.
A party
leader fa-
miliar with
the develop-
ment added
that Thackeray
wanted the BJP’s co-
operation for resolving
the issue.
“Knowing that it
would be the PM who
wouldbetakingthefinal
call on party’s decision,
he approached him di-
rectly. He wanted BJP’s
Maharashtra leaders
who are not willing to
cooperate with the Shiv
Sena, for what it has
done to the party, to be
directed by Modiji,” the
leader said. Thackeray
who took oath on No-
vember 28 last year, will
have to get elected to ei-
therof theHousesinthe
state legislature before
May 24. —Agencies
Guwahati/Ahmedabad:
Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT)
Guwahati is collabo-
rating with Hester
Biosciences Ltd
to work on vaccine
development against
COVID-19, both organ-
isations said on
Wednesday.
IIT Guwahati and
Hester expect the vac-
cine to be ready by the
year-end to start ani-
mal studies. The work
is currently in its ear-
ly stage of develop-
ment. “The vaccine
will be based on re-
combinant avian para-
myxovirus based vec-
tor platform,” they
said in a statement.
Rajiv Gandhi, Manag-
ing Director and CEO
of Hester Biosciences
said that in the current
pandemic situation of
COVID-19, the world is
looking at developing
preventive and curative
measures to safeguard
mankind. —ANI
CMseatincrisis,UddhavseeksModi’shelpIIT Guwahati & pharma
firm to develop vaccine
Lucknow: “I repri-
manded him as he was
lying,” said BJP MLA
Brij Bhushan Sharan
on Wednesday after a
video, in which he was
seen harassing a vege-
table vendor here and
asking him not to enter
the area, went viral.
“Some time back, I
got a death threat.
When my security per-
sonnel asked him his
name, he lied. Yes, it
was my video. I repri-
manded him because
he was lying. He said
his name was Rajku-
mar while his name is
Rehmuddin,” BJP
MLA, Brij Bhushan
Sharan told ANI. “He
was accompanied by a
child. Both were not
wearing masks and
gloves. It is a violation
of lockdown. 16 vegeta-
ble sellers in Kanpur
and one in Lucknow
tested COVID-19 posi-
tive,” he said.
Muslim vendor
rebuked in
Lucknow
New Delhi: The Cen-
tral Board of Secondary
education (CBSE) reit-
erated that there has
been no change in the
decision of the board
regarding the holding
of Class 10 and Class 12
board examinations. It
further stated that its
decision to conduct
board exams for 29 sub-
jects of Class 10 and
Class 12 remains the
same.
The clarification was
issued amid specula-
tion regarding the con-
duct of board exams,
the CBSE said.
“Recently there has
been a lot of specula-
tion regarding 10th
CBSE Board exams. It
is reiterated that the
board’s decision to
take board exams for
29 subjects of class 10
and 12, stands the same
as mentioned in
circular dated 1st April
2020,” the CBSE
tweeted on Wednesday
afternoon. —ANI
‘Will conduct exams for 29
subjects of class 10 and 12’
New Delhi: A com-
plaint was moved in the
National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) on
Wednesday seeking di-
rections to the Centre,
States and Union Ter-
ritories for mandating
“medical screening” of
all arrested persons be-
fore sending them to
jail in a bid to prevent
the spread of COVID-19.
The complaint, filed
by social activist Vish-
nu Kumar Gupta
through lawyer Gaurav
Bansal, said that sever-
al accused involved in
heinous and non-hei-
nous crimes are being
arrested and sent to jail
by the police across the
country. The complaint
expressed reservations
that if coronavirus in-
fected persons are sent
to prison, they might
infect all the inmates
and staff in the jail.
It sought the inter-
vention of the commis-
sion to direct Union of
India, States and UTs
to forthwith draft and
implement a policy re-
lated to making manda-
tory the medical
screening of all the ac-
cused persons who are
being arrested during
this period. —ANI
New Delhi: The Tele-
com Regulatory Au-
thority of India (TRAI)
issued its recommenda-
tions on ‘Review of
Television Audience
Measurement and
Rating System in India’
on Tuesday.
As a studied response
to concerns raised by
stakeholders relating to
neutrality and reliabil-
ity of the existing rat-
ing system, TRAI is-
sued a set of recommen-
dations for India’s sole
TV Viewership meas-
urement agency, BARC
India, a joint industry
body of the broadcast-
ers, advertisers and the
advertising agencies.
TRAI said that the rec-
ommendations are cul-
mination of a one and a
half month consulta-
tion process to review
the television audience
measurement and rat-
ing system in India.
“After considering
all comments received
from stakeholders dur-
ing the consultation
process and further
analysis of the issues,
the Authority has fi-
nalised its recommen-
dations,” informs the
regulator.
Meanwhile , Mahipal
Singh, Convener NBF,
said that Rajasthan has
close to 90 lakh plus Ca-
ble & Satellite homes,
but the viewership of
television channels is
measured through an
average of 1700+ meters
.This issue is prevailing
since inception and the
directive by TRAI has
been taken in the right
spirit by all stakehold-
ers and corrective
measure by BARC, will
lead industry towards
accomplishing many
progressive milestones.
Make screening of arrested
mandatory: Activist to NHRC
TRAI RECOMMENDS STRUCTURAL
REFORMS IN BARC GOVERNANCE
Varanasi: Three more
coronavirus cases have
been reported from Var-
anasi on Wednesday,
taking the total number
of cases in the district
to 52.
According to Vara-
nasi DM, Kaushal Raj
Sharma, three people
have tested positive for
coronavirus in Varana-
si today. “They were in
contact with a business-
man who was the first
person in ‘Saptasagar
Dawa Mandi’ to be test-
ed with COVID-19,” he
said. —ANI
3 more cases in
Varanasi, count
reaches 52
Volunteers shower ﬂowers petals on medics to appreciate their work, during a government-imposed
nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against COVID-19 in Amritsar. —PHOTO BY ANI
308 TEST POSITIVE IN HARYANA
Dharavi Medical Practitioners Association practice thermal screening for residents in Mumbai.
Shopian: Three mili-
tants were killed while
as an army officer, a sol-
dier and a civilian were
injured in an encounter
at Melhoora village of
Zainaporaareaof South
Kashmir’s Shopian dis-
trict officials said. The
Mehloora gunfight
started on Tuesday and
all three militant bodies
have been recovered
while as a woman sus-
tained injury. Pertinent-
ly. Meanwhile, security
forces are sanitizing the
area and have appealed
the people not to go clos-
er to the encounter spot
till the site is properly
sanitized.
Kochi: Chief Justice of
Kerala High Court S
ManiKumarispresently
onatwoweekisolationat
his residence after his
visit to his home town in
Tamil Nadu. He secured
permission for travel
from both Tamil Nadu
and Kerala government.
On arriving at the Palak-
kad border he went
through the mandatory
tests and then only his
vehicle was allowed to
pass. His staff who were
in the vehicle would also
be in two week isolation.
Kumar will take part on-
line in a retirement cere-
monyof aseniorjudgeto
takeplacelaterthisweek.
MELHOORA GUNFIGHT:THREE
MILITANTS KILLED,OPS OVER
Kerala HC Chief Justice
goes into isolation

INDIAAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
Kolkata: Governor
Jagdeep Dhankar has
written a letter to TMC
MP Kalyan Banerjee
urging him to listen to
‘conscience’ and call of
duty rather than be
driven by an external
‘script’. This came after
Banerjee’s letter to
Dhankar in which he
stated that the Gover-
nor is acting as ‘loud-
hailer of the ruling
party’ at the Centre.
“Final response to
Kalyan Banerjee. Urged
him- listen to ‘con-
science’ and call of duty
rather than be driven
by external ‘script’. Re-
mote controlled steps
are unworthy for men
of worth. Time to en-
gage in Covid 19!battle
than be part of emerg-
ing strategy to combat
Governor,” Dhankar
tweeted along with pho-
tos of the letter to Ba-
nerjee.
“In Covid 19 combat
have had enormous
benefit of counsel from
leaders of all political
parties except TMC.
Outreach to TMC yield-
ed no result. I am ever
available to discuss is-
sues concerning wel-
fare of people of Ben-
gal. Let us not bicker.
Time to beat Covid 19,”
he tweeted. In the letter,
Dhankar stated: “I am
surprised that you are
positioning on behalf
of Hon’ble Chief Minis-
ter while you are no-
where in loop on this.
This pseudo defence is
unfortunate and you
are ignoring that my
communication is a re-
sponse to what Hon’ble
Chief Minister started
and put before the pub-
lic to take a call.” —ANI
‘Remote controlled
steps are unworthy
for men of worth’
RAJIV KUMAR IS NEW
CHAIRPERSON, PESB
Rajiv Kumar has been appointed as new Chair-
person, Public Enterprises Selection Board
(PESB). He is a 1984 batch retired IAS officer of
Jharkhand cadre.
39 IAS OFFICERS RETIRING
IN APRIL 2020
As many as 39 IAS officers of various cadres
and batches are retiring in April, 2020. They
are: M M Kutty of AGMUT; L V Subramanyam,
Preeti Sudan, Dr D Sambasiva Rao, Dr M Padma
of Andhra Pradesh; Rabindra Panwar of Bi-
har; Arvind Agrawal and Atanu Chakraborty of
Gujarat; Dhanpat Singh of Haryana; Madhu Bala
Sharma and Raghubir Singh Verma of Himachal
Pradesh; , Khurshid Ahmad Shah and Salma
Hamid of J&K; N Sivasailam, V Yashwanth and G
C Vrushabendra Murthy of Karnataka; Renu Pant,
Raja Bhaiya Prajapati and Sabha Jeet Yadav of
MP; Sanjeevanee Kutty and Shreekant Singh of
Maharashtra; M Patton and Alan Gonmei of Na-
galand; Dr Arun Kumar Panda, Prasanta Kumar
Senapati, Prasanna Kumar Jena, Dr Tribikram
Pradhan, Prafulla Kumar Rout of Odisha; Pritam
Singh, Laxmi Narayan Soni, Modudan Detha,
Vinita Bohra, Dinesh Chand Jain of Rajasthan;
Tenzing Dolkar of Sikkim; G Govindaraj of
Tamil Nadu; C Pardhasarathi of Telangana; S
Ramaswamy of Uttarakhand and Gopal Krishna
and Amit Chaudhuri of West Bengal.
EIGHT IPS OFFICERS RETIRING
IN APRIL 2020
As many as eight IPS officers of various cadres
and batches are retiring in April, 2020. They
are: P Hari Kumar of Andhra Pradesh; Prabhat
Singh of AGMUT; RP Agarwal of AM; RS Nayak
of Chhattisgarh; V N Sasidharan of Kerala; Anil
Kumar of Madhya Pradesh; Tajdeep Kaur Menon
of Telangana; V P Srivastava of UP cadre.
INDRA MANI PANDEY LIKELY TO
BE NEXT AMBASSADOR TO UN
There are whispers that Indra Mani Pandey, Ad-
ditional Secretary (Disarmament & International
Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, is
being sent to Geneva as India’s Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to United Nations. He
is an Indian Foreign Service officer of 1990 batch.
RAVEESH KUMAR MAY BE
SENT TO FINLAND
Former MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar is
likely to be made Ambassador to Finland. Whis-
pers are in that he was earlier being considered
for being sent to Vienna. He is an Indian Foreign
Service officer of 1995 batch.
17 IPS OFFICERS OF 1991 BATCH
EMPANELLED AS ADG IN GOI
As many as 17 IPS officers of 1991 batch have
been empanelled for holding Additional Director
General or equivalent posts in Government of India.
GP SINGH EMPANELLED AS ADG IN GOI
G P Singh has been empanelled for holding
Additional Director General or equivalent posts
in Government of India. He is a 1991 batch IPS
officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
PRAVEN VASHISHTA EMPANELLED
AS ADG IN GOI
Praveen Vashishta has been empanelled for
holding Additional Director General or equivalent
posts in Government of India. He is a 1991 batch
IPS officer of Bihar cadre.
POWERGallery
‘Stranded
migrants...
the sending and receiv-
ing states may consult
each other and mutual-
ly agree to the move-
ment by road.
The moving persons
would be screened and
those found asymptom-
atic would be allowed to
proceed, according to
the home ministry.
The states and union
territories falling on
the bus transit route
will allow the passage
of such persons to the
receiving states and
union territories, it
said. On arrival at their
destination, such per-
sons would be assessed
by the local health au-
thorities, and kept in
home quarantine, un-
less the assessment re-
quires keeping the per-
sons in institutional
quarantine, the order
said. They would be
kept under watch with
periodic health check-
ups, it said. —ANI
Classy Irrfan...
Irrfan loved Jaipur
from the bottom of his
heart. Although he has
travelled across the
globe, Jaipur remained
his favourite destina-
tion. He is survived by
his wife, Sutapa Sikdar,
and sons Babil & Ayan.
President Ram Nath
Kovind, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, I&B
Minister Prakash Ja-
vadekar, Congress lead-
er Rahul Gandhi, Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot
along with numerous
Bollywood and Holly-
wood actors took to
twitter to pay tributes
to the industry’s most
versatile actor.
As news of his death
broke, #IrrfanKhan,
#RIPIrfan and other
hashtags related to the
actor became the top
trends on Twitter.
Irrafn’s was an end-
less story of talent,
just like the mathe-
matical constant pi,
whose value cannot
be expressed!
Guj heaves...
Three of these are
from Delhi and were
on a state tour after
covering Uttar
Pradesh and Rajas-
than.
In Ahmedabad, four
employees of the state
information depart-
ment’s have been infect-
ed with the virus. The
state government has
put other staffers on
home quarantine.
The privately run
Christ Hospital in Ra-
jkot has decided to
give free treatment to
COVID-19 patients,
making it the first
private hospital in
the state to make such
an offer.
New guidelines...
They said the Navy and
the Indian Air Force
have also been told to
keep some of their plat-
forms on stand-by for
the evacuation which is
likely to be the biggest
after ‘Operation Raa-
hat’ when India brought
back over 6,700 people,
including citizens from
41 countries, from
strife-torn Yemen in
2015.
The Navy has identi-
fied the INS Jalashwa,
an amphibious ship,
and two other landing
ship tanks for the oper-
ation.
The sources said the
Indian Air Force is also
keeping a number of its
transport aircraft ready
for the operation.
The operation will be-
gin after the lockdown is
lifted. The current
phase of the lockdown
ends on May 3. It is not
immediately clear
whether the govern-
mentwillfurtherextend
the drastic measure.
UGC issues...
The varsities may de-
cide whether to conduct
exams online or offline
keeping in view the sup-
port system available
with them and ensuring
fair opportunity to all
students.
The UGC has said the
lockdown period may be
considered as “deemed
to be attended” by all
students and if the situ-
ation demands, the uni-
versities can have sum-
mer vacations for 30
days in June.
“Intermediate stu-
dents will be graded
based on internal as-
sessment of the present
and previous semester.
In states where the
COVID-19 situation has
normalised, there will
be exams in the month
of July. For terminal se-
mester students, exams
will be held in July,” the
UGC said. “Universities
may follow a six-day
week pattern and de-
vise proforma to record
travel or stay history of
staff and students for
the lockdown period.
Extension of six
months will be granted
to MPhil, PhD students
and viva-voice be con-
ducted through video
conference,” it added.
The commission clar-
ified that the guidelines
are advisory in nature
and varsities may chalk
out their own plan tak-
ing into consideration
issues pertaining to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Covid vaccine...
“The manufacturing
capacity that exists in
our region is of the
quality and scale re-
quired to produce and
roll-out a COVID-19
vaccine globally. This
region is a vaccine
manufacturing power-
house and must now
also play a lead role in
overcoming the ongo-
ing pandemic,” said Dr
Poonam Khetrapal Sin-
gh, Regional Director,
WHO South-East Asia.
Leading manufactur-
ers from India, Indone-
sia and Thailand dis-
cussed timelines and
production capacity at
the meeting, while reg-
ulatory bodies deliber-
ated on adjustments
that would be needed in
processes to make COV-
ID-19 vaccines available
at the earliest.
‘Only 0.33%...
“This time the hall-
mark of our approach
has been fivefold: (i)
Maintaining a continu-
ous situation aware-
ness, (ii) Pre-emptive
and proactive approach,
(iii) Graded response as
per continuously evolv-
ing scenario, (iv) Inter-
sectoral coordination at
all levels, and lastly, but
most importantly (v)
Creating a people’s
movement to combat
this disease.”
Commenting on In-
dia’s strengths in tack-
ling the disease, he said,
“India has successfully
tackled public health
emergencies of inter-
national concern and
pandemics in the past
as well.” —ANI
FROM PG 1
New Delhi: Former Fi-
nance Minister and sen-
ior Congress leader P
Chidambaram said that
in the absence of a clear
signal of assistance
from the Centre, the pri-
vate sector will be
forced to resort to large
scale retrenchments
and lay-offs.
The Congress urged
PM Narendra Modi to
announce a package to
protect the wages, sala-
ries and pay cheques of
about 11 crore people
working in the MSMEs
sector.
He said workers are
waiting with bated
breath to know if they
will be paid their sala-
ries/wages for the
month of April. “There
is palpable tension and
rising uncertainty
among the working peo-
ple of India and their
families,” he said.
Citing the annual re-
port of the Ministry of
Micro, Small and Me-
dium Enterprises (MS-
MEs), he said 11 crore
people are engaged in
6.3 crore MSMEs. He
asked: “Most of them
would not have worked
a single day in the
month of April be-
cause the entire coun-
try was in a lockdown
imposed to contain the
coronavirus pandemic.
How will these people
feed themselves and
their families without
an income?”
He said the business-
es have had no sales this
month and their pay-
ments to their vendors
are also stuck, leaving
the vendors also in dis-
tress. “The time to
make bold decisions to
save the MSMEs is now.
If businesses do not see
hope, they will decide to
close,” he warned.
Chidambaram said it
is bewildering that
there has been absolute-
ly no financial package
for businesses since the
onset of Covid-19. “The
Government may have
the luxury of time, but
the MSMEs do not.
They need to know
right away whether
they will be helped to
stay afloat and thereby
pay salaries/wages to
those dependent on
these businesses,” he
said. —Agencies
MAKE BOLD DECISIONS: PC TO CENTRESenior Congress leader, P Chidambaram urged the Centre to announce wage protection package
New Delhi: The Con-
gress has hit back at
Finance Minister who
alleged that party is
misleading on facts on
issue of wil-
ful defaulters.
C o n g r e s s
Chief Spokes-
person Ran-
deep Surjew-
ala said that
Finance Min-
ister Nirmala
Sitharaman
is twisting
facts instead of giving
answers.
Surjewala said, “And
Nirmala Sitharaman ji,
cleaning the banks of
people’’s money by
writing off loans of ab-
sconders and fraud-
sters, is not called clean-
ing the system. It’’s
called weakening the
entire bank architec-
ture fiscally and impru-
dently, if not
maliciously.”
After Con-
gress alleged
that govern-
ment has
written off
loans of wil-
ful defaulters,
Finance Min-
ister said,
“Rahul Gandhi & RS
Surjewala, spokesper-
son of INC India have
attempted to mislead
people in a brazen man-
ner. Typical to INC In-
dia, they resort to sen-
sationalising facts.
Don’t twist facts:
Cong to Sitharaman
Mumbai: Extending its
gains for the third ses-
sion, equity benchmark
Sensexrallied606points
on Wednesday, buoyed
bybankingandITstocks
amid positive cues from
global markets.
Investor sentiment
improved on hopes that
gradual lifting of lock-
downs across world
would help start eco-
nomic recovery, traders
said. After surging
783.07 points during the
day, the 30-share BSE
index ended 605.64
points or 1.89 % higher
at 32,720.16.
NSE Nifty advanced
172.45 points, or 1.84%,
to close at 9,553.35.—PTI
New Delhi: Union Min-
ister Prakash Ja-
vadekar dismissed the
claim made by Con-
gress leader Rahul Gan-
dhi that Centre has
waived off Rs 65,000
crore of loan defaulters,
stating that he must
taketuitionfromformer
Finance Min P Chidam-
baram to understand
the difference between
writing off & waiving
off. “I was taken aback
by Rahul Gandhi’s com-
ment that Modi govt has
waived off Rs 65,000
crore. Not a single pen-
ny has been waived off.
Writing off is not waiv-
ing off,” said Javadekar
in a video message.
Sensex rallies
606 points, Nifty
reclaims 9,500
Take tuition from
Chidu: Javadekar
to Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: BJP’’s West
Bengal in-charge
Kailash Vijayvargiya
has shot off a 6-page let-
ter to Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Ba-
nerjee, accusing her of
“manipulating death
counts” due to COV-
ID-19.
The subject of the let-
ter reads, “Manipulat-
ing the reporting of
death count due to coro-
navirus in West Bengal,
confrontationist atti-
tude with Honourable
Governor and the cen-
tral government and
high handedness
against BJP leaders”.
The letter comes days
after Mamata Banerjee
tried to block the inter
ministerial team sent
by the Centre to the
state to assess the
ground situation as far
as tackling the Corona-
virus is concerned.
Vijayvargiya said,
“On one hand, the peo-
ple of West Bengal are
suffering due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
On the other hand, you
have been playing dirty
politics.” —Agencies
Fudgingdeathcounts:VijayvargiyatoDidi
New Delhi: Con-
gress leader and
MP from Wayanad
Rahul Gandhi has
interacted with the
local leaders of the
party in his constit-
uency and took
stock of the situa-
tion during the cov-
id lockdown. Dur-
ing the video con-
ferencing, the local
leaders raised the
issue of the condi-
tion of patients suf-
fering from chronic
ailments like kid-
ney and liver dis-
ease.arty sources
said Rahul Gandhi
assured his help to
these patients.
RaGa assures
help to patients
in Wayanad
On one hand,
the people of
West Bengal
are suffering due to
the coronavirus pan-
demic. On the other
hand, you have been
playing dirty politics.
—Kailash Vijayvargiya
BJP’s West Bengal in-charge
New Delhi: The Cen-
tre has decided to uti-
lise the forthcoming
monsoon season to
expand its water con-
servation efforts un-
der the national Jal
Shakti Abhiyan.
“Ministry of Home
Affairs has allowed to
take up MGNREGA
works/ drinking wa-
ter and sanitation
works during lock-
down with priority to
be given to irrigation
and water conserva-
tion works,” it added.
Central and State
sector schemes in ir-
rigation and water
conservation sectors
have also been al-
lowed to be imple-
mented with suitable
dovetailing with
MGNREGA works.
The Ministry of Jal
Shakti has stated in a
press note that due to
the current health
emergency in the
country, “Central
Government officials
will not be deployed
in Abhiyan this sum-
mer.” The Ministry of
Jal Shakti also en-
sured that all the
work will be carried
out under strict im-
plementation of so-
cial distancing & oth-
er measures. —ANI
CENTRE TO EXPAND JAL
SHAKTI ABHIYAN ACTIVITIES

TALKING POINTAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
IS HERE FOR A WHILE
Governments have
listed exercise as
one of four
essential activities.
Increases in the
number of people
walking and
cycling, including
children
If you have walked or ridden
around your neighbour-
hood, you have probably no-
ticed more people on footpaths
and shared walking and cy-
cling paths. This increase in
numbers is exposing much of
our walking and cycling infra-
structure as inadequate. It sim-
ply doesn’t provide enough
space to follow physical dis-
tancing rules, leading to re-
ports of overcrowding on these
paths.
The pandemic has highlight-
ed the volume of street space
given to motor vehicles, at the
cost of space for people to walk
and cycle. Given the far lower
traffic volumes on roads, cities
across the globe have been real-
locating road space to enable
people to walk and cycle safely
while adhering to physical dis-
tancing. Australian cities ap-
pear to have lagged behind.
The pandemic has highlight-
ed the importance of our local
neighbourhoods and the need
to provide safe space locally for
walking and riding, particu-
larly for our children. As many
Australians are staying home,
most of our physical activity
occurs on the streets and paths
around our homes.
Therefore, we must focus
our efforts on our neighbour-
hoods, local streets and shop-
ping centres, where residents
need safe and easy opportuni-
ties to be active. This includes
providing safe routes to chil-
dren’s schools, activity centres
and other hubs.
Public transport typically
moves up to half of all peo-
ple travelling to work in some
city centres. However, physical
distancing is often a challenge
on public transport. As restric-
tions are eased, shifting even a
proportion of these passengers
to walking or cycling trips will
have infection-control advan-
tages that limit transmission.
If there is not a significant
shift to cycling or walking, pri-
vatecaruseislikelytoincrease.
The results will be increased
congestion and pollution and
reduced community amenity.
Never before have we seen
such a shift to active modes as
our population has sought to
stay healthy and active during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Our
immediate priority must be to
tackle the inadequacies of cur-
rent walking and cycling infra-
structure to enable physical
distancing.
Beyond this, we must look to
the future. To promote active
transport, we need more space
that encourages these modes.
We need space for health.
This is one moment in time
to undo the wrongs of past
transport policies that promot-
ed the use of private cars and
harmed population health and
the environment. We must use
this opportunity to future-
proof our cities, invest in ac-
tive modes of transport, and
ensure we provide safe and eq-
uitable mobility solutions for
people today and for genera-
tions to come.
INCREASED NUMBERS LEAD TO CROWDING
A TURNING POINT FOR OUR CITIESEXPERTS CALL FOR ACTION
AUSTRALIA LAGGING BEHIND
The call by more than 100
health and transport experts
for infrastructure to enable safer
walking and cycling has been
supported by key organisations
including the Heart Foundation,
Public Health Association of
Australia, the Australasian Col-
lege for Emergency Medicine,
the Australasian College of Road
Safety, the Royal Australasian
College of Surgeons Trauma
Committee, Kidsafe, the Austral-
asian Injury Prevention Net-
work, Doctors for the Environ-
ment Australia, The Committee
for Sydney and The Committee
for Adelaide.
Across the world we see many
examples of the rapid roll-out of
social distancing infrastructure
to support cycling and walking
during the COVID-19 pandemic:
 Paris is rolling out 650km of
emergency bicycle lanes
 Milan has announced 35km
of streets will be trans-
formed for walking and
cycling
 Oakland is allocating 10% of
the city’s streets for walking
and cycling
 New Zealand has announced
funding to help councils
create more people-friendly
spaces in towns and cities.
These are just a few examples.
We must also consider lowering
the default urban speed limit to
30km/h and reducing traffic on
residential streets and around
local business areas.
Despite the urgent need for
connected networks of
walking and cycling infrastruc-
ture in Australia, we have not
seen a similar response from
federal, state and territory gov-
ernments.
At the moment, local councils
often don’t have the authority to
make changes locally or take
road space without the approval
of the state or territory govern-
ment. We need these govern-
ments to recognise the need for
rapid action and provide tempo-
rary delegation powers to local
councils to enable quick infra-
structure changes to support safe
walking and cycling. This has
happened in New Zealand and
the UK.
The roll-out of this infrastruc-
ture will also be critical in reac-
tivating the economy when phys-
ical-distancing measures are re-
laxed.
Financial and planning ex-
perts have recommended against
investing in major road projects.
Instead, they recommend small-
er-scale projects that focus on
sustainable modes of transport.
Such projects will enable people
to travel to work and school us-
ing transport modes that are
both safe and healthy.
T
he coronavirus pan-
demic has dramati-
cally shifted our lives
and the ways we move
about our cities. Despite tight
restrictions on non-essential
work and outings, and on social
gatherings in every state and
territory, governments have
listed exercise as one of four
essential activities. As a result,
we have seen increases in the
number of people walking and
cycling, including children.
Physical activities such as
walking and cycling are per-
fectly compatible with physi-
cal distancing – but only with
the right infrastructure. More
than 100 Australian health and
transport experts have signed
an open letter calling on gov-
ernments to enact urgent
measures to support safe walk-
ing and cycling and social dis-
tancing during the COVID-19
pandemic.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: ABHISHEK GUPTA

There will always be something
that will not be entirely in our
control. Our acceptance will
make things easier, once we accept, we can
handle and mould it.
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India
AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
08
2NDFRONT
First India News
Surat: Shailendra
Tomar is among those
unlucky 1028 still wait-
ing for a e pass to take
his 8 month pregnant
wife to Murena. He has
applied online 8 times
so far but he is still to
be lucky.
Living in Dindoli
area of Surat
Shailendra wants the
delivery of his child
in Murena but Mure-
na administration is
asking him to come
by bus Shailendra,
u n d e r s t a n d a b l y,
can’t risk infection
in a crowded bus for
his wife Rita and yet
unborn child.
He is further terri-
fied with each new
corona positive sur-
facing in the state
and has sleepless
nights fearing the
worst.
Nagesh and Chatra-
pal, both cousins of
Shailendra, say that
they will go by a taxi if
permitted. He thinks
paying hefty taxi bill
will be cheap com-
pared to paying Rs 5000
rent for the flat where
they can’t even man-
age food for all of
them.
The story is more
or less same for all
the migrant workers
stranded in Gujarat
all simply wanting to
reach their homes
what if to die there.
Khandauli resi-
dent Rinku Sikarwar,
an auto driver, is liv-
ing in Ghodasan So-
ciety, Chitrakoot
Apartment. All 20
auto owners are
ready to go to native
village in their auto
rickshaws as they
are jobless and half
eating. Labour de-
partment has been
reaching out to the
stranded workers as
per its claims but the
ground situation
seems to be worsen-
ing by the day. The
only way they are ex-
pressed is either
through rare media
reports or the violent
d e m o n s t r a t i o n s
workers engage in to
attract attention of
the administration
and media. All state
govts should consid-
er it a humanitarian
issue and resolve at
the earliest.
Jobless migrant worker stranded with 8 month pregnant wife
First India News
Gandhinagar: One of
the major benefits ac-
crued out of lockdown
apart from containment
of dreaded virus spread
has been a almost two
thirds drop in road ac-
cidents in the state.
Road accidents, on the
corona forced lockdown
roads, have reduced by
71% compared to nirma
hustle bustle days. This
pleasant outcome came
to light in a analysis by
an emergency service
agency.
From about 398 dai-
ly cases of accidents
in normal times, the
number fell to 115
during the lockdown
period, says the study
conducted by GVK
Emergency Manage-
ment and Research
Institute (EMRI) that
operates the free 108
ambulance service in
the state. A compara-
tive analysis of calls
received for various
emergencies on nor-
mal days and during
the lockdown period
showed that incidents
of vehicular trauma,
or accidents, fell
sharply by 71 per
cent, mainly due to
lack of vehicles on
roads, it said.
The case of non-ve-
hicular trauma, how-
ever, rose from 281 on
normal days to 400 dur-
ing lockdown, showing
more people were phys-
ically or sexually as-
saulted, or fell down
and hurt themselves,
the analysis revealed.
Besides, the number of
people calling for ambu-
lance after suffering
from high fever doubled
during this period,
mainly due to coronavi-
rus concerns. The num-
ber of calls received for
ambulance services
during the lockdown be-
tween March 25 and
April 25 in the state rose
mainly due to restric-
tions on the movement
of other vehicles, as per
the analysis.
The 108 ambulance
service received
about 3,854 calls on
the daily basis for
various emergency
cases during the lock-
down period showing
a rise from 3,073 calls
during normal days,
an increase of 25 per
cent. Out of 1.55 lakh
emergencies served
since March 18 by the
108 service, 10,272
were related to sus-
pected coronavirus
cases, the agency
said.
The analysis also
probed on the medi-
cal technicians and
drivers providing
emergency services
and found two medi-
cal technicians to
have been found in-
fected which later re-
covered but it found
satisfactory training
and provision of pro-
tective gear to the
drivers and techni-
cians.
First India News
Ahmedabad: After be-
ing under lockdown for
a month in Gujarat, 15
self-employed youths
belonging to Uttar
Pradesh left for home
on their bikes but were
detained by Madhya
Pradesh police. The
youths were then forced
to come back to
Ahmedabad through
private transport since
their vehicles were de-
tained by MP police in
Jhabua. They have been
walking home to Chan-
dlodia from the Godhra-
Vadodara highway for
the last 36 hours with-
out any food.
Jitendra Vishwa-
karma, one of the
youths, said, “We own
wood businesses and
are self-employed but
we were running out
of money by staying
here in Ahmedabad
so we decided to re-
turn to our native vil-
lage in Uttar
Pradesh.”
Vishwakarma added
that 14 people started
from Ahmedabad on
seven bikes and that it
was a hassle-free jour-
ney till they reached the
G u j a r a t - M a d h y a
Pradesh border. At
Jhabua, they were
stopped by the police.
Narrating the experi-
ence, he said, “MP Po-
lice asked us to contact
the Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Yogi Adity-
anath and told us that if
he approves, they will
allow us to ride on to
our native village in Ut-
tar Pradesh.”
But since they did
not have any contact
with UP officials, MP
police detained their
vehicles and the
youths were com-
pelled to hire private
transport to take
them back to
Ahmedabad. They
were told that the ve-
hicle would drop
them to Vadodara but
they were dropped at
the Godhra-Vadodara
highway and have
been walking home
since last night.
When they last spoke
to First India, the group
of youngsters had al-
ready touched the bor-
der of Ahmedabad city.
But according to Vish-
wakarma, the group
has been facing difficul-
ties in walking since
they haven’t eaten any-
thing in the last 24
hours. Before going to
print, First India had
contacted the police
control room and re-
quested them to help
the youngsters.
Lockdown makes Gujarat
roads safer by 71 percent
MP police cuts short
youths’ ride to UP
Yet the emergency calls see a surge of 25% due to non vehicular trauma cases
Youth arrested
for posting
fake video
Full Reference
Court on Guj
HC’s 60th
First India News
Porbandar : Lockdown
idleness got too creative
with one Raju Keshwa-
la who uploaded a fake
video claiming treat-
ment of Covid-19.
The video also laid
a condition a bill
passed by Loksabha
for the his medicine to
be distributed free of
cost to all. Video went
viral in no time but
also found the local
police as its audience
who aren’t amused by
Raju’s tall claim that
he was ready to be in-
jected by the dreaded
virus to prove his
claim. Miyani Marine
Police reached out to
Raju at his residence
and soon realized that
he was making castle
in air.
First India News
Ahmedabad: Chief
Justice of Gujarat
High Court Justice
Vikram Nath has can-
celled all the functions
related to the 60th
Foundation Day cele-
bration of the court.
In a letter written to
all judicial officers, bar
council office bearers
and senior advocates the
CJ has cancelled all pro-
grammesstartingfrom1
May to 3 May and then
continuing in the rest of
theyear.Howeverthelet-
ter states that a Full
Court Reference will be
heldviavideoconferenc-
ing o 1 May at 11 am. Gu-
jaratstatealongwiththe
High Court came in to
existence in 1 May 1960.
Crossing border:
60-yr-old in soup
CORONA +VE ESCAPES ISOLATION
First India News
Dang: A farm labourer
who had gone to Baha-
duri village in Maha-
rashtraforworkwasjob-
lessduetothelockdown.
He decided to go back to
his native village Nima-
rpada in Dang district in
Gujarat.
Zaver Chaudahri
was caught by the po-
lice crossing the Ma-
harashtra-Gujarat
border on Tuesday.
“We found him near
Shamgahan village
during the patrolling.
He entered into Guja-
rat via forest route.
Hewasgoingtohisvil-
lage on foot,” police said.
He was booked under
various sections by the
police.AccordingtoDang
police, over 25 such FIRs
have been filed in differ-
entpolicestationsagainst
thoselabourerswhowere
foundtohaveenteredinto
Dang district secretly
amid lockdown.
Dang district have
so far recorded two
Covid-19 positive cas-
es, both of them are
Surat returned nurs-
es. The village seniors
want a humanitarian
approach to Zaver like
cases.
First India News
Surat: New Civil Hos-
pital (NCH) witnessed
escape of a 50 year old
Covid-19 positive pa-
tient on Tuesday night
from the isolation
ward.
A shocked NCH man-
agement informed Su-
rat Municipal Corpora-
tion of the escapade
who then launched the
man hunt. SMC offi-
cials, along with Kha-
todara police, reached
the residence of the pa-
tient but he wasn’t
found there. Efforts to
nab him are on, police
said. The patient tested
positive on 21 April and
was admitted to NCH
the same day.
NCH Medical Su-
perintendent, Dr.
Preeti Kapadiya said,
“Generally, the isola-
tion ward has selec-
tive nurses and doc-
tors. Nobody apart
from the selected
staffers is even al-
lowed to go near the
isolation ward. COV-
ID-19 patients are
given special dresses
and they can be easily
identified if spotted
in public areas.” No-
tably, a 55-year-old
COVID-19 patient had
also tried to escape
the NCH a few days
ago but was not al-
lowed to enter his so-
ciety.
Family members of three Porsa-based workers stranded in Surat.
The youths walking back to Chandlodia after being dropped on
Godhra-Vadodara highway.
LIFE,
INTER-
RUPTED
Hindi film actor
Irrfan Khan with
his son Ayan on
visit to Sabarmati
Gandhi Ashram in
Ahmedabad in 2016;
Khan (53) passed
away on Wednesday
after a long battle
with cancer at a
hospital in Mumbai,
his family said in an
official statement.
FACT FILE
GRAVE HUMANITARIAN ISSUE

AHMEDABAD, THURSDAY
APRIL 30, 2020
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
HAIDER ALI ZAIDI
cannot believe that
Irrfan is no more.
On Wednesday at
11:30 am, I got a
call from Irrfan’s
brother Imran,
who said that he
had just been informed of
Irrfan’s demise and the
first phone call was to me.
I choked with emotion
when he has aid that Irrfan
was no longer in this world
and now I was in his place
for the family.
Irfan and I spent our
childhood together, we
were neighbours. He used
to study in St. Paul’s and I
studied in St. Xavier’s. We
did not go to the same
school but used to spend
time together after school.
His father had a tyre shop
at Chandi ki Taksal. They
had a jeep, which was mod-
ified and worked on kero-
sene, but while starting, he
used to put some petrol, Ir-
rfan would laugh and say
that we were fooling the
jeep. His father would take
all of us ion the jeep to
Amer, Irrfan was very fond
of his father though he did
not share his interest in
hunting.
We were fond of flying
kites as children and would
often get hurt due to falls,
in one such incident Ir-
rfan’s right hand was frac-
tured. The bone did not
mend with the result that
the healed right hand was
mildly crooked. He made
that very thing a weapon in
his fast bowling.
From the very begin-
ning, he was a man who
stood by you. Once when
we were in college, I
bumped into a roadways
booth at Ajmeri Gate,
where the current was
flowing and I was stuck to
it. All our friends ran away,
but Irrfan stayed and saved
me using his canvas shoes
made of rubber. He ran and
brought water and milk to
revive me.
When he was selected in
the National School of Dra-
ma, he came to meet me at
2 o’clock in the night and
said that it seems that the
connection with Jaipur is
ending forever. After com-
pleting his studies at the
National School of Drama,
he moved to Bombay. Ir-
rfan lived a life of immense
struggle. He used to tell me
that he had to eat such food
that it strains the mind.
When I travel in local, I
fantasise that some tiffin
will fall in my lap and I will
get good food for a change.
When his film Maqbool
was released, I could not
see it immediately, he kept
on calling constantly to tell
me to watch the film once.
When I finally went to
watch the film, he called
every once in a while, on
every scene to ask how me
and Rana (my wife) are lik-
ing it. He was a very in-
tense and hard-working
human. He was interested
in all living and non-living
things, used to live through
everything, be it books,
trees or the characters he
played. He was an avid
reader and would read a
different genre of books,
coaxing me to read as well
by giving me choicest
books.
Whenever he met, he
would ask hundreds of
questions to get all the
news about each member
of the family. We would go
to Murali paan shop late at
night during his trips to
Jaipur and would walk to-
gether on the empty roads.
We would revisit the places
of our childhood Jal Ma-
hal, Amer, and all the
places which carried the
stamp of our esca-
pades.
I even went to
England in Novem-
ber 2018 to meet him. He
hugged me as soon as I saw
him and said, “See, I called
you to London.” During
those seven days, his talks
were not focused on his ill-
ness but on where should I
eat, sightsee, and do activi-
ties to make the trip memo-
rable. When I went to him
to take his leave before re-
turning to India, he said
that today there is a pro-
gramme of Shreya Gho-
shal and Rahat Fatah Ali
Khan, so I should stay back
to enjoy. Later, whenever
we met, he did not discuss
his illness, nor did I ever
mention it publicly, but his
eyes were such that they
would speak loud and clear.
He was born a fighter and
lived like a fighter. Even
now, it seems that he will
come back after defeating
death and say that look, I
have come back.
I am remembering the
poetry of Faiz, as I think
of Irrfan:
“jis dhaj sy koe
maqtal me gaya, woh
shaan salamat rehti
hai…
ye jaan tu aani
jaani hai iss jaan
ki tu koe baat
nhi…”
When I finally went to
watch the film, he called
every once in a while, on
every scene to ask how me
and Rana (my wife) are lik-
ing it. He was a very in-
tense and hard-working
human. He was interested
in all living and non-living
things, used to live through
everything, be it books,
trees or the characters he
played. He was an avid
reader and would read a
different genre of books,
coaxing me to read as well
by giving me choicest
Whenever he met, he
would ask hundreds of
questions to get all the
news about each member
of the family. We would go
to Murali paan shop late at
night during his trips to
Jaipur and would walk to-
gether on the empty roads.
We would revisit the places
of our childhood Jal Ma-
hal, Amer, and all the
places which carried the
stamp of our esca-
I even went to
England in Novem-
ber 2018 to meet him. He
hugged me as soon as I saw
him and said, “See, I called
you to London.” During
those seven days, his talks
were not focused on his ill-
ness but on where should I
eat, sightsee, and do activi-
ties to make the trip memo-
rable. When I went to him
to take his leave before re-
turning to India, he said
that today there is a pro-
gramme of Shreya Gho-
shal and Rahat Fatah Ali
Khan, so I should stay back
to enjoy. Later, whenever
we met, he did not discuss
his illness, nor did I ever
mention it publicly, but his
eyes were such that they
would speak loud and clear.
He was born a fighter and
lived like a fighter. Even
now, it seems that he will
come back after defeating
death and say that look, I
have come back.
I am remembering the
poetry of Faiz, as I think
of Irrfan:
“jis dhaj sy koe
maqtal me gaya, woh
shaan salamat rehti
hai…
ye jaan tu aani
jaani hai iss jaan
ki tu koe baat
nhi…”
IRRFANGONE TOO SOON
“Dariya bhi main, darakht bhi main ... Jhelum bhi main, chinab bhi
main ... dair bhi hoon, haram bhi hoon ... Shia bhi hoon, Sunni bhi
hoon, main hoon pandit ... main tha, main hoon aur main hi rahoonga
I
Haider Ali Zaidi with Irrfan Khan
VERSATILE AND IRRESISTIBLE IRRFAN KHAN

10
FLASHBACKAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
FACEOFTHEDAY
LARISSA D’SA, Influencer
YOUR
DAYHoroscope by
Saurabbh Sachdeva
LEO
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
Networking is really
important for your career
so try and become more
socially active.
Homemakers will remain occupied in
rearranging everything in the house
as a new obsession. You will be able
to keep upto the expectations of the
family members.
LIBRA
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
You will be rewarded for
your performance by
higher ups. You can expect
some raise very soon.
Keep away from stress and take
things easy, tough time will soon
pass and happy days will be back
again. Don’t focus on impressing
people; work on yourself.
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20
You will have to deliver an
outstanding performance
on professional front to
come into the limelight, if
that’s what you desire. You have to
take care that you hire the right
person or people to manage your
finances. You will work hard like
anything on academic front today.
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 23 - DEC 22
Not everything can go as
you have planned but there
is nothing wrong in that, life
surprises you in unexpected
ways. You must refrain from flaunting
your money or lifestyle as people can
misunderstand you to be rude. On
home front, your presence will keep
things peaceful and calm today.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
Those of you who have just
entered your professional
life must give your all in
terms if efforts and hard
work. Those of you feeling a bit
restless today must try and meditate
a little. Your kid will make your proud
and you will be left totally surprised.
You get disheartened easily.
AQUARIUS
JAN 21 - FEB 19
You are back to normal
routine after a little break.
Things are really good with
you. You will be in much
demand in family today. Somehow
fitness has become your primary focus
for now. Exciting experiences in your
work place will make your day. You will
receive a good news today.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 20
You will get lots of praises
today in your office
specially from your
colleagues. A simple trip
may become the most memorable
trip ever leading to soul satisfaction.
You must always come to your
spouse’s rescue. Near and dear ones
will keep you entertained.
CAPRICORN
DEC 23 - JAN 20
You have so far managed
to keep yourself absolutely
fit and others derive
inspiration from you. You
must not commit to something that
you won’t be able to fulfil. On home
front, you will have to deal with
things with lots of patience. You have
to get over your fears.
VIRGO
AUG 24 - SEP 23
You need to know the
tactics to get your work
done. You must make all
the efforts to get your
dream job and don’t stop in the
middle. You will easily manage to get
into your desired college. Your smile
will win many hearts today so make
sure to keep smiling whole day long.
CANCER
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
You must prevent yourself
from thinking a lot today
and try and keep yourself
calm. However tempted
you feel to spend beyond your
pocket, you must refrain from it.
Your family will be in really good
mood today and you together will
have some awesome time together.
PISCES
FEB20 - MARCH 20
You will be able to
complete a very time
consuming work within
allowed time. Sources of
earning will open up for you from
nowhere and you will be left
surprised. You will have much
enjoyment will your colleagues today.
Whatever you do, give your best.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
You must do whatever it
takes to maintain your
relationship with those
who matters. You are
confident and ready to conquer the
world. You must know there are
others like you in this world and they
can see through you therefore don’t
consider anyone fool.
City First takes its readers to the flashback of the
tremendous films actor Irrfan Khan had been a part of,
and stunned everyone with his great acting skills,
may it be in Bollywood industry, or Hollywood

ETCAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
11
KAVITA CHAUHAN
y very first assign-
ment as a journalist
was to interview Ir-
rfan Khan. The actor
was in Jaipur to
shoot an ad film, Re-
surgent Rajasthan. I
followed him from one set to
anotherbutallinvain.Owing
to his tight schedule the inter-
view never happened and I
had to suffice with a glimpse
of him. I cannot forget how
inspiringhelookedevenashe
sat there looking up at the sky.
Those sharp eyes melt my
heart even today.
Later in 2016 when he was
in the city to promote ‘Ma-
dari’ I got a chance to meet
him in flesh and blood. As I
waited for him at the hotel
suppressing the fan in me to
take over, I saw him walk to-
wards me wearing a dark
blue suit, his messy locks of
hair falling on his face. When
makeup man tried to give
him a touch up he said, “Ab
isse jhaada kya accha dik-
hunga, yeh chehra hi aisa
hai.” My heart skipped a beat
but I managed a good inter-
view with him. With his
humble behaviour he put my
nervousness to rest.
Luck has often been on my
side. In 2017 I met Irrfan once
again. It was a rendezvous to
discuss his then-upcoming
film ‘Hindi Medium’. This
time he was a guest at my of-
fice (God! I did make quite an
effort for that). A lot of ex-
citement began to build
among the team members as
his visit to our office would
be exclusive footage. At the
last minute, his team called
up to cancel the visit. I was
devastated. O wouldn’t give
up so easily. I did my best and
convinced his team to get
him to our office. Finally,
there is the guest room of my
then office sat, The Irfan
Khan. He was a little low ow-
ing to some tension that had
happened earlier in the day.
With a view to settling the
tension I spoke to him off
camera and asked him how
difficult it was for him to un-
derstand the English accent
when he first went for his
Hollywood auditions. He
chuckled and said, “Oh bahut
mushkil tha starting mein,
per ab mujhe unka accent sa-
maj mei aa jata hai.. the way
they roll their rrrrrrs.” The
light chat off camera helped
and he was on a roll during
the actual interview.
Postthatinterviewwewere
almost friends. We chatted at
length and I told him about
my first assignment, the one
where I had to return empty-
handed. To this, in a very jo-
vial mood, he replied, “Iska
matlab meri wajah se aap
journalist bani, dekhiye usse
waqt aap mera interview lene
aayi thi aur woh hua nahi..
lekinaajmeikhudaapkepaas
aaya hun apna interview
dene”. Such was his humility.
I smiled and said, “Promise
me that whenever you are in
the city, you will come to our
office.” To which he replied,
“Mein yeh toh promise nahi
karoonga ki mei isse office
mei jaroor aaoonga but mei
yeh promise karta hoon ki
mei jab bhi Jaipur aaya aapse
milne pukka aaounga.”
Such was my experience
with one of the most versatile
actors and an amazing hu-
man being. His words still
echo in my ears. He is not
among us today but the im-
pressive works that he has
done will always keep inspir-
ing us. He, as his name sug-
gests, was indeed a repository
of knowledge and wisdom.
An actor par excellence and
an artist in true sense.
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
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INDIA’S
IRRFAN
IRREPLACEABLE
The perks of being a journalist are many, one
among them is meeting your favourite celebrities.
When I look back I think of so many inspirational
people I have met in my career but today all I can
think of is one man - IRRFAN KHAN!
M
TOP-TWEETS
Irrfan Khan
... at Jal Mahal, Jaipur
Kavita Chauhan with Irrfan Khan
...a flashback photo of his childhood

12
CITY BUZZAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
Rajasthan: As the news of Irrfan’s death came in, there was a wave of shock and grief in his
home, colony and everyone who knew him. Rafiq Khan also reached his residence at Ramgarh
mod to convey his condolences in person. Most of the relatives conveyed their condolences
telephonically in the wake of the national lockdown.
Ahmedabad: In addition to providing them with masks, personnel from the
Border Security Force also ensured that people in the border areas of Kutch
have enough water to drink, as temperatures soar to 42 degree Celsius amid
the lockdown.
Ahmedabad: Patients practise yoga at the dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Ahmedabad to
speed up the recovery process.
Rajasthan: Considering the safety of medical staff at
Jaipuria Hospital, where more than 100 patients have
been kept in isolation, 40 face shields, 50 N95 masks
along with financial contribution have been made on
Wednesday by the family members of Dr. Pankaj Saini,
who is the President of Jaipuria Hospital Resident
Doctors’ Association. The initiative was taken in the loving
memory of Retired DSP Social worker Late Narayan Lal
Saini by their family members.
Ahmedabad: Peak summer is still a while
away, but this tree in Gandhinagar seems
done with the hot weather, even if it does look
dramatic against the blue sky.
Rajasthan: A free Webinar by
real estate consultancy firm,
Wealth Clinic is going to be
held on 1 May, where CMD
of Wealth Clinic, Amit Raheja
will talk about the current
state of the World and Indian
economy, along with the
future of the real estate industry. This will be for
the benefit of Wealth Clinic customers and for
anyone who is interested to listen to the views
presented by Industry experts on the subject.
Rajasthan: With the deadly virus
affecting the people in the city,
45 Corona positive patients were
admitted to the NIMS Hospital
during the lockdown, out of which
29 patients have been recovered
and reported negative recently. The
patients will be discharged from
the NIMS hospital soon. During the
pandemic situation, the hospital
management is providing facilities
to the patents including treatment
and food free of cost. SDM
Lakshmikant Katara congratulated
the staff and management for their
incredible work.
Rajasthan: Amidst the countrywide lockdown, Former
Councilors Santosh Sharma, Shankar Sharma, and
Vijay Sahu are fulfilling their social responsibility by
distributing 2,000 food packets at Sri Krishna Paradise
Garden, Pratapnagar every day since 1 April. Many
needy people from nearby areas are receiving those food
packets regularly.
Rajasthan: Renowned Bollywood actress Samiksha
Bhatt, originally from the Pink City is making a
come back again on the national television. Earlier
the actress was seen playing the role of Sita in the
famous TV show ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman Show
(2012)’ along with many other Bollywood movies
and short films.
Lockdown Opportunities!
CITY FIRST JAIPUR
T
o encourage visual artists
from Rajasthan to showcase
their creativity, Jawahar Kala
Kendra (JKK) is inviting art-
ists to send online applications of
any artwork or print work created
by them during the COVID-19 lock-
down. Director-General, JKK, Kiran
Soni Gupta shared that the artwork
must be created and submitted by
the participants from 1 May to 10
May, by 12 midnight. Selected art-
work will be displayed in the ‘Vir-
tual Gallery’ of the JKK’s official
website.
She further informed that the art-
work can be based on any subject.
Participants will have to present
their artwork in 4 stages: firstly a
sketch on the medium, second when
the work is completed 20% and suc-
cessively when the artwork is 50%
completed and fully completed. The
artwork selected by the committee
will win Rs 10,000 as a first prize, two
artists will receive Rs 7000 as a sec-
ond prize and 3 artists will receive
Rs 5000 as third prize. Also, seven
consolation prizes worth Rs 3,500
will be given and any other selected
artwork will receive Rs 2500 each.
Participants can email their en-
tries on exhibition.jkk@rajasthan.
gov.in with the title of the work, me-
dium, size and name. It is compul-
sory to include the bank account
statement as well as the IFSC code.
Other than this, a copy of the PAN
card and aadhar card will also have
to be provided. It will have to be ver-
ified that the submitted artwork has
been prepared during the lockdown
period. All selected participants will
receive a certificate which will also
be sent to them online.
Maintain work-life balance!CITY FIRST
I
IHMR, Jaipur or-
ganised a webinar
on ‘How to Balance
Personal Life &
Professional Life dur-
ing this Lockdown’,
where IIM Indore Di-
rector Dr. Himanshu
Rai said that achieving
a good work-life bal-
ance while working
from home takes care-
ful thought and plan-
ning. There should be
designated time, space,
and a method to work
and focus on family
also. This we can
achieve by practicing
mindfulness. We
should derive our iden-
tity from what we love
to do rather than relat-
ing our self-esteem and
self-worth with our su-
perficial designation.
Apart from Dr.
Himanshu Rai, the pan-
el also had Dr. Bhima-
raya Metri, Director;
IIM Trichy, said that we
should learn from our
Indian leaders like
Shivaji, Vikramaditya,
Chanakya. He said con-
textual leadership is in
the DNA of the Indians
and this is why India is
going to lead during
this pandemic.
Dr. Pankaj Gupta,
President, IIHMR Uni-
versity said that only
18% of people are liv-
ing in a mindfulness
state. Either they are
carrying the burden of
past or anxious about
the future, which is
hampering their work-
life balance.
The webinar was at-
tended by 630 partici-
pants.
BRINGING OUT
THE INNER PEACE
Meditation is a practice used by
many different cultures to quiet
the mind – and could be key to
surviving Coronavirus quarantine
CITY FIRST JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD
s physical distanc-
ing measures con-
tinue, more peo-
ple are turning to
meditation, and
Google searches
for information
are at an all-time high. It is
a practice that has been
used by many different
cultures and in many dif-
ferent ways, but always to
quiet the mind and make
us less reactive. In recent
years, research on this an-
cient practice has shown
that meditation may im-
prove immune response,
and also decrease stress
and depression.
With everything that is
happening in the world to-
day, with everything that is
out of our control, could
meditation be the key to
surviving quarantine?
City First talk to a few of
its readers about how they
are turning to meditation
for not just survival but
also mental well being!
A
Meditation simply
means reaching a
thoughtless state.
You can reach this
state through any
activity. Like when
you exercise, some-
times you get in the
zone so much that
you forget everything
around you, your
body is performing
activities but your
mind is no longer
there, that is medita-
tion. Because you
have managed to turn
thoughts off.
—ROSHNI SANGHVI
Lockdown was the
government’s choice;
locking myself up
in my ‘inner’net was
mine! As the exter-
nal din of life was
further subdued,
the inner stillness
spoke louder still. My
meditative practice
took a deeper plunge.
Positivity heightened;
perceptivity sharp-
ened; connectiv-
ity with other hearts
deepened; and I? … I
changed.
—PANKHI
CHAUHAN
As far as the current
situation is concerned,
we can use this time
skillfully to help
ourselves and our
family members. We
can meditate to heal
our souls, read good
books to enhance
our understanding of
the beautiful world
and learn some new
skills etc. We tortured
nature not nature is
retaliating. We will
have to bear the
consequences of our
deeds patiently.
—DR MADHUSHREE
CHOUDHARY
Meditation, some-
thing which I learned
as a student at the
National Institute of
Design (NID), has
been a great tool for
anchoring my inner
self. With regular
meditation practice of
heartfulness (SRCM)
technique, I have been
able to overcome
initial fears after the
lockdown. The deep
calm attained has
certainly boosted my
sense of well-being.
—- SWASTI SINGH
GHAI

First india ahmedabad edition-30 april 2020

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First india ahmedabad edition-30 april 2020