Chandrayaan 3
This moon mission has stoked patriotic fervour, as one would expect. Even before the marvel took off. And why not? We can rightfully be proud of the achievements of ISRO and the prowess of our scientists. Not everyone can be a master of rocket science. That said, there are also the proud chants of Jai Shri Ram doing the rounds with images of Lord Hanuman carrying the rocket. There is no escaping agendas anymore, come floods, space missions or tomato prices.
Talking of tomato prices, there were some gems including one where a vegetable vendor hit PR gold with news of bouncers guarding his precious red treasure from UP, and one from MP where a man launched a police complaint to trace his missing wife – they fought because he used tomatoes in a dish and she angrily went away with her daughter. So goes the story. Last heard, the good cops were trying to reunite them. Who said news can’t be entertaining? As long as it’s harmless, bring it on.
T-2 minutes to launch!
All the very best to @isro for the launch of #Chandrayaan3. pic.twitter.com/7MJuCOTB0K— Sumit (@sumitsah_445) July 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/Utkarsh09243237/status/1679781843867144192?s=20
https://twitter.com/zindgi_tabah/status/1679780030094749697?s=20
Delhi Floods
Why is the PM in France when Delhi is flooded? So says one school. Another is questioning the Delhi CM’s failure in handling the floods. Yamuna is reclaiming what is hers, says yet another school of thought. WhatsApp University meantime is working overtime as one would expect.
When it happens in Delhi, it is understandably more in the news and limelight than floods or natural calamities elsewhere. Thankfully, there is also some media coverage on the cops, NDRF and others working relentlessly to save people and animals affected by the flooding. Since this was in the Delhi-NCR region, we can also expect some news anchors to actually hit the waters instead of recreating the scenarios in their studios.
#DelhiFloodUpdate: Despite the receding #YamunaWaterLevel, several locations, including Rajghat and the Supreme Court area, are completely inundated.
Details: https://t.co/B9nlrR9ZqW#YamunaFloods #DelhiFloodspic.twitter.com/Xr3Lj5wQlp
— The Weather Channel India (@weatherindia) July 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/IndianExpress/status/1679451737386807298?s=20
What do you call this? Irony or timeliness? Can this expo really take place as planned when it is surrounded and disrupted by #DelhiFloods #YamunaFloods #DelhiRains #water#flooding pic.twitter.com/BlPfCP57vH
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) July 13, 2023
Ind Vs WI
That the West Indies did not qualify for the ICC Men’s World Cup came as a huge disappointment to many who had grown up watching this cluster of nations that played an exciting brand of signature cricket, as one. Some say the best athletes have gone to the lucrative sport of basketball in the US. Others blame the cricket leagues for the dearth of quality players to represent the West Indies team. This dearth of talent is showing in no small measure as the Windies are taking on India now. All credit to Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for spinning circles around the West Indies batsmen. And of course to debutante Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma for their centuries. As things stand, Jaiswal is unbeaten at the end of day two on 143. India have eight wickets in hand and lead by 162 runs. A result looks almost guaranteed. But it’s not half as much fun as a good, competitive game.
TEST CENTURY ON DEBUT FOR YASHASVI JAISWAL…!!
Jaiswal announces his arrival with a spectacular century on debut. What a talent, the star and future of team India. pic.twitter.com/h6PBm5bcCI
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 13, 2023
Virat Kohli celebrating his first boundary of the innings.
What a fantastic character.pic.twitter.com/f0DLJ8No4f
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/Hrishik51697463/status/1679559989420232709?s=20
Jawan Prevue
I learnt thanks to Jawan that ‘prevue’ is a word. As a student of marketing, one also learns something new with every movie. Jawan has ticked every box in terms of building up the excitement. From poster to prevue to the songs, every element of the film is being milked to potential. And why not? It has some of the best of South cinema and Bollywood’s one and only SRK. Will it do as well as Pathaan? Only time will tell. But one can safely stick one’s neck out and predict that this will be a hit. That’s not just based on 2 minutes and 13 seconds of the prevue, but also the promotions one is seeing day in and day out. Fingers crossed.
https://twitter.com/Harmindarboxoff/status/1678471920092586017?s=20
https://twitter.com/urstrulyES/status/1678299278027141124?s=20
https://twitter.com/SGGhostYT1123/status/1677202235208646656?s=20
Mahsa Amini
It’s been 300 days since teenager Mahsa Amini died after being in police custody in Iran, for not wearing a headscarf as required by law. Public perception that she died because of custodial torture has led to protests that are still ongoing. For the uninitiated, several people have been arrested, sentenced to prison terms and executed for protesting or for supporting the protests. A Mahsa Act (Mahsa Amini Human rights and Security Accountability Act) passed in the US looks like a small step but is a significant statement of intent. Unfortunately, not many countries can or will take a stand, even if they realise that it would be the right thing to do.
https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1679176183139778581?s=20
https://twitter.com/KimiaChigoft/status/1679671969954910211?s=20
https://twitter.com/sara65879350/status/1679752820021510144?s=20
(The author observes Tweets @Goks140. Views are personal.)
