The Oval epic: India's six-run thriller

Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna after the victory today.
Photo credit: ESPNCricInfo / AFP / Getty Images

Sometimes, the most probable, is not what happens.

No one -- barring perhaps the wildest optimist -- would have ever given India a chance of winning the Oval Test today.

No one -- barring perhaps the most depressing pessimist -- would have thought England, who needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand and a full final day’s play remaining, would lose the match.

To say that the six-run win that India pulled off was dramatic would be an understatement.

England, chasing 374 runs, had reached 339 for six by stumps on Day 4.

HOW THE LAST DAY UNFOLDED

At the start of the final day’s play: 339 for 6; 35 needed for win

Seventh wicket falls at 347; 27 needed for win

Jamie Smith nicked one from Mohammed Siraj that was moving away and keeper Dhruv Jurel took it. Though everyone knew that the ball went off the bat, and the catch was taken clean, umpire Kumar Dharmasena asked everyone to wait and referred it to the third umpire for a video-replay review.

Eighth wicket falls at 354; 20 runs needed for win

Mohammed Siraj struck again, trapping Jamie Overton LBW with a delivery that would have clipped leg stump. Overton reviewed but lost.

Ninth wicket falls at 357; 17 needed for win

Prasidh Krishna bowled a full-length delivery, which Josh Tongue couldn't play, hitting his two stumps dislodging both the bails.

Chris Woakes, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, was forced to come out to bat, with his left arm in a sling and wrapped under his jacket. He received huge cheers from the crowd who applauded his guts and resilience.

Gus Atkinson kept scoring ones and twos and threes but, more importantly, retained the strike even during the change of overs, to keep the injured Woakes at the non-striker’s end. 

Woakes was visibly in pain as he kept running between the wickets. 

Last wicket falls at 367; seven runs to win

But Atkinson’s luck ran out when England needed just seven runs to win. Siraj delivered the knock-out blow sending one crashing into the stumps.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DRAMATIC DAY

A WELL-CONTESTED 5-TEST SERIES

Test matches were once dismissed as five boring days of cricket that almost always ended in a draw. But of late many have bucked that trend and this one was definitely one of the most gripping, fiercely contested ones. The first and the third Tests were won by England; the second and the fifth by India; the fourth was drawn.

For Shubhman Gill this was his debut series as captain, a stint well begun.

MEMORIES OF THE GABBA WIN

This victory was being compared to India successfully chasing 328 runs in the 4th Test match of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, played in Brisbane on 19 January 2021. This victory ended Australia's 32-year undefeated streak at the Gabba, their fortress, and India secured a historic 2-1 series win in Australia.

HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE GABBA TEST

Kerala in monsoon: A road trip

We returned to Bengaluru on Saturday, the 26th of July, after a two-week road trip through Kerala. It was the first time I undertook such a long journey by car.

That was possible, of course, thanks to the flexibility of retired life and the luxury of not having to worry about work schedules or reporting back to an office.

Bright side of monsoon travel

This isn’t exactly peak tourist season. It’s the time of the southwest monsoon. But Kerala is known for what is called "Monsoon Tourism".

The state experiences two monsoons: Southwest Monsoon (Edavappathi in Malayalam), from June to August, and Northeast Monsoon (Thulavarsham), from October to November.

One advantage of travelling during this time is the breath-taking scenery. The landscape is far greener than usual, and the moist horizons exude a quiet charm.

Many people visit the state during this time for Ayurvedic treatments too. It is a favourable time thanks to the cool, humid climate, and the abundance of medicinal herbs. Many wellness centres offer special monsoon packages.

And, since this is traditionally the off-season, hotels, homestays, and tour packages often come at discounted rates.

Kerala: An urban continuum

Kerala is unlike most other Indian states. It's essentially an urban continuum. You don’t encounter vast stretches of uninhabited land separating villages, common in many other states of India.

Kerala doesn't have the typical villages; they are all small towns equipped with good infrastructure: roads, schools, colleges, medical centres, and more. These towns are contiguous, and people are spread evenly across the state.

Aren't there cities in Kerala? There are. Each district capital is a city. Kochi is the largest and most cosmopolitan, though it doesn't match the scale of Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, or Delhi. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital.

Our route

We left Bengaluru early on the morning of the 12th and reached Guruvayur by evening. 

Considering the rainy season, we took the longer but better route via Coimbatore. Distance = ~ 500 km (~ 300 miles) Time = around 12 hours, including multiple breaks.

The next morning, on the 13th, we drove to my cousin’s home in Ernakulam, a distance of about 100 km (about 60 miles) which took roughly 3 hours.

After four days of quality family time and outings at Ernakulam, we headed to Thiruvananthapuram on the 17th.

NH66: A highway in transition

I consulted Google Maps to figure out the best route from Ernakulam to Thiruvanthapuram, a distance of around 230 km (140 miles).

The coastal route via Alappuzha is shorter (by about 15 to 30 minutes), but there are frequent diversions due to roadworks.

The roadwork is part of the six-laning of National Highway 66, which will enhance connectivity along India’s western coast.

NH66 (formerly NH17 and NH47) runs 1,640 km (1,020 miles) from Panvel in Maharashtra to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. 

Once completed, travel time will be cut by nearly half.

Scenic detour

Instead of the shorter coastal route (which would entail diversions), I opted for the one via Kottayam, taking the Mini Bypass, MC Road, and NH183.

It lacked the coastal views, but that was more than compensated with better roads and lush greenery and expansive water-filled fields.

We weren’t in a hurry, so after a relaxed breakfast, we set off at 10.30 am. It was drizzling. It was raining throughout our stay in Ernakulam, though its intensity was milder than what northern Kerala was experiencing.

Google Maps can be tricky

Google Maps is, no doubt, immensely helpful but not without problems. It always selects the fastest route, even if the time saved is just five or ten minutes. Even if one consciously selects a longer route, it may quietly switch back to the shorter one.

To avoid being redirected through Alappuzha, I first set Kottayam as the destination. Once we reached there, I set the final destination of Thiruvananthapuram.

Along the way, we stopped every hour or so — for lunch, for tea, and to just stretch our legs.

Reaching Thiruvananthapuram

We arrived in Thiruvananthapuram around 6:15 pm and another cousin of mine hosted us.

It was a heart-warming family reunion. This was the first time I spent so many days (five days, to be precise) with the entire family: my cousin, her husband, her daughter, her son-in-law and two children. 

In fact, it was the first time I was meeting my cousin's son-in-law, more than a decade after their wedding! Earlier visits never lasted more than a day, and on most occasions some of them won't be at home, having gone to office.  

Thiruvananthapuram is where I was born and spent the first 23 years of my life, before moving to Bhopal for my first job.

It always feels like homecoming when I’m back in this city, the capital of Kerala. 

A city that hasn't changed much a even after several decades.

Wind turbine blades being transported

When my friend and former colleague Seb called me a few days ago, he told me that he was planning to go to his home town in Thrissur on Friday.

I said my wife and I too were also planning to go to Kerala, in our car, but the next day. I suggested, "Why don't you come along with us?" 

He said he would be glad to join us, and postponed his trip by day and came long with us yesterday.

In fact, only a few months ago, we had thought of driving to Kerala together some day. And by a pleasant coincidence it happened yesterday.

We started around 5.15 am, and we reached our destinations, Thrissur and Guruvayur, by around 5.30 pm.

Wind turbine blades

On the way, we could see many long lorries transporting wind turbine blades. It's in fact a very common sight on the way. I am told we can see several of them on highways in Karnataka as well.

Below is a video of one of those long lorries transporting a wind turbine blade. 

These blades are very long. They could range anywhere from around 50 metres to 100 metres depending the type of technology used and on whether they are onshore or offshore. 

Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are leading players in wind power generation.

Tamil Nadu is the second-largest wind power producer in India with an installed wind capacity of 11,739.91 MW. It was previously the leader until overtaken by Gujarat, but remains the top performer in southern India.

Karnataka emerged as the leader in wind power capacity addition in 2024-25, adding 1,331.48 MW to reach a total of 7,351 MW. This is the highest single-year growth and the State is one among the top wind energy producers in the country.

Gill, Deep, Siraj script historic Edgbaston win

Shubman Gill celebrates after scoring a 161 in the second innings at Edgbaston.
With a 269 in the first innings, he became the only batter in Test history to score
a double hundred and a 150+ in the same match. -- Reuters

India made up at Edgbaston, Birmingham, for what they missed at Leeds.

By defeating England by a huge margin of 336 India registered their first ever victory last night at this ground, where they had, since 1967, played eight Tests (excluding this one) and lost all except one which ended in a draw.

Rain was a threat. In fact yesterday morning's play was suspended. Luckily for India, skies cleared by afternoon.

Before this Test started on July 2, there were worries about the composition of the team: will India be able to bowl out England twice without their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah?

But, they did. 

In England's first innings, Mohmmed Siraj scalped six and Akash Deep the remaining four.

In the second innings, Akash Deep took six and the remaing four were shared by Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravinder Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

Gill's memorable Test

Shubman Gill, to use a cliche, played a captain's knock in both innings, scoring 269 in the first and 161 in the second. 

His aggregate of 430 runs is the second-highest by any batter in a single Test, only behind Graham Gooch’s 456.

Gill became the first player in Test history to score a double century and a 150+ in the same match.

He also set the record for the highest score by an Indian captain in England.

Batters clicked this time

For India, the main problem in the first Test was that barring one or two, all the other batters just flopped. That wasn't the case here.

Not just Shubman Gill, others too clicked.  

In the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja scored 89, Yashasvi Jaiswal 87, Washington Sundar 42, and Karun Nair 31.

In the second innings, Ravindra Jadeja scored 69, Rishabh Pant 85, K L Rahul 55 and Yashasvi Jaiswal 28.

This helped India post good totals in both innings -- 587 and 427/6 declared.

Bazball tactic fails

When England chased down successfully 371 at Leeds, it was said to be a vindication of their Bazball tactic. 

"Bazball" refers to the aggressive, risky style of cricket adopted by the England Test team under the guidance of coach Brendon McCullum (whose nickname is "Baz"). The idea is to look for a win rather than for a draw.

But that just didn't work here. One, because of the pressure of the huge score India had mounted. And two, in both innings, Indian bowlers seemed to extract a better response from the surface.

England's first innings (407) was a pathetic show; very much like how India fared in the Leeds Test. Barring Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184), none contributed anything. The highest individual score after these two was 22 by Joe Root!

In England's second innings, they had a victory target of 608 with more than a day's play remining. It was definitely a steep climb, and considering they were already one up in the series, the traditional approach would have been to stay around to end the match in a draw rather than lose the Test.

But this time around, Indian bowling was definitely better than at Leeds, and English wickets began to tumble at regular intervals. They were all out for 271, losing by 336 runs, the second biggest margin of defeat against India.

New era

The victory is clearly a morale-boosting one for India. The five-Test series has now been levelled. 

India's new Test captain, Shubman Gill, is not only doing well individually with the bat, but also seems to be steering team in the right direction.

The third Test

The next match in the five-Test series begins on Thursday, 10 July, at Lord's.  

Movie: Sitaare Zameen Par

A few days ago, I went for a movie. It must be at least two years since I last went out for a film. 

It was for Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth).

Though this film is similar to his own 2007 film Taare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth), the story is very different. This is an official remake of 2018 Spanish movie Champions.

The central theme is: differently abled people are no less intelligent or less smart than any one of us. In fact, the so-called “normal” people have a lot to learn from the so-called “disabled”.

Gulshan, played by Aamir Khan, is a school basketball coach. He is very good at his game but not as a person. He is full of ego, short-tempered, doesn't know how to get on with people, etc.

He gets into trouble during a tournament and the case reaches the court which asks him to do community service in lieu of a jail term. 

His job: train a basketball team of young adults who are intellectually challenged.

At first, he doesn’t take it seriously, but slowly, the team changes his perspective. 

And he is reformed.

In the end at one point he says: "I am not their coach, they are my coach."

One message from the film was "Everyone has their own kind of normal".

This is a sensitive topic, and Aamir Khan has handled it very well. 

Though there a fair amount of comedy thrown in, characters' personalities are shown with the seriousness and respect they deserve. They are at no point shown as helpless. 

In real life too

It's not the theme alone that makes this movie purposeful, it's also the fact that many of the actors live with disabilities in real life. 

For example, Gopi Krishnan Varma, who plays the role of 'Guddu', has Down Syndrome. He has previously acted in a Malayalam movie, Thirike (2021). 

So too, is Simran Mangeshkar who plays the role of 'Golu'.

Samvit Desai, who is 'Kareem' in the movie, is neurodivergent. Rishi Sahani and Ayush Bansali too are intellectually challenged.

Genelia Deshmukh plays the role of Aamir's wife Sunita, and comes across well in the limited screen time she gets.

What the film seemed to lack

On the downside, I thought the transformation of Gulshan, the coach, didn't come across as powerfully as it should have. There were several points to it, but it didn't look like he was a changed person.

Also, as the movie progressed, many of the sequences in the initial stages seemed predictable, and I seriously wondered where was the story heading to, and how it would end. 

But, I must say, the ending was good, and it packed and delivered the social message quite well.

I’d give a rating of 4 out of 5. 

Overall, a simple, emotional story with an important social message told with warmth and respect.

First Test: India fall short at Headingley against England

Ben Duckett's 149 set the stage for England's
successful chase of 371. Reuters/India Today

India lost the opening Test of the England series at Headingley by five wickets, but honestly, it was one of the most entertaining matches I’ve watched in a while.

It wasn’t a one-sided affair. Plenty of runs were scored, and despite a few rain interruptions, the Test still yielded a result.

When England won the toss and put India into bat, there were plenty of doubts about how well the team, without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, would hold up.

All but three failed

Three superb centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134) raised hopes early. 

But here's the catch: those three alone accounted for 81% of India’s first-innings total of 471. That says a lot.

Jasprit Bumrah stood out

India’s bowling attack was supposed to outshine England’s. Yet, England nearly matched India's total, conceding a mere six-run lead.

Jasprit Bumrah was brilliant. He picked up five wickets for 83 runs in 24.4 overs. 

But Prasidh Krishna proved far too expensive, leaking 128 runs in 20 overs while taking three wickets. Mohammad Siraj also underwhelmed, giving away 122 runs in 27 overs for just two wickets.

Same story again

In the second innings, India's batting faltered again. Rishabh Pant sparkled once more with another century (118), and K. L. Rahul chipped in with 137. But together, they made up 70% of our total score of 364. The rest just didn’t deliver.

Chasing 371 with more than a day left, England never looked threatened. If anything, rain posed a bigger danger to them than India's bowlers.

A convincing victory

With ample time, England’s batters stayed calm and composed, needing just four runs an over. 

As long as they kept wickets in hand, the task was straightforward. Despite India's best efforts, England’s top order remained resolute.

Ben Duckett set the stage with 149. Zak Crawley scored 65 leaving Joe Root (53 not out) and Jamie Smith (44 not out) to steer the team past the mark with ample overs and time left.

Is the Israel-Iran war nearing an end?

A residential building in Be'er Sheva, Israel, damaged in Iranian attack on June 20. 
REUTERS/Amir Cohen 

Every time I check my phone, there are notifications from media organisations or journalists about some development in the Middle East (or West Asia, as we call it here).

None of the updates are positive. On the contrary, most of them are disturbing.

There’s so much at stake that these tit-for-tat strikes by Israel and Iran, which are becoming more horrific by the day, simply cannot be allowed to spiral out of control, if they haven’t already.

This Israel-Iran war is the third major conflict underway. There is already Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas/Hezbollah hostilities.

Regime change?

Judging by the latest developments, I get a feeling that a regime change in Iran could be on the horizon. 

How and when that might happen, a very crucial element, remains uncertain and speculative.

Or, that might not happen, in lieu of something else that might satisfy Israel who are keen on it. 

The building of Iran’s State TV broadcaster which was targetted by Israel on June 19.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Exit route

While there’s a lot of public posturing from all sides, quiet backroom negotiations are also happening behind the scenes, aimed at reining in both Israel and Iran.

In any conflict, one of the core objectives of diplomacy is to find a face-saving exit route for all parties involved. But, that's the toughest part.

It may be somewhat easier for Israel to pull back, but what would Iran tell its people if it does the same?

Iran had said it would consider talks only if Israel stops firing at its territory. Perhaps Israel could declare it has achieved its objectives (it has, more or less, is it not?) and pause, if not completely cease, its attacks.

If an exit path is found, all sides can claim victory, and the war could come to an end. The world would then be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

'Israel wants to end the war'

The Wall Street Journal has a story quoting Israeli and Arab sources, that Israel has conveyed a message to Iran, through intermediaries, that it is looking to end the war soon.

Could this be a sign that we are finally nearing the end of this conflict?

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Beyond Boeing and Airbus

For Boeing, the American aerospace giant, it has been a really turbulent journey. Over the last seven years, its planes have been involved in several fatal accidents. 

The most well-known are the two 737 MAX crashes (2018-19), the crash of a Boeing 737-800 in 2024, and now the Ahmedabad disaster, the first fatal crash involving a Dreamliner.

In contrast, Airbus, Boeing’s European rival, has not had any major fatal accidents involving new commercial jets during this same period. Most serious Airbus incidents occurred before 2015.

Besides, Boeing reported a loss of $11.8 billion last year, pushing its total losses since 2019 to more than $35 billion.

The Ahmedabad crash

As you may recall, the aircraft involved in the Ahmedabad crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Flight AI 171 had a normal takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, at 1.38 pm on June 12, but within just 36 seconds, something went terribly wrong.

The pilot issued a mayday call to the Air Traffic Control. 

Photo credit: PTI

The aircraft, heading to London Gatwick and carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, began losing altitude and descended, but over a residential area. 

It crashlanded on a hostel for doctors and soon caught fire. The horrific images of towering flames and thick black smoke, which were playing on the television, are still vivid in my mind.

Only one passenger survived: Ramesh Viswash Kumar, a UK citizen and resident of Leicester. 

Charred bodies are being identified through DNA samples of the next of kin. As of today, only about 177 have been identified. The identification process, and the agonising wait for families, will take several more days.

Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder (the black boxes) have been recovered. Investigators hope they will reveal what actually happened and put to rest the many theories circulating since the day of the crash.

Airbus pulls ahead

Boeing was founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing. It began as Pacific Aero Products and was renamed Boeing Airplane Company a year later.

Airbus entered the picture much later, in 1970, as a European consortium. 

Despite this late start, Airbus has now overtaken Boeing in many key metrics. For example, last year, Airbus delivered 766 aircraft, while Boeing managed only 348.

Alternatives to Boeing and Airbus

There are a few, but none can match the scale and volume of these two, to meet the global demand.

So, at least for now, it's just Boeing and Airbus.

However, there are two -- a Chinese and a Brazilian -- steadily ramping up their production. Looks like, with time, the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus might face a real challenge.

COMAC: China’s contender

A company with the potential to disrupt the Boeing-Airbus duopoly is COMAC, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.

Founded in 2008, COMAC is a state-owned enterprise based in Shanghai. 

Since becoming operational, C919 has carried
more than 1 million passengers. Photo credit: COMAC

Its flagship aircraft is the C919, a narrow-body, single-aisle jetliner that seats 158 to 192 passengers. It entered commercial service only in 2023 and currently serves major Chinese airlines.

COMAC is also working on a wide-body jet called the C929, which will seat 280 to 320 passengers and is designed for long-haul routes. However, it is still under development.

Additionally, COMAC has a short-to-medium range regional aircraft, the C909, with seating for 78 to 97 passengers.

Given China's rapid strides in science, technology, and global influence, COMAC seems well positioned to become a serious alternative to Boeing and Airbus.

Embraer: Brazil’s star

Another noteworthy player is Embraer, a Brazilian company that has delivered over 9,000 aircraft to customers in more than 100 countries. It is currently the world’s third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer.

Founded in 1969 by the Brazilian military government, with former Air Force officer Ozires Silva playing a key role, Embraer is based in São José dos Campos.

Embraer is known for its E-Jet family, the E170, E175, E190, and E195, as well as its newer E2 series. These regional jets seat fewer than 150 passengers and are in operation around the world.

Photo credit: The Hindu

In India, Embraer has a strong presence, with around 50 aircraft operating in various sectors. Bengaluru-based Star Air, for instance, operates nine Embraer jets across 22 Indian destinations from its hubs in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Belagavi.

While Embraer has no plans to build wide-body aircraft, it is exploring the possibility of developing a larger narrow-body jet to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families.

Given its presence in various countries, Embraer might not find it too difficult to diversify and offer customers a good alternative.

Duopoly might not last

While Boeing and Airbus are still the only companies that can meet large-scale global demand, the future may see more competition, especially as global air travel continues to grow, and with an increased focus on diversification and regional connectivity.

COMAC, with its ambitious plans and government backing, could eventually challenge the duopoly, while Embraer, eyeing expansion, remains a strong player in the regional jet segment.

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You may like to read: The Maharaja is back home (October 12, 2021) on Tatas getting back the ownership of Air India after the Union government privatised the airline.

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India’s falling fertility rate: Should we be worried or relieved?

If you asked someone, “What’s the biggest challenge India is facing today?” chances are high that you’d hear: overpopulation.

From traffic jams and garbage dumps to unemployment and corruption, so many of our problems seem to link back to too many people.

Since 2023, India has held the title of the world’s most populous country, with an estimated 1.46 billion people, overtaking China which has around 1.41 billion. 

But now, something significant has happened, quietly but surely: India’s fertility rate has dropped below the replacement level for the first time in history.

What low fertility rate means

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime. 

The replacement level, which is 2.1, is the average number of children that is needed for a population to replace itself without migration. 

India’s TFR is now 1.9.

In the 1950s, our TFR was around 6.2. That’s a huge shift.

South Indian states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have led the decline, while northern states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar still have higher fertility rates.

Why fertility rate has dropped

There are several reasons:

* Cost of living has been going up, but income has been rising much slowly

* There is better access to education and careers for both women and men

* Attitudes towards marriage and parenting have been changing

* More people are choosing to marry later, or not at all

Today’s millennials and Gen Z simply don’t feel the same pressure to start large families. Some don’t want children at all, while many prefer to raise just one.

Low fertility rate: good or bad?

Well, it has some benefits:

• Fewer people means less demand for resources, infrastructure, and public services
  
  
• Families and governments can invest more in each child’s health and education
  
  
• Quality of life gets better

But there’s a flip side too:

• Number of older people will steadily become more than younger ones. By 2050, over 20% of Indians will be senior citizens, that is double the current figure
   
• Fewer working-age people may impact productivity and economic growth
  
  
• More elderly people could also mean higher spending on healthcare, pensions, and social support
  
  
• Loneliness, already a big problem, may get just worse

Have more kids?

India’s historic family planning campaign, launched in 1952, carried slogans like Hum do, hamaare do (We two, our two) to encourage smaller families. It seems to have worked. In fact, the slogan gradually became Hum do, hamaare ek (We two, our one). 

Over the past year, there have been suggestions from some leaders that the trend has to be reversed.

In December last year, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said families should have at least three children, warning that a fertility rate below 2.1 could spell the extinction of communities.

Over the past few months, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been echoing similar thoughts. “I used to advocate family planning. Now I’m promoting population growth. India’s biggest strength is its demographic dividend. If we manage it well, our future is bright.”

He’s even hinted at financial incentives for larger families.

While such voices are still few, they’re becoming louder, and some of their warnings feel a bit alarmist.

Do we need to panic?

Not really.

Even though TFR is now below 2.1, India’s population is expected to keep growing until around 2065, reaching a peak of 1.7 billion. A decline will begin only after that, and any major negative effects will take even longer to appear.

So, while this shift is historic and important, there’s no need to rush into drastic policy changes.

What should we do?

Instead of pushing people to have more children, we should focus on making it easier for those who do want to raise families. For example:

• Affordable childcare
  
  
• Tax incentives
  
  
• Better parental leave policies
  
  
• Simpler, transparent adoption procedures

These practical measures help families balance work and home life, and let couples make decisions based on their own comfort, not societal pressure.

Leverage demographic strength

India is at a crucial moment. The drop in fertility rate shows that social change is happening, and fast.

But it doesn’t mean the sky is falling. With thoughtful policies and forward-thinking support systems, India can maintain a sustainable population and continue to benefit from its demographic strength.

Let’s not panic about fewer children. Let’s focus on making sure every child and family thrives.

RCB's IPL victory and tragedy -- lessons to be learnt

A horrific tragedy unfolded in Bengaluru today evening, during an event that should have been a celebration.

Historic victory for RCB

Yesterday, the city was buzzing with joy as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the Indian Premier League cricket championship, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad. 

It was the first time that RCB won the cup since IPL was launched 18 years ago. Thrice the team was in the final but had lost. 

Such was the euphoria yesterday that within moments, an announcement was made that there would be a victory parade through the city today. The procession was set to start from Vidhana Soudha and end at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Victory parades are common

Parades by winners of sports events are nothing new. They happen around the world. But what happened in Bengaluru this evening was tragically unprecedented. 

The stadium, which can hold around 35,000 people, saw crowds of around 200,000 on the roads leading to it. It was like everyone wanted to be part of the celebrations and tried to make their way in.

In the chaos, 11 people lost their lives and scores were injured. Luckily, all the wounded are now out of danger.

Stampedes aren’t new 

People not only form crowds but they try to push and shove to move forward. There have been so many incidents of stampede in our country in which scores have lost their lives. 

Today evening, fans should have restrained themselves. It was common sense that there would be huge crowds for anything to do with cricket in India.

On seeing the surging masses, they should have exercised discretion and gone back home.

Lessons to be learnt

There are a number of lessons to be learned by everyone involved — the fans, the cricket board, and the government.

The RCB and the government should not have announced the victory celebration in such haste, with less than 24 hours’ notice. 

Even if the idea was RCB’s (their enthusiasm is understandable), the government and the police should not have given permission without putting proper crowd control measures in place.

Cricketers didn't deserve this heartbreak

The government, the police, and the RCB fans owe an apology to the cricketers who worked so hard to lift the cup, and also to the families of those who lost their lives, and the wounded. 

The crickerters' achievement has now been overshadowed by this preventable disaster.

Let’s hope at least now we will learn the importance of planning, restraint, and responsibility.

Day 9 - Thane - Canon museum or Cannon museum?

(This is the last part of the Maharashtra tour series. You’ll find the links to all the other parts at the end of this post.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

We reached Thane, the last leg of the tour, from Sainagar (Shirdi) around 4 am, pretty much on time. 

We figured our way to the exit. As is the norm in most Indian railway stations, we were immediately approached by autorickshaw drivers offering us a ride to our destination.

At that hour, we didn't have many options. So, I told one of the drivers the hotel name and the location, and to be sure, showed him the Google Maps location as well. It was about 7 km away.

As I feared, the hotel gate was locked from the inside. So, I called the manager on my phone and got someone to open the gate.

After we checked in and freshened up, we took a nap and woke up quite hungry around 9 am.

Tea and biscuits

Assuming there would be restaurants nearby, I did not opt for a complimentary breakfast option while booking. Now, when I checked Google Maps, there weren’t any restaurants very close by. A couple of them that were not too far off would open only by 11 am.

We were left with asking the hotel reception staff to have tea and biscuits delivered to our room. That was all that was available!

Mysterious museum

Our Thane sojourn was just for a day. The only two engagements were meeting my teacher, Tekale Sir, who taught us General Knowledge and Sanskrit in school and also visiting the mysterious “Canon Museum”.

Sir’s family invited us for lunch, so we made use of the pre-lunch session to visit the museum, which had triggered a lot of curiosity in me while I was planning this entire Maharashtra trip a couple of months ago.

I have explained it all in the post Canon, Cannons, and AI

Here is a summary. While planning the trip, I was checking websites as well as AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, etc. Since I am interested in museums, I thought I would check if Thane had any museums. 

A “Canon Museum” showed up. AI-triggered information was that it's a museum of cameras made by the camera manufacturer Canon. 

There was also a link to the Google Maps location of that place. But when I checked on the Maps, it turned out that it was about cannons, as in artillery, and not cameras. There were photos put up by reviewers. Obviously, AI was misled by the wrong spelling. Even humans would have been.

So, I had decided that when I am in Thane, I will definitely visit this place to figure out what it was all about.

Finally at the museum

When we reached the place, about 5 km from the hotel, it didn’t look like the photos on Google Maps. There was a big gate that led to a vast paved ground. There were no signs of cannons nor Canon’s cameras.

We approached a watchman who was standing nearby and asked him about the museum. At first, he didn’t understand what we were referring to. 

No sooner had I opened Google Maps and showed him the photos the reviewers had posted than he said we were indeed at the right place. He led us in through the gate, and we walked to the left of the ground, where the so-called museum was located. 

We could see the artillery there. So it’s not about Canon cameras but cannons.

Place name change in Google Maps

I have made an edit to the name of the place in Google Maps, changing “Canon museum” to “Cannon museum”. But Google has yet to approve the change I suggested. It’s still under review. A small difference in spelling. But it makes a huge difference in meaning.

Not really a museum

It is a well-maintained place, full of different types of trees and plants. It is not exactly a museum. It is just a place where 12 historical cannons are mounted on two raised platforms. 

A caretaker of the place told us that the entire area was once under water and that these weapons were discovered during land reclamation. However, no other information was available regarding the artillery.

There is a children's playground on the premises with equipment like climbers, slides, and a horizontal bar. The caretaker mentioned that from 5 PM until late evening, the place is filled with children playing.

Additionally, there is a small Hanuman temple. A board outside states that the temple is over 100 years old.

The Hanuman temple

The entire area is by the side of a river, but the gate leading to it was closed.

It’s a place where one can spend time to relax and unwind. Since it was morning, we found just a few people there.

Back to school days

After spending around an hour there, we headed to my teacher’s house, where he stayed with his daughter and family. We were treated to a delicious Maharashtrian meal. We were meeting after about 30 years, at least. 

We spent the afternoon reminiscing about our school days. We also reconnected with a couple of common friends. After tea and snacks, we went back to the hotel.

THURSDAY, MAY 15

Around 6 am, we took an Uber from the hotel to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, or CSMT (what was once called Victoria Terminus or VT). It took about an hour and we were at the station by 6.45 am well in time for the Udyan Express which would would leave at 8 am and reach Bengaluru at 6 am the next day. 

Perfect start to retired life

It was a great trip, very fulfilling and enjoyable -- four places in10 days. I had fears of a heat wave ruining our outings. But mercifully, it wasn’t as hot as I expected. 

We also had worries if the border conflict would escalate further. During the trip, we learned that it was indeed a valid fear because several tourist destinations were planning to shut down if there was an escalation.

Thankfully, everything went off well. It was the perfect start to the new phase of my life, when I would be free from the hectic office-bound routine, giving myself the luxury of a slow-paced life.

(Concluded)

Maharashtra tour 2025 series

Day 1 - May 6 - Chugging along to Pune

Day 2 - May 7 - Pune - News, nuisance, and festivities

Day 3 - May 8 - Pune - A day of mixed emotions

Day 4 - May 9 - Pune - History, temple, and reminiscences

Day 5 - May 10 - Pune - Whirlwind tour and news flash

Day 6 - May 11 - Sambhaji Nagar - A special breakfast and a tryst with nature

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Ellora Caves

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara

Day 8 - May 13 - Shani Shingnapur and Shirdi

Day 9 - May 14 - Thane - Canon museum or Cannon museum?

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Day 8 - Shani Shingnapur and Shirdi

(You’ll find links to all parts of this Maharashtra tour series at the end of this post.)

TUESDAY, MAY 13

Our next destination was Shirdi, a temple town about 100 km west of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad).

During our last visit to Shirdi several years ago, we had hoped to visit the Shani Shingnapur temple, around 70 km southeast of Shirdi. We couldn't make it then due to time constraints. This time, we were determined not to miss it.

Shani Shingnapur is a small village located about 80 km southwest of Sambhajinagar. We left our hotel at Chh Sambhajinagar in a cab around 8 am and reached the village by 10:30 am.

A village without locks

Shani Shingnapur is unlike any other village — none of the buildings here, including houses, shops, and even the local bank, have doors or locks!

A house without a door. Image credit: Swati Jain/BBC

This practice is rooted in a centuries-old legend. Around 300 to 400 years ago, after a flood, shepherds discovered a large black stone by the riverside. 

One of them had a dream in which Lord Shani (the Hindu deity associated with the planet Saturn) appeared and revealed that the stone was a manifestation of himself. The deity instructed that the stone be worshipped in the open, without any roof or enclosure.

Since then, the belief has persisted that Lord Shani protects the village, and anyone attempting theft would face divine punishment. As a result, the villagers have chosen to live without locks.

Temple visit and rituals

Upon arriving at the temple, we were immediately approached by a man who informed us that belts and watches were not allowed inside, as their metal fasteners resemble locks. He then led us to a nearby stall offering various ritual items arranged on a plate.

The holy black stone, the idol of Lord Shani. Image credit: Swati Jain/BBC 

He explained the significance of each item before quoting the cost. At this temple, poojas and rituals are performed by the devotees themselves. Since many visitors may not be familiar with the procedures, a guide is typically assigned, and he expects a donation at the end.

Interestingly, we noticed that most people didn't have the plateful of items we were offered. Either they had brought their own pooja items, or they picked just a few from the stall. Later, we came to know that there is no need to buy all the items; one could pick and choose.

Historically, women were barred from entering the temple's inner sanctum. However, a landmark court ruling in 2016 overturned this restriction. Still, many women choose to stay outside the sanctum, respecting long-standing traditions.

Arrival in Shirdi

We completed the rituals and left for Shirdi around 11 am. We reached there by 12:30 pm and checked into a hotel.

Also known as Sainagar, Shirdi is a small pilgrimage town spread across 13 square kilometres and home to about 36,000 people (as per the 2011 Census).

Sai Baba. Image credit: Shree Saibaba Sansthan Trust

The town is famous for its shrine dedicated to Sai Baba, a revered spiritual figure whose teachings transcended religious boundaries and attracted both Hindus and Muslims. Believed to have been born in 1838, Sai Baba arrived in Shirdi at the age of 16.

He was first seen meditating under a neem tree and lived an ascetic life, initially sleeping in a temple and later in a mosque. His teachings emphasised Shraddha (faith) and Saburi (patience), advocating love, peace, forgiveness, and the belief that God is one and omnipresent.

Sai Baba passed away in 1918, and a temple was built at the site of his samadhi (final resting place). Today, tens of thousands of devotees visit the shrine daily, regardless of their religious background.

Peaceful darshan and departure

We were fortunate to visit the temple when the crowd was relatively thin. Our went to the temple at 1 pm was smooth, and we returned to our hotel by 3 pm to rest. Unlike at Shani Shingnapur, here, there wasn't anyone compelling us to buy anything.

After an early dinner at 8 pm, we headed to the railway station to catch our train to Thane, the final destination of our Maharashtra tour.

Sainagar Shirdi Railway Station

Despite being a small town, Shirdi is well connected with its own railway station (operational since 2009) and an airport (opened in 2017). 

The  Sainagar Shirdi Railway Station.

The Sainagar Shirdi railway station is a bit removed from the main road. While the platform displays indicated train numbers and coach positions, we didn’t hear any announcements — perhaps because of the station’s limited traffic.

Trains connect Sainagar to several major cities. We boarded the 12132 Sainagar-Dadar Express, which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The train departed on time and was expected to reach Thane around 4 am.

(To be continued)

Maharashtra tour 2025 series

Day 1 - May 6 - Chugging along to Pune

Day 2 - May 7 - Pune - News, nuisance, and festivities

Day 3 - May 8 - Pune - A day of mixed emotions

Day 4 - May 9 - Pune - History, temple, and reminiscences

Day 5 - May 10 - Pune - Whirlwind tour and news flash

Day 6 - May 11 - Sambhaji Nagar - A special breakfast and a tryst with nature

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Ellora Caves

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara

Day 8 - May 13 - Shani Shingnapur and Shirdi

Day 9 - May 14 - Thane - Canon museum or Cannon museum?

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Day 7 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara

(You’ll find links to all parts of this Maharashtra tour series at the end of this post.)

MONDAY, MAY 12

After visiting the Ellora Caves and two temples, we had lunch and headed to two more places. 

Paithani saris

One of the most remarkable things about Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly called Aurangabad) is its famous Paithani sari. 

Named after the town of Paithan, where these exquisite saris were first handwoven, Paithani remains a highly sought-after traditional garment, especially for festive occasions and weddings. 

Very often, we can see news items of celebrities flaunting the latest Paithani designs at public events.

Paithan itself was once the capital of the Satavahana dynasty around 200 BC, a fact that adds to the sari’s historical significance. Today, Yeola town in Nashik is known as the largest manufacturer of Paithani saris.

After lunch, we visited the Aurangabad Silk Mills on Paithan Road, close to the railway station. An official kindly took us inside and explained the intricate process of making Paithani fabric. 

The saris are either machine-made or handwoven on traditional looms using fine silk and zari threads; the latter is a process that can take several months to complete a single piece.

Intricate designs

Paithani saris gained immense popularity under the patronage of the Peshwas and the Nizams. During the 18th century, these saris became an essential part of the royal wardrobe.

We were told that what makes Paithani truly special is the “extra weft” technique, where additional threads are woven into the fabric to create intricate designs.

The motifs often feature peacocks, lotus flowers, and geometric patterns. The weaving technique is so unique that the design is visible on both sides of the fabric.

Thanks to online platforms like Flipkart and Craftsvilla, local weavers now have access to wider markets, allowing this exquisite handloom craft to thrive and remain accessible to sari lovers everywhere.

Himroo fabric

Another gem of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is Himroo, a fabric made from a blend of silk and cotton grown locally. 

It was introduced to the city during the reign of Mohammad Tughlaq, who shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (now in Aurangabad).

The name Himroo comes from the Persian word Hum-ruh, meaning ‘similar’. This fabric is a beautiful replication of Kinkhwab, once woven with pure gold and silver threads exclusively for royal families. Today, Himroo remains a symbol of luxury and tradition.

Taj of the Deccan

We also visited Bibi Ka Maqbara. This mausoleum was commissioned in 1660 by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother, Dilras Banu Begum, wife of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Bibi Ka Maqbara bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, built for Aurangzeb’s mother, Mumtaz Mahal. Thus is it is often referred to as the “Taj of the Deccan”. 

The monument stands majestically on a high square platform with four minarets at its corners. Nearby, there is a mosque added later by the Nizam of Hyderabad, though it is no longer used for prayers.

The mausoleum is open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Entry fees are ₹25 for Indian citizens and ₹300 for foreign nationals, with free entry for children under 15 years.

It must be said that this monument ranks a shade below the Taj in terms of overall upkeep, with signs of neglect all too evident. The plasterwork on the minarets has worn out and blackened in a few places. 

Hopefully, the Archaeological Survey of India will act fast to restore the past glory of the monument and put in place measures to conserve it.

(To be continued)

Maharashtra tour 2025 series

Day 1 - May 6 - Chugging along to Pune

Day 2 - May 7 - Pune - News, nuisance, and festivities

Day 3 - May 8 - Pune - A day of mixed emotions

Day 4 - May 9 - Pune - History, temple, and reminiscences

Day 5 - May 10 - Pune - Whirlwind tour and news flash

Day 6 - May 11 - Sambhaji Nagar - A special breakfast and a tryst with nature

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Ellora Caves

Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara

Day 8 - May 13 - Shani Shingnapur and Shirdi

Day 9 - May 14 - Thane - Canon museum or Cannon museum?

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