Silent Killer: Unmasking the Devastating Impact of Environmental Pollution

source-GSFS

A very dangerous epidemic is killing 70 lakh people every year, but many people still do not know about it. In fact, Covid has killed 70 lakh people in the last 4 years. And the whole world declared it a global threat and started trying to eliminate it. This killer is killing 70 lakh people every year and no one is even affording housing on it. WHO has also been warning us about this for the last decade. Every year about 70 lakh people die naturally at a very young age despite there being no accidental causes of any kind. They die suddenly out of the blue, and they get some fatal disease They die at an early age, about 55% of people die from heart failure, 21% of people are dying from respiratory infection and 24% of people are dying from lung diseases. Apart from all this, in some rare cases, people are also suffering from brain-damaging disorders like Alzheimer's due to which they are dying. Now to find out the reason behind these premature deaths. When WHO studied the home environment of some of them, they found out that there was one thing absolutely common in all their houses, all of them were those houses where either the stove or Either the food was being cooked on a kerosene stove, which means the reason for his death was the air of an ordinary house which was slowly eating away at him from within and he died before time This research directly turned the needle of danger towards us because recently the list of top 50 most air polluted cities of the world has come out Of those, 42 cities were from India alone. Out of the top 50 cities, 42 Indian cities can you believe that and among them, Delhi is the best city in the whole world. It has become the pollution capital of the whole world and that too for many years continuously.

Source- GSFS

That is, the global trend that we saw in the beginning of premature deaths, that 70 lakh people are dying every year, and the maximum number of people dying among them are Indians.  But now the question arises how bad is the situation? Well, to find out this, recently some researchers in India made some artificial lungs which worked exactly like our lungs and placed them in top polluted cities of India like Lucknow, Bangalore, Delhi, Varanasi and you know within 24 hours they saw that those artificial lungs were slowly turning black and in Delhi within 3 days they turned completely black, followed by Lucknow 5 days, Bangalore 18 days and so on. This means that it takes one year for this to happen in the lungs of a frequent smoker as well. This is happening by spending a few days in these cities, that too without smoking a single cigarette in life. To validate this experiment, we also added the data of some cancer clinics and found out that a few decades ago, all the lung cancer patients who came to these clinics were mostly smokers. But today the game has completely changed. Today, out of all the lung cancer patients who come, more than 50% of them are all patients. There are non-smokers who have never touched a cigarette even once in their entire life. My own maternal grandfather never touched a cigarette in his life. He died of lung cancer. He used to live in the Parel area of Mumbai. There was a factory in the area. The pollution level was very high, but at that time there was so much education about it, but you know what, it is a matter of concern that today the situation has become worse, in today's time, every non-smoker Indian

Then tea is young or even child daily at least 5-10 cigarettes are taking so many toxins every day without even smoking and this is not an exaggeration, I will prove and tell you in some time
So what changed in India in the last 10-20 years that the air quality here has become worse than possible and today it has become India's number one killer and what about those people?
Those people who live outside these major metropolitan cities are totally safe or are they also knowingly exposing themselves to these risks as we saw in the case of Chule? Well, for the answers to these questions.
First of all, we have to understand what is the difference between clean air and bad air, how scientists measure it and how will you know whether the air in your area is good or not?
So, to measure the purity of air, scientists use the air quality index AQI scale, which is a scale from 0-500 where fewer numbers indicate less pollution and more numbers indicate more air pollution
Now to measure this AQI, more than two air quality stations are established in each state. Well, with the help of a special setup called a beta attenuation monitor, these stations do
Suck the air of that particular city and then count the toxic particles from them and estimate the air quality of that area.
Basically, this beta attenuation monitor has a flashlight that emits beta radiations and there is a filter and a detector in front of it.
Only PM 2.5 i.e. particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers are allowed inside and then when beta radiations collide with these particles and scatter
And if the detectors are not able to reach, then the detector identifies and calculates how much concentration of PM 2.5 particles in the air is once this concentration is detected.
Then that air is scored on a scale of 0-500 which is called AQI score and hence the measurement of PM 2.5 particles is very important because it spreads air pollution majorly
And they are also very toxic for our health, if suppose the volume of 1 cubic meter i.e. washing machine has less than 12 micrograms of particles, then the AQI score will be between 0-50 and the air quality will be considered good
If it is 12-35 micrograms of particles then the score will be 51-100 and if the air quality is considered moderate, if there are 35-55 micrograms of particles then the score will be 101-150 And such air starts showing its effect on sensitive people. That is, if you have any underlying respiratory problems like asthma, then it will start to aggravate. So the score will go beyond 150

If you are living in Mumbai, then on an average everyday you will run across 2-3 cigarettes and in daily Gurgaon then these estimates on 4-5 then still on the lower side.

According to Dr. Arvind Kumar who is the Chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery and Lung Transplantation, an AQI of 300-350 is equivalent to smoking 10-15 cigarettes daily for many months AQI touches this easily. In the practice of Dr. Arvind Kumar, he said that when he opens his chest for a lung operation. They only see black lungs. In today's era, even newborn babies can be easily categorized as smokers. In today's world, even newborn babies can be easily categorized as smokers. And if Sili is not taken care of, then in the future it can bring a huge burden to our medical system because today our medical system is not ready for this.

Today there is a huge shortage of government doctors in India. In fact, according to the recent official reports of the Health Ministry, there is an 80% shortage of specialist doctors in India We got an idea about how big a threat air pollution is in India, but after all, this PM 2.5 particle C is especially so dangerous.

Why is it that the quality of air is measured on the basis of these majors, then look at all the compounds that are toxic to our body which burn petrol, diesel, coal, rubber, and plastic.

They are mostly 2.5 micrometers or smaller, due to which they are easily released inside our body.

Penetrate and Damage causes lung and breast cancer, respiratory diseases, and even deformities in children, Lancet research has found that between 1990 and 2013, 188 Air pollution played a major role behind 1 third cases of heart attacks in countries. In developing countries such as India, on average 30% of heart attacks are triggered by air pollution. 30%

Can you believe it? For example, research from McGill University revealed that for every 10 microgram per meter cube PM2.5 increases, the risk of heart disease increases by 12-14%. So for example

Mumbai has an average of 55 mcgs. This increases the chances of heart disease by 50%. It also doubles in Delhi. A research by Gold et al found that air pollution caused many of the deaths

Almost 70% of deaths are due to heart diseases. While the remaining 28% have been caused by respiratory problems only. And therefore the biggest threat of air pollution is to the heart. Lungs

There is a bigger danger than this. And in developing countries like India, PM2.5 levels are 10 corners of the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards. For example, take a look at the US city of New York. Which is also quite densely populated

like Delhi and Mumbai. But, right now there is a live AQI running around 20. Which means air quality is very clean. Due to air pollution, the plaque in the arteries of our heart starts to build up rapidly.

And they become premature calcifying, that is, hard, which triggers the previously mentioned heart problems. Lung cancer is the next big threat. In India today, patients traveling with asthma are more than the rest of the world.

Most of all. Inhaling polluted air damages lungs in very simple words. Mutations in repairing genes such as epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR gene

They come and they start growing uncontrollably abnormally. Due to this, abnormality starts coming in the lungs and they are not able to work properly. If they are not able to supply oxygen properly, then oxygen

It will not take much time for a heart stroke or brain stroke to come due to lack of heart stroke. And that's why they bring with them many more problems. Even Indians are being dumped due to air pollution. Because we have to

There were many researches that proved the harmful effects of air pollution on the brain. Can you believe it? A 2012 study proved that children in polluted cities had lower general memory scores.

and in intelligence tests. A study by the University of Washington discovered that if children of 2-4 years of age are exposed to polluted environments, then it affects their brain development. and

In the case of adults, a Danish study found that high levels of air pollution exposure increased the rate of depression in adults by 50%, personality disorders by 162%, and the risk of schizophrenia.

Increased by 148%. It affects the brain in this way. Even in the organs of unborn babies in polluted cities, nanoparticles of pollution have been found which can improve their normal development.

The effects are and can create complications even before they are born. The simple mechanism behind brain damages is that the harmful particles of air pollution cross the blood-brain barrier and create chronic inflammation Which together with these particles damages neurons. Now in addition to the toxic effects of these heart, brain and lungs, air pollution is linked to almost every type of serious health conditions. as high blood pressure, diabetes, again through inflammation, cholesterol issues, kidney or liver function, cancers and much more. This is indeed the silent killer who is killing millions of Indians every year. But unfortunately

The reason that death due to air pollution will never come in anyone's death certificate is because over a period of time it is killing a person from the inside. University of Chicago

According to the calculation, if the air pollution of Delhi and other cities in the north of India comes according to WHO standards, then every person's life will increase by at least 10 years. i.e. in short air pollution

The average life expectancy of people in these cities is reducing by 10 years. So why are the conditions so bad in India, especially in the North? We live in India and our family

How can we avoid this serious problem? So, there is a very unique problem in the North, especially in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and surrounding areas. Delhi looks like something like it mostly before November. But there again

It starts looking like this in November and December. Why? Well, a few years ago, rice and wheat were cultivated together in Punjab and Haryana. And in this process, ground water was completely depleted. So the governments there

The BJP passed a law that rice will be cultivated from May to October i.e. in the rains and wheat cultivation will be done only after that from November to January. Now, as you can see transitioning from rice to wheat

Farmers were getting only one month.groundwater

Apart from this, Delhi is the national capital and comes in the heart of India, so the traffic here is also much higher than in other cities, leading to more pollution.

Now talking about the rest of the Indian cities, there are three different major reasons in their case, the first is construction. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in the last 10 years, national highways in India have increased by 60%

Along with this, the work of the metro is also going on in the wake-up, smart cities are being built, monuments are being built, bridges are being built and where there is nothing left, there are ways to lay underground cables and pipelines and LPG lines.

Now according to the Environment Protection Agency, the heavy vehicles that are used in the construction and the tars that are melted are made from the steel rods that are made.

Every year there are about 25-40% more carbon emissions and therefore this major contributor is low AQI in developing cities of India then another reason is vehicles

According to a report, today there are almost as many vehicles in our country as there are in the entire European Continent and according to the International Energy Agency, air quality is only due to road transport alone.

About 20-30% gets spoiled. They say that these vehicles release the most toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, which again cause PM 2.5

If we come under the category, then all the vehicles in our country are making the air of this country toxic and then come to the third and final major reason which is indoor air pollution so much development in India.

Even after this, in about 10 crore homes, food is still cooked on the stove and as we know earlier, wood has to be burnt to light the stove, which is like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.

Many chemicals are released, now the WHO says that due to this indoor air pollution alone, about 3-4 lakh people die prematurely every year. So just imagine this indoor air

How much contribution does pollution have in India's low air quality? Now yes, PM Ujjwala Yojana is definitely trying to solve this problem but it is going to take a lot of time. Indian government

There is absolutely a need to pass a clean air act like the USA, which they passed in the 1990s, and since then if you look at the air quality of the USA, today other developed countries around the world

That's much better. As you can see here, even their most polluted city does not cross 100, and heavily populated cities like New York also keep around 20. Personally, I strongly feel the right

Clean air should be the fundamental right of every human being. Like clean water. Because without water, we can survive for 7 days. But without air, we can't last 10 minutes. So such fundamentals

Why is the thing not being taken seriously? There are extremely few people who would have any idea of its seriousness. And by doing so, we are playing with our own health. We have become so entrenched in our daily lives that we

You have forgotten this simple thing that

If there is life, then there is a world. And own

There are some major solutions to avoid killers that you can follow to protect yourself from them. First of all, we should see at our level what is the AQI of the area in which we live?

If the AQI of your area is above 125, then you should wear N95 masks as much as possible in public, if there is no mask, then you can also use a simple handkerchief.

This simple step will filter out 95% of the particles present in the air, including PM 2.5 particles. Then if your house is road-facing or you live near a highway or a factory

So you can invest in a simple home air purifier or keep the air of your home clean, then if you travel in the car from Let's Office, you can work with your colleagues in the same car.

This will save fuel money and reduce pollution. In general, as much as possible, avoid unnecessarily private vehicles and prefer public transport, then in your home and in your society.

Plant plants as much as possible, and increase the greenery because plants purify the air naturally by soaking the air pollutants in the air for the Parali problem of North India, it is very good and

There is also a profitable solution, it will benefit every farmer, if you are a farmer or know a farmer family who is still burning stubble, then this simple idea will do wonders in Punjab Haryana.

Some farmers are collecting stubble and selling it to their nearby biogas plants and paper mills and earn a profit of about 7-8 lakh rupees annually, that is, about 60-70 thousand per month.

And that too from total waste and creating sustainable energy, if every farmer starts doing this, then the problem of air pollution in North India will end in 2-3 years.

If we can raise it, then why can't we change the country only with the contribution of everyone that will change what you want to see in the world? But for this, every Indian is the first

It is very important to be aware that every Indian will have to understand the seriousness of this problem and only then positive change will be possible I strongly feel it should be our duty for the sake of our health and society.

We cannot always depend on the authorities or the government, how many lives are lost all the time due to epidemics and diseases that could have been prevented if there was awareness and education.

Today, modern science gives us the privilege that by reading scientific research and publications, we can give better direction to our lives and empower every aspect of our life

And so my final message would be to share this video with our near and dear ones. We have to inspire every Indian to be aware of his health and science and also to perform his social duties.

They have to be encouraged and only then positive change will be able to come. Remember, if there is science, then there is progress and scientific thinking is the thinking of progress and if you are in medical science, then there is progress.

Want to contribute actively

Stay healthy everyone and take care, Jai Hind

Team Yuva Aaveg-
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Taiwan Invasion: Risk, Resolve & Response

Will Xi Jinping give the order or will he decide to invade Taiwan? It's always been his goal; Taiwan is unfinished business from China Civil War. Mao Zedong could not capture it, so Xi Jinping would love to do it. It would immortalize him and secure his legacy.

Here we're looking at three questions:

1.    How difficult would an invasion of Taiwan be?

2.   Is China ready for the invasion?

3.   What is the world's strategy?

 Let's start with the first question; an invasion would be extremely difficult. Taiwan is not some helpless island. They're armed to the teeth, At the Global Firepower rankings Taiwan ranks 24^th. They are ahead of NATO allies like Sweden and Canada. On the other hand China ranks at number3^rd. But wars are not fought on tables in the real world. China will face added challenges like geography and weather. They will have to land soldiers in Taiwan and that means crossing the stretch of water i.e. the Taiwan Strait. It's around 140 km long. It's also very choppy waters not ideal for an amphibious operation. But let's assume that China beats the elements, Taiwan will still be prepared. Their strategy is called porcupine defense. Porcupine, this animal has sharp Spikes all over its body and tail so no one dares to attack it. Why, because they know that the cost will be too high and that is Taiwan's strategy. They have invested a lot in defense. Under the last president, defense spending increased by 5% every year. They have spent 2.5% of their GDP on defense. They have a variety of defensive weapons like anti-ship missiles; Naval mines, landing spikes and mobile missile launchers. But again let's assume that China beats all of this & they land on Taiwan shores, then once more they would face geography. Taiwan has a lot of rugged mountains which offers natural protection to the island regime and if they reach the cities, it's going to be Urban Warfare like what we're seeing in Gaza. So in short it won't be easy, Taiwan has prepared and practiced to repel a Chinese Invasion. Their way of life depends on it so expect a tough and bloody fight if it comes.

This brings us to the second question, Is China ready for the invasion? Does Xi Jinping have the appetite for war? United States officials have made their own assessment. They think that Xi will wait until 2027. By then he should have enough fire power. But could he strike earlier as China's growth is losing steam. Their GDP growth has largely stalled. It is expected to be 3.5% by the end of this decade. Same with their population, China's labor force will be shrinking in 2030 by almost 1%. So, there are two ways of looking at it. One, it may force Xi Jinping to advance his invasion because he may think now is the time. If this window closes, it may never happen again. That's one way of looking at it. The second option he may take the advice of Deng Xiaoping.

Den said: “Hide your strength, bide your time.”

Xi Jinping may tweak that advice, he may bide his time and rebuild his strength. The Chinese president is not known to be a Maverick, so all bets are on delaying the attack. Any Invasion would trigger sanctions and Beijing must prepare for that too. China has almost 1.4 billion people. Hence it needs to secure basic resources for them like food and power. Now, Beijing is already stockpiling food grains. Reports say they have rice and bean for up to 2 years but energy is a bit tricky. Most of China's fuel and gas comes from friendly Nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia but they're transported in shipping tankers. ‘Tankers’ that can be cut off, so China is working on a solution. For that, their Belt and Road Project (BRI) is trying to link West Asia via land. They're also building gas pipelines from Russia, so China needs to take a lot of boxes here before they invade. They will get one chance at this, which brings us to the final question:

What is the world’s strategy?

The Americans, as always are at the forefront of it. A US law requires the White House to support Taiwan but it does not say how? Is it by deploying soldiers or giving weapons or simply offering political support? This lack of clarity is called strategic ambiguity and Joe Biden has stirred this spot many times. He has said that, the US will defend Taiwan and his plan is to build alliances. In the neighborhood, the countries with U.S bases are Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Guam. There are thousands of U.S soldiers stationed in these bases and not to mention lots of firepower. So, if China invades the US will be closed by either to intervene directly or to run support operations and that's the military side of things but frankly the U.S alone won't be enough. We're talking about a very important region. Taiwan supplies 90% of the most advanced semiconductors to the world. The Waters around it are also crucial, it carries around 21% of global trade so trouble in Taiwan is trouble for the whole world. Yet most countries don't seem bothered. There is a lot of activism for Palestine but we haven't seen the same for Taiwan. Countries first priority is to be changed. China's biggest weapon is the “One China Policy” and most countries recognize Taiwan as part of China according to the one China policy. So, these countries may criticize a Chinese Invasion but how can they actively oppose it as their own policy is anti-Taiwan and diluting this policy will be hard. Taiwan could use its chip superpower to woo other countries. It could set up factories or investments abroad and frankly that's the only way. For most countries otherwise China is way more important than Taiwan until that changes their policies may not.

Only time answers all these speculations……..

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Red Carpet of Dreams- Story of Nancy Tyagi

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Nancy Tyagi, who is from Baranwa, Uttar Pradesh, became well-known for her videos in which she painstakingly mimics famous people's looks. She has recreated designer outfits worn by celebrities like Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone for her portfolio. Among her pieces that are noteworthy are the Louis Vuitton gown that Padukone wore to the 2023 Oscars and the grey gown with puffed sleeves that Bhatt wore to the Red Sea International Film Festival from Miss Sohee's spring couture 2023 collection.

The 77th Cannes Film Festival saw fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi shine on the red carpet in a stunning pink gown with ruffles and a lengthy train. The dress, painstakingly made over the course of a month, has garnered appreciation from the fashion critic Sufi Motiwala and actor Sonam Kapoor.

Fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi, who is based in Delhi, made a dazzling appearance on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival wearing a pink gown. She posted about her exuberant "dream come true" event on Instagram. She said in her comment that she made her own clothing, using her "heart and soul" over the course of 30 days, rather than purchasing it from a designer brand. "Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a newcomer feels surreal," said Tyagi. She shared a number of beautiful images showing her walk down the prestigious red carpet in addition to her remarks.

Popular beauty and fashion influencer Komal Pandey responded to her tweet with compliments, saying, "Nancy, your legendary status is a result of equal parts talent and hard work." We shall always remember this moment." Comedian and actor Kusha Kapila gushed, saying, "Your Cannes narrative is unmatched. Completely nailed it!" The actor Bhumi Pednekar expressed her appreciation for the tweet by raising her palms in response.

"I devoted thirty days, one thousand meters of fabric, and more than twenty kilograms of weight to the making of this pink gown. Although the travel was difficult, each moment was worthwhile. I'm living the dream, so full of joy and thankfulness for all of your love and support. I hope my creation impresses you as much as your encouragement has motivated me. Sincere gratitude to all of you!" The author of the content said.

Tyagi said on Instagram that the gown weighed over 20 kilograms and was made from 1,000 meters of fabric. It feels strange to walk the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a novice. I devoted thirty days and a great deal of energy to making this pink gown. Even with the difficulties, each moment was fulfilling. I am ecstatic and grateful beyond measure for all of the love and support I've gotten. This is the realization of a dream, and I hope my art shines as brightly as your support has inspired me. I sincerely appreciate that," she said.

It's impossible not to feel like we're all winners right now. It feels like a personal achievement, and she's done it with such grace. It's a dream come true for every small-town person," one user commented. Another said, "I've never been happier for someone I've never met!" "With your talent and dedication, Nancy, you truly are a legend. This is something that future generations will remember," said a third user. "Narratives such as these rekindle my belief in the efficacy of diligence and compassion. Definitely the most deserving of all," a fourth person said.

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Heeramandi: The place of Courtesans

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Heera Mandi, a location steeped in rich cultural history yet cloaked in mystery and controversy, is tucked away among the busy streets of Lahore, Pakistan. Known as the 'Diamond Market,' Heera Mandi is more than simply a red-light district; it's a centuries-old microcosm of art, tradition, and social mores.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is the creator and director of the Indian Urdu-language historical drama television series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. During the Indian independence fight against the British Raj, the show centers on the life of tawaifs in Lahore's Heera Mandi red-light area.

 

59.1 The Shahi Mohallah

History-wise, Heera Mandi dates back to the seventeenth century. Initially known as the "Shahi Mohallah," or royal neighborhood, princes and nobility frequented there. Women from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were brought to Heera Mandi during the Mughal era to entertain the royal court. These ladies received training in various arts, such as classical kathak, mujra, thumri, ghazal, and dadra. After they became proficient in these forms of dancing and singing, they were called tawaifs.

Tawaifs were respected, influential, and highly skilled in music, dancing, and other artistic mediums. They had autonomy over their lives and decisions, and they were financially independent.

Despite the Islamic prohibition against prostitution, Shahi Mohallah prospered under the Mughal emperors' favor. Delhi and Agra were the other two Mughal capitals, with Lahore being one of them. Its splendor was radiant, and Shahi Mohallah mirrored it as well.

The Mughal era saw the region achieve its pinnacles of prosperity and culture. But with Aurangzeb's death in the early eighteenth century, the Mughal empire began to decline. On January 12, 1748, Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Afghan soldiers arrived in Lahore, turning Shahi Mohallah into a center of prostitution. Up until Maharaja Ranjit Singh's takeover of Lahore in 1799, nothing changed.

59.2 The Love Story of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Moran

In 1801, at the age of seventeen, Ranjit Singh, a youthful leader of the Shukerchakias Sikh faction, took control of Lahore and declared himself the Maharaja of Punjab. The Maharaja was renowned for his military skill, but he also had a deep appreciation for aesthetics and the arts. It was Shahi Mohallah who caught his eye.

A few days before Holi in March 1802, Ranjit Singh learned of the existence of 12-year-old Muslim dancer Moran Sarkar from Shahi Mohallah, who was regarded as a "perfect model of beauty" and skilled in both singing and dancing. The Maharaja informed her guardians that he would pay them a visit in the evening while he was in the courtesan region.

Ranjit Singh was met in the evening by a tall, skinny girl who was wearing a long white shirt and tight churidar pajamas. Next, she presented him with a betel leaf that held a few saffron granules.

Moran started to sing and dance for Ranjit Singh, accompanied by six musicians playing instruments. Her graceful motions, rhythm, and slow, deliberate movements of her hands, arms, head, body, and feet were captivating when she danced.

The twenty-one-year-old Maharaja fell in love. Hari Ram Gupta, the author of "History Of The Sikhs, Vol. V: The Sikh Lion of Lahore," describes how Ranjit Singh began residing primarily in the "house of his beloved Moran."

"He stayed at the home of the dancing girl, Moran, who was his favorite. There, he was given his meals and other supplies. Moran was sitting on the same horse when he went riding with her during his morning workout. He did not allow any followers to go with him. In the level plain that lay between the fort and the river, he usually galloped full speed. According to Gupta, who quotes the Persian language work Ibrat Namah penned by the contemporaneous Ali-ud-din, "Ranjit Singh must have rejoiced most when Moran feared a fall and cried to the utmost pleasure of the rider."

But Moran's closeness outraged the Maharaja's aristocratic and devout friends, who mocked his social status and faith. However, Ranjit Singh's devotion to Moran was unwavering. She was raised from the status of a mere royal concubine when the Maharaja married her. He was called to Amritsar shortly after that to appear before the Akal Takht, the Sikh faith's highest temporal body. Maharaja complied. He was chastised by Akali Phula Singh in the public assembly for going against Khalsa social norms.

"The Maharaja stood contrite in front of the assembly after listening to his charge with humility. Again and again, he folded his hands and begged for forgiveness. Before the Panth, Phula Singh proclaimed that he must get one hundred lashes on his naked back. Without delay, the Maharaja removed his shirt. His hands were shackled behind his back, and he was strapped to the trunk of a tamarind tree that was located in an Akal Takht wing, according to Hari Ram Gupta.

The audience, however, broke down in tears as they could not watch their beloved Maharaja suffer the penalty. The Maharaja was released with only a single leash on his back after the Akalis acknowledged the popular opinion.

Moran was never requested to become a Sikh by Ranjit Singh. In Pappar Mandi, next to Shahi Mohallah, where Moran resided and had her own court, he also constructed a mosque in her honor.

Coins in her honor were made in both gold and silver. In these coins, she was called 'Moran Sarkar'.

59.3 Story of the name 'Heera Mandi'

With Ranjit Singh's victory over Lahore, Shahi Mohallah's social and cultural standing was restored. Afterward, Shahi Mohallah, a food market in the center of Lahore, was to be used as an economic center by Maharaja's prime minister, Hira Singh Dogra.

After being founded by Hira Singh Dogra, the grain market became known as "Hira Singh di Mandi," or Hira Singh's market, and eventually as "Hira Mandi." Nonetheless, many people thought the name was a tribute to the women of the area, who were admired for their unmatched beauty.

However, the cultural elements of Heera Mandi's traditional dance performances ended with the passing of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the British colonization of Punjab in 1849.

The British, influenced by the conservatism of the Victorian era, referred to both common prostitutes and sophisticated tawaifs (courtesans) as "fallen women," drawing no distinction between the two. This ultimately resulted in the courtesans' livelihoods being stripped of the dancing component and replaced with a covert sex industry.

Heera Mandi is barely recognizable from its former self. When the sun goes down, it functions just like any other market, but at night it transforms into a red-light district where women engage in the flesh trade. A maharajah's love for a prostitute may have forced him to marry her, but there are still a few unusual love stories coming out of Heera Mandi's shadowy lanes.

59.4 Conclusion

The cultural legacy of Heera Mandi has garnered attention once again in the last few decades. In addition to offering education and career training to the tawaifs' descendants, efforts have been made to resuscitate traditional dance and music styles. Festivals and other events showcasing the region's rich artistic past have been largely organized by organizations like the Lahore Heritage Club and the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop.

Heera Mandi still faces several obstacles in spite of her efforts. Social stigma, poverty, and illiteracy are still widespread problems, especially for the women and families living in the district. In addition, the advent of internet entertainment and the incursion of modernity have further sidelined traditional creative forms, endangering the region's cultural identity.

There is hope on the horizon while Heera Mandi struggles with the challenges of tradition and modernization. The inhabitants' predicament has come to light due to growing awareness and advocacy initiatives, which has sparked conversations about social transformation and empowerment. Heera Mandi, in the centre of Lahore, has the potential to become a symbol of resiliency and cultural regeneration by embracing its cultural legacy and meeting the socio-economic needs of its residents.

To sum up, Heera Mandi is more than simply a red-light district; it's a real example of how culture, art, and social conventions interact. The essential character of Heera Mandi resides not only in its past splendor but also in its potential to remake itself as it navigates the challenges of the twenty-first century.

— Team Yuva Aaveg

(Adarsh Tiwari)

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Covishield Chronicles: From Development to Controversies

 

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     In the midst of a global pandemic, the race to develop effective COVID-19 vaccines became a beacon of hope. Among these, Covishield - a vaccine jointly developed by British pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University- has played a significant role in India's vaccination drive. However, its journey has been marked by controversies, legal battles, and concerns over side effects.

 

58.1 Origin and Development:

  Covishield owes its existence to a collaboration between the University of Oxford and British pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca. The vaccine utilizes a modified chimpanzee adenovirus called ChAdOx1 as its vector. The development process involved rigorous research, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals.

The vaccine formula was licensed to SII(Serum Institute of India)  during the pandemic, leading to the production of over 175 crore doses in India. Its rollout promised protection against COVID-19, but as the vaccination drive progressed, unexpected issues surfaced.

Studies conducted in 2020 demonstrated that Covishield has an efficacy of 76.0% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after the first dose and 81.3% after the second dose.It is stable at refrigerator temperatures and has a good safety profile, with common side effects like injection-site pain, headache, and nausea.

 

58.2 TTS (Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome):

     Covishield has faced scrutiny due to rare side effects, including Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). AstraZeneca acknowledged this connection, emphasizing that TTS occurs in very rare cases.

TTS involves the presence of blood clots (thrombosis) along with low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which are crucial for blood clotting.

 

●       Symptoms of TTS:

○       Severe or persistent headaches

○       Blurred vision

○       Shortness of breath

○       Chest pain

○       Leg swelling

○       Persistent abdominal pain

○       Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site.

 

●       Unusual Clot Locations: TTS often involves blood clots in unusual locations, such as in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or abdomen.

 

The risk of TTS with Covishield appears to be very low. In the UK, the risk is approximately four cases per million adults who receive the vaccine, while in the European Union, it’s estimated to be approximately one case per 100,000.

 

58.3 Supreme Court Petition:

●        On May 1, 2024, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the constitution of an expert medical panel to study the risk factors associated with the Covishield vaccine. The petitioner also demanded compensation for families of individuals who may have died after receiving the vaccine.

●       The controversy arose after pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca admitted in U.K. court documents that its vaccine could potentially cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).

●       The petition emphasized the need for an expert panel to assess the risks and hazardous consequences of administering Covishield to citizens. It highlighted that more than 175 crore doses of Covishield had been administered in India and raised concerns about an increase in deaths due to heart attacks and sudden collapses, even among young individuals.

 

58.4 Conclusion:

         The journey of Covishield, from its development to the controversies(related to rare side effects like low platelet counts and blood clots) surrounding it, has been marked by both hope and skepticism. Despite these challenges, real-world studies show that it remains safe and effective. Globally, legal battles and health claims have arisen, but hope persists as we continue our collective pursuit of public health.

— Team Yuva Aaveg

(Praveen Kumar Maurya)

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