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Journalism of Courage
Customs board or censor board? This seemed to be the discussion in Bombay High Court recently, when a bench comprising Justice Sonak ordered the release of a consignment of seven artworks, including a folio of four erotic drawings by the seminal artist F N Souza. The customs department had confiscated the ‘nude’ artworks earlier this year, labeling them “obscene material.” Justice Sonak, who authored the verdict, observed in court, “the customs laws of India do not insist that Michelangelo’s David be fully clothed before he passes through our Customs Borders.”
On that note, let’s bring in the weekend. Here is what we have in today’s briefing:
Treading towards a thaw: Over four years since the military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, India and China have taken the first step to repair bilateral ties. Earlier this week, a disengagement process started at two friction points in the region — a day after India announced that a patrolling agreement had been reached with China, sources in the Indian Army say.
Expectant mothers who lost their unborn children; a passenger who suffered hearing loss; and many displaying symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder – quietly and largely behind the scenes, stories of grief and loss form the basis of as many as 841 pleas for higher compensation filed before Railway Claims Tribunals (RCTs).
An Express RTI Application shows these pleas are connected to one of the country’s deadliest train accidents: the horrific collision between a Chennai-bound express and a stationary goods train in Odisha’s Balasore in June 2023.
A twist of fate: Who is Ajay Katara? He was the last man to see Nitish Katara alive on a night in February 2002. And due to a twisted set of circumstances and coincidences, would go on to become the prime witness in Nitish’s murder case. As he appeared in court, 37 cases were slapped against him. Now, with the Supreme Court ordering an investigation into a plan to allegedly implicate him, Ajay believes that he was perhaps ordained to be there, at that spot, on that night.
“It’s interesting to note, that in India not all that long ago, reality stars were considered downmarket wannabes. Now, that voyeurism is such a lucrative business opportunity, everyone’s ready to hurl their secrets into the void.”
In today’s Opinion pages, Leher Kala offers insight into her viewing of the latest Netflix reality drama, writing about the vacuous lives of Bollywood wives and Delhi socialites — and why they sell.
No magic balls needed: India’s test series with New Zealand is looking like a string of disappointments. If the 46 all out in Bengaluru was partially excusable (with conditions heavily skewed in the visiting bowlers’ favour), the recent capitulation in Pune, 156 all out, rendered India’s batting naked. In doing so, the Kiwis exposed four glaring truths about the Indian side. But what’s at the heart of this incompetence? A ghoulish fear of turning the ball, writes Sandip G.
That’s all for today. Enjoy your weekend,
Ayesha Jain
