‘Didn't think I'd run so fast’: Kambala jockey hailed as 'Usain Bolt' for record run

Buffalo Racing

According to the referees at the event, he ran 142.50 metres in 13.62 seconds, considered the fastest run in the traditional buffalo racing sport.

Prajwal Bhat

Until this month, Srinivas Gowda was relatively unknown outside of the Kambala circuit in Dakshina Kannada. The 28-year-old has now shot to fame after a record-breaking performance at a Kambala racing event in Aikala in the district.    According to the referees at the event, he ran 142.50 metres in 13.62 seconds, considered the fastest run in the traditional buffalo racing sport. People also compared Srinivas's performance to Usain Bolt after calculating that the man from Dakshina Kannada ran 100 metres in 9.55 seconds, which is 0.03 seconds faster than the Jamaican world record holder.    "I did not think I would run this fast. The buffaloes were quick and I followed them," says Srinivas sheepishly when asked about the feat. He was aided by the buffaloes pulling him along but he also had to overcome the struggles of running on a slushy field.    Hailing from Mijar in Dakshina Kannada, Srinivas is a construction worker during the off-season. But from November to March, when Kambala races are traditionally held, he focuses solely on taking part and winning kambala events.    What is Kambala?   Kambala is a traditional slush-track buffalo race which is popular in the coastal districts of Karnataka. In these races, a pair of buffaloes tied to a plough run in parallel slush tracks, with a farmer controlling them.    On February 1, during the Kambala event in Aikala, all eyes were on buffaloes owned by Bada Poojary of Iruvail village. The jockey running with the buffaloes was Srinivas, who had trained for the race for more than a month. “I mainly exercise and swim everyday. Once a week, I practice running on the slushy track,” says Srinivas.     The sport, which has been in the news for its battle with PETA over animal rights, was allowed to continue in 2017. A ban on the sport was lifted after the President gave assent to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance of 2017, which excluded Kambala from the sports that were considered to involve animal cruelty. 

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Escaping the coronavirus 'petri dish': Doctor, lawmakers seek evacuations from quarantined cruise

"This is no quarantine — it's just a pack of people," said a doctor who's stuck on the ship.

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With a build up and new logo, RCB wanted drum roll, instead get eye roll

Social Media

The team debuted its new logo, however, little else about the team’s image has changed.

TNM Staff

When the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) went dark on social media earlier this week, rumours quickly started spreading on what the team was up to: Were they changing their name? Were they finally going to turn Bangalore into Bengaluru? Would fans ever chant “RCB” in Chinnaswamy stadium again? And why hadn’t anyone told Virat Kohli? On Friday, the Bengaluru’s IPL franchise put an end to that speculation. The team debuted its newly-modified logo featuring the crowned lion. However, little else about the team’s image has changed, even though a section of fans have been demanding the change from Bangalore to Bengaluru.    Some fans rolled their eyes at the team’s dramatic stunt. Lol. All that build up just for this. https://t.co/ZrD09V4qn1 — absy (@absycric) February 14, 2020 Team k log change karo logo nahi https://t.co/jUDKqq9Cve — Vipul Singh (@vipul_actually) February 14, 2020 Waah kya mast bevkoof banaya hai fans ko #rcbnewlogo https://t.co/gM0QPIKsxw — Come On India (@madam_jadeja) February 14, 2020 Earlier this week, RCB deleted all their posts, profiles and cover photos on social media channels, fueling fan rumours and even evoking a few curious comments from players and stalwarts of the game.  “Posts disappear and the captain isn’t informed. @rcbtweets, let me know if you need any help.” RCB skipper and national team captain Virat Kohli tweeted.  Indian ace spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and fellow teammates South African AB De Viilers and Mike Hesson, director of cricket operations of RCB also wondered what was going on. (Though it’s not clear whether they were in on the marketing strategy). Posts disappear and the captain isn’t informed.  @rcbtweets, let me know if you need any help. — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 13, 2020 Arey @rcbtweets, what googly is this? Where did your profile pic and Instagram posts go?  — Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 12, 2020 Hyderabad Sunrisers offered a “You OK, bro?” to the Bengaluru team, while Delhi Capitals asked if they needed any help with the rebrand (Delhi changed their name from the Daredevils after the 2017 season).  In case you're rebranding, do let us know if you need any help, @RCBTweets! We know a thing or two  pic.twitter.com/1nKpDJ7SbV — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 12, 2020 The new logo was released ahead of the 13th season of the mega popular tournament set to begin in March.  “The elements in the logo is a commitment to continuously entertain and engage with fans who are the force behind Royal Challengers Bangalore. We believe a change in identity for the club was necessary to effectively live and breathe this vision and celebrate the passion for cricket and playing bold,” news agency PTI quoted Sanjeev Churiwala, Chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore as saying. This new logo launched also coincides with a new title sponsorship deal the team drew with Muthoot Fincorp Ltd.

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Bidar sedition case: After spending 2 weeks in jail, mother, teacher finally get bail

Bidar sedition case

The two women will be released against a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each, the Bidar court said.

Prajwal Bhat

After spending more than two weeks in prison over an anti-NRC play, the mother of a student and a head-teacher at Shaheen Primary and High School in Bidar were granted bail by the district and sessions court on Friday. The two will be released against a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each, the court said.  “The accused/petitioners will be released on bail… on their executing personal bond in a sum of Rs. 1 lakh each with two sureties for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Jurisdictional Magistrate,” Judge M Premavathi said in her bail order.  The two women have also been asked by the court to appear before the investigating officer in the case when they are called upon.  “We are happy to hear that bail was granted to both the teacher and the mother of the student. We still can’t believe that a satirical play critical of NRC attracted a charge of sedition,” Touseef Madikeri, CEO of Shaheen Primary and High School told TNM after the bail was confirmed.  The school management was charged with sedition over a play, staged by students of classes 4, 5 and 6 on January 21, which voiced dissent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).  Nazbunnisa, the mother of a student, and Fareeda Begum, the head-teacher of the school's primary section, were arrested on January 30. The bail granted on Friday means that Nazbunnisa will finally be reunited with her daughter after two weeks.  For the last two weeks, the two women were lodged in Bidar District Prison even as 11-year-old Ayesha* (name changed) waited for her mother to return. Nazbunissa is a widow and her arrest had left Ayesha in the care of their neighbour, Hafeez. She was shifted to the school hostel this week. Police officials in Bidar questioned students at the school five times, a move that drew widespread criticism. “We were surprised that our children were questioned for five days at the school. We cannot blame the complainant because it is due to the failure of the executive i.e the police department that we are facing sedition charges today,” Touseef added.  Representing the two women in court, advocate BT Venkatesh had, during the hearing on February 11, argued that the case was politically motivated and that two women in a place like Bidar were not a threat to the state. He stated that the slogans in the play did not create unrest and promote disaffection towards the government. He added that the contents of the play did not amount to sedition.  The public prosecutor argued that the women would leave the country and possibly destroy evidence if they are granted bail. The prosecutor cited the recent case of Kris Chudawala, who was booked along with 50 others for sedition in Mumbai. The arguments in the case were completed on February 11 and the bail orders were posted for February 14.  The police complaint against the school was filed by Nilesh Rakshala, a right-wing activist, on January 26. He accused the school management of 'insulting' Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the play. Police turned up to question students at the school connected with the play on five occasions. Police officials enquired about the dialogues in the play and about the involvement of the teachers and parents in the play. 

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MLA NA Haris' tirade against Congress leaders exposes the unrest in Karnataka unit

Politics

Siddaramaiah, once considered the most powerful Congress leader in Karnataka, is left with almost no lieutenants to back him.

Theja Ram

Karnataka Congress MLA NA Haris has been in the news often for his son – Mohammed Haris Nalapad’s involvement in a car accident this week and prior to that for assaulting a man in an uptown café in 2018. However, NA Haris’ statement on Thursday has gone more or less unnoticed, although he has been critical of his own party. In a series of tweets, NA Haris accused Congress leaders in Karnataka of not working hard enough to build the party. Haris also accused the state leaders of furthering their personal agendas instead of uplifting the party. “I am a loyal Congressman. However, it is worrisome that the Congress party has not become alert after multiple losses in elections. Why are party office bearers here? To build up the party or to further their own personal agendas?” NA Haris said. Haris also said that the results of the New Delhi Assembly elections and that the Congress party must contemplate its mistakes. “The party must correct its mistakes as the country needs the Congress party but no one is doing that. The party must learn lessons from the losses and not get used to it,” he added. ನಾನೊಬ್ಬ ಕಟ್ಟಾ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ಸಿಗ ಆದರೆ @INCIndia ಪಕ್ಷ ಹಲವಾರು ಸೋಲುಗಳ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತುಕೊಳ್ಳದೇ ಇರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆತಂಕಕಾರಿ .ಪಕ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಇರುವುದು ಯಾವ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೊ? ಅಥವಾ ತಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಪಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ಬಲಿ ಕೊಡುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೊ? 1/3 — N A Haris (@mlanaharis) February 13, 2020 Congress sources say that NA Haris is also unhappy with the state leaders for not politicizing the issue of Revenue Minister R Ashoka’s son allegedly being involved in a car crash that killed two people. Though NA Haris has personal motives behind his tirade, his words, however, ring true say many in the Congress. A splintered Karnataka Congress and lazy leaders? Party sources say that ever since Siddaramaiah resigned from his post of Congress Legislature Party Leader and Dinesh Gundu Rao stepped down as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, the party’s organization structure in the state has splintered drastically. Siddaramaiah, once considered the most powerful Congress leader in Karnataka, is left with almost no lieutenants to back him. The rebels, who resigned, were the leaders who had projected himself as his loyalist.  “Most of the elected leaders are not interested in working hard. None of them want to work actively to ensure that the opposition is strong. This has left the cadre too disinterested in working. Siddaramaiah went from being a leader that everyone trusted to a leader they could not trust,” the source said. Between 2013 and 2018, when Siddaramaiah was at the helm of affairs in the Karnataka Congress, he allegedly divided the party’s state unit on caste lines, leaving several community heads disgruntled. Despite Siddaramaiah projecting himself as the Ahinda leader, a large chunk of his vote base has now shifted their loyalties, including those from his own community – the Kurubas. “Siddaramaiah began ignoring demands and needs of leaders from all other communities including OBCs and Dalits. He only focused on the Kuruba community and after the 2018 Assembly elections, a large chunk of the Kuruba community’s loyalties have begun to shift towards the BJP,” the Congress leader said. Party sources say that several leaders within the Congress have now distanced themselves away from Siddaramaiah and that most of them are disinterested in taking up the task of building up the party. “They are just lazy and do not want to work hard. There were many chances when the Congress could have emerged stronger. The leaders could have gone and protested in Bidar until the case was withdrawn. The Muslim community makes up a huge chunk of the Congress’vote base. None of the party leaders are standing up for their own vote bank,” a Congress functionary said.    

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Hugs for trees: Bengaluru students celebrate Valentine’s Day with unique protest

Environment

The unique protest assumes significance as thousands of trees in Bengaluru are scheduled to be axed for a road-widening project.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

In a novel celebration of Valentine’s Day, several school students in Bengaluru’s Sarjapur participated in a program to show their love for the green cover of the city. The students took time off from school to bring together various ideas they had to show their affection for trees and nature — some drew pictures, some children wrote poems, and others even tied a friendship band around their favourite trees along Sarjapur Road to mark their love. This was a part of a program organised by Fridays for Future, and Voice of Sarjapura to draw attention to the number of trees that are due to be cut for several developmental projects in the city.  The unique protest assumes significance as around 8,500 trees in Bengaluru are scheduled to be axed by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) for a road-widening project across the city. Citizens and activists have condemned the plan which will lead to several century-old trees being cut “When my children heard about the plan to cut down all these trees, they said, ‘Why do they want to do that? What gives them the right?” I see that the children are standing up to fight for what they see as their right to a future with clean air,” says Jyotsana Reddy, a parent of one of the students who took part in the program. The program also asked that trees that have been around for over be declared as ‘Heritage trees’, since they have been around for more than a century. If a tree is declared as a ‘heritage’ tree, then special conservation laws come into place to ensure that it is preserved, and no harm befalls it. “We have noticed that the government is not putting the environment first. They are thinking of cutting trees as the first option before looking at any other option in the planning stage. The government needs to realise that they are taking away trees from the children’s surroundings and gifting them concrete. The children are fighting for the trees, birds, greenery and air, which is their right,” Jyotsana adds. Activists in Bengaluru have been opposing the culling of thousands of trees, terming the move as ‘irrational,’ stating that widening of roads will not improve traffic conditions in the long run but may instead worsen them. They say that the widening of roads leads to the phenomenon of induced demand — where more supply of road space causes people to buy more private vehicles. Instead, activists have asked for better public transport.

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Lessons for Karnataka Congress from AAP's victory: Focus on Aam Aadmi's issues

Politics

The Congress Karnataka unit is yet to get a new president, and there is no clarity on the opposition leader and CLP chief in the Legislative Assembly.

Naheed Ataulla

While some senior Congressmen are basking in the borrowed glory of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) victory in the Delhi Assembly polls, leaders in the Karnataka unit, which has been headless since December 9, feel a lot has to be learnt from the party's dismal outcome in the capital. The immediate priority is getting a new president for the state party unit, and resolving the uncertainty over whether the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and opposition leader posts in the Assembly will be held by one person or two. Another priority is to sort out issues between the people who will be appointed to these positions, and the post of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.  Siddaramaiah, who had resigned from both the CLP and opposition leader posts after Congress’s drubbing in the Karnataka Assembly bye-polls in December, is likely to be back in both posts. And former minister DK Shivakumar is the front-runner for the KPCC president's post. Both have to be brought on the same page, as their mutual dislike is said to be one of the reasons for the high command's delay in making a decision. According to senior Congress leader BL Shankar, the party at any point of time has 30% of votes in every part of Karnataka. “The social engineering has to be reworked and a feeling that the Congress party is there for the people has to be addressed,'' he added. Giving the example of AAP, Shankar said the party addressed issues which affected the day-to-day lives of people. Healthcare and education were taken up on a priority and the party avoided taking a stand on national issues. “The Congress here should also concentrate on such issues as the present government will be preoccupied with other matters. Such a strategy will help the Congress,'' he maintained. Sharing his views, Congress MLC Prakash K Rathod said Delhi city's infrastructure improved during Sheila Dixit's tenure as Chief Minister from December 1998 to 2013. The Rapid Transport System and keeping the city clean were Dixit's contributions, but the BJP which succeeded her chose to take the credit and levelled corruption charges on the Congress government, he added. With Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls due in August, party sources said the agenda should be on infrastructure. Results of six urban local bodies announced on February 11, where the Congress has secured the highest number of seats and is set to form the council in five bodies, has come as a fillip to the party. Party sources said that while a course correction on social engineering and a relook into the agenda is possible, the difficult task was bringing the leaders together. “There is no coordination. Self interest has become a priority with a vacuum in leadership at all levels. A new president has not been appointed for three months, and the KPCC has not reconstituted for nine months, resulting in low morale of the workers and the people's perception of an inactive Congress,'' sources added. The distress among the rank and file was summed up by KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao's wife Tabassum (Tabu) Rao on her Facebook post. “The Delhi election results are heartening because the people have voted against hate, and in favour of development. But the performance of Congress is equally disappointing. It is high time the party confronted the brute realities and took corrective steps. The Congress should step out of its ivory tower and identify itself with people and party workers at the grassroots level. The disconnect between the party and the people needs to be bridged without delay,'' she said. Party circles feel the high command should go in for collective leadership rather than giving the reins of responsibility to a single person. “There is no D Devaraj Urs or Veerendra Patil or a Ramakrishna Hegde today who had a pan Karnataka image. Each leader is confined to their caste within the social spectrum. Hence, the president should be many among the equals and not first among the equals,'' a senior leader said. Sources said the Congress at present does not have a strong narrative and is living in the past, fighting ego battles. “The Congress seems to have lost the killer instinct, which is why some senior leaders are taking umbrage under AAP's victory for the party’s failures. With panchayat and BBMP polls coming up later in the year, the party has to gear up to take on the BJP, which is its direct foe”, they added. Naheed Ataulla is a journalist who has covered Karnataka politics for over two decades, and is a former Political Editor of The Times of India. Views expressed are the author's own.

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