The Subcontinent: 14 March 2021
India’s Supreme Court Now Has Only 1 Female Judge
University Expels Two Students After Public Proposal
Afghan Ban on Girls Singing in Public Reversed
The Nepal Rhinos That May Migrate to India
Book: Mermaids in the Moonlight
1. India’s Supreme Court Now Has Only 1 Female Judge
The Supreme Court of India has only one female judge, after the retirement of Justice Indu Malhotra. Justice Malhotra was the first judge to be directly elevated to the Indian Supreme Court, though she was the seventh female Supreme Court justice.. Now the only female judge in the Supreme Court is Justice Indira Banerjee (NDTV).
Who Could Replace Her?
The Print has a shortlist (The Print).
Landmark Judgements
Live Law has listed the landmark judgments of Justice Indu Malhotra (Live Law).
2. University Expels Two Students After Public Proposal
A girl got down on one knee and proposed to a boy. The two exchanged bouquets and hugged. The University of Lahore has now expelled them for violating official rules. Lahore is widely regarded as one of the more liberal cities in Pakistan. The couple has refused to apologize, stating that they did nothing wrong (Samaa TV).
Debarred from Entering the Campus
The two students have also been debarred from entering the University campus and sub-campuses.
The two students received widespread support from various sections of society: (Dawn) (Pakistan Tribune).
ALSO Read
Muslim boy beaten for drinking water in Ghaziabad temple, two arrested: The Hindustan Times.
3. Afghan Ban on Girls Singing in Public Reversed
Afghanistan has reversed a ban on public signing at official functions by girls aged 12 and above, following a protest. The Kabul education directorate had issued the ban last week (TRT World).
Following an adverse public reaction, the Ministry of Education has stated that the order does not reflect the position or policies of the Ministry (Washington Post).
#IAmMySong
A twitter trend #IAmMySong emerged where girls and women of all ages started singing their favourite songs to protest against the decision.
4. The Nepal Rhinos That May Migrate to India
70 percent of the one-horned rhinos in Nepal live in the western part of the Chitwan National Park. Due to overcrowding, officials fear that they might migrate to India to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve of India. That, say officials, will make it difficult to locate and repatriate them (The Kathmandu Post)
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5. Book: Mermaids in the Moonlight
The book by Sharanya Manivannan delves into folklore to bring out tales of mermaids. Like Ravana’s daughter Suvarnamaccha, who fell in love with Hanuman.
Book Review: Of Home, History, and Mermaids: A Conversation with Sharanya Manivannan: LA Review of Books
Interviews with Author:
With a new children's book, Sharanya Manivannan debuts as an illustrator (Mint)
Interview: Sharanya Manivannan, author, Mermaids in the Moonlight (Screen Lately)
Writer-poet Sharanya Manivannan on filling up the folkloric void in her second picture book for children (The Indian Express)