The Subcontinent: 3 January 2021
The Subcontinent: 3 January 2021
India Approves 2 COVID Vaccines
Pakistan: Purchasing the Ancestral homes of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor
Bhutan: 1st Bhutanese Language School in Perth
Maldives: Half a million tourists in 2020
ARTS: Mithila Art in Nepal
1. India Approves 2 Vaccines
India has formally approved two COVID vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin.
The formal approval was announced by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in a press statement on Sunday (3 January 2021) (NDTV) (Bloomberg) (Reuters). The vaccine has been granted permission for "restricted use" in emergency situations.
What is Covishield?
Popularly known as the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the Serum Institute of India (SII) is manufacturing it in India. The overall efficacy of the vaccine was found to be 70.42%. On December 30, 2020, the vaccine was authorised in the UK (Gov.UK). Since then, it has also been approved in Argentina.
What is Covaxin?
Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). An indigenous vaccine, the Phase I/II trials involved 800 participants, while in Phase III, 22,500 Indians have already participated (out of a target of 25,800). The vaccine has been found to be safe, and Phase III trials will continue.
2 Shots
Both vaccines will be administered in two doses, and they have to be stored in temperatures ranging between 2-8°C.
What is the Difference?
Covishield is based on a modified chimpanzee adenovirus vector, while Covaxin is based on an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2.
Also Allowed: Clinical Trials for a 3rd Vaccine
Apart from approving two vaccines, Phase III clinical trials have also been granted to Cadila Healthcare Ltd.
Phase I/II trials involving 1000 participants are ongoing, while Phase III will involve 26,000 Indian participants.
Government Press Release
Read the press release here (PIB).
The official PIB video is here (PIB). A press statement was read out, and no questions were taken at the PIB event.
What Next? Rollout.
Dry runs have taken place in various states in India, though the actual dates of vaccine rollout have not been announced.
2. Government to Purchase Ancestral Homes of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor
Ancestral homes of Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor are all set to be purchased by the government. The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP, Pakistan) has approved a sum of PKR 23.56 million (about 10 million INR, 150,000 USD) for the purchase of these two homes located in the capital city of Peshawar. (Pakistan Today) (ARY).
The two houses will be purchased and converted into museums. They have already been declared a national heritage by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums
Background
Dilip Kumar’s four-marla house (101 square meters), which is located in Khudadad Mohallah of Qissa Khwani Bazaar, has been valued at Rs 8.56 million (PKR). He was born in this house in 1922, and the house was built by Dilip Kumar’s father, who was a fruit merchant. In the mid-1920’s, the family moved to Bombay.
Raj Kapoor’s six-marla (151.75 square meters) ancestral residence located in Mohallah Dhaki Munawar Shah has been valued at Rs 15 million (PKR). The Kapoor residence was built by Raj Kapoor’s grandfather, Dewan Basheswarnath. His family moved to Bombay around 1930.
Difficulties
The current owner of Dilip Kumar’s house, Haji Ali Qadir, has been demanding Rs 2 billion ($12.5 million) due to its antique value. There were reports of previous attempts being made to convert these houses into a shopping place (The News).
3. First Bhutanese Language School in Perth
The first Bhutanese language school teaching Dzongkha, Bhutan’s national language, will soon commence operations in Perth, Australia. About 17,000 Bhutanese are currently based in Australia, mostly for study and work, with Perth being the preferred destination. An estimated 500 Bhutanese children are studying in various schools in Perth (Kuensel Online).
4. Maldives: Half Million Tourists in 2020
The Maldives welcomed 1900 tourists on New Year's Day in 2021, and the country hopes to host 1.5 million this year (The Edition). The Maldives had reopened its borders in July 2020, and Maldives welcomed over half a million tourists (550,000) in 2020, with Russia being the top source of visitors (Avas). A number of Bollywood stars have also been posting their vacation photographs from Maldives.
5. ARTS: Nepal: Emergence of Mithila Art
When the ancient Mithila region got divided into India and Nepal, the art form also suffered.
In India, it was promoted as Madhubani art. It took a little while in Nepal, but now, the folk art form is being appreciated and valued. Learn more in this piece in Online Khabar.
You can read more about Mithila Art at IMartNepal.
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