The Subcontinent: 4 February 2021
Meet India's Youngest Female Pilot: Ayesha Aziz from Kashmir
The Indian Celebrity Backlash on Global Celebrity Tweets
Train from Peshawar to Tashkent via Kabul
Removal of Iqbal statue from Lahore Park
Follow up: Myanmar Coup
1. Meet India's Youngest Female Pilot: Ayesha Aziz from Kashmir
She received a license to fly when she was 15. A year later, she trained to fly a MIG-29 jet at Russia's Sokol airbase. In 2017, she obtained a commercial license. Now Ayesha Aziz, a 25-year-old from Kashmir, has become the youngest female pilot in India (Business Today). She was also India's youngest to receive a student pilot's license in 2011, which she received from the Bombay Flying Club.
Love for flying
Born in Kashmir but raised in Mumbai, she used to fly to Srinagar frequently. The sense of liberation and independence in the skies triggered a love for flying. Read more in the Femina (2019).
At NASA
Ayesha was among those selected to train at NASA. During her two-month stay, she trained at "Nasa's Space Academy, Huntsville, in Space Shuttle Mission, micro-gravity, manned maneuvering unit, multi-axis training, and Extra-Vehicular Activity" (Daily Mail).
Watch this video:
2. Indian Celebrity backlash on Global Celebrity Tweets
Indian celebrities took to Twitter and joined in a concerted reaction to earlier tweets by superstar Rihanna, environment activist Greta Thunberg, and US lawyer Meena Harris who supporters the farmers protest in India. Though Kangana Ranaut was among the first, other celebrities who joined included film stars Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Ekta Kapoor, Karan Johar, cricketing superstars Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli; and singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Akshay Kumar: "Farmers constitute an extremely important part of our country. And the efforts being undertaken to resolve their issues are evident. Let's support an amicable resolution, rather than paying attention to anyone creating differences. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda”
Sachin Tendulkar: "India's sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants. Indians know India and should decide for India. Let's remain united as a nation. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda”
Government Reaction/Statement
Reaction by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quick as it censured foreign individuals and entities terming them as "sensationalist."
The statement even suggested two hashtags (#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda).
Shortly afterward, Union ministers and celebrities began tweeting with these two hashtags (Indian Express) (Hindustan Times).
Greta Again
Greta Thunberg uploaded an updated toolkit for people on the ground who wishes to help.
Did India Overreact?
Why the Indian government is mad at Rihanna (Vox)
When pop went Rihanna, did we go over the top? (Free Press Journal)
Rude Girl? Rihanna's Tweet Draws Indian Foreign Ministry Response (The Diplomat)
Bad Girl Diplomacy Takes Ministry of External Affairs By Storm (The Wire)
3. Train from Peshawar to Tashkent via Kabul
A train is being planned from Peshawar in Pakistan to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), with a stop in Kabul (Afghanistan). The three countries signed a joint request for funding to seek a $4.8 billion international loan (The News) (Xinhua).
Trans-Afghan Project
The Trans-Afghan project will cover 573 kilometers.
4. Removal of Iqbal statue from Lahore Park
A park in Lahore (Gulshan-i-Iqbal) created a statue of Muhammad Iqbal, the poet after whom the park is also named. It was in the news for the wrong reasons. People thought the statue did not look like Iqbal, and it was "badly made" (Daily Pakistan).
A furor led to the suspension of two officials of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore (Dawn).
Work of 2 Gardeners
Authorities sought to explain that no architect was hired and that two gardeners toiled hard to ensure the statue's completion.
Now Removed
The sculpture has now been removed (The News).
5. Follow up: Myanmar Coup
UN chief Guterres Calls for Failure of Military Takeover (BBC)
Myanmar cuts Facebook access as Military Tightens Grip Following Coup (CNN)
Call to "Stop Buying Junta Business" (Myanmar Times)
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