This makes the Xiaomi Poco F1 all the more attractive

The Poco F1 is an insane value for money phone and even though it isn't perfect, the price that Xiaomi sub-brand Poco has launched it in the Indian market makes you look past all its imperfections. It makes you want to buy it. No wonder Xiaomi Poco sold Poco F1 phones worth over Rs 200 crore in 5 minutes in its first sale on August 30. The numbers would have you believe that Poco must have sold a crazy number of Poco F1 phones on August 30 which, contrary to Xiaomi's early days when it was literally impossible for many to get a hold of one of its new phones, is a big change. The numbers would have you believe how times are changing and how Poco comes at a time when Xiaomi has become the go-to brand for many in the under Rs 20,000 price segment.

With the Poco F1, Xiaomi and Poco, are quite possibly looking to capture the Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 price segment. It has the specs to do that, and a price that is as mouth-watering as any other Xiaomi product. It was a winner on arrival, and also it is garnering rave reviews for packing so much and yet somehow costing 2X, or 3X less than premiere competition. A lot of this was of course made possible due to Xiaomi's backing and Poco has been more than vocal about it. On September 14, Poco made yet another announcement, that also has Xiaomi at its helm, and should make the Poco F1 all the more attractive for buyers.

We are talking about wide-scale availability. Starting September 14, potential buyers will be able to buy the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant of the Poco F1, round the clock. This particular variant of the Poco F1 will no longer be sold in weekly flash sales. If you're looking to buy one, you can head over to either Flipkart or Mi.com/in, and you will be able to add it to cart as and when you like. At the time of writing, the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant of the Poco F1 is available for buying on Mi.com/in while Flipkart is "witnessing a surge in the number of shoppers" which is probably more a server issue and not connected to availability of Poco F1 units.

Going forward, Xiaomi Poco is also looking to ramp up production of the other variants of the Poco F1, and going by how fast the company has been able to ramp up production of the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, it shouldn't be long before all Poco F1 variants will be available through open sale.

The Poco F1 has a starting price of Rs 20,999. This is for the base 6GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. The 6GB RAM and 128GB storage version sells for Rs 23,999, while the top-tier version with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage sells for Rs 28,999. Poco also has a special armored edition of the Poco F1 that ships with a Kevlar back, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The armored edition of the Poco F1 sells for Rs 29,999.

This is what I had written about the Poco F1 in my full review of the phone:

"Shut up and take my money is the ideal way to describe the Poco F1. It checks all the boxes that you generally expect from a phone that costs 2X or 3X more. It is built rock solid, it has a gorgeous display, it is blazing fast, it's available in a range of options, it has capable cameras, it has dual speakers and it has fantastic battery life."

There's a lot to love about the Poco F1. Its biggest takeaway is its low price, but now that it is also available at large, makes the Poco F1 all the more attractive.

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Google is finally bringing a new look to smartwatches with Wear OS

At I/O 2018, Google took the wraps off of Wear OS, the Mountain View company's fresh attempt to make smartwatches make sense again. It is supposedly the biggest overhaul to Android Wear since its inception although at I/O 2018, Google did not explicitly say much about it. Today, it is saying something substantial, and even though there aren't many good Wear OS-based smartwatches in the market right now, today's update brings hope. Google is finally bringing a new look to smartwatches through Wear OS.

Also, Google is changing the way you interact with your Wear OS-based smartwatch so much so that if you already own a Wear OS-based smartwatch, you'll need to get better acquainted with things starting from next month when the update starts rolling out. The all-new look and the new interactions that the upcoming update will bring along are all directed towards ease of use, and of course, making the Google Assistant all the more accessible.

"We're evolving the design of Wear OS by Google to help you get the most out of your time - providing quicker access to your information and notifications, more proactive help from the Google Assistant, and smarter health coaching - all with a swipe of your finger," Google said in a blog post.

There will broadly be four kinds of interactions in Wear OS, post the new update. While swiping up will take you to notifications, swiping down will take you to quick settings which will now also house, in addition to the usual, quick access to find your phone and Google Pay (which is also now available in India by the way). Swiping right will bring the Google Assistant feed, quite similar to Google Now, only more useful. Swiping left will meanwhile take you directly to Google Fit that will now also include the newly introduced rings for "move minutes" and "heart points." You can change watch faces by press and hold, much like it is in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Watch.

The new ways to interact with your smartwatch in Wear OS are simpler and also more fluid. But the most important change comes in the way your smartwatch will handle notifications. Now all your notifications will be grouped under one scrollable menu and it will also be possible to respond to certain apps directly from this menu. Previously notifications filled the entire screen and you had to swipe to view them one by one. The new interface is more user friendly.

Google is reportedly working on its own Pixel smarwatch this year and chances are the new update will be rolled out around the same time that it announces it sometime in October.

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What is the big deal about iPhone XS? May be it is all about its brand new camera this year

On paper almost everything that is inside the iPhone XS, launched on Wednesday, can also be found inside the iPhone X, which is last year's phone. In terms of looks and design, the two phones are near identical. Or rather 99 per cent identical. The differences are so minute, like three holes on the bottom edge instead of six in the iPhone X, that they don't matter. The screen is almost the same. Under the hood there are some bigger changes. For example, the iPhone XS comes with a more powerful A12 Bionic processor. But then the iPhone X is hardly a slow phone. And both phones run the iOS 12. So where is the new stuff? It's primarily in the camera: the iPhone finally has a camera that seems like a winner.

Let's get real here. The iPhone has a lot of goodness inside it, and over the years there have been a number of areas in which Apple has left its Android competitors behind. But there has also been an area in which it has lagged: this is the camera performance of the iPhones. For the last three odd years, since the days of the Nexus 6P, HTC 10 and the Galaxy S7, it is the companies like Google, HTC and Samsung that are setting the benchmarks when it comes to cameras in phones. A lot of that has happened because these companies moved to bigger image sensors in their cameras. Until now, Apple resisted, largely because it optimised the sensors it had in the iPhones very well.

This year it changes. Apple has finally moved to a much bigger image sensor in the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. In the iPhone X, the company used a 12-megapixel image sensor that 1.22um pixels. In the new iPhones the company moves to a new sensor which too clicks 12-megapixel images but now has the pixels that measure 1.4um. In other words, the sensor in the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS is physically bigger. Its size is now more or less comparable to the size of image sensor in the phones like the Google Pixel 2 and the HTC U12, which too use a 12-megapixel image sensor that have pixel size of 1.4um.

The increase in the image sensor size is going to bring some significant improvements to the iPhone camera performance. The bigger image sensors and the bigger pixels capture more data and more light. The result is that it is easier to click photos that have better dynamic range, better details, less noise, less grain in low light pictures with cameras that have bigger image sensors.

Low light photography is one area where the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X struggle against the likes of the Pixel 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S9. The iPhone XS should fix this problem.

In addition to the bigger image sensor, Apple also seemingly using a few other tricks to improve the performance of the iPhone XS camera. Both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max come with optical image stabilisation on their two rear cameras. And they likely have better lenses - even though the number of elements remain same at 6 and aperture is still F1.8 and F2.4 - that will make them less susceptible to flare.

Then there are improvements in the software. One of the reasons why Google Pixel 2 clicks such wonderful photos is its HDR+ mode, which is always on. Since the time of Nexus 6P, Google has used this HDR+ technology where cameras in its phones click multiple photos at different exposure when a user is shooting scene. These multiple photos are then combined to create one picture that has better amount of detail and higher dynamic range. Professional photographers know this technology as bracketing but Google brings it to masses and using its smart algorithms makes it seamless.

Apple is introducing something similar in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. The company calls the technology Smart HDR. It says that with additional processing power offered by the A12 Bionic processor, it can offer Smart HDR that will be fast - happens within a second - and seamless.
The idea is again the same: combine images taken at multiple exposure to create a photo that is just so much more vibrant and full of details.

Finally, there is Apple's "bokeh" talk. Almost all high-end phones nowadays come with portrait mode that blurs the background. In a DSLR camera, the blurred background is created with the laws of physics: the focus point and where the light is hitting. In smartphones, blurred backgrounds are created using algorithms.

Apple is now saying that even though algorithms can do a nice job, the effect is unreal, not natural. To bring the natural look to the blurred background - think those nice round colourful lights in many night scenes - in photos clicked with the iPhone XS, the company studied expensive DSLR cameras and ultra expensive lenses. When Apple executives introduced the iPhone XS at the "Gather Round" event, no names were dropped about these lenses. But the impression that went out was that Apple engineers and imaging group really took apart those $5000 Zeiss and Leica lenses and then worked to integrate the way these lenses function into algorithms so that they can create the same effect in photos clicked with the iPhone XS.

ALSO READ: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR quick review: Shiny, expensive and for Apple fans

As I often write, the proof of the pudding is in eating. In the coming days we hope to try the iPhone XS camera in detail. But at least on the paper, Apple seems to be doing much more this time around to improve the camera performance of the iPhone. And about time too because in the last couple of years the iPhone has fallen slightly behind the Pixels and the Galaxys when it comes to clicking sunset or a street lit in night in rain.

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Rewari SP transferred as probe continues in gang rape of 19-year-old CBSE topper

As news of the rape of a 19-year-old CBSE topper continues to make headlines, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar ordered for Rewari Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Duggal's transfer. Rahul Sharma will be taking over as the new SP, ANI news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has rejected the Haryana government's proposal to transfer the victim to Medanta Hospital in Delhi. She will stay in the civil hospital in Rewari.

"The doctors here have assured us that they will provide proper treatment. We do not want her to be transferred," said the victim's father.

The information comes on a day when Haryana Police arrested one person in connection with the Rewari rape case. Deen Dayal, the owner of the place where the girl was gangraped on September 12, was arrested.

Deen Dayal had rented out his place to his friends. Police claim he was aware that the crime was being committed at his place. The Haryana Police has so far questioned 60 people in connection with the case.

"Around 60 people have been questioned and the crime scene has been identified. The forensic report, which is likely to provide a key breakthrough, is likely to come by this (Sunday) evening," said Superintendent of Police (Nuh) Nazneen Bhasin. Bhasin is heading the Special Investigation Team commissioned by the Haryana Police.

The girl, a recipient of President's award for her academic achievements at school, was allegedly kidnapped by two people in a car while she was heading for her coaching classes in Kanina town of Mahendragarh district. The duo took her to a secluded place, served her a drink laced with sedatives, called a friend and gangraped her.

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The World's Highest-Paid Actors 2018: George Clooney Tops List With $239 Million

George Clooney may not have helmed a hit in years, but his wallet hasn’t noticed. Thanks to the up to $1 billion purchase of his Casamigos Tequila, Clooney scored a career high pretax paycheck of $239 million between June 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018.

The 57-year-old tops Forbes’ annual ranking of highest-paid actors, which tallies both onscreen and extracurricular earnings in our 12-month scoring frame. Last June, British liquor conglomerate Diageo announced it would purchase Casamigos for $700 million up front with the potential for an extra $300 million over the next decade. For Clooney, that meant an estimated $233 million pretax from Casamigos, plus additional earnings from endorsements and older movies.

“If you asked us four years ago if we had a billion-dollar company, I don’t think we would have said yes,” Clooney told CNBC when the deal was announced.

Casamigos was founded in 2013 by Clooney, nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber and real estate tycoon Mike Meldman. According to a source close to the business, the trio invested $600,000 apiece and owned equal stakes in the company prior to the acquisition.

Clooney’s tequila cash edges Dwayne ‘The Rock” Johnson, who banked $124 million pretax to rank No. 2 on the highest-paid actors list. He tallied the largest ever acting take-home from front-of-camera roles in Celebrity 100 history, thanks to giant upfront paychecks and a cut of profits on blockbusters including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. A huge social following allows him to negotiate an extra seven figures atop his standard contract for promotion, helping nearly double his 2017 earnings.

“Social media has become the most critical element of marketing a movie for me,” Johnson told Forbes.“I have established a social media equity with an audience around the world that there’s a value in what I’m delivering to them.”

Why The Rock’s Social Media Muscle Made Him Hollywood's Highest-Paid Star 

Rounding out the top three is Robert Downey Jr., who pocketed $81 million. Iron Man still negotiates with an iron fist, cashing an estimated $15 million up front for 2017’s limited-screen-time role in Spider-Man: Homecoming. He earned several times that amount for Avengers: Infinity War. His co-star, Chris Hemsworth (No. 4; $64.5 million), scored a career best thanks to his cut from Marvel movies such as Thor: Ragnarok.

Together, the world’s ten highest-paid actors tallied $748.5 million between June 1, 2017, and June 1, 2018, before fees and taxes. The salaries of top-earning male leads dwarf those of the world’s highest-paid actresses, who earned a cumulative $186 million in the same scoring period, or just one quarter of the men’s paydays.

Part of the discrepancy is down to a shortage of opportunities in long-running franchises or action movies that pay the big bucks both up front and on back end. But it also shows that even among millionaires, a gender pay gap persists. According to the 2017 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, women earned 80.5 cents for every dollar men earned in 2016. That gulf deepens for African-American, Native American and Latina women.

The World’s Highest-Paid Actresses 2018: Scarlett Johansson Steals The Spotlight With $40.5 Million

International stars were also included, including Jackie Chan (No. 5; $45.5 million), who makes the cut as China’s top movie star. He appeared in six films released in 2017 and banks extra from a vast array of endorsements, producer credits and even his own line of movie theaters.

Among a slew of familiar faces, the only returnee to the ranking is Will Smith (No. 6; $42 million), whose turn in Netflix’s panned Bright earned him an estimated $20 million. A forthcoming role as Genie in Disney’s live action Aladdin adds to his bottom line.

Earnings estimates are based on data from Nielsen, ComScore, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with industry insiders. All figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted.

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Are increasing divorces a threat to our culture?

In 2015, the divorce rates in India were about 13 in every 1000 marriages. While this is still among the lowest tn the world, it marks a sharp rise from the earlier 1 in 1000 ration of a decade ago. In 2013, three new family courts had to be set up in Bangalore to cater to increasing demand for divorces. The judicial system of the country sees more new cases pouring in every day.

The increased divorce rates have raised concerns for one part of the society who sees it as an erosion of our cultural values. The other side, however, considers it a sign that our country is becoming more progressive.

The Situation through the ages

For a long time in our history, women were thought of as an established property of their husband. Even as late as the 20th century England, husbands had full rights over their wife's property, as well as her body. Marital rape was a concept that was introduced and recognized later. India, on the other hand, is yet to debar the practice.

Manusmriti, the ancient Hindu legal text, granted women property and inheritance rights. However, it also placed women under the continuous guardianship of males- first her father, then her husband, and ultimately her sons. While there are no confirmed origins, the practice of Kanyadaan is often defined as the father handing over the responsibility of his daughter to the groom. The word daan literally means donation.

The debate over divorces

As the number of young couples seeking legal separation and divorces increase, so does a sense of concern. Many people, especially from the older age group see it as a shift towards the ‘western’ culture. The impatience and ego of the young generation is considered the prime cause of marriages falling apart.

Several marriage counselors observe that these days couples do not seek counselling as a way of reconciliation, but to convince their partner or family that separation is the wise choice. This ideology is seen as a new entrant to our society. However, Aarti Mundkur, a lawyer from Bangalore, thinks otherwise. “Marriages have been breaking down with much the same regularity over the years. But couples have been continuing with the marriage to keep up appearances. The growing rate of divorce is an indication that the stigma associated with it is on the wane.”

The reasoning is, it is not that some sudden westernization has created faults in the institution of marriage. People had problems even before. It’s merely that with changed times, they now have the courage to come forward and talk openly about the issues. Our culture might refer to matrimony as a bond that lasts across reincarnations, but that does not mean a permanent consent to being unhappy, and modern day couples realize that well.

Conclusion

While stating causes of divorces, people also mention women empowerment. Today, an average woman is more likely to be working, and hence financially independent. Earlier, when women had no means of sustainance other than the husband, they found it difficult to get out of a marriage. Not to mention, the alienation faced by a divorced woman used to be, and still is more than what a divorced man has to go through. Statistics show that the instances of women remarrying are less frequent than that for men.

If indeed women empowerment is a cause for our increased divorce rates, then that is something we should be happy about. It is of no glory to supposedly preserve a ‘sacred’ institution if the cost we pay is the liberty of women, or any gender, for that matter.

The National Family Health Survey (NHFS-4) released a data earlier in 2018 showing that one in every three women has faced domestic violence at least once in her life. The same organisation in 2004 found out that nearly 1.8% women have inflicted physical violence on their husbands, with no provocation. The conclusion is simple. There are unhappy, broken marriages in the country. Spouses suffer through the toxicity for years because the prospect of a divorce is still unacceptable to many.

“What will the society think?” takes away so many people’s chance at a happier life. If disregarding that question means stepping away from our country’s culture, then perhaps it’s worth it.

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India in 365 days

As the midnight of 14th August 1947 promised India a new sunrise, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru addressed an independent India for the first time. When Nehru raised our national flag, the spectators were filled with new excitement and expectations – from our future, from our tryst with destiny.
72 years later, we celebrate yet another Independence day, in a country so diverse in its boastings, so rich in its culture. As the tricolour is hoisted again on the tower of Lal Quila, let’s take a look at the magnificence of our nation and its journey- from 15th August 2017 to 15th August 2018- India in 365 days.

Economy

In the first quarter of 2018, India got past China, becoming the world’s fastest growing economy. As compared to 2017, India’s GDP growth was projected at 7.36% in 2018. In July, we also became the 6th largest economy in the world, overtaking France. With our growth rates remaining high, some economists also predict that India can potentially outstrip UK to bag the 5th position in the coming times.

While the World Bank figures spread like wildfire, and Indian chests swell up with pride, one must take a look at the per capita GDP, a more suitable benchmark for development. The figures for France are nearly 20 times that of India. The grim reality, therefore, remains the same. If we consider our humongous population, our growth figures are barely competitive.

Petrol prices

On 15th August, 2017, petrol prices in India were at 68.08 Rs/litre (New Delhi); on 10th August, 2018, the prices stand at 77.10 Rs/litre (New Delhi). Prices in Mumbai for the same time frame were Rs 77.21 and 84.54 respectively. The graph of stability in these 365 days, however, has been anything but a straight line. With prices spiralling out of control, opposition and critiques have time and again pointed out the faults in petrol pricing. But while the exchange rates (US dollars and Rs) soar up as well, it becomes too complicated a picture to say anything with certainty.

Unemployment

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data, the unemployment rate of the country increased from 3.39% in July 2017 to 6.23% in March 2018. As on Febuary’18, Tripura witnessed the highest unemployment rate – a staggering 30.3%. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India is facing a data crisis, not a job crisis, CMIE’s managing-director Mahesh Vyas disagrees. According to Vyas, the high unemployment rate reflects our current economical scenario. The labour force participation rate has gone down, along with Gross Value Added (GVA). “The ripple-effects of the twin shocks of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) continue to impact the economy”, he said.

Stock Exchange Market

In 2017, India got its first international stock exchange – India International Exchange (INX). A subsidiary of the Bombay Stock Exchange, it is claimed to be the most advanced technological platform in the world.

2017 was a good year for the stock market in other terms as well. The year closed with a market capital of BSE-listed companies at Rs 152 lakh crore, an impressive Rs 45.5 lakh crore increase. It was declared the best year for equities since 2014. BSE Sensex ended the year 2017 with profits of 29.58%, NIFTY (NSE) recorded a gain of 30.28%. However, 2018 has witnesssed a shift in the growth trend. While Sensex recorded a positive trend of 4.05% from Jan 31st to July 31st, BSE 500 fell down by 1%. BSE MidCap and SmallCap also shed about 9.27% and 12.36% respectively. In July, 2018, 300 out of the BSE 500 showed a downward trend, making the BSE 500 growth one of a very narrow outreach.

Rupees in the currency market

On 15th August, 2017, 1 US Dollar was equivalent to 64.27 Indian Rupees. Almost a year later, on 13th August, 2018, it stood at an all time high of 69.46 (INR). In contrast with the current road of decline, the Indian rupee had noted a strengthening of 6.75% against the USD in 2017. The exchange rate depreciation, coupled with hiked oil prices is likely to put futher pressure on an already increasing inflation.

Political climate

Elections

In the latter half of 2017, the Himachal Pradesh (November) and Gujarat (December) state assembly elections captured the limelight. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), with a majority at the center, managed to cash in on its increasing popularity, securing the highest number of votes in both states. However, BJP received a huge blow in March, 2018, when after Yogi Adityanath’s swearing ceremony as the CM, his old Gorakhpur MP seat was won by a Samajwadi Party candidate.

Febuary, 2018 also witnessed 3 out of “The seven sisters”- Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland casting their votes for the legislative elections. Tripura, with 25 years of Communist (Party) ruling, in a surprising twist, witnessed BJP scoring the highest number of seats. Meghalaya and Nagaland had Indian National Congress (INA) and Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) winning the most number of seats.

Major bills passed

In August, 2017, the Supreme Court declared the practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional. Subsequently, a year later, Lok Sabha passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, outlawing talaq-e-biddat. The bill is still pending in the Rajya Sabhya. With the Lok Sabha passing The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in July, Rajya Sabha followed suit in August, 2018. The bill imposes stricter punishemnt for rapes, including death penalty for rape of girls under 12 years of age.

In August, 2018, the Parliament passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (PoA) Amendment Bill, 2018. The bill, among other amendments, would eliminate any provision of anticipatory bail for people indicted with atrocities against SC/STs, not waiting for a court order. Lok Sabha also passed the famous Representation of the People Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017, in the Monsoon session (August), 2018. The bill allows proxy voting for NRIs.

A glance at the other aspects

Pollution

In May, 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report, that in effect declared India worst in the world in terms of air quality. Out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world, 14 belonged to the nation with Kanpur topping the charts. Delhi, the national capital, stood at the 6th place. The figures weren’t relieving in 2017, either. By the end of 2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency had stated that the “smog” levels in the capital were at least 5 times more than the maximum acceptable threshold.

The Journalism Debate

As the murder of Gauri Lankesh, the prominent journalist, shook the country in September, 2017, the tremors were soon to follow. In June, 2018, Shujaat Bhukhari, the Editor-in-chief of the Kashmir-based newspaper Rising Kashmir was shot dead by unidentified men. Reporters without Borders, an international organisation, raised serious concerns, mentioning how 4 Indian journalists had died in the first half of 2018. The press freedom is largely considered as being under threat by today’s journalists, with intolerance on a rise.

Women empowerment

In September, 2017, Nirmala Sitharaman assumed office as the 26th Defense Minister of India, being the second woman after Indira Gandhi to do so. On November 30, 2017, Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian in nearly two decades to win a gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championship. Later in the April Commonwealth Games, she bagged another gold medal. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, out of the 26 gold medals India won, 12 were won exclusively by women players, one by a mixed team.

The director-general of National Sample Survey Office, Debi Prasad Mondal revealed in an August, 2018 interview that the government plans to start a new survey in January, 2019. The survey aims to take into consideration the amount of unpaid work in India. The move comes as a major shift from the narrow approach of ignoring the efforts and labour contributed by several women in domestic chores.

The past 365 days have witnessed a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. However, with a country as large and diverse as ours, perhaps one can expect nothing less. There are a million little things that make our country the “Bharat” as we proudly call it. It is lucid, therefore, that imperfections creep in. What becomes imperative in such circumstances, is to not lose sight of what’s important and what’s right. Becoming aware citizens is half the journey done of being good citizens. Know what is happening and why.

Happy Independence Day!

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11 famous slogans of Indian freedom fighters

From the uprising of 1857, the journey for India’s freedom was painstaking, and also a long one. After struggling for more than a century (1857-1947) we, the Indians, got our freedom back. How can we forget the Jallianwala Bagh genocide in which thousands of innocent Indians were killed? Hundreds of brave fighters sacrificed their blood and soul for the attainment of independence. It has been 72 years since India has gained Independence, and yet, the powerful words of our freedom fighters never fail to give us goosebumps. They tend to ignite a strange fire and love wihin us for our homeland, time and again. 
Let’s take a trip down the memory lane and rejoice in the courageous words of our freedom fighters-

“Inqlaab Zindanbad”- Shaheed Bhagat Singh

This slogan was coined by Urdu poet and Indian freedom fighter Maulana Hasrat Mohanib but was popularised by one of the most influential Indian revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh. He was the one who sacrificed his life for the country at the young age of 23. The meaning of the slogan “Inqlaab Zindanbad” is “Long live the revolution”. This slogan became one of the rallying cries of the independence struggle and motivated the youth of India to participate in the freedom struggle. It awakened in them the feeling of patriotism and a pro-independence sentiment.

“Tum Muje Khoon Do, Mai Tumhe Azadi Dunga” – Subhash Chandra Bose

The literal meaning of this slogan is “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. It was devised by Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately known as Netaji, who was the founder of the Indian National Army. He urged the youth of India to participate in the freedom struggle through his own methods. He gave the slogan “Tum Muje Khoon Do, Mai Tumhe Azadi Dunga” to motivate the people fight more actively for freedom of the country. He was the one who inspired thousands of young minds to lay down their lives for the motherland.

“Karo ya Maro” – Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the pioneer of various movements in the freedom struggle of India. The slogan “Do or Die” was delivered by Mahatma Gandhi after a meeting of AICC (All India Congress Committee) which was held on 7th August 1942. The next day i,e on 8th August 1942, Quit India resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority which declared the immediate ending of British rule in India. So, on the night while addressing the Congress delegates Mahatma Gandhi said “ Mere jail jaane se kuch nahi hoga; karo ya maro” which ultimately meant that either we shall free India or we shall die in the attempt.

“Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara” – Muhammad Iqbal

Muhammad Iqbal was a famous poet, politician, philosopher and a remarkable academic. He was also a barrister in British India. He used poetry and songs to spread political awareness amongst the people. Iqbal wrote “ Sare Jahan se Achha Hindustan Hamara”, the famous song was used as a slogan to rejuvenate the youth with a feeling of patriotism. The abridged version of the song is still sung and is also played frequently as a marching song by the Indian Armed Forces.

“Vande Mataram” – Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

“Vande Mataram”, meaning “Mother, I bow to thee”, was a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, an Indian journalist, and activist. He is the one who personified India as Goddess and mother during the Indian National Movement in this poem which was later translated as a song by Rabindranath Tagore. The first stanza of the poem has been adopted as the national song of India in present times. The line “Vande Mataram” has been frequently used to salute the motherland respectfully.

“Satyameva Jayate” – Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

The origin of this slogan lies in well-known mantra from the Mundaka Upanishad. “Truth alone triumphs” is the literal meaning of this phrase which is not only adopted as the national motto of India but also inscribed at the base of our national emblem. It was Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, an activist and also the founder of Banaras Hindu University, who used this slogan in his presidential address in 1918 in Indian National Congress convention. He made sure this slogan reached the masses and inspired them.

“Swaraj mera janamsiddh adhikar hai, aur mai ise lekar rahuga” – Bal Gangadhar Tilak

“Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it”, said by Bal Gangadhar Tilak ignited the spark of patriotism amongst countless Indians during the freedom struggle. He is the one who emphasised on the education of youth, mobilised the people from all sections of society. This popular nationalist, social reformer and also a lawyer strongly advocated human rights. His slogan motivated people to attain complete freedom and also provoked love for the country among them.

“Ab bhi jiska khoon nahi khaula khoon nahi vo paani hai, jo desh ke kaam na aaye vo bekaar jawani hai” – Chandrashekar Azad

Chandrashekhar Azad had an extremely revolutionary ideology with respect to the freedom movement. He was popular amongst the masses by his self-taken name “Azad”. It was at a young age that Azad joined the freedom struggle and participated in various violent movements. Azad vowed to free the motherland from the clutches of British. Determined never to be caught by the British, Azad revolutionised the youth by giving highly motivating slogans.
This slogan has lit the spirit to fight for the country

“Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil me hai” – Ramprasad Bismil

These lines by Ramprasad Bismil are taken from his patriotic poem which was later used as a slogan to challenge the British authority ruling in India. This slogan enlightened the need of the hour and urged people to fight for freedom against British imperialism. Bismil was one of the most talented patriotic writers of the time.

“Aaram haram hai” – Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru, a central figure in Indian politics, the first Prime Minister of India, was also amongst the desperate freedom fighters who wanted the motherland to be free from the British rule. As per Nehru not even a single sigh of relief was experienced till India got independence, taking rest was unworthy as per him.

“Khoon se khelenge Holi gar Vatan mushkil main hai” – Ashfaqullah Khan

Ashfaqullah Khan, a prominent figure in the Kakori dacoity, was a freedom fighter from Shahjahanpur and also a close acquaintance of Ramprasad Bismil. They both were awarded death sentence for Kakori robbery after being caught. Khan was an enthusiast; he used the line “Khoon se khelenge Holi gar Vatan mushkil main hai” from the poem Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna as a slogan to encourage the youth.

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On Independence Day, US Praises India For Becoming A Leading Global Power

Wishing India on its 72nd Independence Day, the United States of America praised India for setting an example globally "by supporting democracy, diversity, and the rule of law".
In a statement, US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo said, "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend my best wishes to the people and government of India on their Independence Day. Since gaining its independence 71 years ago today, India has set an example for South Asia and the world by supporting democracy, diversity, and the rule of law-values shared by the United States."

Talking about the Indian-American diaspora, he said there is an "inspiring collaboration" in different sections of the society.
"As members of the oldest and largest democracies, the people of the United States and India have always enjoyed strong bonds of friendship. We are grateful for the vibrant Indian-American diaspora and the growing number of young people strengthening ties between our countries as exchange students," Mr Pompeo said.
The values shared by our people contribute to inspiring collaboration in health, energy, environment, science, and high technology that will fuel the jobs and prosperity of the future, he added.

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Motorola P30 leaked renders reveal iPhone X-like notch, dual rear cameras

Moto P30, Moto P30 Play, and Moto P30 Note smartphones are expected to launch in soon. The next-generation Motorola devices were recently spotted on the company’s official website in China. Now, Android Pure has put out photos of Moto P30, which it claims are official renders of the phone. Moto P30 is seen with a notch and this could be the first Motorola smartphone to come with this feature.

Moto P30 renders reveal the phone will have thin bezels of the sides and a chin at the bottom with Motorola branding. The notch at the top of the screen seems to be wider, just like on the iPhone X. The phone will also feature a vertical dual rear camera setup similar to that on Apple’s flagship. The LED flash unit will be tucked in between the two camera lens. A fingerprint sensor will likely be embedded into the Moto’s batwing logo on the back cover.

Moto P30 will reportedly feature a 6.2-inch fullscreen display with 2.5D glass design. The screen will have an aspect ratio of 19:9. The phone will be powered by an octa-core processor, coupled with 6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage. The battery is said to be a 3,000 mAh one with support for fast charging thanks to a 18W charger.

Also Read: Motorola P30, P30 Play, P30 Note expected to launch in China on August 15
In terms of cameras, Moto P30 will include a 16MP primary sensor and a 5MP secondary sensor with f/1.8 aperture on the back. The front camera will be 12MP with f/1.8 aperture. The selfie shooter will also support Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) features, as per the report. As per the leaked images spotted by MySmartPrice, Moto P30 will be available in 64GB and 128GB storage variants, paired with 6GB RAM. The phone will come in three colour options: Aurora, Bright Black, and Ice Jade White.

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