Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today Psychology Today Blog: BIPOC Mental Health is a Licensed Psychotherapist and National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in New York City and runs a diverse therapy practice focused on the therapeutic treatment of BIPOC communities and their allies She is certified in a range of treatment modalities and clinical issues Mandal is also a forensic expert witness for the New York State and federal court system where she has worked with thousands of people in the legal system She has years of training as a sentence mitigation specialist in federal and state criminal courts and is a qualified expert witness in trauma in immigration court Mandal spent 25 years specializing and training in historical impacting the global mental health of communities around the world She is a graduate of Smith College School of Social Work (1999) and Harvard Medical School/ Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (2015) Mandal is also a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the American Bar Association she is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the City University of New York where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students Psychology Today © 2025 Sussex Publishers Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission This week, we’re highlighting 24 talented writers and performers for Vulture’s annual list “The Comedians You Should and Will Know.” Our goal is to introduce a wider audience to the talent that has the comedy community and industry buzzing (You can read more about our methodology at the link above.) We asked the comedians on the list to answer a series of questions about their work Tell us a story from your childhood that you think might explain why you ended up becoming a comedian we did a play about the Harlem Renaissance I just did the Carlton dance from Fresh Prince If you were immortalized as a cartoon character and a classic Stacy Adams fisherman cognac-color alligator sandal What’s your proudest moment/achievement of your comedy career so far whenever someone tells me about a hard time they were experiencing and that somehow I made their day a little less difficult and it feels good to know every now and then that somebody else gets something out of this besides me Which comedian’s career trajectory would you most like to follow Tell us everything about your worst show ever anything!) I’ve had my fair share of awful interactions with audience members My worst work to date is when I used to tell a joke about My 600 lb and I’m trying to figure out how to get into it so I decided to unnecessarily ask the audience who watches the show and instead of saying “You look like the type of person who would watch the show considering you are the target demographic for TLC television programming” — meaning she was a mid-30s suburban woman with a mid-30s suburban husband; very lighthearted jab (to me) — I just say “You look like it.” And everyone in the audience so it takes me a while to process why everyone in the room gasped and started mugging me I hear a comic from behind the curtain say I spent the rest of the set apologizing to this lady and was able to squeeze out a big laugh at the end and got offstage Everything should be cool (not really) at this point but then a comic later on in the night decides to bring the situation back up and says “Ain’t nothing wrong with being a big girl Big girls make some noise!” And now her husband is full-blown red and ready to fight by the end of the show I saw her outside crying and I tried to apologize again she bought a ticket to a comedy show in the hopes of having a nice laugh but got met with a bunch of folks calling her fat What have you learned about your own joke-writing process that you didn’t know when you started I used to try to write jokes that were insightful or clever or whatever What’s the biggest financial hurdle you’ve encountered since becoming a comedian I had this bad habit of finally getting a good-paying gig after a long time of fasting and would immediately start acting up One time I bought some $200 Oakley snow goggles I have never been to a place or done an activity where those would have been applicable I’m praying the rent man don’t lock the door on me starts his final battle rap by dissing himself so the person he’s battling has nothing left to attack How would you roast yourself so the other person would have nothing to say That breath will heat up and activate from time to time When it comes to your comedy opinions — about material I don’t believe in the age-old comedy idiom “Funny is funny.” While I do believe a lot of the best jokes speak to the human condition in a way that every person can understand and identify with it that does not undermine the idea that we are unique with our own interests So sometimes we’re not all going to find the same thing funny A person can identify as a music lover and very much so hate country music (I’m that person) who was a well-respected herpetologist in the Midwest for like 20 years He was finally able to retire and do stand-up comedy full time because he does shows at various reptile expos and conventions across the country Many of us would not pay our hard-earned money to see somebody make jokes exclusively about lizards and such and I’m glad someone is able to provide that service for them (fiction) so it does make sense why I would have a take like this you’ve ever received?Best advice: Have fun Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York To make this website work, we log user data. By using Shephard's online services, you agree to our Privacy Policy Stay up to date with our Newsletter Or login one of the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates which was signed at Mandal in southern Norway would see the two companies explore ways to expand on existing collaborations on the two classes of modular vessels Umoe Mandal already supplies significant components for the Type 26 frigate which is being built as a replacement for the Type 23 warship in the UK's Royal Navy Tony Fyler is the Naval Reporter at Shephard.  unmanned surface vehicle will operate this year in multiple operations and military exercises worldwide The contract was awarded to HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division and General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) contract money will also go towards improving productivity at the shipyards The Philippine Navy is fast-tracking its maritime modernisation with new warships and international shipbuilding partnerships to bolster its regional deterrence posture Taiwan is strengthening its deterrence against the PLA through an asymmetric arsenal that includes fast mine-laying vessels and domestically developed UAVs "If there is anything that can ever top the experience of holding @britishbakeoff trophy this is it," Mandal wrote of the arrival of his daughter Rahul Mandal/Instagram; Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Anil Kumar Mandal, a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Gematics Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious USGIF (The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation) Maxar Scholarship for Diversity and Innovation in GEOINT for the 2024-25 academic year (https://usgif.org/usgif-scholarship-program/) This significant achievement comes from a highly competitive multitiered review by an independent panel of GEOINT community professionals in July 2024 The USGIF Maxar Scholarship for Diversity and Innovation in GEOINT is awarded to one undergraduate or graduate student in the entire US Mandal was selected from a large pool of talented candidates The USGIF Maxar Scholarship is awarded to individuals with exceptional potential and dedication to advancing geospatial technology Mandal 's passion for integrating AI with geospatial data to develop innovative solutions for community development was a critical factor in his selection holds a bachelor's degree in geomatics engineering from Tribhuvan University in Nepal and is currently pursuing an MS in civil engineering at FAU His extensive community engagements underscore his commitment to leveraging geospatial technology for societal benefit Congratulations to Anil Mandal on this well-deserved recognition If you are experiencing difficulty accessing information on the Florida Atlantic University website due to a disability, visit the website accessibility page. Florida Atlantic University embodies a culture of strategic and collaborative community engagement that results in mutual benefit to the institution and the diverse internal and external communities that it serves BAE Systems and Norwegian shipbuilder Umoe Mandal have signed a new collaboration agreement to strengthen joint maritime capabilities and reinforce UK-Norway defence ties The agreement was formalised during an industrial collaboration event in Mandal attended by British and Norwegian government officials and industry representatives The partnership builds on more than 25 years of cooperation with Umoe Mandal already supplying key components for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates the companies will expand efforts on composite structures for current and future naval platforms “This Collaboration Agreement enables us to build on our two nations’ military and industrial relationships and further strengthens our ability to offer advanced maritime capability to the Norwegian and UK navies,” said Geoff Searle Future Business Director at BAE Systems Naval Ships He highlighted a “particular focus on composite structures for the Type 26 frigates and future Commando Boats” The agreement also outlines plans to explore the joint development of a new Littoral Strike Craft aimed at enhancing amphibious operations and rapid deployment capabilities the platform could significantly boost commando force projection in littoral environments welcomed the agreement as a boost for the local economy stating: “This will enable us to invest further in skills and local jobs in southern Norway.” He added that the collaboration would support “future growth and development of our company through the delivery of further frigate mast structures and collaboration on Commando boats.” Both firms view the collaboration as a strategic move to improve naval interoperability and regional defence readiness The partnership may also align with Norway’s future frigate procurement strategy potentially involving the Type 26 platform already selected by the UK The Type 26 is recognised as one of the world’s most advanced surface combatants designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and high-intensity conflict scenarios BAE Systems noted that “sharing build and transition lessons across all three national programmes will benefit all parties in this multinational effort” Cookie Policy Copyright © 2025 Defence Industry Europe | mady by: geekon.eu We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Jane LaCroix is a Newsweek writer based in Miami She has in depth knowledge of celebrity and internet culture and has covered entertainment news extensively Jane joined Newsweek in 2024 from Ranker and had previously worked at People and HollywoodLife. She is a graduate of Fitcburg State University in Fitchburg You can get in touch with Jane by emailing j.lacroix@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Magician Simon Mandal's creativity burns brightest when he's working on a project that he's not sure he can pull off "I once had just 24 hours to figure out how to turn diamonds into moisturizer," he recalled Mandal invents and performs custom magic for a living. He's done personalized performances at events for Google and for A-Listers like Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy who recently invited him to share his magic at their home in Manhattan I was honored to get that invite," Simon shared with Newsweek Another recent favorite performance of Mandal's was at a conference in Las Vegas with NFL legend Boomer Esiason Mandal had Boomer hold a King of Hearts in between his hands "There's no way you're getting at this," Boomer joked When the king's face slowly transformed into Boomer's face he "jumped 3 feet in the air," Mandal recalled "When people experience that moment of pure joy I know the countless hours of customization have all been worth it," Mandal beamed Mandal tailors each performance to the crowd whether it's for a corporate conference or a charity gala creating a magical moment perfectly in tune with the company's innovative spirit Luxury skincare brand La Prairie Switzerland had asked him to turn the diamonds into moisturizer It went off without a hitch and left attendees awestruck This holiday season, the magician will be giving back by headlining charity events for Gateway Chamber of Commerce, and the Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance Corps With a background that spans improv comedy multi-dimensional approach to entertainment Visit Simon Mandal at TheSimonShow.com Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all It was always a question of when not whether Wednesday’s cabinet decision to conduct a caste census along with the next census has now confirmed that the when is going to be sooner (no dates have been announced yet) rather than later The fact that the recent demand for a caste census was resurrected and championed by the Congress along with its Mandal allies is going to make it look like the Narendra Modi government has conceded this point and its opponents stand to make significant gains But it might be too early to jump to this conclusion It is important to understand the chronology of Mandal politics in India to understand this point PREMIUM An enumerator staff collects information from residents for a caste-based census in Bihar in 2023 (Santosh Kumar/ HT File Photo) Let us first begin with an explanation of what the restoration of the caste census after almost a century – the last one was conducted in British India in 1931 – will mean in concrete terms While India did away with counting castes in the census after independence The census continued to enumerate the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) population what the next caste census will hopefully really give us afresh is a break-up of the remaining population at two broad groups and sub-castes: Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and persons who do not belong to SC/ST/OBC groups or the proverbial upper castes This is likely to fill a huge statistical vacuum as far as our knowledge about social composition of India’s population is concerned we have had a tentative idea of the share of OBC and non-SC-ST-OBC population at the macro level from various government surveys But a census generated database will be far more robust at the aggregate level and give a demographic break-up at the sub-caste level for the first time since independence What led to the resurrection of the demand for a caste census OBCs as a broad social category did not exist before independence or even when the constitution was adopted The only affirmative action provision which the constitution recognized was reservation in the legislature and government educational institutions and jobs for SC-ST population a compromise between BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi where the former agreed to reservations for Dalits rather than creation of a separate electoral college (like minorities) for them meant that the arc of discrimination and deprivation extended much beyond the proverbial untouchables who were included among the SCs started asserting for a constitutional redressal of their deprivation and discrimination along with pushing for greater political agency While there were large state-wise and group-wise asymmetries between this population it eventually culminated in a pan-India assertion for recognition of an umbrella category called the OBC when the Mandal Commission report was formally accepted by the V P Singh led National Front government announcing 27% reservations for OBCs in government jobs in August 1990 It would take almost two decades for OBC reservation to be enacted in educational institutions which was implemented under the first United Progressive Alliance government in 2006 The Mandal report was categorical in saying that it would have liked to recommend a higher quota commensurate with the more than 50% share of OBCs in the population but was constrained from doing so by a Supreme Court judgment capping aggregate reservations at 50% The demand for caste census is primarily motivated at resurrecting this demand and could very well succeed given the fact that the 50% quota cap has been breached for all practical purposes after judicial ratification of 10% reservations for economically weaker non-SC-ST-OBC groups The implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations triggered a huge social-political storm in India in the form of an upper caste backlash it also nudged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to make an aggressive pivot to the Hindutva plank L K Advani started his Rath Yatra – he planned to travel in a motorised chariot from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh demanding a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and was arrested in Bihar – almost immediately after VP Singh’s decision to implement Mandal While the BJP would have to wait for six years before first forming a coalition government and 24 years before getting a parliamentary majority of its own the Congress started hemorrhaging almost immediately in the aftermath of the Mandal-Kamandal binary the latter being a popular lexicon for Hindutva politics in the country While OBC reservations have definitely made the labour market more equal in terms of increasing the representation of OBCs Mandal’s political implications far exceed its economic implications it led to the creation of political parties (Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal) which were led and controlled by leaders from a dominant OBC group This cohort along with a strong support from Muslims in the aftermath of a growing BJP came to control a significant vote share to win elections in a fragmented polity and became an important arbiter of political power at the national level giving rise to the theory that there was no preventing Kamandal without Mandal the larger legitimacy of these Mandal parties was questioned with time especially in Bihar as OBC polity got fragmented and parts of it (Janata Dal-United) aligned with the BJP to capture power These fissures within the larger OBC camp were driven more by unequal sharing of political power by dominant OBCs than some ideological struggle about the cause of OBCs per se OBC polity’s watershed moment however would come in 2014 when the BJP fought the elections under an OBC prime minister candidate and actively pursued a tactics of mobilising OBC groups other than dominant OBCs represented directly by Mandal parties This strategy was the most successful in Uttar Pradesh where overwhelming support from lower OBCs paved the BJP’s march to victory the BJP almost immediately decided to give its tactics of breaking the homogeneity of the OBC camp a legal sanctity which was formed in October 2017 to stratify reservations within OBCs The report has been completed and is pending with the government and is likely to reserve a larger pie of reservations for non-dominant OBCs the strategy is not very different from what the Congress is trying in a state such as Karnataka by trying to tilt the reservation scales in favour of AHINDA (broad group of backward classes Dalits and minorities) from the dominant peasant communities of Lingayat and Vokkaligas Mandal parties in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh draw their primary strength from dominant OBC support and would not be keen on a policy which others these groups If the BJP decides to unleash the Rohini Commission rejigging of OBC reservation along with an increase in reservation for OBCs; which is perhaps what will follow the caste census Mandal parties or dominant OBCs might still be losers rather than winners in the existing state of play on reservations Mandal parties opposing such rejigging would only vindicate the BJP’s charge of them being sectarian towards the larger OBC cause This dilemma will increase the Congress’s dilemma in taking a clear position This is exactly why it is early days to see the government conceding on the caste census demand as an unambiguous victory for the opposition’s Mandal agenda the social turmoil which could follow from such rejigging of OBC reservations along with a dilution of the 50% cap on quota could very well consume the BJP too The best way to understand the caste census announcement is to see it as a continuation of the Mandal-Kamandal dialectic in India’s political economy Both these camps think of their larger constituency (Bahujans or SC-ST-OBCs for Mandal and Hindus for Kamandal) as free from contradictions and the other side tries to drive a wedge in that consolidation By forcing the government to accept caste census demand which will almost certainly lead to an expansion of OBC quota Mandal has scored an important victory in its historical struggle for proportionate reservations it remains to be seen whether this agenda-based victory will also guarantee political power for Mandal parties and the Congress This is not a given if the BJP manages to sell Mandal 3.0 as a coup against dominant OBCs usurping most benefits in the realm of affirmative action but with the caveat of por ahora (for now) writes a weekly column on the state of the country’s economy and its political fallout Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives Nagpur — The Nagpur Bench of the High Court has taken a strict stand against Janata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal and Babasaheb Naik College of Engineering for failing to comply with court orders regarding salary arrears and allowances owed to their employees The court has now directed the Yavatmal District Collector to furnish details of the immovable properties of those held in contempt The issue arose after employees of Babasaheb Naik College of Engineering filed a writ petition in the High Court demanding implementation of the 6th and 7th Pay Commission recommendations along with the release of pending dearness allowances Despite earlier court orders directing the trust and the college to make these payments leading the court to initiate contempt proceedings on its own The individuals held in contempt include Janata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal president Jay Sudhakarrao Naik the court instructed that a detailed report be submitted by June 10 noting that the trustees’ and the institution’s properties may be auctioned to recover dues The court also warned that if the orders continue to be ignored it may consider imprisonment of the contemnors after the next hearing 2023 order had not been properly implemented The secretary of the college had submitted an affidavit stating that the society intended to sell off some of its assets to clear the dues but there has been no visible progress on this front Log in for full access to stabroeknews.com Only one active session is allowed per subscriber The police today said that former Region Three Police Commander Khalid Mandall has been sent on leave to facilitate the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge The announcement from the Office of the Police Commissioner came as the police come under mounting pressure over the handling of the death which has triggered protests and an outpouring of grief another release from the Office of the Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken had announced the reassigning of Mandall but nothing about his being sent on leave It also did not say anything about the close arrest of the three ranks Mandall was reassigned to Regional Division #4B Mahindra Siewnarine has now been posted to Regional Division #3 as Commander The release today from Hicken’s office follows: The Guyana Police Force wishes to update the public that the probe continues in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death of Adriana Younge investigators have contacted and questioned the proprietor of Double Day Hotel and Bar and all employees who were present at the establishment on the day of the incident A number of police ranks of Regional Division #3 were also questioned In keeping with the Guyana Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedure has been sent on administrative leave to facilitate the investigation the investigators are still interviewing persons who can assist with the investigations The family of Adriana has identified a pathologist of their choice who is expected to arrive in Guyana on Sunday to perform the post-mortem examination with the Guyana Police Force’s independent pathologist The post-mortem examination is a critical aspect of the investigation to confirm the cause of death of Adriana Younge Guyana Police Force will provide updates as the investigations unfold A FREE roundup of top news from Guyana you might otherwise miss Rector of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) has been reappointed to the position of Deputy Chair of the Presidential Science Mandal was appointed as a member of the Presidential Science and Innovation Policy Council through a decision published in the Official Gazette dated April 10 he has assumed the role of Deputy Chair of the Council under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continue their efforts to produce policies and contribute to decision-making processes in line with Türkiye's development goals and Innovation Policy Council conducts critical work shaping the future of our country in areas such as the development of domestic technologies TÜBİTAK has played a decisive role in Türkiye's journey in science and technology as the fortress of science and technology in our country who has held strategic positions such as the Presidency of TÜBİTAK and has created a broad impact area with his pioneering scientific work was appointed as a member of the same Council in 2018 and subsequently as Deputy Chair With his identity as a scientist and the roles he has undertaken Mandal has shaped Türkiye's vision for science and technology He is recognized as a respected figure both nationally and internationally for his academic expertise and leadership on being reappointed to this significant position and wish him continued success Hasan Mandal graduated from the Metallurgical Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University (METU) in 1987 at Newcastle University in England in 1992 and continued his postdoctoral studies at Karlsruhe University in Germany Mandal began his academic career at Anadolu University in 1994 earning the title of Associate Professor in 1996 and Professor in 2001 he served as Vice Rector at Sabancı University he became a member of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and later its Vice President he served as the President of TÜBİTAK and currently continues his role as Rector of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Hasan Mandal is married and has two children Rektörlük Binası Maslak-Sarıyer / İstanbul EXPERT OPINION BY NICK HOBSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR NORTH AMERICA, INFLUENCE AT WORK, BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ADVISER @NICKMHOBSON the friendly voice on the other side of my ChatGPT app gave a typical reply to a question I asked she cleared her throat and uttered a ‘hmm.’ I stopped in my tracks my brain thought I was talking to another human It dawned on me: Gen AI will fundamentally change how we live–and how we define ourselves as human beings where we’re confronted with the reality of the type and the magnitude of change that lie ahead Despite the skepticism and fear about AI that often dominates headlines, I’m here to champion a more hopeful and human perspective and entrepreneurs who believe that AI is not merely a tool for economic efficiency but a transformative force for individual and societal good Joining me in this shared vision is Rishi Mandal, CEO of Future whose approach to fitness coaching exemplifies how technology can extend human capabilities and foster genuine connections In the early days of the business, Rishi found a kindred spirit in Justin Santamaria whose background at Apple was centered on crafting technologies that connect people Justin’s work included developing features like read receipts and message status indicators which subtly enhanced the sense of connection between users As things developed between Rishi and Justin and the early founding team these experiences were instrumental in shaping Future’s foundational philosophy that technology should bring people together What team Future is doing is a tale as old as time They’re standing on the shoulders of inventor giants Think about the most important historical advancements of the past 150 years Whether it was the invention of the telephone it’s clear that the most influential technologies do one thing above all else: bring people together These innovations transformed society and disrupted daily routines by making it easier for people to connect and build relationships across vast distances AI is in this camp but with much greater potential–and much greater risk Future’s platform utilizes AI to enhance the connection between coaches and clients ensuring that even remote interactions are personal and meaningful Future delivers millions of personalized training plans to members One place AI is helpful to their human coaches is in building personalized training plans for each member coaches have to select the ideal exercises allowing coaches to build or tweak training plans more efficiently This efficiency opens up additional time for coaches to check in with members over text messages or phone calls Future’s success is a testament to the power of AI as a tool for societal benefit By focusing on behavior change and psychological support Future’s platform uses AI to extend the reach of human coaches enabling them to provide personalized guidance and encouragement to a broader audience This not only maximizes the impact of fitness coaching but also addresses the larger issue of social isolation by building supportive interactive communities I as a coach can see what’s going on with you and your data,” explains Rishi emphasizing the personalized touch that AI enables This aspect of digital connectivity underscores how AI and technology can become central to enhancing human interactions rather than detracting from them As we navigate the complexities of the digital age stories like that of Future remind us that technology It’s a rallying cry for all innovators and entrepreneurs to envision and build technologies that do more than solve business problems–they should enrich lives “We have members spread across the country and across the demographic spectrum who rely on a partner–a coach–whom they’ve never actually met in real life,” Rishi says We may not fully grasp where all this change will lead us but it’s moments like my chatbot’s imitative ‘hmm’ that remind us technology holds up a mirror and reflects back our own humanity The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own The super early-rate deadline for the 2025 Inc. Power Partner Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now Learn More The all-round brilliance of Ajay Mandal has been a pillar of strength for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket for quite some time now Some terrific all-round performances in the recently concluded domestic season including Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy highlight the player’s ability to come clutch when needed Mandal bats at a strike-rate just over 130 and also picks wickets regularly with the ball His slow left-arms can cause the batters troubles while his big-hitting strength will always be vital One of the greatest fast bowlers the game has ever witnessed there are barely any laurels Mitchell Starc hasn’t laid his hands on A two-time ODI World Cup winner and 2021 T20 World Cup winner Starc has been a batters’ nightmare for more than a decade and continues to be a major threat with the ball With over 700 wickets to his credit in international cricket Starc doesn’t just add experience to our bowling line-up but he will be one of the leaders in the team to guide the youngsters who was named Player of the Match in the 2024 final vs SRH is all geared up for his fourth full season in the TATA IPL and it is needless to say Donovan Ferreira maintains a strike-rate well over 150 and that stat speaks volumes of the player’s calibre Ferreira can be a menace once he gets going and the fans would be hoping for some blitzkrieg with the bat as the season progresses The 26-year-old has tasted success in the T20 tournaments in England and South Africa and is all set for a second stint in the TATA IPL Faf du Plessis is all set for a new chapter in the TATA IPL and we are ever-so excited the fourth highest overseas run-scorer in IPL history will be a guiding force for our young top order involving Abishek Porel and Jake Fraser McGurk the man moves as quickly on the field as anyone Faf is all set to blaze the red-and-blue of the Capitals Dushmantha Chameera has represented Sri Lanka across all formats and has made some stellar contributions for his team with the white ball Chameera has everything you wish to have in a fast bowler - from pace to intensity Chameera has picked up 141 wickets in 137 T20s across multiple tournaments The pace attack of the Delhi Capitals looks stronger than ever before and the presence of Chameera is an icing on the cake Someone who has been Team India's crisis man for every occasion & role KL Rahul is one of the most talented & elegant batters of our time While he has been India’s saviour in the lower order in ODIs recently Rahul has been impregnable as a batter in the TATA IPL over the last few seasons Rahul boasts of having 575+ run seasons 5 times in a row from 2018 to 2022 The second-fastest IPL fifty belongs to him as well a new journey beckons one of Indian cricket’s biggest stars Rahul instantly makes us a side to watch out for with his presence Ashutosh Sharma made his TATA IPL debut only last year but quickly settled into one of the toughest roles possible in modern day cricket - a T20 finisher Some explosive knocks coming in at the death sealed his status as one of the most promising middle order batters right now and for the Capitals The 26-year-old from Ratlam boasts of an outstanding strike-rate of 182.50 in T20 cricket returns triumphantly as the reigning Ranji champion and as one of the leading run-scorers in domestic cricket this season A trailblazing campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was backed up by four centuries in the Ranji Trophy one of the two Indian triple centurions in Tests is one of the most revered names in the Indian domestic circuit and his addition instantly boosts our batting line-up A journey that began in 2019 now scales the next level with Axar Patel all set to lead the Delhi Capitals beginning this season has been a revelation in Indian cricket over the last 24 months adding two ICC trophies to his cabinet - the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 Bapu has always been a focal attack point with the ball and has taken giant strides with the bat lately The added responsibility will be coupled by sky-high expectations But if we learnt something in these last few months left-arm leggies are a rare sign and very few in history have had the consistency of Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep is coming fresh off the Champions Trophy success the 30-year-old delivered a match-winning spell in the final - picking two crucial wickets Kullu’s journey with Capitals began in 2022 and he has scalped 47 wickets in three editions for us Kuldeep-Axar as a pair are as formidable a spinning duo you could ask for and we are all geared up to witness another season of their magic Mohit Sharma is one of the leading wicket-takers in IPL history Another experienced addition to the Capitals’ camp Mohit is expected to guide our young quicks to glory and partner up with Mitchell Starc in the death overs whenever needed representing the country at the 2014 T20 World Cup and the 2015 ODI World Cup the veteran has snapped 40 wickets in the last two seasons and will be rearing to continue the purple patch Thangarasu Natarajan’s yorkers have troubled batters multiple times over the last few seasons the Tamil Nadu cricketer is all prepared for his first taste of the Delhi Mehmaan Nawaazi Prolific in his craft and relentless in his pursuits Natarajan is a seasoned campaigner in IPL who instantly raises the bar for our bowling attack Natarajan has enjoyed a lot of success in death bowling over the last few seasons playing a crucial role in his team’s ascendance to the final Mukesh Kumar made his IPL debut with us in 2023 and has quickly grown into a trustable source of wickets and tight overs in the short format Shortly after an impressive debut campaign in 2023 Mukesh made his debut across all formats before the year ended and no wonder there was a bidding war at the 2025 IPL auction for him he is returning home and another exciting spell awaits in the red and blue Mukesh so far has picked up 24 wickets in 20 matches He will be a key presence in this line-up this year and we cannot wait for him to roar at the Kotla (and other venues too!) Darshan Nalkande is coming fresh off a Ranji triumph where he made a crucial contribution in the final The 26-year-old has been featuring in the domestic circuit for over half-a-decade now and is a terrific addition to our pace battery Nalkande has been a potent wicket-taker in the shortest format The white ball has been his strength since making his first foray onto the professional stage and we are nothing but excited to see him excel in our red and blue Jake Fraser McGurk represents everything that’s exciting about the GenZ T20 cricketers who are unafraid of the situation and see every ball as an opportunity to maximise We saw a very exhilarating trailer of his prowess against SRH last season at the Kotla JFM smashed 330 runs in nine matches at a staggering strike-rate of 234.05 His promise will meet the experience of Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul this season making our top order look ever so exciting explosive and enterprising - Sameer Rizvi is a box office cricketer who can crank up the atmosphere regardless of the format CK Nayudu Trophy left bowlers gasping for air and the youngster from Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for an all-important season now with the Delhi Capitals Sameer is yet to make his mark in the TATA IPL but has shown glimpses of the havoc he can create when given time Every time he comes out to bat this season Tristan Stubbs continues his journey with the Delhi Capitals for yet another exciting season A talented young batter capable of batting in multiple positions and roles there are very few things on the field that cannot do well amassing 405 runs at a brilliant strike-rate of 173.82 Stubbs has been instrumental in his country’s white ball setup while also flourishing in T20 tournaments elsewhere The expectations will be higher from this highly talented young cricketer when the new season begins but the promise he has shown makes us believe we’re in for a treat Abishek Porel joined us in 2023 and the youngster’s journey is all set to continue for another exciting phase could strike the best of bowlers all over the park where he scored 327 runs at a strike-rate of nearly 160 levels up our optimism for what he can do this time around The batting line-up in and around him boasts of plenty of experience which will help Porel to play his natural game A new star is on the rise and we are all excited to see the heights he will scale this season Vipraj Nigam burst into the limelight during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 While his leg-breaks bamboozled many batters his ability to hit the odd big shots was also on display for Uttar Pradesh The 20-year-old is just about making in-roads in the domestic circuit but has shown plenty of promise as one of the next big things The shortest format has a special place for leg-spinners and we too are hopeful Vipraj will be able to make his way to the top Tripurana Vijay has taken giant strides in domestic cricket with Andhra this edition registering big spells at regular intervals for his team he is all set for his first stint with the Delhi Capitals joining a bandwagon of talented and potent spinners in our team Vijay has played eight T20 matches and has a splendid economy of only 6.00 but it’s his exploits with the red ball that caught attention over the last few months We are confident that he will continue this impressive run of form into the IPL as well Manvanth Kumar is another youngster scouted by Delhi Capitals After making his presence felt in the Karnataka Premier League Manvanth went on to feature for the Karnataka T20 side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he can bowl and he can make an impactful contribution whenever needed A new season and new challenge awaits the 21-year-old and we are more than excited to welcome him to the red-and-blue family Madhav Tiwari might be a relatively unknown name in Indian cricket now the 21-year-old is expected to rise up higher and higher Madhav produced some terrific performances with the ball at the U19 level for Madhya Pradesh and is a very capable batter as well Madhav Tiwari could be one of our X-factor signings in this edition and we’re eager to see what he can contribute to the side the left-arm orthodox will once again lead our spin attack in the TATA WPL 2025 One of the most skilled spinners in world cricket JJ has been a key figure in Australia’s dominance winning multiple T20 World Cups and an ODI World Cup under Meg Lanning’s leadership Known for her control and ability to bowl in the death overs A two-time WBBL champion with Brisbane Heat she’s all set to add to her trophy cabinet and make an impact From smashing World Cup centuries to taking T20I hat-tricks the mighty all-rounder has a knack for making history and her extraordinary skills were key in leading South Africa to their first-ever World Cup final in 2023 She’s been a constant presence at the heart of her team’s success ever since Kapp’s impact stretches beyond international cricket to global leagues including title-winning runs in the WBBL and The Hundred A name that echoes through Dilli's streets Meg Lanning is more than just a cricketer—she’s an inspiration With an enviable trophy cabinet and an unmatched legacy she has redefined what it means to be a modern-day captain Becoming Australia’s youngest-ever skipper Meg has since established herself as one of the most successful leaders in the game’s history Known for her calm yet commanding presence her tactical brilliance and ice-cool temperament under pressure set her apart and leading from the front with sheer consistency Meg isn’t just here to play; she’s here to win hearts and inspire a whole new generation of cricketers in Delhi and beyond Sneha Deepthi’s historic return to cricket just eight months after giving birth is a testament to her resilience; an attitude that will add immense strength to our squad She made her India debut in 2013 as the youngest T20I debutant but had to wait for another shot at the big stage and led Vizianagaram Royals to an Andhra Premier League title The first cricketer from Andhra to score double and triple centuries in domestic cricket she’s all set to make her mark in the TATA WPL and we can’t wait to see her shine in DC blue A seasoned campaigner and a key part of our squad Shikha Pandey is back to bolster our pace attack in the TATA WPL and played a crucial role in India's historic Test win at Wormsley she was instrumental in India's campaigns at the 2017 ODI World Cup and multiple T20 World Cups Having already been a part of the Capitals family and swing to our bowling attack once again she is all set to make an impact this season Annabelle Sutherland is the name on everyone’s lips this all-rounder has already made waves in international cricket Annabelle made her mark on international cricket at the age of 20 and quickly turned heads with her explosive performances.Now with the chance to play under the leadership of the same captain but donning DC colours Annabelle is all set to bring her A-game to the TATA WPL she's bound to make her mark and be a key player in DC's strategies this season A livewire on the field and a match-winner with the ball and a fearless attitude to the Delhi Capitals squad The left-arm spinner has a knack for delivering in crunch moments often turning games with her sharp spin and electric fielding Radha’s journey from playing on the streets of Mumbai to representing India on the biggest stage is nothing short of inspiring Her ability to bowl in high-pressure situations Having been a part of the Capitals setup before she knows what it takes to thrive in the TATA WPL Radha is all set to light up the tournament once again Jemi is the heartbeat of any team she’s part of or keeping the dressing room alive with laughter she brings an infectious energy that’s simply unmatched she finds gaps with ease and can switch gears effortlessly Her ability to build an innings or finish with a flourish makes her an invaluable asset for DC With her ever-smiling presence and game-changing performances Jemimah is ready to bring the spark to TATA WPL once again and lightning-fast reflexes behind the stumps make Taniyaa Bhatia a standout wicketkeeper Taniyaa's stellar work behind the stumps has helped her carve out a niche as one of India’s most reliable wicket-keepers combined with her sharp cricketing instincts Whether it is setting the pace at the top of the order or anchoring the middle Taniyaa’s versatile batting skills have often been the difference-maker Having been part of the DC squad last season Taniyaa knows exactly how to shine in the big leagues and she’s ready to do just that once again The younger one of the Bryce sisters from Scotland Sarah rose to fame quickly with some big performances for the national side in T20Is The keeper-batter is quick and clever behind the wickets as well she has more stumpings (33) to her credit than catches (29) in T20Is Sarah Bryce also made her mark in Australia and England’s T20 leagues and is now all geared up for her first appearance in the TATA WPL We cannot wait to welcome her to our family Arundhati Reddy brings it all to the Capitals once again in the TATA WPL The Hyderabad-born seamer made her India debut in 2018 and quickly became a dependable option with the ball Having shared the stage with the likes of Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey Arundhati has honed her craft while delivering key performances in domestic and international cricket With her ability to move the ball both ways and her fighting spirit she remains a crucial asset in our bowling lineup this season We can’t wait to see her make an impact in DC blue once again where she started playing cricket with cousins and local boys in the paddy fields Minnu has defied the odds to chase her dream Despite discouragement from everyone around her Minnu's passion for cricket has been unstoppable woke up at 4 AM to help her mother and travelled long distances for practice but her relentless determination has kept her on track Her breakthrough came with her selection for TATA WPL It's a proud moment for her as she is the first woman from Kerala to play in the league This opportunity is a testament to her perseverance and love for the game Shafali Verma is a powerhouse at the top of the order From disguising herself as a boy to play cricket in Rohtak to becoming one of the most feared batters in world cricket her journey has been nothing short of inspiring She made history as India’s youngest debutant at 15 and has since smashed records including being the youngest female cricketer to score 1000 T20I runs Her fearless batting lit up the 2020 T20 World Cup and she later led India to their first-ever ICC trophy at the U19 World Cup in 2023 Shafali has taken her power-hitting global Every young girl in the city dreams of playing like her and every fan knows she’s the leader to rally behind Expect fireworks every time when she steps onto the field this season Alice Capsey is already making waves in world cricket and is all set to shine in the upcoming season Her key role in Oval Invincibles’ back-to-back titles in The Hundred (2021 and 2022) earned her widespread recognition Alice became their youngest-ever half-centurion and impressed at the Commonwealth Games the fastest ever by an English female cricketer With her explosive batting and all-round skills Calm under pressure and lethal with the ball in hand Titas Sadhu is one of the brightest young fast-bowling talents in Indian cricket she’s already showcased her big-game temperament most notably in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final where she delivered a match-winning spell of 2/6 in four overs to help India lift the trophy With her ability to swing the ball and hit the deck hard as she gears up for another season in blue and red expect her to bring the heat and make an impact on the big stage Nallapureddy Shree Charani is one of the top young talents in India Hailing from the Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh Shree Charani caused a bidding war at the auction and was eventually sold to us for INR 55 lakh The left-arm spinner adds variety to their bowling attack which already has senior Indian players like Arundhati Reddy the sky is the limit for this talented youngster who is all set for a first roll of the dice in the TATA WPL The next big prodigy in women’s cricket from Uttarakhand is Nandini Kashyap who is all set to don the DC blue in TATA WPL 2025 A terrific outing across tournaments in 2024 helped Nandini turn the spotlight towards herself The runs kept coming in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and the Challengers Trophy which earned her a maiden national call-up The 21-year-old adds great depth to our batting line-up and in the presence of legends like Meg Lanning and Marizanne Kapp Make way for the future star of Indian cricket the U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025-winning captain Niki was nine when she made her U16 debut and two years later She turned pro at 13 and has made headlines with some big performances After leading the side to a U19 Asia Cup triumph Niki was a unanimous pick to lead the team at the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 Niki joins our family this season and we’re ever-so excited to see the heights she will scale The all-round brilliance of Ajay Mandal has been a pillar of strength for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket for quite some time now. Some terrific all-round performances in the recently concluded domestic season, including Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, highlight the player’s ability to come clutch when needed. In T20 cricket, Mandal bats at a strike-rate just over 130 and also picks wickets regularly with the ball. His slow left-arms can cause the batters troubles, while his big-hitting strength will always be vital. © Copyright Delhi Capitals. All Rights Reserved author and activist Dilip Mandal on Thursday claimed that Fatima Sheikh celebrated as India’s first Muslim school teacher Mandal claimed that Fatima Sheikh never existed and was a fictional character created by him He further clarified that what he claimed to be India’s first Muslim school teacher was not a “historical figure" “I had created a myth or a fabricated character and named her Fatima Sheikh." The truth is that ‘Fatima Sheikh’ never existed; she is not a historical figure I created this name out of nothing—essentially from thin air Confession:I had created a myth or a fabricated character and named her Fatima Sheikh The truth is that “Fatima Sheikh" never existed; she is not a historical figure It is my mistake that, during a particular phase, I created this name… pic.twitter.com/8pHjiQXTfG — Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) January 9, 2025 Notably, author Dilip Mandal in 2019 wrote an opinion piece for a digital platform named “The Print" highlighting why Indian history forgot Fatima Sheikh but remembered Savitribai Phule. However, soon after Mandal confessed the truth on X, the news platform “The Print" withdrew his article from the website. While Mandal did not elaborate on why exactly the fictional character of Fatima Sheikh was created, he stated that he crafted the figure for a purpose and it was a matter of time and circumstance. “Those who needed this narrative for political and ideological purposes amplified it," he said in the post. The activist further clarified that it was him who brought Fatima Sheikh into existence. He also mentioned that before he brought in her name not even a single entry in a Google search was available on her name. Interestingly, following Dilip Mandal’s big revelation, the informative page regarding Fatima Sheikh on Wikipedia was also deleted. “You will not find a single entry in a Google search earlier. No article, no book, no mention. Nothing," he said, adding, “Interest in her vanished in 2022 when I abandoned the story of Fatima Sheikh." “She came in the social media narrative and just vanished. Do not ask why I did it. It was a matter of time and circumstance. A figure needed to be constructed for a purpose, and so I crafted one," he added. Mandal further disclosed that he also created a fictional sketch of the character as there were no old photographs. “I spun many stories about her. And thus, Fatima Sheikh came into being. The story spread," he asserted. Mandal also argued that there is no mention of Fatima Sheikh in the writings of notable social reformers like Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, nor in British documents discussing their educational efforts. Mandal claimed that the character of Fatima Sheikh only gained prominence in the last 15 years, with no references to her before that. Notably, after the character of Fatima Sheikh started to gain relevance, several popular media publications also presented her as a pioneering teacher and a social reformer. A few media publications mentioned Fatima Sheikh as a reformer and portrayed her as a forgotten character of India’s history, mentioning her as a woman who helped Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule set up India’s first school for girls. He also said that the name of Fatima Sheikh is not found in the writings of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. Notably, Sheikh has been described as a colleague of social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in Maharashtra. “She is nowhere to be found—absolutely nowhere. As evidence, please refrain from digging up my old tweets, Facebook posts, articles, or videos. I have mentioned Fatima Sheikh’s name the most. I admit to this. But she never existed," Dilip Mandal revealed. January 9 has widely been recognised as the birth anniversary of Fatima Sheikh dubbed one of the first female Muslim educators and a close associate of educationist social reformer Savitribai Phule discourse around her on social media took a complete turn On her birth anniversary this year, former journalist, author and self-proclaimed activist Dilip Mandal took to X to a pen a post titled “Confession” he claimed that Fatima Sheikh never actually existed and was a character “fabricated” by him “I had created a myth or a fabricated character and named her Fatima Sheikh The truth is that ‘Fatima Sheikh’ never existed; she is not a historical figure I did that knowingly,” Mandal writes I had created a myth or a fabricated character and named her Fatima Sheikh The truth is that “Fatima Sheikh” never existed; she is not a historical figure It is my mistake that, during a particular phase, I created this name… pic.twitter.com/8pHjiQXTfG — Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) January 9, 2025 The “fictional sketch” here refers to an article by him published in The Print on January 9, 2019 titled: ‘Why Indian history has forgotten Fatima Sheikh but remembers Savitribai Phule’ Three days later, on January 11, Mandal posted another thread on X titled: “11 Points of Agreement in the Fatima Sheikh Controversy” where he outlined claims supporting his latest argument that Fatima Sheikh is a fictional character he created and not a real historical figure He claims there is no historical evidence that points to Fatima Sheikh’s existence and association with Savitribai Phule since there are “no books or newspapers from that era that mention her” 11 Points of Agreement in the Fatima Sheikh Controversy: A thread 🧵 highlighting key points of consensus among otherwise disagreeing parties — Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) January 11, 2025 we will try to tackle Mandal’s latest claim that “no contemporary evidence from that era exists to confirm the existence of ‘Fatima Sheikh’ during the time period she is said to have lived” and whether this can be used to establish that the discourse around Fatima Sheikh predates Mandal’s writing around her One of the first and easily locatable academic references to Fatima Sheikh is in an anthology of Indian women’s writing — “Women writing in India: 600 B.C to the present” — edited by Susie Tharu and K Lalitha This collection delves into the literary contributions of Indian women from ancient times to the early 20th century and brings to the mainstream voices of historically marginalised women writers all of which reflect the socio-political and cultural contexts of their time Savitribai Phule’s name emerges prominently each time there’s any mention of Indian women who made significant contributions to society but were excluded from historical records Tharu and Lalitha’s anthology dedicates a chapter to Phule in which Fatima Sheikh is clearly mentioned In a brief introduction to Phule and her work Sheikh is referred to as a colleague of Savitribai and her husband Jyotirao Phule they (Jyotirao and she) opened five schools in and around Pune one meant especially for the girls from the mang and mahar castes taught in them until 1856 when Savithribai fell seriously ill and went back to her parental home in Naigaon (Khandala taluk where she was nursed back to health by her elder brother The edition also has a letter Savitribai wrote to her husband in October 1856 from her parental home where she was recovering from her illness translated from Marathi to English by Maya Pandit including Marathi Dalit women’s autobiographies “…I’ll come to Pune as soon as I have completely recovered This must be causing a lot of trouble to Fatima But I am sure she will understand and won’t grumble.” When we reached out to Susie Tharu to learn more on the scholarship regarding Sheikh and her primary sources has been documented by eminent scholars specialising in Marathi literature Dalit history and the role of Muslims in social reform in India The chapter on Phule was written in consultation with some of these scholars and their work She also told Alt News that the burden of proof of Fatima Sheikh’s non-existence should be placed on Dilip Mandal and not the other way around “It’s clear now that Dr Mandal’s claim that he invented Fatima Sheikh is false… Mandal should be asked what evidence he has that the Sheikhs (Fatima and her brother Usman Sheikh) were not involved?” The other mention of Sheikh and Phule together is in M G Mali’s biography of Savitribai Phule titled ‘Kranti Jyoti Savitribai Phule’ Mali mentions Fatima Sheikh alongside others who assisted and made significant contributions to Savitribai Phule’s efforts: “Just as Savitribai contributed to Mahatma Phule’s work in the social field contributions from progressive thinkers such as Sagunabai Kshirsagar Vamanrao Kharaatkar and Fatima Sheikh also played a role who studied at the normal school opened by the Phule couple became the first student and the first Indian Muslim woman teacher at that school Savitribai and Fatima Sheikh taught in schools for girls from the lower untouchable society while other assistant teachers taught in schools for Brahmin or wealthy girls Both Savitribai and Fatima were fully capable of teaching” Dr. M.G. Mali, in his biography क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले (Kranti Jyoti Savitribai Phule), originally published in 1980, writes: “Just as Savitribai Phule contributed to the social reform efforts of Mahatma Phule, pic.twitter.com/eXhkh1cehu — Revolutionary Memes For Bahujan Teens (@RMBT_tweets) January 10, 2025 This debunks Dilip Mandal’s claim that there are no historical records or books or letters mentioning Fatima Sheikh before he wrote about her References to a person named ‘Fatima’ as a close associate of the Phules appear in Tharu and Lalitha’s 1990 anthology on women writers as well as Mali’s 1980 biography of Phule Another piece of evidence that cements Sheikh’s association with the Phules is a photograph of them from over a century ago Page 54 of the book has a photograph of three women — two sitting and one standing behind them — along with two young girls “Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh with two students from their school (A rare photograph developed from a negative over a hundred years ago)” the woman standing behind the two others who are seated is Fatima Sheikh.Thus while it is true that evidence surrounding Fatima Sheikh’s existence is limited enough records predating Mandal’s article point to the fact that she did exist and was closely associated with Savitribai Phule Mandal says that only one letter from Savitribai Phule to her husband has a reference to Fatima Sheikh He claims that this brief mention offers no concrete evidence of Fatima Sheikh’s existence or her key role as an educator is the same one appearing in Tharu and Lalita’s anthology “It is unclear who this ‘Fatima’ was These questions remain unanswered and likely unanswerable the phrase ‘not complain’ is written as ‘kurkur’ nahi karegi which does not convey much respect toward Fatima… She may have been a household servant or helper” His argument that the word “kurkur” used in Savitribai Phule’s letter denotes a lack of respect is farfetched because the connotation of disrespect is based on a generic idea of how the word may have been spoken or used in popular culture “Kurkur” is a common Marathi term for ‘grumble’ or ‘complain’ Mandal goes on to say that it’s possible the ‘Fatima’ mentioned in Savitribai’s letter could be Christian: ‘she could have been Fatima Ansari 5. This “Fatima” might have been a Christian, as the name was common among Christian women long before the advent of Islam. Alternatively, she could have been Fatima Ansari, Fatima Kunjra, or Fatima Dhuniya. She may have been a household servant or helper. pic.twitter.com/8KgfZFCmzK — Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) January 11, 2025 This too seems mere speculation on Mandal’s part His phrase “She could have been…” is a wide net to cast doubt without any substantial evidence by introducing alternative theories Mandal is perhaps exploiting the limited historical evidence of her existence and contributions And while the lack of availability of written it cannot be used to conclusively establish that Sheikh did not exist or had no contribution to the education movement According to Professor Shraddha Kumbhojkar head of the History department at Savitribai Phule Pune University while there is only one concrete piece of evidence suggesting the existence of Fatima Sheikh there is a strong implication that a female colleague took on responsibilities during Savitribai Phule’s absence The letter to her husband could be seen as her reference to an able colleague like Sheikh She adds that it is very plausible that a Muslim woman like Sheikh was a close associate considering the Phules’ Satyashodhak movement included individuals across castes and religions with Muslims forming a significant part of it We reached out to Pune-based researcher Tahera Shaikh who has written a book in Urdu titled ‘Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’ specifically told us that her interest in Fatima Sheikh was primarily born out of the fact that there was so little material available “I went to all the spaces in person and tried to document as much as I could but while we were able to establish what her life entailed and what her contributions primarily were public records on Sheikh are few,” she said She added that some references to Sheikh could be found in the works of Marathi scholars and in Marathi books on Phule but these too are not easily accessible the lack of archival records and written material is something several scholars have faced and have written about in detail Mandal’s half-baked claims on Fatima Sheikh’s (lack of) existence only highlight this issue Donate Now A 9-second-long video showing a few young boys crouching in a field while a loud… Amid foreboding about a possible military conflict between India and Pakistan against the backdrop of… allegedly by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) The story uses only screenshots and not the actual video in view of the graphic… A 57-second clip showing Pakistan’s army chief