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NEW DELHI: India’s rich religious heritage is finding resonance far beyond its borders, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global visits have become a powerful platform to showcase this cultural legacy. From Southeast Asia to South America, the echoes of India’s ancient epics, mantras, and spiritual traditions are captivating hearts and strengthening ties with nations worldwide.
On his current visit to Thailand, PM Modi witnessed a vibrant presentation of “Ramakien”, Thailand’s national epic deeply influenced by the Indian “Ramayana”. This centuries-old tale, an integral part of Thai literature and culture, reflects the enduring impact of India’s spiritual narratives. The performance underscored how Indian heritage seamlessly blends with local traditions, fostering a shared cultural bond. Wherever PM Modi travels, such displays of India’s religious legacy follow, turning diplomatic visits into celebrations of civilisational connect.
In March 2025, during his visit to Mauritius, PM Modi visited Ganga Talao, a sacred crater lake revered by the Indian diaspora. There, he offered holy water from the Triveni Sangam, symbolising the spiritual unity between India and Mauritius. This gesture highlighted the deep-rooted ties nurtured by shared faith and traditions. Similarly, in December 2024, his visit to Kuwait brought forth a remarkable encounter with two Kuwaiti scholars renowned for translating the Mahabharata and Ramayana into Arabic, a testament to the universal appeal of these epics.

The Americas, too, have embraced this heritage. In November 2024, PM Modi’s visit to Brazil was marked by the chanting of Vedic mantras in Rio de Janeiro, followed by a captivating “Ramayana” enactment. On the same trip, in Guyana, children greeted him with soulful Ram bhajans and Vedic chants, reflecting the diaspora’s pride in their roots. In Russia, during an October 2024 visit to Kazan, Russian nationals welcomed him with Krishna bhajans, showcasing the global reach of India’s devotional music.
In Laos, also last year, PM Modi was greeted with the “Gayatri Mantra” and a mesmerising Lao “Ramayana” performance, blending local artistry with Indian ethos.
Also read: Watch: PM greeted with ‘Modi, Modi’ chants as he arrives in Thailand for BIMSTEC summit
Even earlier, in 2021, his visit to Italy saw community members in Rome chanting the Shiva Mantra in his presence, a poignant moment of cultural reverence.
Through these interactions, PM Modi is not just a statesman but a cultural ambassador, carrying India’s spiritual heritage to the world stage. Each visit reinforces India’s soft power, weaving a tapestry of unity, faith, and shared humanity across continents.

Gujarat Titans senior batter Jos Buttler admitted that he was “embarrassed” at dropping Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener Phil Salt while keeping in their IPL match, but he was able to make amends, using the long handle to help his side to an eight-wicket win. Buttler struck and imperious 73 not out off just 39 balls, with his innings marked by creativity and sustained aggression, as GT chased down the target of 170 in 17.5 overs on Wednesday. “I don’t know, pretty embarrassed. We know Salt is a dangerous player. I barely got a glove on it and it hit me in the chest, so was determined to score some runs,” said the England stalwart after the match.

Buttler dropped a regulation catch off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj in the first over after RCB were sent in to bat. Salt charged down the track, looking to slap the ball through the off-side but it took the edge and went through to Buttler who, however, barely got a glove to it.

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GT captain Shubman Gill and Siraj were celebrating even before the ball had reached the keeper, only for Buttler to spill it.

“As a team, we did not field well… fielded poorly. Had we fielded better, myself included, we would have chased less. Nice win and well deserved. But really enjoyed it. Felt the bowlers did a fantastic job,” said the 34-year-old England great.

The Englishman was slightly jittery to begin with but once he found the right gears, he was unstoppable, fetching those thunderous shots off the shelf regularly.

Buttler, who gave up the England white-ball captaincy after their Champions Trophy exit, said he was motivated by “a few months of pretty unenjoyable cricket”.

“Tried to play with freedom and intent — had a few months of unenjoyable cricket, trying to give my best and excited to be here.

“There was a bit in the wicket, so the two openers played sensibly to take the sting out of that and set up the chase.

“We have got a lot of bases covered — fantastic seam-bowling unit, the spinners and a fantastic batting unit as well.”

Thousands of immigrant techies, including Indians, are living in the United States in uncertainty over their future under President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies. Major tech companies, including Google and Amazon, are reportedly asking their H-1B visa holder employee to not leave American soil out of concern they might not be allowed back in. 

There are fears that denial rates for high-skilled visas could rise, as they did during President Trump’s first term in the White House, according to a report by The Washington Post. The report said the Trump administration’s efforts to end automatic citizenship for those born in the US are also making H-1B visa holders fear that their future children could be stateless.

America’s H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire foreign workers in so-called specialty occupations. Every year, 65,000 such visas are issued through a lottery system. In recent years, Indians have received the highest number of H-1B visas, followed by Chinese and Canadian nationals.

Tech Industry’s Reliance on Immigrants

Silicon Valley’s immigrant tech community has long been seen as one of the key forces behind the US competitiveness in the technology sector. According to a 2018 study by think tank National Foundation for American Policy, more than half of US start-ups valued at more than $1 billion had an immigrant founder or co-founder. The executives of some of the biggest tech giants in the US are immigrants, including those of Microsoft, Google, Uber and chip giant Nvidia. 

But under Trump’s immigration policies, the future of this community in the country is uncertain. Experts believe that reducing the immigrant workforce from the tech industry could hamper America’s ability to compete with China in the race to develop sophisticated technology like artificial intelligence.

“What we’re seeing right now is just a lot of worry and panic…It seems like [the administration is] just getting more and more momentum, and we don’t know what’s around the corner,” Malcolm Goeschl, principal attorney for Goeschl Law, a San Francisco-based firm focused on business immigration that serves clients in the tech industry, told The Washington Post.

Per the report, Amazon had the highest number of H-1B visas approved amongst all Big Tech firms in America, followed by Google, Meta, Microsoft and Apple. Tesla, whose billionaire CEO Elon Musk is a close aide of President Trump and is leading the administration’s efforts to cut federal spending, had 1,767 approved H1Bs in the fiscal year ending in September 2024. IT outsourcing companies like Infosys and Cognizant also account for a large portion of H1B applications.

H-1B Workers Worried

However, late last year, before Trump took the oath of office, law firms working for Google and Amazon warned the companies’ employees with visas to think twice before traveling abroad, out of concern they might not be allowed back into the U.S, according to The Washington Post report. 

At least two H-1B visa holders told the publication that they had to cancel their travel plans to India amid fear of being denied re-entry to the US.  

One Indian immigrant said his elder daughter was born a US citizen, but the future of his second child seems opaque as they may not get citizenship in either the US or India. “There’s an assumption that everybody who is not a US citizen might be here illegally,” they told the publication through an attorney.

The uncertainty has also created some practical challenges, as many immigrants are always carrying their documentation while in public. “When we’re walking around, we always carry our documents,” the other worker said through her attorney.

Immigration lawyers are also reporting anxieties among immigrants due to worries over unexpected changes to visa processes, which are negatively affecting their productivity.

“It definitely impacts their performance,” an HR representative of a tech firm in Silicon Valley told The Washington Post. “The threat is looming that some action will be taken against them.”

The HR representative added that the uncertainty is also adding to the cost of the company, as they have to pay for expediting the processing of some H-1B extensions to counteract delays related. 

Uncertainty Over Visa and Green Cards

The issue of H1B visas has emerged as a bone of contention among Trump’s supporters. This was visible in December when the two sides argued on X over whether Trump should boost or suppress skilled immigration.

“The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low…“If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be,” Elon Musk wrote on X on Christmas. He received pushback from some Republicans, including former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who said the country should invest in education to train more American-born tech workers.

So far, Trump has not said anything about ending the H1B program or other skilled visas; however, it was part of his agenda in his first term.

Meanwhile, the processing of Green Card requests, which is immigrants’ path to permanent residency, is also facing unprecedented delays. Even Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI company Perplexity, that recently valued at $9 billion, said on social media that he has been waiting three years for a green card despite founding a company that employs hundreds.

“People mostly have no idea when they talk about immigration,” Srinivas posted on X.

Harsh Pokharna, CEO and founder of OkCredit, is receiving praise for his transparent and empathetic approach to laying off 70 employees due to budget constraints. In a LinkedIn post, Mr Pokharna shared the challenging experience, acknowledging the company’s mistakes and emphasising their commitment to handling the situation with care.

“18 months ago, we laid off 70 people. Here’s how it went…We were burning too much. Hired too fast. It was our mistake. And we owned it. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done as a founder. But we tried to do it the right way,” he wrote on LinkedIn. 

Mr Pokharna then outlined the supportive measures OkCredit took after the layoffs. The company ensured transparent communication by having personal conversations with each of the 70 affected employees to explain the reasoning behind the decision. Additionally, OkCredit provided career assistance by offering referrals, introductions, and job leads to aid in their transition. This support led to successful placements, with 67 employees securing new positions before their notice period ended. 

“67 got placed before the notice period ended. For the 3 who didn’t, we gave 2 months’ extra salary,” he added. 

See the post here:

The OkCredit CEO also drew a stark contrast between his company’s approach and the current tech industry layoffs, where many employees are being notified of their termination via email, without even a phone call.

“Over 120,000 people were laid off this year. And many of them didn’t even get a call. Some found out through a blocked email. Some were just removed from Slack in the middle of the day. That’s inhuman. Yes, layoffs happen. But how you handle them says everything about your culture.I know it’s tough to have these conversations, but this is what you signed up for when you became a founder. If you call someone “family” while hiring them, treat them like family when letting them go too,” he wrote.

Mr Pokharna’s heartfelt post resonated with many on social media, earning him widespread praise for his empathetic and considerate approach to handling layoffs. 

One user wrote, “I always believed money in life will come and go but anyone who is working with us should have a pleasing experience. Be it a customer, supplier, domestic worker, or team. We should have a positive effect on each other.”

Another commented, “That is such a mature and respectful way to deal with people. More power to you. Cowardly leaders hide behind their mistakes and put it on employees due to their incompetence. Real power lies in owning up. True quality of a leader and founder.”

A third user added, “It’s commendable that you’re being upfront about it; most people only talk about fostering a positive culture.” A fourth stated, “Mistakes happen in business, but employees who put their trust in the CEO and the company shouldn’t have to bear the brunt. You did the right thing by supporting them in finding new opportunities. Hats off to you.”

With Lok Sabha clearing the Waqf Amendment Bill late last night after a marathon debate, the proposed law is one step closer to becoming an Act. While the Centre stresses that the changes will make the functioning of Waqf Boards more efficient, inclusive and transparent, the Opposition has alleged that it is an attack on minorities and that the government is eyeing the 9.4 lakh acres of Waqf land. NDTV breaks down what changes in the new law and why it has drawn protests from the Opposition

What Is Waqf?

The word ‘waqf’ originates from the Arabic word “waqufa,” which means “to hold”. Waqf refers to properties dedicated exclusively for Muslim charitable purposes. Any other use of the property and its sale are prohibited. The idea is that the ownership of the property is transferred to Allah. This means that the donor cannot reclaim a Waqf property. The history of Waqf in India goes back to the 12th Century: the early days of the Delhi Sultanate. Sultan Muizuddin Sam Ghaor, also known as Muhammad of Ghori, had dedicated two villages to the Jama Masjid in Multan (now in Pakistan). Over time, the number of Waqf properties grew. In fact, in the late 19th Century, a Waqf property dispute from British-ruled India reached the Privy Council of London. The judges described Waqf as “a perpetuity of the worst and the most pernicious kind” and declared it invalid. The decision was not accepted in India, and a 1913 law saved the institution. Since then, no attempt to abolish Waqf has been made.

Photo Credit: Courtesy: PIB

How Much Property Does Waqf Hold In India

The Waqf Board is the largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces and the Railways. According to the Minority Affairs Ministry, Waqf boards control 8.7 lakh properties across the country, spanning about 9.4 lakh acres of land. The estimated value of these properties is Rs 1.2 lakh crore. There are 3,56,051 Waqf estates, most of them in Uttar Pradesh. Of the 8,72,328 immovable properties registered under the Waqf Board, over 1.2 lakh are in Uttar Pradesh. Waqf boards hold 16,713 movable properties, most of them in Tamil Nadu.

The government maintains that many Waqf properties face major disputes and issues such as encroachment. In fact, 40,951 cases concerning these properties are pending in Tribunals and nearly 10,000 of them are filed by Muslims against the institutions managing Waqf. There is no provision under the current law for these disputes to move to court and this leads to delays in resolution, the Centre says.

Monuments And Waqf

The Jama Masjid in Delhi is a Waqf property managed by the Delhi Waqf Board. The erstwhile Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri, including the Tomb of Salim Chishti, is registered as a Waqf property. The Bada Imambara in Lucknow is also a Waqf property.

In the case of monuments, Waqf ownership leads to administrative disputes with the Archaeological Survey of India. For example, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board had claimed the Taj Mahal as a Waqf property. The ASI controls the monument and contested this claim. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which asked the Waqf board to provide documentary evidence to support their claim, which they failed to do. Among the protected monuments in Delhi claimed by Waqf boards are the Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Qila, Nila Gumbaz and Isa Khan’s mosque (inside the Humayun’s Tomb complex) and the Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb.

The temple at Thiruchenthurai village in Tamil Nadu was also claimed as Waqf property

Some Waqf Complications

In 2022, residents of Thiruchenthurai village in Tamil Nadu were shocked to know that the Tamil Nadu Waqf board had claimed their village as its property. The matter came to light when a farmer, Rajagopal, tried to sell his 1.2-acre plot and authorities told him to get an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Waqf board. This led to a tense situation in the Hindu-dominated village as residents found that a 1,500-year-old temple in the village was also tagged as Waqf property. The state Waqf board demanded a survey, but this has not been carried out yet.

In another instance, a plot owner at a residential society in Gujarat’s Surat registered his plot with the state Waqf board and people started offering namaz there. “This implied that an apartment in any housing society can any day turn into a mosque without any input from the other members of the society if the owner of that apartment decides to endow it as Waqf,” the central government said, stressing the need to amend Waqf rules.

Key Changes In The Waqf Bill

The new bill aims to make significant changes to the existing system.

• Only a person practising Islam for at least five years may declare a waqf
• The person declaring a property as Waqf must own it at the time.
• The Bill removes the provision of ‘Waqf by user’ in the current law, under which properties could be deemed as Waqf solely on the basis of prolonged use for religious purposes.
• A Waqf declaration must not lead to the denial of inheritance rights of the donor’s heir, including women heirs
• Any government property identified as Waqf will cease to be so.
• Removes Waqf board’s power to inquire and determine if a property is Waqf.

The Bill also proposes changes to the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf boards. The 1995 Waqf Act requires that all Council members be Muslims, and at least two must be women. The new bill states that two members must be non-Muslims and of the Muslim members, two must be women. For Waqf boards, the Bill empowers the state government to nominate MPs, MLAs or MLCs to the board and these nominees need not be Muslims. The bill also provides for the inclusion of representatives of Bohra and Agakhani communities, if they have Waqf in the state. The Act provides that at least two board members must be women.

In the Act, decisions of the Waqf Tribunal are final and cannot be challenged in courts. The Bill changes this. The tribunal’s orders can be appealed in the High Court within 90 days.

Minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha yesterday, has said crores of poor Muslims will thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi once it becomes a law. 

Why The Protests?

Muslim organisations led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board have opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, alleging that IT IS based on discrimination and injustice and violates fundamental rights. The AIMPLB has alleged that the BJP government aims to use the bill to seize and destroy Waqf properties. “Even with the existence of the Places of Worship Act, the issue of searching for temples in every mosque is continuously escalating. If this amendment is passed, there will be a surge in illegitimate governmental and non-governmental claims on Waqf properties, making it easier for Collectors and District Magistrates to seize them,” AIMPLB president Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani has said. Some sections of the Muslim society, however, have welcomed the legislation and said it would put an end to “Waqf Mafia” and bring more transparency to Waqf’s functioning. 

The Opposition, led by the Congress, have opposed the bill and voted against it in Lok Sabha. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said the Bill has been brought to mask the government’s failures. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi tore up the Bill during the debate in Lok Sabha, calling it unconstitutional and accusing the BJP of trying to create conflict in the name of temples and mosques.

Shalini Pandey recently had a very candid conversation where she revealed how once she had a South director barge into her vanity van, while she was changing.

Recalling how she was very new to the industry and did not come from a film background, she has learnt a lot of things with the passing years.

She told Filmygyan, “Very early in my career, I was doing a South film, and the director walked into my van. He didn’t knock, and I was changing. He just opened the door and entered. This is a girl who has just done her first film. People usually tell you to be very sweet and not rub people up the wrong way. They’re like, ‘Otherwise, you won’t get films.’  I had been told all that. As soon as he entered, I wasn’t even thinking, it was just a reaction, I yelled. I lost my shit. I was 22.”

She added, “Once he left, people told me that ‘I shouldn’t have yelled.’ But, there has to be manners. Just because I am new, you cannot just enter without knocking. You cannot do that to me. And I realised that was something that I carried with me. I would come across as an angry person to people. But I had to do certain things to protect myself. Later on, I realised how to manipulate such things rather than just snap at people.”

Shalini confessed that having been exposed to working with extremely horrid and chauvinistic men in her career, early on, she learnt how to set boundaries.

Shalini shot to fame with her debut in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Arjun Reddy with Vijay Deverakonda in 2017. Her last project was the critically acclaimed Dabba Cartel, where she was seen alongside Shabana Azmi, Anjali Anand, Jyothika, Nimisha Sajayan, and Sai Tamhankar.

Rumours of Ayesha Jhulka’s relationship with Nana Patekar, Mithun Chakraborty made it to the gossip columns of tabloids, magazines during her time. Years after, the Khiladi actress reacted to those rumours in a recent interview with Vickey Lalwani. 

She said, “If you open the tabloids of that time, I was linked with everybody. We were just friends, and we had a fun relationship. When you do six or seven films together, you’re meeting each other on set every third day… At that age, it’s naivety… I have more boyfriends than girlfriends even now, but that doesn’t mean you have to be romantically associated with them. In today’s time, what is there to hide? We’ve crossed that age…”

According to some reports, Ayesha’s relationship with Nana Patekar caused a rift in the actor’s relationship with Manisha Koiarala and they, eventually, broke up. 

Addressing speculation that Manisha Koirala ended her relationship with Nana because of her, Ayesha said, “It didn’t have anything to do with an affair. We did a photoshoot together, and then I did a play with him. But again, look at the seniority. I understand (being linked up) with co-stars my age, but I hate to talk about people who are (older). I have nothing to do with (Manisha walking out on him).”

Ayesha Jhulka and Akshay Kumar’s chemistry in the 1992 film Khiladi made a lot of buzz. Reacting to the rumours of her relationship with Akshay Kumar, the actress said, “There could’ve been an attraction, but that’s normal,”

“We’ve always had that fondness, but I don’t think ‘physical attraction’ is the right way to put it,” she explained.

Ayesha Jhulka worked in films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Kaise Kaise Rishte, Sangram, Waqt Hamara Hai, Dil Ki Baazi, Aulad Ke Dushman, to name a few.