Latest news with #Chandrika
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress-IUML mounts pressure on Kerala government to hold Vellappally Natesan accountable for stoking religious schism
The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to mount pressure on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on Sunday (July 20, 2025) to hold Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan accountable for allegedly stoking religious schisms in society through 'communal and caste grievance-weighted hate speeches.' Almost synchronously, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] appeared to scramble to distance itself from the Hindu backward class organisation leader's contentious remarks. It seemed not lost on the CPI(M) that Mr. Natesan headed the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-backed Renaissance Protection Samiti (RPS), a collective formed in 2019 ostensibly to further progressive and secular values to counter a perceived right-wing drift towards identity politics in Kerala society. The CPI(M) State secretariat urged the SNDP Yogam leadership to pursue the humanist, progressive, and secular values expounded by social reformer and Renaissance leader Sree Narayana Guru. The CPI(M) stated that social organisations were free to raise any issue concerning the people. However, it should not be in a manner that created religious divisions and hate. Chandrika flays Natesan The fraught relationship between the IUML-Congress leadership and Mr. Natesan appeared to fray further on Sunday, with IUML mouthpiece Chandrika criticising Mr. Natesan for allegedly spewing 'communal venom to claw back socio-political relevance.' Mr. Natesan had invited the UDF leadership's ire by remarking on Saturday that both the ruling front and the Opposition were uniformly beholden to the Muslim community, given its 'growing electoral and economic heft.' He said both fronts were hostages to minority vote bank politics. He had alleged that the IUML planned to expand its presence to central and south Kerala by demanding more seats in the regions in the 2026 Assembly polls, possibly with an eye on the Chief Minister's post. IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty emphasised that it was the responsibility of the LDF government to act against individuals who exploited the bully pulpit of influential social organisations to cause communal divisions in Kerala's secular society. Nevertheless, he avoided addressing the question of whether the police should charge Mr. Natesan with creating enmity between different sets of people and instead placed the burden on the government to 'determine the proper course of action.' Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan alleged that Mr. Natesan raised dog whistle issues such as caste and religion at the behest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He accused the CPI(M) of sending a subtly aimed political message through Mr. Natesan to galvanise the majority community votes by othering minorities. Mr. Satheesan accused the CPI(M) of sacrificing secularism at the altar of political expediency. Mr. Natesan stated that some quarters sought to quell the Ezhava communities' 'struggle for social, economic, and political justice' by cherry-picking Sree Narayana Guru's teachings. He said he was 'willing to go to jail for speaking social truths.'
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress and IUML pressure government to hold Vellapally Natesan accountable for ‘stoking' social schisms
Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to mount pressure on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on Sunday (July 20, 2025) to hold SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan accountable for allegedly stoking religious schisms in society through 'communal and caste grievance-weighted hate speeches'. The tense relationship between the IUML-Congress leadership and Mr Natesan escalated on Saturday (July 19, 2025), with him, as the general secretary of the electorally significant Hindu backwards class organisation, stating that the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) were equally beholden to the Muslim community's growing electoral and economic heft and, hence, hostage to minority vote bank politics. Mr Natesan also stated that the IUML planned to expand its presence in Central and South Kerala and would seek more seats in the 2026 Assembly polls with an eye on the Chief Minister's post. Mr Natesan's remarks drew harsh criticism from the IUML mouthpiece, Chandrika. In an editorial on Sunday (July 20, 2025), Chandrika termed Mr Natesan a dated community leader who spewed 'communal venom' to 'claw back socio-political relevance'. The newspaper compared Mr. Natesan to Praveen Togadia, an outspoken advocate of Hindu nationalism. The Chandrika noted that the country's secular constitution did not ban people of any faith, including Muslims, from holding high constitutional office. Chandrika alleged that Sree Narayana Guru's humanist philosophy and teachings were anathema to Mr. Natesan. The IUML national general secretary, P K Kunhalikutty, emphasised that it was the responsibility of the LDF government to act against individuals who exploit the bully pulpit of influential social organisations to cause communal divisions in Kerala's secular society. He avoided addressing whether the police should charge Mr Natesan with enmity between communities and instead placed the burden on the government to 'determine the proper course of action'. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan alleged that Mr Natesan raised dog whistle issues, such as caste and religion, at the behest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He accused the CPI(M) of sending a subtly aimed political message through Mr Natesan to galvanise the majority community votes by othering minorities. Mr Sathesan accused the CPI(M) of sacrificing secularism at the altar of political expediency. Meanwhile, Mr Natesan dug his heels in on his earlier stance on Sunday (July 20, 2025). Mr Natesan said he had merely stated the truth and was willing to 'be jailed or politically hounded for it'.
India Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Brew, bite, and viral fame: Why India can't get enough of Dolly Chaiwala and Vada Pav Girl
From a cup of tea to a plate of vada pav, what turns a regular food vendor into a viral icon? Dolly Chaiwala and the Vada Pav Girl, two names that have exploded on social media and now draw crowds more than some cafes. But their appeal goes far beyond what's brewing or frying. Here's a deep dive into why they're winning hearts, and THAN JUST CHAI OR PAV, IT'S A PERFORMANCEYou don't just sip Dolly Chaiwala's tea, you watch it being performed. With sunglasses on, a confident flick of the wrist, and Bollywood swagger, Dolly transforms the simple act of making tea into Chandrika Dixit, famously dubbed the 'Vada Pav Girl', doesn't just sell snacks from her Delhi cart, she's a storyteller, and an online force. In a world craving experiences over products, these vendors deliver SIDE STREET TO SPOTLIGHT AND THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIAWhat once took advertising budgets and media placements now takes a reel and a little bit of charm. Their stories, a tea-seller with film-star flair and a mother feeding her family one pav at a time are made for gesture, every quote, every struggle shared in a short video becomes share-worthy. With millions of views and likes pouring in, fame follows SELLS BETTER THAN BRANDINGDolly and Chandrika are not polished influencers. They're raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered. In a digital world full of curated perfection, their authenticity feels like a breath of fresh don't chase trends, they become tea isn't about exotic ingredients, and Chandrika's vada pav isn't some deconstructed gourmet snack. Yet people queue up. Why? Because people don't just buy food, they buy EVERYONE ROOTS FORBoth come from humble beginnings. Dolly Chaiwala, a Nagpur-based tea seller with dreams of being in films, and Chandrika, a former Zomato worker trying to make ends meet for her son, are stories of followers don't just enjoy their content, they emotionally invest in their you sip Dolly's chai, you're sipping on hustle. When you bite into that vada pav, you're biting into someone's 'I WAS THERE' FACTORMuch like fans who visit Shahrukh Khan's Mannat, Amitabh Bachchan's Jalsa, or Salman Khan's Galaxy apartments, visiting Dolly's or Chandrika's stall becomes an experience. A modern-day pilgrimage, if you want to click selfies, post Instagram stories, and say: 'I've been there!'It's part of the digital brag economy, where experiences double up as social OF STREET FOOD CULTUREadvertisementIndia has long loved its street food, from chaats in Delhi to dosas in Chennai. But Dolly and Chandrika are redefining what it means to run a street food not just feeding stomachs; they're creating personal brands, turning local into wonder that brand collaborations, media coverage, and celebrity endorsements are flowing their THEM OR TROLL THEM, THEY CAN'T BE IGNOREDOf course, with fame comes criticism. Some call it overhype. Others dismiss it as a passing virality doesn't beg for permission, it simply in that, Dolly Chaiwala and the Vada Pav Girl are reflections of our time: where hustle meets heart, where a street corner becomes a stage, and where the everyday becomes a divided world, a cup of tea and a vada pav are still things people can bond and Chandrika remind us that no matter how digital our lives become, we'll always seek stories, real, raw, and sometimes, those stories are served hot in a paper cup or a bun, right at the corner of the street.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Wipro FMCG arm's revenue up 3.5% in FY25
HighlightsWipro Consumer Care & Lighting reported a revenue increase of 3.5% to Rs 10,600 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25, despite facing challenges from inflation and subdued consumer sentiment. The flagship Santoor soap and body lotion brand achieved sales exceeding Rs 2,750 crore, with 51% of the revenue generated from international markets. The growth of the Chandrika brand has been notable both domestically and internationally, particularly the Unza brand acquired in 2007, which has seen a significant increase in sales, approximately six to seven times since acquisition. Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting (WCCL)'s revenue rose by 3.5% to Rs 10,600 crore in the 2024-25, with demand impacted by inflation and subdued consumer sentiment. 'We are clearly seeing a slowdown in China — dramatic drops of 20% to 25%. We haven't dropped as much but are facing flat or marginal declines there. India shows muted growth, mainly due to the demand environment and last year's election delaying govt orders. However, volume growth was 7.8% last year, the highest in the industry. No quarter grew less than 7% volume-wise. However, premium and economy products did well,' its CEO, Vineet Agrawal , said. The company stated that its flagship Santoor soap and body lotion brand crossed sales of over Rs 2,750 crore during the same period, marginally up from Rs 2,650 crore in the year-ago period, with 51% of its revenue coming from international businesses. Yardley India continues to do well, and it's now Rs 300 crore, consistently growing year on year. 'Chandrika has grown both in India and internationally. For example, Unza, which we acquired in 2007, has grown significantly — approximately six to seven times since the acquisition,' he added.
Mint
08-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Santoor soap maker's FY25 revenue rises to ₹10,600 crore on premium push
Consumer goods company Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting clocked revenues of ₹ 10,600 crore in 2024-25, up 3.11% on-year, driven by higher demand for its premium portfolio that saw personal care brand Yardley and liquid detergent brand Softtouch outperform the mass market segment. 'Last year was tough. A couple of patterns emerged: premium is doing well, economy brands are doing well, the middle (brands) is the one that got more crunched. Last year, we also got hit by palm oil prices, especially in the second half. From a demand perspective, we continue to do well. From our volume perspective, all four quarters have been very good, or relatively better than the industry," said Vineet Agrawal, chief executive of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting and managing director of Wipro Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. The company, known for Santoor soaps, reported a volume growth of 7.8%. Agrawal said, in an interview with Mint on Tuesday, rising food inflation in certain cities, along with increased rental and education costs, and higher entertainment expenses like mobile phone ownership and content viewing, are impacting non-discretionary spending for the middle class. 'We are hoping that now it should get corrected," he said. 'There are green shoots, and hopefully with the monsoon coming in and covering India fully ahead of time, there is a positive impact in terms of sentiment. I strongly believe that with things improving, the mass market will bounce back," he added. Wipro Ltd's consumer care unit, which derives 50% of its business from India, has invested over $1 billion in acquiring brands in various markets over the past two decades. It acquired Singapore's Unza Holdings Ltd in 2007, followed by Yardley's India and Middle East business in 2009, and its UK and Europe business in 2012. In 2012, it acquired Singaporean skincare company L.D. Waxson Group, and in 2016, China-based Zhongshan Ma Er. In India, it has acquired brands like Chandrika, Glucovita, and Aramusk. In April 2023, it acquired Kerala-based packaged foods brand Brahmins, which offers breakfast pre-mix powders, spice mixes, pickles, and dessert mixes. In the same year, it acquired personal care brands Jo, Doy, and Bacter Shield from VVF (India) Ltd, marking its 15th acquisition to date and the third in the preceding 12 months. This acquisition helped the company expand its soap segment, where it already sells brands such as Santoor and Chandrika. Agrawal noted that the VVF soap portfolios performed well. These brands were acquired to help Wipro gain market share in the competitive soaps market, especially in Rajasthan and the North-East, where its own soap brands have limited presence. In 2022, it acquired Kerala-based Nirapara, marking its entry into the packaged snacks, spices, and ready-to-cook food market. "We did about ₹ 230 crore (revenue) last year in foods; Brahmins grew about 20% last year—the first full year under us. Nirapara, which had practically zero sales when we took over in 2022—we started operations only by April 2023 because we had to restart the factory again, get the employees back, etc.—that's about ₹ 87 crore,' he said. The company plans to continue expanding its food portfolio, focusing on more regional snacks and traditional Indian foods rather than chips or cornflakes. 'In foods, like in other categories that we are in, we will continue to look at acquisitions to give us a jump start,' he said. Wipro Consumer will continue to acquire assets when it finds something relevant within the personal and home care categories. 'Outside of India, we want to acquire in developing countries. We are not going to acquire assets in, say, western Europe. So in Southeast Asia, we are in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and South China. Then we did the South Africa acquisition (2019). We'll see how we can expand there further if we get good properties there (Africa),' he said. The company will also continue to seek assets in Vietnam, Indonesia, India and the Philippines. 'We will continue to invest. On our balance sheet, we have a good cash position. Given our strength in the balance sheet, we can also raise money. So if we get good assets, I don't think we will pull back.' The company, via its venture capital arm, Wipro Consumer Care Ventures, also invests in new-age startups. Its portfolio includes The Baker's Dozen, Gynoveda, Soulflower, Let's Try, Anveshan, and Moom Health.
