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Spectator
8 hours ago
- Spectator
English? Middle class? Welcome to the Costa del Boden
It was when I saw two other women wearing the same red-and-white-striped Boden swimming costume as me that I realised what I had become. Twenty years ago, I wouldn't have been seen dead on a beach in Salcombe in a Boden swimming costume. I would have been topless on a riverbank in Provence, smoking a Gitane and reading Duras. These days, I don't have time to care, and I summon G.K. Chesterton as my guide: 'Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up.' I have children, a husband and dogs, and we have come – without really meaning to but by some centrifugal bourgeois force – to the Costa del Boden for our summer holiday. In short, we appear to be in favour of the fence. Where? Has yummy-mummy clothes-retailer Jonny Boden bought up part of the English coastline? Well, sort of. The Costa del Boden, otherwise known as the English middle-class coastline, pops up in more than a few places: Salcombe in Devon, Daymer Bay, Polzeath or Rock in Cornwall, Brancaster in Norfolk, and Seaview on the Isle of Wight. It is where the middle to upper classes holiday in this country. These aren't the middle classes the Telegraph writes about, now apparently priced out of their summer break by rising costs. Neither are they the net-zero middle classes who seek sustainable alternatives to overseas travel. No, these are the moneyed bourgeoisie who routinely spend at least a month of the summer on the English coast before heading to Corfu or France for a jolly in August. At any one of the yacht clubs, status is earned through routine longevity: if you have been coming for 'donkeys yahhs', so much the better. You'll also know everyone you run into – which is all any Sloane really wants; forget cultural exchange or the strange, salty nature of the Continent. All in all, robust, weather-beaten, 'Granny had a house here' boat-y top trumps is the thing. But one hardly needs to be robust to enjoy the Costa del Boden. It's all cloyingly lovely – too lovely, in fact. This isn't the risky carnival of Punch and Judy, the pier or, heaven forbid, dry sand. Far from it. At North Sands or Bantham Beach in Devon, the shoreline is jammed with labradors chasing tennis balls while mothers hare after little Ludos or Harrys togged out in – you guessed it – Boden long-sleeved swimsuits. Conversations I overheard while chasing my own little darling seemed to orbit around commuting, the merits of Bridie and Bert towels and VAT. If you fancy something to eat, you can have artisan pizza by the beach – sponsored, apparently, by Vivobarefoot-trainer tycoon Galahad Clark – or pick up a cortado from the coffee van (no cash, please, begs the sign). In Salcombe, bucket-and-spade shops have made way for an avalanche of boutiques designed to lure in the discerning middle-class female shopper; the brands With Nothing Underneath and Busby and Fox were doing a roaring trade when I stopped in for the briefest of rummages. Of course, if your children are older, the Costa del Boden is all about rummaging – or rather frisking. One friend, a regular on the Costa del Boden's Polzeath strip of coastline, tells tales of public-school teenagers – 'mainly Stowe, Radley and Marlborough, to be frank' – prowling the beach after dark 'like penguins' while their parents drink rosé until 'the police turn the floodlights on at midnight like magic nannies'. 'It's teen mecca,' another friend sighs, adding that Daymer Bay, where the Camerons have a house, is 'still sweet', but 'the teenagers just want to be where they know everyone from school'. All anyone wants, it seems, is to have a jolly good, socially cordoned-off, PLU time, whether procured with a fake ID or not. Ah, identity – that old conundrum. I got to thinking about it, as Carrie Bradshaw would have said, during my week on the Costa del Boden. I thought about how I must have appeared to others in my Boden swimming costumes and Aspiga dresses: invisible death by batik print and nautical stripe. I thought about how strong and persistent the desire to blend in is – and how brightly that desire burns in my seven-year-old daughter's eyes. But I shan't be sad. Chesterton wasn't, after all; he knew that fences were put up for a reason, and that nobody has a good time until someone is excluded. The Costa del Boden, erected to keep others out and let the right sort in, is surely the fence of which he speaks.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Centre urged to strengthen CIIL for protection and promotion of language studies
G.K. Panikkar, director, International School of Dravidian Linguistics, Thiruvananthapuram, on Thursday said that the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, has the potential to become the world's topmost institution in the field of language-related study and research and in finding out solutions to language-related problems. 'For sustainable development of Indian languages and for protection of the cultural ethos of Indian people, I appeal to the Government of India to strengthen the CIIL, giving it necessary freedom, and academic, financial and administration support,' he said, in his address as the chief guest at the 57th foundation day of the CIIL here. Mr. Panikkar praised the CIIL for its work in the protection and documentation of minor languages. Almost all tribal languages of India, including those with less than 10,000 speakers had been analysed by CIIL researchers, who prepared grammars and lexicons for them, he explained. He further said that textbooks were prepared for primary classes to enable tribal students to have their early education in their own mother tongue itself, and then switch over to the major language of their respective regions. 'As a part of CIIL's role to promote multilingualism and its efforts for the effective implementation of the three-language formula, school teachers were trained in different languages — especially South Indian languages to the teachers of North Indian states,' he stated. 'I think this project successfully continues even now by expanding its scope to all the major languages of the country. It now trains teachers in second language teaching methodologies providing them with linguistics orientation,' he added. He said that the application of AI and other technological innovations may also be helpful to CIIL for solving many of our present-day problems. Similarly, steps towards equipping one's mother tongue for higher education such as the preparation of dictionaries of science terms in regional languages and so on are the need of the hour, he added. On the occasion, the 'Bhasha Sanchika' portal — a digital language repository of CIIL, which is described as a pioneering platform where language preservation, dissemination, and technology converges, was launched. The launch of the Bhasha Sanchika (Language Archive of India) marks a significant milestone in CIIL's ongoing efforts to safeguard India's linguistic diversity. Developed using D-Space, a widely adopted open-source digital asset management system, the portal serves as a resource hub for the promotion, documentation, and preservation of Indian languages and cultural heritage, according to CIIL. CIIL Director Shailendra Mohan presided over the event. Former CIIL Directors, language experts, and other dignitaries were present. The inaugural event was followed by panel discussions.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Five Naga tribes to resume protest against Nagaland's job reservation policy on July 9
GUWAHATI A committee representing five major Naga tribes—Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sumi—on Thursday announced the resumption of its agitation against Nagaland's reservation policy in government employment from July 9. The Committee on Review Reservation Policy has argued that the quota system for 11 'backward' Naga tribes, in place since 1977, no longer reflects the prevailing socio-economic and educational landscape of the region. The list includes seven tribes inhabiting eastern Nagaland. 'The protest will be for a day. We will take further steps depending on how the government responds,' said G.K. Zhimomi, member-secretary of the committee. He clarified that the committee was 'not against any tribe benefiting from the reservation policy' but maintained that 'a review of this 48-year-old policy is long overdue.' Mr. Zhimomi said the government had failed to initiate a review in 1987 and instead issued an order in 1989 stating that the reservation would continue until further notice. The committee had earlier served a 30-day ultimatum to the Neiphiu Rio-led government on April 26, following a memorandum submitted on September 20, 2024, seeking a revision of the quota framework. The group launched an initial phase of protest, which was suspended after Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton convened a meeting on June 3 and assured that a commission would be set up by June 17 to examine the matter. However, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, speaking on July 2, said that the proposed commission could not be expected to deliver immediate results, describing the task as 'very detailed.' He also remarked that any significant administrative reforms, including those related to reservations or delimitation, should be undertaken only after the national Census exercise scheduled for 2027. Unhappy with the government's position, the committee decided to relaunch its agitation. Meanwhile, students from the backward tribes have voiced strong opposition to any potential revision, arguing that any dilution of the current policy would disproportionately harm the State's marginalised communities. Nagaland's reservation policy, first instituted in 1967, reserves 80% of State government jobs for all indigenous Scheduled Tribes. In 1977, eleven tribes were identified as 'backward,' receiving 37% of the total reservations—25% allocated to seven eastern tribes and 12% to four tribes from other regions of the State. The same framework applies to State-run entrance examinations and educational institutions.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Vasan urges T.N. government to act on long-pending demands of doctors
Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan on Thursday (June 12, 2025) urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately address the legitimate demands of government doctors in the State. He also warned that continued inaction was both disappointing and detrimental to public healthcare. In a statement, Mr. Vasan said government doctors have been demanding that issues like time-bound promotions, pay parity with Central government doctors, and provision of ex gratia compensation to families of doctors who lost their life during the COVID-19 pandemic be addressed and resolved. Government doctors, nurses, and support staff have been the backbone of the healthcare system, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical care to patients, he noted. He said his party would extend support to the protest march launched by the government doctors association from Salem to Chennai. He urged the State government to fill vacant posts in hospitals, strengthen public health infrastructure, and consider the demands of government doctors without any delay.
News18
24-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Can Intermittent Fasting Keep Your Kidneys Healthy? Expert Reveals The Truth
Last Updated: It has been widely believed that intermittent fasting can support kidney wellness. Read on to find out what experts have to say about this diet management plan. Our kidneys, two bean-shaped powerhouses tucked on either side of the spine, do much more than just filter waste. These vital organs regulate blood pressure, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, and produce key hormones like erythropoietin and vitamin D, which support everything from red blood cell production to bone health. However, conditions like diabetes and hypertension remain leading culprits behind kidney damage, making it essential to manage them through both medical treatment and lifestyle choices. While much emphasis is placed on what we eat, when we eat is proving to be just as crucial. Enter intermittent fasting: a practice rooted in ancient traditions and now increasingly recommended by modern health experts. But how does this eating pattern affect kidney health? Let's take a closer look. What is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting is a type of diet management plan that cycles between periods of eating and fasting. In this approach, it is measured when you eat rather than what you eat. For instance, many follow the 16/8 method (eating within 8 hours and fasting for the next 16 hours), whereas some may also choose the 5:2 diet method (eating normally for five days and restricting calories for two days) or Time-Restricted Eating (TRE). Intermittent Fasting And Its Impact On Kidneys Intermittent fasting, for normal individuals with healthy kidneys, is good for general overall metabolic health, which has been advocated and practised from time immemorial. Beyond weight loss, this diet management plan comes with a host of other benefits. It protects against chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, age-related degenerative diseases, kidney disease, and cancers. Dr. G.K. Prakash, Consultant – Nephrology, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram and Millers Road says that intermittent fasting improves blood sugar control by increasing insulin sensitivity, reducing weight, and increasing growth factors that boost metabolism in diabetics. It is beneficial for reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, and is good for even brain health, improving memory, gut health, kidney health, and overall longevity of an individual. Dr Prakash says, 'In a person with kidney ailment, it is important to differentiate between temporary dysfunction (acute kidney injury) and irreversible kidney injury (chronic kidney disease). In the former entity, one has to judiciously choose fasting practices, as it can be harmful in some cases." For individuals with chronic kidney diseases, intermittent fasting is generally considered beneficial. However, there are various ways of intermittent fasting that have been advocated and practiced and the most common and easily understood method is Time-Restricted Eating. What Is Time-Restricted Eating? Time-restricted eating is in sync with the circadian rhythm, thus, it is considered more practical than the other ways. Dr Prakash mentions, 'Under this diet plan, you need to extend the natural fasting time (which is usually the night hours during sleep) in the daytime as well, while reducing the eating window. For example, eating between 6-8 hrs or 10 hrs most and fasting for 16-18 hrs overnight is ideal. You can do so by finishing the evening meal by 6 pm and fasting till the next morning." He adds, 'Unlike the Western culture of eating small and frequent meals, longer overnight fasts, especially time-restricted eating, can support better weight control and may have added health benefits for chronic kidney disease patients." What Are The Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating For Chronic Kidney Disease Patients? Dr Shankar mentions that intermittent fasting reduces overweight and obesity, which are major risk factors for diabetes and hypertension. Since these two conditions account for nearly 65-75% of kidney failure cases, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the incidence of CKD. Intermittent fasting can also help improve cardiovascular health. It is particularly important for chronic kidney disease patients, as many of them invariably develop cardiovascular disease, which is another major cause of death in this population. Dr Shankar suggests, 'Monitor kidney function closely when you are practising intermittent fasting. Most importantly, stay hydrated during this fasting routine. In some individuals, it can worsen existing kidney issues, especially in acute kidney situations, and kidney stone disease." He notes that patients who are on diabetic medication should consult their doctors as there can be variations in their metabolic activity, including going into severe hypoglycemia (low sugar levels)." As with any dietary change, it's essential to personalise your approach to intermittent fasting, especially if you have existing kidney conditions. With the right medical guidance, this time-tested practice could be a powerful tool in protecting your kidney health and improving overall longevity. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: May 24, 2025, 13:14 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Can Intermittent Fasting Keep Your Kidneys Healthy? Expert Reveals The Truth
