Latest news with #Rupa
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
From pain to power: Acid attack survivors' stories of resilience
Lucknow: From the depths of despair to the pinnacle of triumph, Rupa's journey is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and rebirth. Once an acid attack survivor crippled by self-doubt, Rupa now radiates confidence, her smile illuminating the world around her. Today, she not only gazes at her reflection with pride but has also taken her rightful place in the workforce, her story serving as a beacon of hope for others to follow. On Plastic Surgery Day, acid attack survivors like Rupa on Tuesday shared their journeys from trauma to empowerment. At a special medical camp organised by SGPGIMS in collaboration with Chhanv Foundation, held at the Sheroes Hangout Café, survivors shared how reconstructive surgeries not only restored their appearance, but also rebuilt their confidence, functionality and hope. Rupa, one of the survivors, said, "I underwent seven surgeries to restore my facial, head, and neck region. Before the surgeries, I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror. But after the reconstructive procedures, I can now face the world with confidence. It's more than skin deep — it has healed a part of my soul." Another survivor Gita, who underwent multiple surgeries, shared, "For five years, I didn't dare to see my reflection; it was devastating for me. Though I can't be like I was before, even after two surgeries, every surgery brought back a little of me. I can eat better, speak clearly, and smile without pain. This day reminds me that I'm not alone on this journey. I thank all the plastic surgeons." A team of nine plastic surgeons and three nurses from SGPGIMS provided free, one-on-one consultations to survivors. Each patient received a personalised treatment plan, and doctors reaffirmed their commitment to offer free, unlimited surgeries for acid attack survivors. 'Acid Attack Injury – Information Booklet' by Prof Rajiv Agarwal, head of plastic surgery at SGPGIMS, was released at the camp. The booklet aims to guide survivors and their families through physical and psychological recovery. Prof Agarwal stated that plastic surgery in acid attack cases is a demanding and vital branch of reconstructive surgery, focused on restoring function, minimising disfigurement, and ultimately helping survivors regain a semblance of normalcy and quality of life. Prof Agarwal explained that acid attacks often stem from gender inequality, especially in South Asia, and are rarely seen in Western societies. Personal conflicts, rejection of romantic proposals, property disputes, and gang violence are common triggers. Chief guest Sudhir Hanwasiya praised the courage of survivors and appreciated the dedication of SGPGIMS doctors. Ashish Shukla, Co-Founder of Chhanv Foundation, raised the issues faced by the survivors. (Names of survivors changed to protect privacy)
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Doctor says wearing masks at airports is now 'essential'
Doctor says wearing masks at airports is now 'essential' Dr Rupa Parmar has advised holidaymakers to use masks when travelling People should be wearing masks on planes, an expert says A medical director says wearing masks when you travel abroad is now 'essential' and has urged holidaymakers to use medical grade filtering masks at the airport and on planes. Dr Rupa Parmar was speaking as two new Covid variants surge - with spikes in countries including Spain and the USA. The infectious new variants are also now dominant in countries including India and Australia, with reports they could be easier to catch than previous strains and cause unique symptoms - such as a very sore 'razor blade' throat and hoarseness or a scratchy voice. Dr Parmar, GP and Medical Director of Midland Health, said: "Wearing a mask in the airport and on the plane is a reliable way to avoid falling ill before starting your holiday. On a plane, you're surrounded by germs for a long time, so a medical-grade mask with high filtration levels is essential." Paul Griffin, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at The University of Queensland, said: "Measures to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and focusing on air quality and ventilation, are worth remembering to protect against Covid and other viral infections." Dr Rupa said there are other ways you can maximise your chances of staying healthy when using planes and airports. She said: "Window seats away from the bathroom are the best for minimising the risk of illness because they're away from high-traffic areas and the aisle. You can also slightly aim the overhead vent towards your face, creating a barrier between you and the germs. Article continues below "Wash your hands regularly with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds. If there are limited accessible handwashing facilities, don't forget to use hand sanitiser. It's also a good idea to pack an antibacterial surface spray, so you can wipe down anywhere you're going to eat or sit." Dr Rupa also advises boosting your health before you head on holiday. She said: "Increase your intake or take supplements of vitamins D and C one to two weeks before your travel day to boost your immune system and fight off illness. Probiotics are also recommended to help your gut health and prevent common gastrointestinal issues, like bloating, while flying." And there is advice for when you are abroad. Dr Rupa said: "Although you may want to make the most of your trip by fully packing your itinerary, having moments for rest and recuperation are crucial, and getting good sleep boosts your body's defences against illness. Once you're back home, give yourself a day or two to recover from the journey to minimise your chances of sickness. Article continues below "Drink at least three litres of water daily while travelling. If you're unsure if tap water is safe to drink, stick to bottled water. Adding electrolytes to your drink can also help combat dehydration, as they include various minerals your body needs. "Travelling with your own medicine is useful, so you're always prepared. It can also save you money and means you don't have to take time out of your holiday to find a pharmacy. Just make sure you follow specific airline and security guidelines." Dr. Rupa Parmar added: 'Nobody wants to be ill on or after their holiday. Remember, prevention is the best way to minimise your chances of a trip ruined by illness. By focusing on hygiene, rest, and hydration, your chances of getting sick will be much lower, leading to peace of mind and a much more enjoyable getaway.'
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Tota Roy Chowdhury's films to stream on OTT before Special Ops Season 2 releases
Dive into the amazing filmography of Tota Roy Chowdhury, which includes several notable films, highlighting his acting prowess over the years. If you are a fan of Bengali cinema and waiting to watch the 49-year-old actor's brilliant performance in Special Ops 2 on JioHotstar and OTTplay Premium on July 18, we are here with a list of Tota's must-watch films. From Chokher Bali to Aborto, and more, revisit Tota Roy Chowdhury's films on OTTplay Premium. Special Ops Season 2 Catch Special Ops 2 and other similar spy thrillers on JioHotstar like Red Sparrow, Madras Cafe, and more via OTTplay Premium now! Tota Roychowdhury's films on OTTplay Premium Chokher Bali Tota Roy Chowdhury plays Behari, a close friend of the lead character Mahendran (Prosenjit Chatterjee). The film Chokher Bali is adapted from Rabindranath Tagore's namesake novel, published in 1903. The story centers around widow Binodini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), and her complicated relationship with Mahendran, his wife Ashalata, and his friend Behari. Sasurbari Zindabad Tota Roy Chowdhury plays Prashanta Mitra, a pivotal character in the Prosenjit Chatterjee-starrer. The Bengali drama follows a young couple, Somu and Rupa, getting secretly married despite their respective families' disapproval of their relationship. While Rupa belongs to a wealthy family, Somu is a middle-class man. Rupa's mother tries her best to break their marriage throughout the film. Ranokhetro Tota Roy Chowdhury plays Noni Roy, the MLA's son, and the leader of drug peddlers. He is the main villain in this 1998 action thriller. In the film, college student Santu gets murdered by Noni when he protests his drug peddling on the college campus. This leads to his elder brother Raja taking the matter into his hands to bring justice to Santu when the law failed to do the same. Aborto Tota Roy Chowdhury plays Shyamal Sen, who is seen as an ambitious man working at a multinational company. The film explores the middle-class man's journey as he chases career goals, but he becomes increasingly detached from his family, including his teenage son and wife. He focuses fully on his ambition for a successful career. Te3n Tota Roy Chowdhury plays Peter Roy in this Amitabh Bachchan-starrer. Peter is the father of the young girl Angela, who gets kidnapped and murdered. The film follows the desperate quest of her grandfather John Biswas as he seeks answers to such a heinous crime. Teaming up with a police officer, the 70-year-old grandfather goes to any lengths to catch the killers in this investigative Hindi thriller.
Arab Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Expats On Hunt For Affordable Housing After Dubai's Partition Flats Ban
DUBAI, June 7: Following a recent crackdown on illegally partitioned housing units in Dubai, many low-income expats have been forced to relocate, with a growing number moving to Sharjah and other neighbouring emirates in search of more affordable rent. While these moves offer financial relief, they come at the cost of longer commutes, overcrowded living conditions, and disrupted routines. For thousands of workers, partitioned flats — often cramped, shared spaces just large enough for a bed and a fan — were far from ideal but offered proximity to jobs, public transport, and basic amenities. Their sudden removal has left many scrambling for alternatives. "Saving on Rent" Mohammed Irfan, who works at a restaurant in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), was paying AED 1,400 for a partitioned space in Al Rigga. After a recent raid on the building, he moved to Sharjah's Abu Shagara, where he now pays AED 700 to share a room with two others. 'I save money, but I spend more than 90 minutes each way commuting,' Irfan said. 'Earlier, I could walk to the metro in minutes. Now, I take a bus, then the metro, and sometimes even a taxi from the station. Everything was within reach in Dubai — groceries, the pharmacy, the metro. Now, it all feels much harder.' He now wakes up earlier to accommodate the long commute and arrives at work already fatigued. "We Had to Split — It Was Too Crowded" Mary, a sales assistant at Al Ghurair Mall in Deira, previously shared a 2BHK flat in Muraqqabat with 13 others, paying AED 800 per bed space. After the crackdown, her group split up. She has relocated to Al Nahda, Dubai, paying AED 1,000 to share a room with three others. 'There are fewer people in the room now, but expenses and travel time will go up,' she said. "No Privacy, But This Is All I Can Afford" Rupa, who works at a beauty salon, used to pay AED 600 for a shared space close to her workplace. She is currently staying temporarily with a friend while searching for affordable housing, possibly in Al Nahda, Sharjah, for AED 850 per bed space. 'My commute will increase. The salon was just a minute away before,' she said. 'If it becomes too difficult, I might need to find a new job closer to home.' Despite the situation, Rupa remains grateful for whatever accommodation she can find. 'I don't earn much. This is the best I can manage.' "My Daughter's School Is Now Far" Farida, a single mother, had to move to Sharjah with her teenage daughter after being asked to vacate their Deira flat. While the new AED 1,200 partitioned room is larger than their previous AED 1,500 space in Dubai, the distance to her daughter's school poses a challenge. 'School holidays are coming, so it's manageable now. But once classes resume, I'll need to either figure out transport or transfer her to another school,' Farida explained. "We Need Legal, Affordable Housing" Javed, a salesman, moved into a shared villa in Sharjah after being evicted from his Deira accommodation. He now pays AED 500 for a bed space shared with eight others. 'With this crackdown, it's pointless to look for new housing in Dubai. It will only happen again,' he said. 'Most of us live paycheck to paycheck. We can't afford AED 2,000 in rent. There should be proper, legal low-cost housing for people like us.' "I Sleep in a Storeroom" Shahid, a delivery rider, now sleeps in a converted storeroom in a shared flat in Sharjah for AED 450. The room has no ventilation, and even the fan barely works. 'I had to buy a cooler, but it doesn't help much in this heat,' he said. 'Still, I'm out all day delivering. I just came back to sleep.' He noted that his previous room in Dubai was partitioned but better maintained. 'Now, I don't complain. I just need to save on rent.'
Hans India
26-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Book turns spotlight on Yashodara, Buddha's forgotten wife
'Her quiet refusal to reduce herself to victimhood was central to how I envisioned her. Yes, she grieves. Yes, she questions. But she does not let those emotions harden into resentment. I saw her as someone who, over time, begins to understand that Siddhartha's path, however painful for her, was not about abandoning her, but about seeking something larger than both of them' Siddhartha Gautama walked away from royalty and family in search of truth -- and became the Buddha. His story is etched in history and the spiritual annals of millions. But what about Yashodara, the wife and mother of a newborn son, he left behind? That's where 'The Illusion of Illusions: The Story of Yashodara, Buddha's Wife' (Rs 295, Rupa) by Sunita Pant Bansal comes in. The new book tells the story of the courage and silent resilience of the woman remembered only as 'the wife Siddhartha left behind'. But her story is far more complex and layered, said the author who sets out to give voice to an untold story. 'Yashodara's story also falls into the long and painful pattern of historical overshadowing, where the women closest to iconic men are erased, simplified, or remembered only in relation to the men they were attached to…,' Bansal said. 'History tends to spotlight the ones who left, who acted, who preached, who conquered, and rarely the ones who stayed, endured, reflected, or transformed quietly. In spiritual narratives too, the focus has largely been on renunciation as the ultimate act of courage,' says Bansal, whose bestselling books include 'Everyday Gita', 'On the footsteps of Buddha', and 'Krishna: The Management Guru'. She describes Yashodara as a mother, a seeker, and eventually a spiritual adept in her own right who was cast into the margins. The idea behind 'The Illusion of Illusions' is to 'pull Yashodara out of the shadows, not as a footnote to the Buddha's story, but as a luminous presence in her own right'. The result is a 211-page story in Yashodara's own voice, beginning with her encounter with an enlightened Buddha and ending with her attaining nirvana before him. The book explores the gamut -- ranging from a fairytale wedding to her witnessing her husband's transformation from a reserved prince to a man with a mission, along with the many 'red flags' she overlooked during their 13 years of marriage. It traces her overwhelming grief when Siddhartha leaves on the very day their son Rahul is born, her sorrow as her seven-year-old son leaves to join his father in the Sangha (community of Buddhist practitioners), and ultimately her quiet yet courageous journey towards acceptance and forging her own path. According to Bansal, Yashodara's account could have been easily told through 'betrayal, bitterness, or fury'. However, she chose to highlight Yashodara's strength, her rebellion and finally her resilience. 'Her quiet refusal to reduce herself to victimhood was central to how I envisioned her. Yes, she grieves. Yes, she questions. But she does not let those emotions harden into resentment. I saw her as someone who, over time, begins to understand that Siddhartha's path, however painful for her, was not about abandoning her, but about seeking something larger than both of them,' the author explained. Telling the story of someone who has largely been confined to footnotes or fragments in Buddhist texts and folklore is no easy task. Bansal, who undertook the painstaking work of drawing from early Pali sources, Buddhist commentaries and regional retellings, acknowledged the challenges in writing what she described as not a biography or a scripture but a 'blend of history, imagination and emotional truth'. 'The biggest challenge was the silence itself, the absence of detail, of voice, of first-hand insight into Yashodara's mind. That silence gave me space, but it also came with responsibility. I had to inhabit that silence with care. Fiction, in such a context, becomes a form of respectful restoration. I used creative license to give emotional flesh to the truth… to imagine what it might have felt like to be Yashodara, the wife, the mother, the abandoned and the awakened,' she explained. Besides Yashodara, the book offers a deeper look into the lives of other lesser-known women figures who played significant roles in the couple's story. These include Buddha's aunt and foster mother Mahaprajapati Gautami as well as Yashodara's mother Pamita, who is also a distant cousin of Siddhartha's father King Shuddhodana. However, Yashodara stays firmly at the centre, never eclipsed. 'When you write about the lesser-known partner in a legendary relationship... it's easy for the gravitational pull of his legacy to take over the story. But I was clear that this was her journey, not an echo of his. Ultimately, the challenge was not to dim Siddhartha's light, but to reveal that Yashodara had a light of her own, one that did not compete, but completed the story. And I think that's what makes her journey all the more profound,' she added. Bansal now dreams of seeing it adapted for the screen. In fact, a few informal conversations about adapting the book for film or television are already underway. 'What gives me hope is that we are now in a moment where audiences are ready, even hungry, for layered female narratives... If told with care, I believe her story will not only resonate, but also heal, by offering a new lens on history as well as the human heart,' pointed out Bansal, who has also authored numerous children's books on scriptures and folk literature. The book is endorsed by celebrated filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and bestselling author Anand Neelakantan.
