Jagdeep towers over colleagues with his 7ft 6in frame

Is this Punjab policeman the law enforcer with the longest reach?

Seventeen years ago, an old Sikh man requested Jagdeep Singh for a photograph. Those were days before the selfie craze would sweep India. Private and quiet, Jagdeep preferred to be left alone. But for someone towering over most people at 7 ft 6 inches that was a luxury that he could rarely experience.

“The Sikh gentleman told me something I will never forget,” said Jagdeep, whoc still regrets turning down that request for a photo. “He said, ‘Tuhadi height tuhadi nahi, parmatma da tohfa hai. Agar tussi kissay nu khush kar sakdae ho tae usno na karo (Your height is not yours, but a gift from God. If you can make someone happy, never say no to that person)’.” Since then, Jagdeep, perhaps India’s tallest policeman, has never refused a photo request.


But his celebrity aside — being so tall and a serving cop — things aren’t always easy or convenient for Jagdeep. The first thing he looks for while entering a police station or office is a sturdy chair. The 35-year-old head constable with Punjab Armed Police weighs 190 kg. “I place the chair near a wall for support and then sit. Otherwise it will break and embarrass everyone,” he said.

Another tall cop, this one in Barnala, understands Jagdeep’s situation only too well. Punjab Police inspector Rajpal Singh is 7ft tall and weighs 160 kg. An awkward situation for him arose earlier this month when Barnala SSP Harjit Singh and DSP Jasbir Singh had to stretch on their toes to put the promotional badge on his shoulders.

Jagdeep is usually posted on security duty at sensitive installations like bridges and does not work from a particular police station. His job means he is constantly on the move, but he can’t use police vehicles for travel: they are too small for him. Instead, he uses his own modified Mahindra Bolero. “It becomes expensive since I have to spend for fuel from my own pocket but there is no other option,” said Jagdeep, who recently returned from the US after participating in the ‘America’s Got Talent’ show in Los Angeles.

Everyday life presents its own set of difficulties. Jagdeep needs to get his clothes and uniform stitched bespoke, and struggles to find footwear. He uses imported US size 20 shoes. And food. He needs quite a bit of it to sustain his enormous frame. “When I was young, I would eat about two dozen eggs with salad, oats, fruits and nearly eight litres of milk every day. But now my diet is smaller,” he said.

Married with a 10-year-old daughter, Jagdeep said he had faced a hard time finding a bride. Finally he met Sukhbir Kaur, who is 5 feet and 11 inches tall.

The families, too, are happy. “I like my husband’s celebrity status,” said Sukhbir Kaur. “The only problem is when we go out everyone wants to strike a pose with him and me. This leaves out our daughter Jashandeep.”

(With inputs from Neel Kamal in Barnala)


HEIGHT OF PATROLLING: Jagdeep towers over colleagues with his 7ft 6in frame

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Your hookah drag has more carbon monoxide than cigarettes: Study

‘Usage Higher Among Boys Than Girls’

New Delhi:

A leisurely drag at a shisha bar may not be as innocent an act as it appears. A single session of smoking a hookah results in greater exposure to carbon monoxide than a full stick of cigarette. Short-term exposure at high levels can produce toxicity and interfere with exercise capacity In a scientific statement published in Circulation, an international medical journal, the American Heart Association (AHA) has warned that hookah smoke contains significantly higher levels of heavier and more toxic hydrocarbons than cigarette smoke. It also has cardio-respiratory toxicants such as volatile organic compounds and heavy metals like cadmium and lead that can injure the blood vessels and the brain.


Though there are only a few long-term studies on the impact of shisha smoking, experts agreed that the AHA statement should serve as a warning for those who consider hookahs harmless. “It is a new fad among youngsters, and parents tend to overlook the habit because public perception is that this is less harmful than cigarette smoking. The AHA statement puts the risks in perspective,” said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-Doc.

A US survey found that in 2014 around 23% of 12th grade students had used hookahs in the past year. The usage was higher among boys (25%) than girls (21%). CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey also found significant increase in hookah smoking in that country.

A doctor said, “In Delhi and the National Capital Region, hookah bars that are proliferating. The activity should be banned immediately. Also, the government should start campaigns to bust the myths about the hookah being harmless.”

In a shisha, the tobacco is placed in the device’s head but since it is moist and does not burn in a self-sustaining fashion, a lit charcoal is placed over it. Flavours of apple, mint, cheery, even chocolate and coffee, are added to mask the acrid taste of tobacco.

The popular perception is that the water in the bowl absorbs the toxins from the tobacco smoke, rendering it safe for the smoker. But the AHA statement cautions that the toxicity is actually higher. “Because both mainstream and sidestream water pipe tobacco smoke contains constituents similar to those generated by cigarettes, the use of water pipes could similarly lead to short-term cardiovascular changes in addition to long-term cardiovascular effects,” AHA said.

Dr Neeraj Bhalla, director of cardiology at BLK Super-Specialty Hospital, suggested that health agencies carry out awareness campaigns to educate citizens, particularly the youngsters, about the effects of indulging in hookah smoking.

TRAFFIC-STOPPER: A car overturned on the Freeway, leading to a traffic jam on the Chembur-bound arm, from Sewri till Orange Gate, on Saturday

JAM ON FREEWAY AS CAR TURNS TURTLE

People don’t look at our CVs, just our scarred faces

Acid attack survivors don’t just have to deal with trauma and multiple surgeries. One of their biggest problems is that no one wants to hire them

Soni was 19 when her husband’s family threw acid on her because they wanted more dowry. The acid burnt the new bride’s face and throat. She endured 15 surgeries but that wasn’t the end of it. “After the attack in 2008, I tried really hard to get a job or college admission in UP, where I lived. In 2010, my father passed away and we had to sell our house, our land, and my mother’s jewellery. People didn’t want me in their offices or colleges. They would tell me that my face was kharaab (disfigured). Maybe they thought having me around would ruin their image,” says Soni, now 30.

Soni went jobless for eight years before she found work at a rehabilitation centre run by the NGO Make Love Not Scars (MLNS). As a manager, she takes care of the logistics of medical care that other acid attack survivors require.


Like Soni, most acid attack survivors struggle to find employment after their lives are changed by one horrific act. Ria Sharma, founder of MLNS, says the problem is partially a result of how young most survivors are at the time of attack. Many are forced to drop out of school or college. “This means that many don’t have the skills that a lot of jobs need — like using computers or speaking English,” says Sharma, who has recently written a book, also named Make Love Not Scars, about her activism.

Roopa, 26, works as a manager at Sheroes Hangout in Agra, a café run by acid attack survivors started by the NGO Chhanv Foundation. “I was 12 or 13 when I was attacked by my stepmother,” she says. She started living with her uncle and tried in vain to find a job when she got better. In 2013, she joined Chhanv. They pay their employees Rs 25,000 a month, besides meeting their living, travel and medical expenses. Roopa, who aspires to be a jewellery designer, considers herself fortunate. “Other survivors tell me that they only get ‘back jobs’, where no one can see them,” says Roopa.

A few years ago, MLNS ran a massive campaign called ‘Skills, not scars’, and built a job portal for survivors. The reason it wasn’t a success, Sharma says, is the number of “hollow job opportunities” offered by organisations. “It’s either jobs they’re under-qualified for, or pity cases that they’re over-qualified for. One of our girls applied for a babysitting position, and the woman hiring wanted her to take care of the kids, do laundry, and cook food for just Rs 3,000 a month.”

Last month, a Twitter thread by the MeToo India account highlighted this issue, and asked followers if they had any leads for jobs. Apart from offers from organisations expressing interest, nothing has materialised so far. One of them, GovernEye, is a networking platform that connects citizens to politicians. Their VP (operations), Vidhi Jain says they do not have a formal job criteria such as educational qualifications or work experience in mind yet. “If we hire a survivor, we would be flexible in terms of taking time off for doctor’s visits or legal engagements. We would also make sure to sensitise our team,” she says.

What about government jobs? One percent of central posts are reserved for differently abled people, including acid attack survivors. However, Sharma notes that she only knows five-six survivors who have gotten placed in government jobs, and while they’re quite happy with the stability this offers, the benefit isn’t reaching enough people. Ashish Shukla, director of Chhanv Foundation, says, “While these schemes sound good, no research has gone into formulating them. You have to look into the background, skill levels and qualifications of survivors. Otherwise, focus on rehabilitation and skill development.” Barely any, he says, fit the job criteria.

New York-based fashion designer Monica Singh is a survivor whose nonprofit Mahendra Singh Foundation works on providing skills to such women and helping them monetarily. After she was attacked by a stalker at 18, Singh kept studying. “I studied and worked in India for seven years, living under a veil. I got so many rejections because people would get uncomfortable around me. Once at a job interview, they asked what I disliked most, and I said it was the fact that people don’t see beyond my face to look at my resume.” She got the job, but had to quit in six months because she had to get more surgeries. “Building skills is extremely important — society will tell you that you’re done, that no one will marry you, but you have to build something for yourself,” she says.

It’s also important, Sharma says, to ask survivors what it is that they want to do. “We aren’t doing that enough. They’re determined, strong individuals who have been through a lot. They’re ready to seize the day.”


ROBBED OF JOBS: Soni (in pink) with fellow survivor Anupama. Soni spent years trying to find a job, but was consistently turned away

‘Take up any kind of sport to stay away from depression’

Wrestler and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar opened up on his plans for Olympics at a sports meet recently


If you are focused and determined, you can achieve anything — this was the mantra shared by the well-known wrestler Sushil Kumar, who recently attended a sports event. During his interaction with students, he stressed on the importance of taking up sports and opened up about his wish to clinch a gold medal at the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo.

Exuding raw simplicity, Sushil Kumar took to the stage and began his speech by thanking his mentor Satyapal Singh. “It is because of him that people in various parts of the world know me today,” said he and added how sports play a vital role in people’s lives. “Students,who are doing their MBA or are into other technical fields, find it very difficult to dedicate time to sports. But I would like to advise them that they should make time for some form of sport. Whenever I visit various colleges, I come across incidents of students slipping into depression due to low scores. So, I would like to reiterate that one must indulge in some kind of sports and I assure they will never get into depression. Start your day by playing any game and you’ll feel energetic for the rest of the day,” he said.


The wrestler went on to add that sports teach an individual to keep trying until he/she achieves the set goal. He added, “Even I don’t win every time. Winning or losing is all a part of life. People have been asking me about my preparations for the upcoming Olympics 2020. I tell them when I participated in Olympics for the first time, I was not even aware of the competition’s level. I had never imagined that I’ll clinch two medals (bronze and silver) for the country. I belong to a middle class family, but I consider myself lucky and blessed that I’m born in a family that has always supported me. My parents stood by me through thick and thin and made sure that I don’t deviate from my path. There are many players, who come from humble backgrounds. Our struggle begins the moment we step out of our homes. But I have always believed that if you are focused and determined, you can achieve anything.”

Sushil, who is gearing up for the Olympics 2020, concluded his speech by asking everyone’s good wishes so that he can win gold medal this time. “I’m practising very hard these days under my guru’s supervision. Only one thing is left (gold medal) and I request you all to pray for me,” said he.


Sushil Kumar

A BIOPIC ON SUSHIL KUMAR SOON?
When asked on the trend of sports biopic in Bollywood, without divulging much details, he replied, “Sometime ago, a filmmaker did approach my mentor Satyapal Singh with the intention of making a biopic based on my life. However, there hasn’t been any development that I can speak about, because I’m busy preparing for the Olympics 2020. My guru has instructed me to focus all my energies on wrestling at this juncture.”

7 Ways to prevent falling sick as the weather transitions

According to conventional wisdom, as we transition from winter to spring, three things are evident — blooming flowers, sunnier days and a flu or cold. The day-to-day change in temperature messes up our immune system, making us more vulnerable to viruses. Getting a cold is common during seasonal shifts because the viruses that cause a cold multiply rapidly during this time. Since our body performs its functions at a certain temperature, during a change in season, it is forced to readapt, which makes it susceptible to infections. Seasonal allergies are also prevalent during the changing seasons, particularly in spring and summer. Here’s how you can prevent falling sick during seasonal change.

1 GET A FLU SHOT


Seasonal change comes with a lot of healthrelated troubles, the topmost being flu and cold. Getting a flu shot is a good idea to build a strong immunity. “Anyone who is six months and older can get a flu shot. Getting vaccinated annually ensures that you are protected from new mutations of viruses. Unlike the myth, influenza vaccines do not cause the flu or other illnesses. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to show its effect. As the weather transitions, pregnant women are at a higher risk of flu complications due to changes in the immune system, heart and lungs. Getting vaccinated not only protects them, but also keeps their unborn child safe from the flu,” says Dr Vikrant Shah, consulting physician and intensivist.

2 CONSUME A LOT OF VITAMIN C

Make sure your intake of immune-supportive nutrient, vitamin C, is high, because it is beneficial for immunity. “Vitamin C has been shown to shorten the duration of colds, as well as reduce the severity. Guava, orange, grapefruit, strawberries, gooseberries and bell pepper are rich sources of vitamin C,” says clinical nutritionist Prachi Mandholia. They have immune-supporting antioxidants. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin E, zinc and selenium set up your body to fight germs.

3 PRIORITISING HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT

Since your body becomes susceptible to infection with the change of season, maintain hygiene to reduce the chances of falling ill. Wash your hands frequently as it prevents the spread of infection. Besides using soaps, keep a hand sanitizer handy and use it whenever you travel. “Whether it’s counting notes and coins, turning switches on and off, using public toilets or holding supportive handles in trains or buses, make sure you sanitise your hands frequently. This will help you fight infection during seasonal change in a great way,” says Dr Nupur Krishnan, clinical nutritionist.

4 DON’T BECOME A DOCTOR YOURSELF

If you feel sick, see a medical health expert rather than popping pills without prescription. Even if it’s a cold or flu, see a doctor instead of taking over-thecounter medicines, as that might worsen your condition. “We suggest that besides taking medicines, it’s important to take rest and avoid going to crowded places like cinema halls and malls, as that aggravates the sickness,” says Dr Shah.

5 SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP IS A MUST

Weather change usually brings lung infections — most commonly cough and cold. Proper sleep (seven hours every day) is one of oldest ways to prevent illnesses, because it helps your body rejuvinate. This is especially true for colds. Though everyone’s body is different, getting good, sound sleep strengthens your immune system. So there are better chances of fighting off a virus.

6 HEATHY FOOD TO BOOST IMMUNITY

Consuming more salads, nuts and fresh fruits, and avoiding greasy and junk food can guard you from falling ill. If you are a non-vegetarian, eat organic grass-fed meat. Organic meat is believed to have up to 47 per cent higher levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are known to stimulate certain immune cells. Also, drinking extra fluids and staying hydrated helps prevent health-related complications from occurring in your body. Consuming a lot of water ensures that flu-causing virus is tackled and flushed out from your body soon.

7 BURN CALORIES TO BOOST IMMUNITY

Besides helping you stay in shape, exercising also prevents you from falling ill. Those who engage in mild exercise for about 30 minutes thrice a week have better immunity, say health experts. “This includes light jog, swimming or cycling. If you don’t exercise often, don’t start strenuous workout just to keep yourself guarded; going for a brisk walk instead will help. Yoga is considered a good way to ensure prevention of seasonal flu,” says Dr Shahid Barmare, general physician.

These staffers get leave to self-reflect

‘Inner Work Days’ Make Employees More Effective, Finds Company
Silicon Valley tech companies are famous for unlimited vacation policies. It’s a perk — like fancy fizzy water — that has become table stakes for startups trying to recruit top talent. One company, though, is pushing that time-off benefit even further.

BetterUp — a San Franciscobased startup that connects professional coaches with those seeking career advice — has been giving its employees five days off a year to ditch their standard day job and instead, take the day to work on themselves.


Dubbed “inner work days”, these five days are spread throughout the year, with everyone at BetterUp taking the same day off (often on a Monday, to extend a weekend). Some use the free days to meditate or go on hikes. Others stay inside to read. Some go on a digital detox, not checking their phones, emails, or Instagram throughout the day.

The point, BetterUp co-founder and CEO Alexi Robichaux said, is to give employees dedicated time for self-reflection.

“Most of the work we do in our life is outside of us,” Robichaux said. “But part of being a professional, especially in the creative economy, is like, we have to work on ourselves.“ BetterUp began the tradition two years ago, when the company had around 30 employees. Today, all of BetterUp's 150-plus employees participate and many share their experiences on the company’s dedicated Slack channel for “inner work day” highlights.

Jacinta Jimenez, BetterUp’s head of coaching, said the company believes the dedicated time off for self-reflection makes employees more effective when they get back to their desks.

“If we don’t give our brains time to think, it’s going to compromise how we make decisions, show up at work, at home, all around,” Jimenez said.

BetterUp’s “inner work days” are not a cunning rebranding of vacation that employees were already entitled to. The offices still shut down for all the major national holidays, and the company says it encourages employees to take at least two weeks off every year as part of its vacation policy.

Robichaux also thinks “inner work days” are important specifically for BetterUp, given that they’re in the business of helping people advance their careers through coaching services. 

Unforgettable faujis of the small screen

As India salutes Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s bravery, let’s rewind to the faujis from popular TV shows that allowed us to experience the feats of such bravehearts


LT ABHIMANYU RAI IN FAUJI (1989 )

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Rakesh Sharma, Amina Shervani


Director: RK Kapoor Why we remember this: It was the serial that introduced Shah Rukh Khan to every Indian household. Fauji was about a batch of trainees in a commando school — their daily drill and eventual induction as soldiers. The actor as Lt Abhimanyu Rai — a bright, young and naughty trainee — was brilliant from the word go. SRK became an overnight sensation and his character gained instant popularity due to its charm and peppiness with which he essayed the role.

WING COMMANDER ABHIMANYU ADHIKARI IN CHHOONA HAI AASMAAN (2007)

Cast: Iqbal Khan, Janvi Chheda, Manish Paul, Vaani Sharma, Vivan Bhatena, Aparna Kumar, Narendra Jha and Shakti Singh

Director: Pawan Kaul Why we remember this: This show gave us another handsome wing commander Abhimanyu in the form of Iqbal Khan. His chemistry with Janvi Chheda, who essayed the role of Flt Lt Sameera Singh, was the highlight of the show, among other things. The plot revolved around six Indian Air Force officers, whose duty was to save the country from terrorist attacks.

FLT LT VIKRAM KOCCHAR IN SAARA AKAASH (2003)

Cast: Shakti Anand, Sai Deodhar, Manish Goel, Manav Gohil, Kiran Kumar, Sonal Sehgal, Parmeet Sethi and Anuj Saxena

Director: Guroudev Bhalla Why we remember this: With air force as the backdrop, the plot revolved around five pilots, their aspirations and dreams higher than the sky. The story also touched upon emotions like love, friendship, heartbreak and the determination to serve the country. The audience loved the on-screen chemistry between Shakti Anand as Flight Lieutenant Vikram Kocchar and Sai Deodhar as Flight Lieutenant Monica Singh. Interestingly, their real-life romance was much quicker than the reel one. And the couple tied the knot soon after.

CAPTAIN RAJVEER SINGH SHEKHAWAT IN LEFT RIGHT LEFT (2006)

Cast: Shweta Salve, Rajeev Khandelwal, Kunal Karan Kapoor, Sanya Irani, Harshad Chopda and Arjun Bijlani

Director: Tony Singh and Deeya Singh

Why we remember this: A thrilling drama that revolved around six confused cadets in the military academy, the show offered the audience a break from the regular saasbahu sagas. The serial started off as a story of revenge, where a sister joins the academy to find out who framed her brother. Telly heartthrob Rajeev Khandelwal as Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat was an ultimate delight to watch on screen. Shveta Salve as the sultry psychiatrist added the right dose of glamour. Priyanka Bassi as Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia and Vikas Manaktala as Cadet Amardeep Hooda also grabbed attention for their on-screen chemistry.

COMMANDANT VIKRAM RAJPOOT IN SEA HAWKS (1997)

Cast: Vijay Raj, Niki Walia, Madhavan, Om Puri, Simone Singh, Milind Soman and Anup Soni Director: Anubhav Sinha/ Shivam Nair Why we remember this: With actors like Milind Soman as Commandant Vikram Rajpoot and R Madhavan as Deputy Commandant Preet in the lead, what more could you ask for? It was perhaps the only TV actiondrama series to be shot on land, air and water in various locations of Mumbai, Goa, Daman and Mauritius. The show gave us a great insight into the lives of navy commanders. While Milind charmed the audience with his Greek God looks and smile, R Madhavan held his own as a smart and charismatic navy officer.

GUINNESS RECORD FOR WORLD’S QUICKEST HANDPRINT PAINTING CREATED AT KUMBH

The authorities of Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran have set a new Guinness World Record for most contribution to a handprint painting in eight hours at the Kumbh mela on Friday. A total of 7,664 individuals contributed to the handprint painting made in just eight hours.

Set up under the beautifully decorated Ganga auditorium of Sector Number 1 of the Kumbh mela (parade ground), a total of 7,664 individuals contributed to breaking the record achieved by LUSH Korea (South Korea) at Yeouido Hangang Park, Seoul, Korea on April 15, 2018.


In the previous record, a total of 4,675 individuals had contributed to make the painting. Visitors to the Kumbh mela, students, foreigners, sadhus, sanitary members deployed at the Kumbh Mela and members of the para military forces, policemen and also the authority participated in creating this world record. It was later confirmed by the officials of the Guinness Book of World Records, who were also present at the occasion.

5 Signs to tell if someone is lying to you

In the science behind a ‘game face’, even the smallest of expressions can give you away
Any gambler knows the importance of a good ‘game face’. Giving away that you’re lying, or that your hand isn’t as good as you’re pretending, is a surefire way to lose the game — and probably most of your money. But lying convincingly isn’t always easy, especially when there are so many subconscious “tells” that can give you away. This isn’t just a gambling issue. Many people admit that they frequently tell “white lies” to acquaintances, colleagues and even their own partners.

A recent survey of 2,000 adults revealed that the top four lies people tell their partners are: ‘I am listening’, ‘I’m not in a bad mood’, ‘I only had one drink’, and ‘I didn’t see your text’. With the average person expected to hear between 10 and 200 lies per day, how can you tell when someone is being untruthful? To answer this question, body language expert Robert Phipps teamed up with Grosvenor Casinos to identify five tell-tale signs to watch out for:


1 MICRO-EXPRESSIONS

Micro-expressions are one of the best indicators that someone is lying, as they happen subconsciously and so we have no way to stop them. They last for less than 1/4 of a second before we have time to adopt the expression that we want people to see.

2 EYE MOVEMENTS

The eyes are a good place to look when trying to work out if someone’s telling the truth. Most people will look up to their left when recalling visual memories — if you’re asking a question about something they’ve seen, and their eyes don’t go up to the left, they may be telling fibs.

3 HAND MOVEMENTS

When lying, someone’s hand movements will often become more animated, but out of sync with what they’re saying. As their brain tries to work the story out, their hands flutter as they attempt to fill the gaps.

4 BLINK RATE

Blink rate either increases or decreases when someone is lying. An experienced liar will often stare straight at you while lying, whereas someone who is uncomfortable with lying will often have a sudden increase in their blinking rate.

5 LEG AND FEET MOVEMENT

Leg and feet movements will often increase as the liar tries to release the negative energy and stress of telling a lie. Crossing and uncrossing their legs, raising their heels up off the ground, and wrapping one foot round the ankle of the other leg are all good signs they are feeling uncomfortable.

5 Things to keep in mind if you’re looking forward to being friends with an ex

We live in more tolerant times where a lot of people are choosing to make peace with their past. That’s mostly because the world is shrinking and social media’s unprecedented outpour of information really never lets you forget things. So, in order to keep your mind more sane and calm, it’s wise to make peace with your past and by past, we mean your ‘ex’.

Most of you would want to loosen up the knotted ties between you and your ex and the reasons could be many. You could either want to shed away all the malice you hold for one another or you still want them in your life because inherently they are good people, or you still may have feelings for them, in which case, it’s better to let go than figure out ways of having them around. If the first two reasons are on your mind then here are five ways to consider if you’re looking at refreshing ties with an ex:


1 ARE THEY IN THE SAME PLACE AS YOU?

Yes, this is an obvious point to ponder over, but we seldom think what the other person wants in order to satiate what we want. So, the first step is to ensure your ex wants to be friends, too. Because if they don’t, then you really can’t force free will can you? You can just wish them luck and hope they’re happy.

2 CAN YOU TRUST THEM AGAIN?

If you guys ended on bad terms then you have to think about how you want to go about this. If she did something to break your trust, can you accommodate trust in your equation, again? Of course, it wouldn’t be in the same capacity as before, because you’re not trying to get back together, you’re trying to be in a good space as friends. So, if you trust your ex enough to not engage in any negativity or turn around and start a fight, then you should go ahead with it.

3 DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER?

This one’s a tricky one only because you may think you’re over your ex, but you’re really not and that can be a bit blurry while you’re making a decision to keep in touch with them. Maybe sit down and think about your feelings. If you think they haven’t changed since you started seeing them then maybe give it some time.

4 DO YOU HOLD A GRUDGE?

You can hold a grudge against your ex for a number of things, that is why she’s your ex, to begin with! But if the grudge is minor and not too vicious then perhaps you can work on letting it go, if you think friendship with her is absolutely worth it. If it’s a major grudge and cannot be reversed, then there isn’t a point in looking out for any association, because you’ll never be able to let the grudge really go.

5 HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH TIME APART?

It’s practically impossible to extend an arm of friendship when you’ve just broken up. Ideally, it takes about more than half the time you’ve spent with your ex, to maybe be friends with them after you two break up. If you’ve never been friends before then it’s a tad tough and only time apart can make that possible.

So, take some time away from each other. If the break up is mutual and amicable, then definitely take time away and start a new association as friends. If it wasn’t an amicable break-up, maybe take a lot more time away, get rid of the negativity you hold against them and try again.

Break-ups are fairly hard but if two people are ready and willing for a resolution and want to take the dynamic from negative to positive by starting a brand new friendship, there are ways things can work out, and they can move away from the bad things that have happened and be good friends.

Teen gets stem cell transplant from sis to fight painful blood disorder

Doctors have cured an Odisha boy of sickle cell disease by transplanting him with the partially-matched stem cells of his kid sister. The first such bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in the western region is being hailed for not just curing the boy of a debilitating disease with a half-match donor, but also opening the door of possibilities for many who can’t find full match donors.


The parents of 18-year-old Manish Bhoi, residents of Sambalpur in Odisha, are hopeful that their son will finally lead a life free from pain and uncertainty. His father Arun Kumar, an official in a private bank, said his son was detected with sickle cell disease within six months of his birth and has since lived with excruciating pain that struck parts of the body. The pain attacks had aggravated since last year.

“Every alternate day he would land up in the hospital with insufferable pain. He would wake up screaming at night as if someone was breaking his bones. He would get attacks in schools, in the middle of taking a shower, or just about anywhere,” said the father, adding that his son started suffering from depression after the disease disrupted his schooling. “He started losing hope,” said Arun.

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that changes the structure of hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells). The genetic defect causes red blood cells to become stiff and assume the shape of a sickle that start blocking blood flow, giving rise to severe pain, organ damage and stroke. Studies say 20% of children with the disease die by the age of 2.

BMT is the only known cure as it eliminates the genetic defect by replacing the diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. But the challenge is in finding a compatible sibling, who doesn't have the genetic defect. In Manish’s case, the search started from his family and extended to registries across the US and Germany, but there was no full match. That's when doctors at Kokilaben Hospital decided to turn to his 10-year-old sister, who was a half-match but didn’t have the congenital defect.

“Recent advances have made transplants possible from half-matched brothers and sisters. Called haploidentical BMT, they offer the chance of a cure to a vast majority of sickle cell patients,” said Dr Santanu Sen, pediatric oncology consultant at Kokilaben. “Here, conditioning the patient before the transplant is crucial. Like, we had replaced all of Manish’s blood plasma with albumin to bring down antibodies and the possibility of rejection,” he said. Affordability, therefore, could be a challenge for many, said Arun, who got significant funding from his employer. The cost of the procedure is upwards of Rs 30lakh.

Dr Mamta Manglani, director of BMC-run Comprehensive Thalassemia Care, said they avoid doing haploidentical transplants because of the higher chances of complication.

"Also, there is a need to manipulate the stem cells to prevent rejection, which cost a lot, and maybe a challenge in the public sector," he said.

An exhibition of contemporary artists

Now & Then’ is an exhibition Adimoolam, Laxma Goud, T of contemporary artists Vaikuntam, Ajay De, Vinita from across India boasting Karim, Madhuri Badhuri, over 40 artworks in a variety of gen- Ramesh Gorjala, Sandeep res including figurative, Jigdung, Shampa Das, Kamar landscape and abstract,...

4 Things to keep in mind after a messy break-up

Getting out of a relationship is always a hard-and-mostly-dry pill to swallow. Fortunately (or unfortunately), everyone unites in this glorious department of heartbreaks. It’s like finishing a series you’ve binge-watched for weeks, and now it’s over, and you don’t really know what to do with yourself. Or your life for that matter.

Most of our communication with everyone today is so all-consuming, especially in the case of those who belong to ‘bae’ status. Imagine having their Instagram profiles, their Facebook pages, and Whatsapp photos just lying there on your phone as a reminder. Getting over someone can make you do a lot of things that you don’t normally associate yourself with. Going out a little too often, trying to get out of the boredom of having no one to text on the regular, a few extra rights swipes on dating apps — all of that is fine. Whatever makes you feel more at peace. Here are four things you need to keep in mind after a messy break-up in order to get over it.


1 THE BIG C

A lot of us hate change. While it’s alright to feel that way, it’s an entirely different matter altogether if you try to replicate what you shared with your ex. For example, you will not be able to find your soulmate on a dating app if that’s the expectation you have post-break-up. If you sign up for one when in that headspace, everyone kind of feels pheeka. There are a lot of really cool boys out there who will get you into a better place, and you’re shooting them in the face. Tell yourself that this change will bring about something positive in the near future.

2 SEX AND OTHER THINGS

When is it too soon to get intimate with someone else, or when is too long? How much is the whole relationship-sex equation intertwined in the millennial age of things? The truth? The first time you get physically intimate after a break-up might make you feel sad, bad or guilty, and that’s okay because you learn what you want at the end of it.

3 GROWTH AND PROGRESS

Jumping into another relationship to distract yourself is not going to fix anything. You may find the distraction appealing but it won’t help you heal in the long run. You cannot hand over your baggage to the next boy, who is even remotely attracted to you. Take some time off, read, go eat, and do things alone-because there are some lessons you need to learn from yourself.

4 MISTAKES ARE MEANT TO BE MADE

Your post-break-up journey is going to have a few bumps along the road. You’ll catch yourself crying about some random memory at 2 am on a Tuesday, but make sure you process all parts of that thought before you wipe off the tears. There is going to be regret about that guy you randomly hooked up with at a friend’s party but that regret makes for one hell of a story. Don’t take it too hard, because no one’s got life figured out. Learn from your mistakes, don’t beat yourself up too much and move ahead.