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

kavil ayurvedic upchar

‘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.

JAM ON FREEWAY AS CAR TURNS TURTLE

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

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.”

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.