SMILE CENTER USA General Dentist 18660 Bagley Rd, Suite 405, Medical Arts Bldg 2, Middleburg Hts, OH 44130 Mon thru Sat: 10 AM to 2:30 PM Dr. Shyam Sharma, DDS Ph: 440-297-4365 Emergency & New Patients Welcome: Rootcanal, Dentures, Bleaching, Crowns, Bridges: Most Dental Insurance Plans, Medicaid, Caresource Accepted PRICELESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 2026 India ™ NEWS INTERN ATION AL INTERNA TIONAL Ohio’s Asian-Indian Newspaper INSIDE Community Bulletin Board ..... 2 Community news .................... 3 Indian students in EU ............. 4 Women’s world ....................... 6 Arts and Culture ...................... 7 India news ............................ 8-11 Spirituality, Humor ................. 12 Modi warns against ‘intellectual Naxals’ P rime Minister Modi in his address to the nation, warned against ideological backers of Maoist rebellion, stating that while armed Naxalism is largely eradicated in India, the intellectual and ideological networks still pose threats. He reflected on India’s transformation from the “Fragile Five” era prior to 2014 into a fastgrowing global economy with renewed momentum toward a Viksit Bharat Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red (Developed India) by Fort on August 15, 2026, on India’s 80th Independence Day, on August 15, 2026. 2047. National song ‘Vande Mataram’ accorded same status as national anthem Court rejects students’ plea against school uniform –Page 8 Lantern Festival Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been extended through Saturday, September 12, 2026: Thursdays through Sundays: 6:30p.m to 10:30 p.m. The ‘Lioness of Balochistan’ and Pakistan’s nightmare Human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch was arrested on March 22, 2025, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment by an antiterrorism court in Quetta, Pakistan, on June 22, 2026.–Page 9 150 Years of Vande Mataram: The song was played during the Red Fort Independence Day ceremony on August 15, 2026. The power of chanting Om –Page 12 To advertise, please call 216-246-9225 or contact indiaint@aol.com
s r n g n n s al t w s , t t S NE Ohio Asian-Indian community bulletin board Community Associations American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) Shantaram Pai (440) 734-1830 American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) Zahid Siddiqui (440) 238-3796 Arts Without Borders: Antara Datta 330-419-3335 ASONA– Agarwal Samaj of N. America Mukesh Agarwal 216-496-9053. Association of Asian-Indian Women in Ohio (AAIWO) www.aaiwo.org Association of Indian Physicians of N. Ohio(AIPNO) Dr. Palak Shroff 216- 228-1168 Bengali Cultural Society Kaustav Banerjee 330-475-3968 www.bcscle.org Chinmaya Mission,Cleveland Hema Suresh 216-526-3917 Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Vikas Jain 440-539-9652 ekalcleveland@gmail.com WHAT’S HAPPENING FREE DIGITAL COPY India News International To receive a free digital copy of India News International in your inbox, please send your request to indiaint@aol.com FICA:Shekhar Ganore:216.791.3422 Gujarati Samaj Shilpa Patel 440-364-8275 Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society Surinder Singh Chauhan (440) 243-8439 Guru Nanak Foundation: Subinder Raina (440) 315-8352 Indian Community Association of Greater Akron Sonal Jain 330-671-2599 India-Ohio Chamber of Commerce: Radhika Reddy (216) 344-9441 Indian Christian Association: Michael Sreshta 216-403-3012 Int’l Hindi Association: Cultural Gardens celebrate One World Day 80th anniversary on August 30 Cleveland, OH: HE Cleveland C u l t u r a l G a r d e n s celebrate the 80th anniversary One Dr. Rakesh Ranjan 216-870-4375 World Day on Sunday Jain Society of Gtr Cleveland August 30 from 11 am Sanket Doshi (216) 333-4571 Kasturi Kannada Association to 6 pm. Mamatha Girish 216-849-2625. Since 1946, the Kerala Association of Ohio Cleveland Cultural Sudeep Kishan (779) 500-4342 Gardens Federation NE Ohio Bengali Association Shaubhik Goswami: 216-245-9413 (CCGF) has celebraNE Ohio Marathi Mandal: ted One World Day Vivek Vinherkar which exemplifies the president@neomm.org theme of the Gardens: Marwari Association: Shobha Khandelwal, “Peace through Coordinator: 330-421-6638 Mutual UnderstanN-E Ohio Telugu Association www.neota.org ding.” Venkata Matta 216-379 0210 2026 marks the 80th N-E Ohio Tamil Sangam: anniversary of One Mahalakshmi Ramaswamy World Day to be 216-318-7733 celebrated by more North South Foundation Viji Vijay 440-610-5719 than 50 ethnic Clevelandnsf@ Gmail.com communities. This Orissa Society of America one-day event drew Brirendra Jena (330) 544-1725 more than 40,000 Punjabi Cultural Society visitors last year. Barjinder Dhanoa (216) 650-2311 Sewa International This collection of Anil Kumar Singh public gardens is 440-463-6598 SewaUSA.org Vedanta Center located in the Arup Chatterjee 440-892-9611 Rockefeller Park in NE Ohio Sri Lankan Cleveland. In 1896, Association (NEOSLA) John D. Rockefeller (330) 637 2449 donated the land the Cleveland_Lankans@ Cleveland Cultural yahoogroups.com Gardens occupies One day the today. The gardens are situated along people that East Boulevard & didn’t even Martin Luther King Jr. believe in you There are 38 will tell every- developed gardens, designed and one how they cultivated by distinct met you. cultural or nationality – Johnny Depp groups T AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 206 Gandhi statue at the Indian Cultural Garden The gardens feature celebrated poets, philosophers, peacemakers, composers and scientists who have contributed to world culture. There are 13 new gardens in development. “The story of immigrants and ethnic groups is the story of Cleveland and America,” says Tom Turkaly, Executive Director of the CCGF. Thousands of visitors can stroll, bike, scoot or ride the free shuttles to visit the 40 or so gardens. They will experience diversity in people, heritage, entertainment and food under the watchful eyes of Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Copernicus, Bach, Confucius, Tesla, Dante and dozens of others all in one day. A Naturalization Ceremony will take place where people from 25 countries will become US citizens. The Parade of Flags at noon will also be special this year with thousands of people from over 60 cultures marching with flags and traditional clothing of their heritage. Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb will lead the Parade. The Indian community will participate in large numbers and present Indian dance and music at the Indian Garden. Special this year because of America 250, each Garden will showcase three people of their heritage who have INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL made significant contributions to America. Signs in each Garden will provide information and conversation starters. For example, did you know that Walt Disney had German, Irish and English heritage? Throughout the day there will be ethnic and cultural performances on the main stage at the Centennial Peace Plaza on MLK. Almost every garden will have activities, perfor-mances and food. The event is free as is parking and the trams to help get people around. More info at clevelandone worldday.org Jaipur Junction AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE 9249 W.Sprague Rd, N.Royalton, OH 44133 Phone: 440-842-3555 Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 AM–3 PM & 5 PM–9 PM Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM – 3 PM & 5–10 PM Lunch Dining Carryout www.thejaipurjunction.com PAGE 2
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 • • 70 large-scale lantern displays • Authentic Asian cuisine Live performances To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are the three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost. INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL –Gustave Flaubert, French author of Madam Bovary PAGE 3
INTERNATIONAL Truth Triumphs Volume 26, Number 8 Aug/Sept, 2026 Editor-in-Chief Prakash N. Sinha Published by India International Inc. Business & Editorial offices: 1801 East 12th Street Suite 1721 Downtown Cleveland Ohio 44114 Phone: 216-246-9225 E-Mail: indiaint@aol.com Why India News International ? INDIA News International is an independent newspaper, not affiliated to any political or religious group in the US or anywhere else in the world, an Asian Indian-American community newspaper that aims for unbiased reporting. It also aims to create a better understanding between AsianIndian Americans and the mainstream American society as well as the other ethnic groups. We believe that mutual understanding fosters friendship, harmony and peace. America is a beautiful mosaic of many cultures and faiths. Asian-Indian Americans are all proud Americans and believe in American values – freedom, equality and respect for each other. Amid all its diversity, we uphold and preserve the unique unity, freedom and equality: E pluribus Unum (Many uniting into one). India News International upholds the basic human values – values that are above religion and politics. We believes in universal brotherhood! India News International seeks to promote understanding and close friendly relations between the peoples of the United States and India, the two largest democracies in the world. It seeks to help preserve and promote the precious Asian-Indian culture, values and heritage – and uphold the pride and prestige of Asian-Indians in America. – Publisher India News International is published monthly from Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, USA. It is distributed free in north-east and central Ohio. Yearly subscription: $25 for home delivery by mail.(12 issues a year) Copyright 2026 India International Inc. Reproduction of any article, report or photo without the Editor’s written permission is prohibited. Sewa International Nepal Flash Flood Relief Fund O N August 26, 2026, catastrophic flash floods hit norther-central Nepal following a glacier collapse, avalanche, and landslide, sweeping away whole villages and damaging infrastructure The death toll has risen to 626, and at least 2,478 people are missing, including 777 foreign nationals and 66 Americans. More than 93,000 people have been severely affected, and over 3,700 have been rescued. Homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and other critical infrastructure have been severely damaged. Sewa volunteers are on the ground, responding to the crisis. In partnership with Sewa Nepal, Sewa volunteers mobilized within 48 hours to deliver essential relief supplies to affected communities, including Mattresses, Raincoats, Tarpaulins, Biscuits, ORS, Medicines etc. Sewa International has released $100,000 for Nepal flood relief. It has urged its donors, partners, foundations, and well-wishers to help families in Nepal who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. Your support can provide food, clean water, shelter, medicines, and essential relief. Please support Sewa International USA’s Nepal Flash Flood Relief Fund. www.sevausa.org Indian students rethink ‘American Dream’ as EU opens its doors CHENNAI/BENGALURU/ AMSTERDAM: REAKING from his family’s tradition of studying in the United States, A. Shrinikheathan is opting instead for a master ’s degree in Germany. The 22-year-old Chennai engineering graduate is learning German and taking a language proficiency test as he applies for courses, drawn by the low cost of studying in Germany and its traditionally strong industry links. His decision reflects young Indians’ growing interest in European universities as the IndiaEU trade deal’s mobility provisions and tighter U.S. immigration rules prompt many to rethink the American Dream, a dozen students and education consultants said. “The world is becoming more multi-polar. Earlier, the U.S. was all that everyone was talking about,” Shrinikheathan said, adding he was happy to have study choices beyond the “wildly more expensive” United States and Canada. If sustained, the shift could reshape global B student flows, with Europe emerging as a viable alternative to North America for Indian students as the EU seeks young talent to offset labour shortages from an ageing population. European tuition fees are typically 50% to 80% less than the U.S., according to education consultant KC Overseas, with lower living costs also reducing the bill. “The world is becoming more multi-polar. Earlier, the U.S. was all that everyone was talking about,” Shrinikheathan said, adding he was happy to have study choices beyond the “wildly more expensive” United States and Canada. “The European Union has become a leading destination for Indian students,” an EU official said in a statement to AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 Reuters. “Indian students bring entrepreneurial spirit, cultural richness, and research excellence.” “Indian students have been growing in Europe without any overarching framework. Now, we have structured pathways from education to employment,” he said, forecasting a 60% to 70% jump in student and worker flows over to ` five years. Consultants say students are increasingly matching destinations to career goals and lifestyle, choosing Germany for engineering, the Netherlands for worklife balance, Portugal for affordable postgraduate research and France for management. More than 121,000 Indians study in the EU, about half the U.S. total, but the bloc has steadily INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL grown in popularity, emerging as a leading destination alongside the U.S., Canada and Australia, government data showed. Several students pointed to language barriers, housing shortages in major cities such as Amsterdam, intense competition for jobs, and the need for specialised skills. Still, Indian enrolment ‘ in the Netherlands climbed to about 3,700 in 2025/26 from 2,630 in 2018/19, making Indians the thirdlargest non-EU student group, Statistics Netherlands said. Eindhoven University of Technology reported about 2,140 pre-enrolments from India for the coming academic year, up from roughly 1,390 a year earlier. Leiden University’s Indian intake in regular master’s programs, which are less demanding than its master ’s by research courses, jumped to 120 this year from 70 in 2021. Italy’s Padua University said partner agencies in India were reporting interest in Europe, including from regions that traditionally sent students to the U.S. (-Reuters) Page 4
New Words in English DISCOVER INDIA Independence Day (August 15) Quiz By Prakash Sinha The English language is always growing. New additions to major dictionaries highlight modern technology, internet, and everyday habits. New words reflect how fast our language evolves, reflecting lifestyle and technology changes. D ICTIONARY teams have officially added recently the following terms to the English lexicon: Life hack: a simple trick to make life easier Side quest:: a secondary objective or detour in daily life. Copium: A slang for engaging in self-delusion to deal with a difficult realization. Delulu: Being delusional or harboring unrealistic fantasies. Tradwife: A woman who embraces traditional gender roles, staying at home while her husband works. Floordrobe: An untidy pile of clothes left on the bedroom floor instead of being hung up in a closet. Doomscrolling: The act of constantly scrolling through upsetting or worrying news on social media. Mouse jiggler: A small device that keeps a computer mouse moving so remote workers look “online” while away from their desks. Blingy: Flashy or shiny jewelry and clothing. Humblebrag: A fake humble statement that is actually a boast (e.g., “Ugh, my schedule is so crazy with all these book signings!”). Touch grass: A phrase meaning to step away from the internet and experience the real world. AI slop: Low-quality text or images made by Artificial Intelligence that flood the internet. AI hallucination: Fake info made by a computer. Doomscrolling: Reading bad news constantly. Microstress: Small, repeated sources of stress that build up. Constant phone alerts cause this. Side quest: A task you do that takes you away from your main goal. Crushing it: Doing something really well. Menty B: Short for mental breakdown. Sigma: admired, independent, confident Beta: weak, passive Fanum tax: playfully stealing food Sus: suspicious weird Compiled by Prakash Sinha or Source: some of the world’s leading dictionaries–Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Dictionary.com, and Cambridge Dictionary. Indian independence movement 1857 –1947 T HE British East India Company came to India in 1600 to trade things like cotton, silk and tea. From a trade company, it gradually became a political ruler in the country. India’s first independence movement against the British started in 1857 and is widely regarded to have been initiated by Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier in the British East India Company. After quashing the rebellion, the British government took over the rule of India from the British East India Company. After decades of a non-violent movement, the people of India took the country back from the British in 1947. Here’s a quiz to test how much you know about the story of India’s freedom: 1. When was the Indian Independence Act passed in the British Parliament? 2. Where and to whom did Jawaharlal Nehru deliver the famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech? 3. How was the country referred to between August 15, 1947 and January 26, 1950, when it became a republic? 4. Which princely state in Gujarat initially acceded to Pakistan, after Independence, before becoming part of India? 5. From where does the Indian Prime Minister address the nation on August 15? 6. Apart from Lord Mountbatten, who else served as the Governor General of the Dominion of India? 7. Name the two Asian countries that share their freedom or liberation date with India. EVERY moment is a fresh beginning. – T.S Eliot Tough times never last, but tough people do. – Robert H. Schiuller Die with memories, not dreams. – Unknown Aspire to inspire before we expire. What we think, we become. – Buddha – Unknown Whatever you do, do it well. –Walt Disney AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. – Rumi 8. Where was Mahatma Gandhi on that historic day, August 15, 1947 ? (Answers on page 11) May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. – Nelson Mandela I will remember and recover, not forgive and forget. – Unknown INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL PAGE 5
WOMEN’S WORLD Beauty Tips from Shahnaz Husain Shahnaz Husain, pioneer of the herbal beauty movement, has received unprecedented global acclaim for promoting Ayurveda worldwide. Today, she heads a global network of franchise ventures and 375 organic formulations. After speaking at Harvard Business School, she became a Harvard Case Study on Brand Creation. Now she is a Subject at Harvard on “Emerging Markets.” She has written three books on Beauty, including a beauty book which has been put into Braille. She is also known for her CSR contributions towards free beauty training for the physically challenged and underprivileged women. Shahnaz has received the Padma Shri and prestigious international awards, including the World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award from U.S.-based Success Magazine. Her name is an international brand and she is a Beauty Icon. She lives in New Delhi. Q. I am 52 and am trying to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. I am currently using L’Occitane’s Immortelle Precious line and I do like it. I was wondering, though, if you could suggest something from your product line that would be better to reduce signs of ageing. Are your products available in the USA? Stem Cells range. You can find out about these products on our website www.shahnaz.in and the products are available on www.shahnazhusainusa. com in the USA and Canada. Q&A your lips. Then fill in with your lipstick of any colour that you like. Apply your lip liner on your natural lip line. You can apply primer first, if you wish, as it helps the lipstick last longer. Or, you Q. Is there a way to can apply foundation. prevent my lip liner from making that Q. The sun, salt, and obvious ring around chlorine will turn A: We have several anti- my lips? colored hair into all ageing and age control types of wild colors. products in the Shahnaz A: Obviously outlined lips What can I do to Husain range. Among are no longer in fashion. protect my colored these are Shalife Plus Your lip liner should be the Nourishing Cream, as same shade as your hair before going into well as products from our lipstick. Or, go for a lip liner chlorinated water in a Diamond range and Plant that is the same shade as swimming pool or salt water in the sea? And copper and chemicals in what should I do after the water. It is a good idea to wet a swim? A: Chlorine and other chemicals in the water in a swimming pool can strip the hair of oils and makes it extremely dry. The hair also can also become matted and rough. Chlorine can also make the hair dull. The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair and contributes to its shine. Repeated exposure to chlorine can make the hair brittle, leading to problems like split ends and hair breakage. Sometimes, light coloured hair, or coloured hair can become greenish due to the hair thoroughly before a swim. Hair is porous and it can absorb that much and no more. Wet hair will absorb less chlorinated water. Then apply a hair serum or leave-on conditioner and wear a cap before swimming. Hair serum coats the hair and can protect it from damage. Sometimes light coloured hair can become greenish after swimming in a swimming pool, although this is not due to chlorine, but minerals like copper in the water. Women’s rights and religion CJI-led 9-judge bench (includes all faiths, and a woman) to decide on women’s entry into Sabarimala temple NEW DELHI: NDIA’S Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant has constituted a ninejudge bench, including judges from all faiths, and a woman judge, to decide the validity of contentious socio-religious norms that denote the centuries-old tussle of women’s rights versus faith. Since the socio-religious issues relate to the alleged circumscribing of rights of women to enter religious places, the CJI-led bench would include Justice B V Nagarathna, the lone woman judge in SC who, I Page PAGE 6 6 would become first woman CJI next year, Justice M M Sundresh, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, a Muslim, Justice Augustine G Masih, a Christian, Justice Prasanna B Varala, a Dalit, Justice R Mahadevan, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Aravind Kumar. The nine-judge bench commenced hearing from April 7 on the contentious socio-legal-religious conflict between faith and fundamental rights that was triggered by its September 2018 judgment allowing entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple which has customarily barred entry of females of menstruating age. The judgment triggered petitions seeking its review There were demands from many quarters for similar rulings on PILs which had sought entry of women into mosques, abolition of the practice of khatna (female genital mutilation or FGM) among Dawoodi Bohra community members, and pleas for entry of Parsi women, who have married non-Parsis, into Agiyari (fire temple). The federal govt. has lent its support to the review petitions. SC’s 2018 judgment had struck down the Sabarimala shrine’s tradition of not permitting the entry of female worshippers in the 10-50 age group, a faith-based belief that the presiding deity Ayyappa is a “naishtik brahmachari”. On Nov 14, 2019, a fivejudge bench led by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi, by a three-to-two majority, had not disturbed the Sept 28 judgment allowing the entry of women of all ages but referred to a seven-judge INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL – 2026 JANUARY, 2026 bench the task of evolving guidelines for deciding cases involving clash of fundamental rights and faith emerging from women’s entry into temples, mosques and agiyaris. CJI Bobde used his discretionary powers to refer the matter to a 9-J bench. The SC had said that individual issues — entry of women into Sabarimala, mosques and agiyaris as well as FGM — would be decided by smaller benches based on the guidelines laid down by the nine-judge bench.
NRI’s varsity champions Telugu culture in US E VEN as courses such as MA Sanskrit and Philosophy face declining support in many universities in the Telugu states in India, a private university in the US is championing Indian languages and culture. Aria University in Milpitas, California, earlier known as the University of Silicon Andhra, combines traditional arts and language programs with courses in technology, business and health sciences. The varsity, founded by a Telugu native, Anand Kuchibhotla, the current president of the university, also received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which is comparable to NAAC accreditation in India. It has about 500 students enrolled in courses such as Bharatanatyam and violin. Anand, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, said he moved to the US in 1987. It is the first university founded by a Telugu person promoting arts and culture outside India. “Many communities such as the Chinese, Japanese and Jews started private universities in the US many decades ago. Why shouldn’t we have our own university teaching Indian culture and languages, even if only through some part-time courses? I began work on the university in 2013, received approvals in 2016, and classes began in January 2017,” Anand told TOI . “The university is also planning to conduct introductory workshops in some schools in the US under the program ‘Y4Y’ (Yoga for Youth) in the coming months, and is also planning to start a PhD program in Kuchipudi,” he said. Aiming to revive Telugu tradition and culture, the university offers courses in Harikatha and Burrakatha storytelling forms that blend music and spirituality, as well as fundamentals of playwriting, Padya and Geya (lyrical writing), and creative writing in Telugu. Courses such as yoga, ayurveda and natural medicine are also offered. INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 2026 Page 7 7 PAGE
‘Hijab not essential to Islam’: Allahabad High Court rejects student’s petition, upholds school uniform rules Court stresses equality, institutional discipline NEW DELHI: HE Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a minor student of Tagore Public School in Prayagraj seeking permission to wear a headscarf with her prescribed school uniform. The court said the student had not placed sufficient factual or legal material to establish that wearing a headscarf was an essential religious practice in Islam. It also pointed out that photographs from the school showed that no other girl student, including those from the same religious community, was wearing a headscarf. The petition was filed through the student’s mother after she completed Class 10 and sought admission to Class 11 at the same school. The dispute came up Allahabad High Court rejects UP student’s hijab petition. Photo: AI composition by ChatGPT when the school told her that wearing the scarf was result in her being excluded Class 11. The school faith. Instead, it was For the Allahabad High against its dress code and from the Islamic faith. management informed her enforcing its institutional Court, the petition before it refused admission on that that wearing the scarf did dress code, with the did not provide enough ground. Court calls claim a not comply with its uniform forming part of the factual or legal material to school’s disciplinary establish the first point. On prescribed dress code. ‘bare assertion’ What the Allahabad She then approached the framework. the second, the court held In its judgment passed on The fact that the school High Court seeking that a school can enforce High Court said August 21, the High Court A division bench compri- also considered the permission to continue had earlier allowed the a school uniform policy sing Justice J J Munir and student’s reliance on Article wearing the headscarf student to wear a scarf did when it is applied as an Justice Indrajeet Shukla 25 of the Constitution, along with the school not create a permanent or institutional rule and is not enforceable right requiring shown to be discriminatory. examined the student’s which protects freedom of uniform. the institution to change its School opposes plea and the material religion. submitted before it. The bench said merely Court backs school’s uniform policy, the court individual exemption observed. The private school told The court referred to stating that a practice is an uniform policy the court that it was a selfphotographs from different essential religious practice The High Court also financed institution with a classes and noted that the was not enough to considered the question of Muslim clerics uniform policy applicable to petitioner appeared to be establish a constitutional whether the student’s criticise the verdict all students. the only girl wearing a claim. earlier use of a scarf It submitted that students headscarf. “The assertion in the writ without objection gave her The judgment drew “We have perused the petition that wearing a a continuing right to wear criticism from Muslim from different communities photographs from various headscarf is an essential it. The bench held that it clerics on Tuesday, who studied at the institution classes relating to the religious practice is a bare did not. argued that hijab is an and argued that granting an exemption to one student petitioner. Except her, no assertion.” According to the integral part of Islam and other girl student is donning The court further said that judgment, where a school should be permitted with a could affect the uniformity of the dress code and the headscarf, even those the petition did not contain has a uniform dress code school uniform. belonging to the same the necessary factual and that is framed in good faith, The disagreement institutional discipline. The school maintained religious community. The legal foundation for such a applied without therefore centres on two that the prescribed uniform HCs have been unanimous claim. discrimination and separate questions: in their opinion that wearing According to her plea, she intended to maintain whether hijab can be applied equally to its a headscarf is not an had been wearing a scarf discipline and institutional established as an students and that there was essential part of the Islamic with her school uniform identity, the decision on the essential religious no basis for allowing an faith for a woman to don, since she joined the uniform primarily remains practice for the purpose individual alteration. The State Government in the absence of which, institution in Class 6. She within the school’s of a constitutional claim, faith would be jeopardised.” said the school had not jurisdiction. and whether a school can and the Central Board of Secondary Education The bench said the objected to it during her The court said the school enforce a uniform dress (CBSE) also opposed the petitioner had not provided earlier years. was not preventing the policy that applies to all petition. material to show that not The issue arose when student from following her its students. wearing a headscarf would she sought admission to T AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL PAGE 8
only PoK, says Indian embassy in US T HERE is no Pakistani Kashmir, the Indian Embassy in the US said on July 29, pointing out that the headline of a news report in a leading American daily was “misleading and incorrect”. The news report in The New York Times referred to violent clashes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “Misleading and incorrect headline by @nytimes. There is no Pakistani Kashmir, only Pakistanoccupied Kashmir,” the Indian Embassy said. It said the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, have been, are and will “always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.” Pakistan has illegally occupied parts of these territories and is now using violence against the occupied people,” the embassy said. (-PTI) POK= Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. COK= China-occupied Kashmir Balochistan’s struggles for independence Why Baloch groups mark August 11 as Independence Day Baloch nationalist groups observe August 11 as Balochistan’s ‘Independence Day, days before Pakistan’s. Here’s the 1947 history behind the claim and why it still matters. E VERY year on August 11, groups claiming to represent a self-declared “Republic of Balochistan” mark the day as their Independence Day, three days ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14. The date isn’t arbitrary. It traces back to a historical dispute over the Khanate of Kalat, a former princely state that once covered much of what is now Balochistan, and how it became part of Pakistan after the 1947 partition of British India. While Pakistan regards Balochistan as part of the country, Baloch nationalist groups insist the region once had its own distinct political identity, one they say was lost, not willingly surrendered. On August 11, 1947, representatives of the British government, the Khan of Kalat, and the soon-to-be government of Pakistan signed what’s known as the Standstill Agreement. Baloch nationalists point to this agreement as proof that Kalat’s sovereignty was formally acknowledged before Pakistan even came into being. Soon after, the Khan of Kalat declared independence and set up a two-chamber legislature, comprising a House of Commons and a House of Lords. How Independence claim turned into an accession dispute What followed was months of political uncertainty. According to Baloch nationalist accounts, Kalat’s What happened on legislature voted against August 11, 1947 joining Pakistan in As British rule over India December 1947. came to a close in 1947, But the situation shifted the Khanate of Kalat, then dramatically a few months led by Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, later. On March 27, 1948, claimed it held a status Pakistani forces moved separate from other into Kalat. Shortly after, the princely states, with its own Khan of Kalat signed the historical agreements Instrument of Accession, directly with the British formally bringing the region Crown. under Pakistani control. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026 Baloch nationalist groups describe this as a forced annexation rather than a voluntary merger. Pakistan, on the other hand, maintains that the accession was legal and has consistently rejected claims that Balochistan was occupied by force. Why the date still matters today For Baloch nationalist movements, August 11 isn’t just a historical footnote, it’s a symbol of a political identity they believe existed independently before becoming part of Pakistan. Each year, activists and members of the Baloch diaspora mark the occasion with public events and by raising the Baloch flag, using the day to renew calls for greater autonomy or full independence. The timing is also deliberate. Just three days later, on August 14, Pakistan’s official Independence Day, some separatist groups observe what they call a “Black Day,” a protest against what they see as continued Pakistani control over Balochistan. (-By Jasleen Kaur) INDIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL Mahrang Baloch: The ‘Lioness of Balochistan’ and Pakistan’s nightmare P ROMINENT human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch was arrested on March 22, 2025, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment by an antiterrorism court in Quetta, Pakistan, on June 22, 2026. Dr. Mahrang Baloch has been in state custody since her arrest during a protest in Quetta on March 22, 2025. As a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, she has campaigned extensively against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Mahrang Baloch was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice: first for the 2025 prize (reported around March 2025) and a second time in January 202 Defense and Appeals: Baloch and her co-defendants denied all charges. Her legal team and family rejected the verdict, noting that the trial was conducted in secrecy, defendants were limited to video-link appearances, and defense lawyers faced restricted cross-examination. Her representatives planned an immediate appeal. International Response Human Rights Condemnations: Global organizations, including United Nations Human Rights experts and Amnesty International, condemned the trial and life sentence as a grave injustice and an attempt to criminalize peaceful dissent. Prominent international figures like Greta Thunberg also criticized the secrecy of the proceedings. While Pakistan vilified and jailed her, the world recognised Mahrang Baloch as an inspiration. In 2024, TIME magazine included Dr Mahrang in its “TIME100 Next” list. PAGE 9
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