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New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) Synchron, a New York-based company, has created a device called "Synchron Switch" that allows patients to control an iPhone or iPad using their brain.

According to Semafor, an array of sensors known as a "Stentrode" is inserted into the top of the brain via a blood vessel. It is controlled wirelessly using the Synchron Switch from the patient's chest.

Rodney Gorham, a retired software salesman in Melbourne,has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a nervous system disease that severely impacts physical functioning.

Synchron has six patients using the Synchron Switch device and Gorham is the first ever to use it with an Apple product, according to a report.

"We're excited about iOS and Apple products because they're so ubiquitous, and this would be the first brain switch input into the device," Tom Oxley, Synchron's co-founder and CEO was quoted as saying.

With the Synchron Switch, Gorham's thoughts are turned into action on the iPad.

The iPad registers Gorham's foot tapping as a finger tap when he thinks about tapping his foot.

Using his Synchron Switch, Gorham is able to send single-word text messages from his iPad, reports Semafor.

Synchron is also the first company to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct clinical trials for a computer-brain implant.

The company which has raised $70 million in venture and other funding, foots the cost of implanting and maintaining the device, it added.

--IANS
shs/ksk/

By Vinod Mirani
A yet-to-be-released film comes up with a display ad offering a 25 per cent discount on admission rates. Has that ever happened before? Now, in the multiplex era, or in the single screen era? It has not. Ajay Devgn's 'Drishyam 2' opens on November 18, but the advance booking has already commenced and for those who booked opening-day tickets on October 24 and 25 were offered a discount of 25 per cent!


Does it make business sense to lure viewers to book tickets for a film due three weeks later on the day when they have two new releases in the cinemas - 'Ram Setu' and 'Thank God', both fresh Diwali offerings. If cinemas are not drawing footfalls for new films, can one expect viewers for a forthcoming film?

What is strange is that no such offer was made for another Ajay Devgn film, 'Thank God', released on October 25. It is all happening now. Cinema viewing is being marketed like most consumer products. Buy one, get one free. Weekly discounted ticket days, flat Rs 400 weekdays, and so on.

The cinemas were gradually losing their ground. The footfalls were thinning. But the admission rates remained high, unaffordable and impractical. I think there was something called cost accountancy and all manufacturing companies had these cost accountants. To qualify as one, you needed a university degree.

The cost accountant's job was to determine a product's selling price according to its merit, quality and cost of manufacturing. But when it came to our multiplexes, whatever the film, the admission rates did not adjust to other factors such as face value (which draws the audience) or the merit of the film.

They seemed to follow the story one had heard in one's childhood about Andher Nagari. The story went thus: 'Andher nagari aur chaupat raja; takke ser bhaji takke ser khaja'.

It seems the multiplexes were under the wrong impression that films pulled crowds and succeeded because of the attraction of their property and not the film they screened. These cinemas may be run by some marketing genius, but they could have done well to study and research the exhibition trade as it was practised in India. The cinemas sustained because of films and once the multiplexes came, they were starved of films and started perishing.

There were cinemas in Mumbai such as Roxy, Opera House, Swastik and Imperial that offered no luxury and no food courts. But these cinemas had a reputation of sustaining a film for silver and golden jubilees. One needs to visit the Imperial cinema in Mumbai. It is in the same condition now as it was when Amitabh Bachchan's first blockbuster, 'Zanjeer', released here. The film ran for 50 weeks at this cinema. A good film had that power.

There were times when filmmakers such as Manoj Kumar and Shakti Samanta and distributors like Shankar BC waited for weeks to release their film at one of these cinemas while the film running there completed its run. A film and the cinema house complemented each other's reputation. Is there any cinema anywhere, especially of the multiplex kind, which can claim to draw an audience unless the film or the star had that drawing power?

These multiplexes were compelled to screen films such as 'Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari' on the maker's terms to get footfalls. Now that these cinemas are facing tough times, various schemes are being introduced to lure viewers. They screened huge Hollywood classic hits such as 'Star Wars', 'ET: The Extra-terrestrial', and so on. Then there was an Amitabh Bachchan retrospective, to coincide with his 80th birthday, which was a huge success. And finally came the Indian Cinema Day, when tickets were sold at the flat rate of Rs 75. That was also a success.

Through their own experiments, the cinemas have proved that if the admission rates are affordable, viewers will come to watch even a 40-year-old 'ET' and 47-year-old Bachchan film, 'Deewaar'. At the prevailing rates, they don't even venture out to see a new film.

It made sense that all the single-screen cinemas in India accommodated almost 70 per cent of its viewers in the stalls, which had varied rate slabs, and the few who came with families and could afford it in the balcony class. That was a fair division considering the buying power of film lovers. A cinema had a seat for all.

At these single-screen cinemas, one had the option of buying a pack of wafers or samosa and wash it down with a glass of water. None of that was costlier than the rates charged outside the theatre. One also had the option to walk out and buy vada pav.

I often watch a film at the mass generating G7 Complex in Bandra, Mumbai, and can enjoy the same facilities. But you can't leave a multiplex in the interval and come back to continue watching the film!

To prove the point, cinemas had a great run when Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan continued to deliver hits, drawing the crowds. Now they don't.

Exhibitors lost the plot somewhere along the line. More so after the Covid-19 lockdown. OTT platforms replaced cinema entertainment. At the same time, the actors were gradually losing their following by indulging in things they should not. Social media has also been spelling doom for a lot many stars.

Otherwise, what explains that despite Diwali holidays and the popular interest in Lord Ram and Ayodhya for both reasons of faith and the debates surrounding the two topics, 'Ram Setu' could not bring in the audience and still needs to give out inflated figures? After all, Akshay Kumar is known to further the issues of national and social interest! The other release, 'Thank God', has also not made much of the Diwali festival.

I think between cinema managements and filmmakers, they would do well to introduce more schemes to bring the audience back to the cinemas. In the past, films brought in the crowds. Now that they don't, so let us see if your cola and popcorn help if made affordable.

--IANS
vinod/kvd

London, Oct 30 (IANS) Children aged 8 years or younger should be considered a group at high risk for more severe monkeypox disease, researchers report.

Few children are affected by monkeypox so far but risks are higher in children aged 8 or younger, according to the study published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

Despite the low reported rates in children so far, there are special concerns about complications and other serious outcomes of monkeypox in children.

"Children are reported to have an increased hospitalisation rate and increased mortality, even in high-income countries," said Dr Petra Zimmermann from University of Fribourg, Switzerland and Nigel Curtis of The University of Melbourne.

Based mainly on data from low-income countries, children under 8 are particularly at higher risk of complications, including potentially serious bacterial infections.

Young children may also be at increased risk of complications related to scratching and spreading the infection to other parts of the body, including the eyes, said researchers.

As of August, nearly 47,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported worldwide.

Of these, just 211 were in children and adolescents under 18 years.

In the current outbreak, monkeypox virus appears to have spread largely by sexual or other close contact. The role of other routes of transmission, including via droplets and contaminated surfaces and objects, remains to be determined.

Most patients with monkeypox will recover with supportive care.

However, more specific treatment is necessary for severe cases and high-risk groups - especially children under 8 years and those with underlying skin conditions, the study noted.

Other vulnerable groups include pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, and people with eczema or with monkeypox rash near the mouth, eyes, and genitals.

Smallpox vaccination is effective in preventing monkeypox, although the duration of protection is unknown.

For children who have been exposed to monkeypox virus, medications or vaccines to prevent monkeypox have been recommended, again with "very limited data."

Especially since monkeypox can be asymptomatic, the outbreak could become uncontrolled and spread to vulnerable groups, including young children.

--IANS
na/uk

Seoul, Oct 30 (IANS) At least 19 foreigners, including three Chinese nationals, have been confirmed dead in a stampede at Seoul's Itaewon district during Halloween celebrations, fire authorities said on Sunday.

The death toll from Saturday's accident rose to 151, with 19 of them identified as foreigners, Choi Seong-beom, head of the fire department in Yongsan, said in a briefing.

Their nationalities include those from Iran, Uzbekistan, China and Norway, Choi was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea said shortly after the stampede, it immediately activated an emergency response mechanism, contacted the South Korean side overnight to learn about the cause of the accident and the nationalities of the victims, and paid close attention to the internet and social media platforms to see if any Chinese nationals were seeking help, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Chinese embassy has offered condolences and will provide assistance to the families of the deceased.

The accident has left 151 dead and 82 injured, according to the South Korean firefighting authorities.

--IANS
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By Sanket Pathak
New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) The increasing crimes against children across the country remain a matter of concern. Talking to IANS, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairman, Priyank Kanoongo said that it is necessary to improve the conviction rate and case reporting mechanism in such cases.


Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Statistics show that crime against minors is increasing in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. How does the commission see this?

A: In Madhya Pradesh, reporting of cases is being done properly, which should be seen positively. It is also true that crimes against children have increased. Amongst other reasons, this is also happening due to lack of sensitivity in the society. It has to be seen on a larger scale.

Q: In which states are cases not being reported properly?

A: It is my experience that many states do not write reports at all. States like Bihar and Jharkhand do not report properly and we have come across many such incidents. The police does not want to register a case and hides the matter.

In such a situation, it cannot be said that the state with more cases is in a bad condition. For instance, reports do not get registered at all in West Bengal. The Commission has come across many cases where FIRs have been registered only after our intervention. There is no proper mechanism of reporting the cases in such states.

Q: What steps are being taken by the Commission to fix the case reporting mechanism?

A: We want every case related to children to be reported. For this, we recently held a region-wise meeting of the Juvenile Police Units and the officers affiliated to them in the districts of all states to try to understand the problem.

In this meeting, issues like appointments and police sensitivity were discussed. Its full report is being prepared. Apart from this, we also had a discussion with lawyers and judges of the POCSO court. Its purpose is to ensure that all the stakeholders involved in providing justice to the children should find solutions to these problems.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) law, if implemented properly, can be effective in putting a stop to crimes against children.

Q: The conviction rate in child crimes is also low. What measures are being taken for this?

A: The biggest problem is the rate of conviction. We have found that in cases of children, the conviction rate goes down to 40%. If this increases, then the fear of law will increase in the hearts of the people.

The effect of conviction is dependent on many things. The most important thing is the rehabilitation of children. Apart from this, it is necessary to get the investigation done within the time limit. The law gives one year for the trial, so it is necessary that the police charge sheet should be on time, doctors and concerned officers should record their statements in advance in the first summon.

For this, we have started a portal in collaboration with the State Children's Commission and other agencies for cases related to crimes against children. This portal will track the progress of children from their counselling to rehabilitation and other issues. We have implemented this in some districts. We have sought suggestions by October 31 regarding the remaining problems. After the suggestions are received, it will be implemented in all the districts.

Q: In many cases, a person known to the child or a closely acquainted person is the culprit, which affects the cases. What is being done about this?

A: Conviction in such cases is being given special attention. Sometimes the neighbour or the accused is domineering, in such cases not only the victim but the entire family has to be rehabilitated. There have also been cases where the victim and their family are threatened during the trial. For this, a proper care plan for the children should be made, social investigation should be done and every aspect should be tracked, only then will conviction be possible.

Q: There have also been many cases related to school teachers where children are unable to complain due to fear. What is the commission doing about this?

A: We have prepared a manual in association with the Ministry of Education regarding schools, which ensures training of teachers and many awareness programmes. Apart from us, state governments also keep organising these.

Q: There is an increase in cases of child trafficking. What steps are being taken in this regard?

A: For this, after the new advisory of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), we have prepared a detailed document.

The trafficking of children is more due to poverty. Some families are unable to provide proper care to the children, so they are trafficked. We have done several case studies, in which it has been found that not all children are unconscious when they are trafficked, instead they are lured away.

We have asked the states to pay attention to this. A survey of such children has also been asked for, especially in areas where child trafficking is high. We have also piloted it in states like Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

It has been asked to identify such children who may be trafficked. Apart from this, work is also being done to give financial strength to those families through Central government schemes.

Q: There have also been a lot of cases of trafficking children abroad for labour?

A: We have covered 75 border districts including Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh to prevent cross-border child trafficking. We organised meetings with all the stakeholders, through which we identified many new routes of smuggling. We also realised that Indian children are mostly taken to Bhutan. Steps are being taken in this regard.

Q: It has been seen that many times, there is no coordination between the states and the Centre regarding crimes against children?

A: Yes, many states are indifferent. We are working on improving it our own way. We have also created counselling mechanisms.

--IANS
spt/fs/bg

By Deepika Bhan
If there is one community in the country that is suffering because Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel could not act decisively in their favour, it is the Kashmiri Pandits.



The repercussion of flawed decisions and missteps taken 75 years ago continue to be felt even today. The presence of minorities in the Muslim-dominated Valley has been almost wiped out. Pakistan's push for Islamic Kashmir is near complete.

What could not be achieved militarily in 1947, 1965 and 1971 has been enacted through a religion-inspired terror push sponsored by Pakistan and aided by China. The minority stake in Kashmir has depleted with the Kashmiri Pandits having been forcibly externed.

This was probably foreseen by Sardar, who wanted the Pandits to be relocated to the cool climes of Dehradun and the Valley given to Pakistan. He knew that Kashmir would get restive and could keep the country's security on the edge.

Sardar was right. In all these years after Independence, India has suffered four wars, including the one in Kargil in 1999, and nearly 35 years of terrorism. Thousands have died in terror-related violence. The minorities faced persecution and till date continue to be the target of terrorists.

Driven out of their homeland, the community of seven lakh has been forced to seek refuge all over the country and even outside. The country is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its Independence, but, for the Kashmiri Pandits, these seven decades and the last 30 years, in particular, have been genocidal.

Talk to any member of the beleaguered community, the feeling is paramount -- had there been Patel in Kashmir, they would not have been suffering. The elders in the community lament Nehru's friendship with Sheikh Abdullah, which they feel blinded him to his evil designs.

It is well-documented that Nehru, being a Kashmiri himself, never wanted to part ways with his land of forefathers. But, when the British was dividing India, the then Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh wanted to remain independent. He signed a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan, which, however, breached it by invading J&K in October 1947.

India did not intervene till the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession. This was supported by Nehru's friend, Sheikh Abdullah.

In his broadcast to the nation from the All India Radio station on November 2 ,1947, Nehru said: "We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. That pledge we have given, and the Maharaja has supported it, not only to the people of Kashmir, but to the world. We will not and cannot back out of it."

He continued: "We are prepared when peace and law and order have been established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations. We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people and we shall accept their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and juster offer. Meanwhile, we have given our word to the people of Kashmir to protect them against the invader and we shall keep our pledge."

Nehru's going to the UN and his promise of referendum has been criticised and a lot has been written about it. But these two blunders cost India and the Kashmiri Pandits the most. These were used by Sheikh and his successors as political tools against the Government of India. But the latter had an agenda, which in future sowed the seeds of separatism and terrorism in the Valley.

At the time of accession, Maharaja Hari Singh sought special privileges for his people on the lines of a 1927 law that denied outsiders the right to buy and own property in J&K. Nehru agreed to the condition.

And finally, after a lot of deliberation, Article 370 was inserted in the Constitution's 21st part that proclaimed it to be a 'Temporary, Transitional and Special Provision'. Through a Presidential Order of 1954, Article 370 was enacted, which gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status.

The special status in time became a weapon not only for Nehru's friend Sheikh Abdullah, but down the line his successors used it to create an exclusive zone where other religions and pro-India forces were sought to be curbed.

Abdullah was instrumental in forming the Plebiscite Front in 1955 that vigorously campaigned for referendum as well as the idea of independence and also carried out anti-India propaganda.

The campaign was at such a massive level that the seeds of separation got sown in the very mindset of the Muslims and along with it an anti-Kashmiri Pandit sentiment was also nurtured, as the community was seen as being pro-Congress and pro-India.

The referendum they believed would be carried out by the UN to help them choose India, Pakistan or Independence. Article 370 did allow the Centre to invoke its laws directly in the J&K, but the one law which Sheikh ruthlessly adopted, modified and enacted was in 1950 -- the J&K Landed Estate Abolition Act or the ‘Land to Tiller' reform -- which took lands from the Kashmiri Pandits without any compensation, and stopped just short of the Muslim Zamindars.

After losing land and being left penniless in many instances, the minority Hindu community found itself losing out in government jobs and even in admissions to professional colleges. The minorities in Kashmir were denied the benefits the Government of India had ensured for smaller population groups. All the benefits were gobbled up by the 98 per cent majority.

And then came the big blow of terrorism, which showed its face for the first time in 1986 when Hindus were attacked in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. From 1988 onwards, when Sheikh's son Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister, terrorism overtook the Valley that led to the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Hindus.

Would it have been the same if Sardar had handled J&K? That is the question most of the persecuted Kashmiri Pandits have been asking. Somehow, the belief that the Iron Man of India, who nailed the map of India, could have ended Kashmir's tragedy, is a feeling that runs deep in the KP community.

Flawed decisions and a lack of vision have created a piece of history that has caused a near annihilation of a community. And, in the 75th year of Independence, the community is mourning a loss that seems to be difficult to recover even after the abrogation of Article 370.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)

--IANS
dpb/arm

By Animesh Singh
New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS) India's wheat exports have seen a miniscule rise of 10 per cent during this calendar year over last year after the government imposed a ban on shipments of the grain to other countries five months back to curb domestic prices.


According to Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs data, the couuntry exported 24.08 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat between May 15 and September 30.

This was 10.3 per cent more than 21.83 LMT of wheat which was exported between April 1, 2021 and May 14, 2021.

In May this year, India had restricted export of wheat to enhance domestic availability. In September, it had also banned export of broken rice and imposed a 20 per cent export duty on non-Basmati rice to increase domestic supplies amid a fall in area under paddy crop in the current kharif season.

Food security concerns had led to imposition of curbs on exports of wheat, official sources had said.

Recently, India had also justified its decision to ban export of wheat and rice at a WTO meeting, despite many countries raising concerns that New Delhi's decision could have an adverse impact on importing nations, mainly in Africa.

--IANS
ans/vd

Hyderabad, Oct 21 (IANS) The Arabian Sea, to an extent, acts as a memory bank of the summer monsoon, with the seasonal cycle of the Upper Ocean and air-sea interaction playing a major role, a study by University of Hyderabad (UoH) surmises.

The findings from this study have significant implications for not only understanding the upper ocean's dynamics and thermodynamics in the Arabian Sea but also the summer monsoon and its predictability.

The study published in scientific reports, hypothesises that the signal of the Indian summer monsoon winds over the Arabian Sea Findlater Jet (FJ) is trapped in the Arabian Sea for almost till the next March.

The Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), also known as the southwest monsoon, is a well-known ocean-atmospheric phenomenon characterised by organised south-westerly winds and enhanced rainfall from June to September. The cross equatorial south-westerly winds from the East African coast towards India develop by the end of May, intensify into a low-level jet during July, and collapse by the end of September. This low-level atmospheric jet in the Arabian Sea is known as Findlater Jet (FJ), an UoH release stated Friday.

The axis of the FJ is represented by the region of maximum wind speed at the height of 850 millibars (about 1.5 km) and extends from the Horn of Africa to the coast of Gujarat in India. The strength of the FJ is known to affect the ISM rainfall over the Indian subcontinent.

In general, strong FJs are associated with more active spells (more rainfall days) of ISM rainfall, while weak FJs are associated with breaks (fewer rainfall days). It is known that the FJ influences the upper ocean.

The cyclonic wind stress north of the axis of the FJ induces open-ocean upwelling, while the anticyclone wind stress south of the axis leads to open-ocean downwelling, through Ekman dynamics.

This results in the modulation of mixed layer depth and upper ocean heat content on either side of the axis of the FJ.

The present study shows that all these results in a deep thermocline in the central AS region during the ISM, which traps a high magnitude of heat.

In winter monsoon months, with the change in the wind direction, the wind stress curl is positive over large parts of the Arabian Sea.

Interestingly, it was found that the thermocline does not shoal and reduce the upper ocean heat content in the central AS, as expected. This is attributed to two reasons. Firstly, winds are weaker and spread over a larger area over the Arabian Sea, making the magnitude of the wind stress curl low.

Secondly, the wind stress in the eastern AS triggers what are known as westward propagating downwelling Rossby waves, which deepen the thermocline and prevent the trapped heat from coming up again.

During the following spring, the collapse of the Rossby waves leads to the shoaling and mixing of underlying waters with surface waters, thereby resurfacing of the trapped heat. The resurfacing of the trapped heat makes the AS sort of a memory bank of the FJ-induced signal generated during the previous summer. This memorised signal in the AS may also pre-condition the local sea surface temperature to influence the next monsoon in a certain way.

The study was led by Vikas Kushwaha, a PhD student at the Centre for Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hyderabad, in collaboration with his PhD supervisor Prof. Karumuri Ashok, Dr. Feba Francis, a Research Associate, and Prof. Prasanna Kumar, who was a former Chair Professor at the Centre. The researchers also acknowledge suggestions from Prof. Satish Shetye, another former Chair Professor of the Centre at the initial stages.

--IANS
pvn/svn

Mumbai, Oct 21 (IANS) Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra talked about being part of the movie 'Thank God' starring Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh. He said that the story highlights the concept of 'karma' and the belief that "as you sow, so you shall reap."

He said: "I think like how in our country we believe in Karma and as the saying goes 'Jaisi karni waisi bharni' (as you sow, so you shall reap), this concept has been beautifully narrated in the film by the writers and Indra (Kumar) Sir."

Ajay Devgn added to the conversation saying that Kapil doesn't believe in this theory.

Sidharth further explained the entire idea behind the film and said: "The film is based on a flawed person who aspires to rise from the lower middle class to the upper middle class and beyond and what measures he takes to get there."

"In between all this he meets with an accident and goes up and meets Chitragupta who decides if he will go to heaven or hell after playing a game. I adored the character and the whole idea that Indra Sir presented, and he did so in a humorous manner. This is an apt fam-com film for Diwali," he explained.

Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet Singh and director Indra Kumar are coming on the sets of 'The Kapil Sharma Show' to promote their film 'Thank God'.

'The Kapil Sharma Show' airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

--IANS
ila/kvd

By Ashutosh Kumar
New Delhi, Oct 17: After many years, Himachal Pradesh polls will see the Congress party playing-up an emotional card to remind them about the late Indira Gandhi's contributions and her connection with the state and its people.


This poll card is clearly aimed to counter Prime Minister Modi-who calls himself "Himachal Ka beta" because he has worked in the state for a long time as party general secretary between 1996-2000. This enables him to strike a close bond with the state and its people as he still knows many people by their first names.

The BJP juggernaut has got a bid boost with PM Modi himself hitting the campaign trail Himachal and this has put the Congress in a fix.

On the Congress side, it is going to be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the AICC general secretary, leading this tactical agenda of the Congress campaign.This will be the first assembly poll, after 1985, when the Congress will bring into focus Indira Gandhi in the campaign via Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while a section of the Congress is also trying to encash on the sympathy factor in favour of late Virbhadra Singh-whose wife Pratibha Singh (MP) is now PCC president and a Chief Ministerial post aspirant.

Just hours before the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the election schedule for the 68-member House in Himachal Pradesh on Friday, Congress pulled-out Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from her cosy home in Shimla hills.

She has been holidaying here for the past four days with her mother and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi also staying with her.

"You exactly look-like Indira ji -your legendary grandmother. The way you speak, connect with masses, walk-the-talk, think and understand the things reminds us all about Indira ji. You are indeed a replica of her and destined to take forward her legacy in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress fate is in your hands now for the elections, to be held on November 12" declared Col (Rtd.) Dhani Ram Shandil at Congress' Solan rally where Priyanka was launched as "Himachal ki Beti".

A short-promo of the rally made by the Congress traces Himachal Pradesh history when Indira Gandhi conferred full statehood on January 25,1971 at historic Ridge maidan and how Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - Himachal ki Beti will star the election campaign through her statewide rallies.

"I am told she addressed a mammoth rally at the Ridge. Although it had snowed heavily my grandmother made it to Shimla and reached-out to join the people. This was her connection with the people of Himachal Pradesh" Priyanka Gandhi told a rally as she also took the election campaign command in her hand.

To strike a further chord with the people, especially the Congress workers she also gave justifications why she chose to build a house in Shimla.

Priyanka said: "It was her grandmother's wish to retire, after a few years, and settle down in the Himalayas that she always loved. I have tried to fulfill her wish to come to the hills. She had an emotional connection here."

The Congress' campaign, says a senior party leader, will evolve around Priyanka Gandhi this time as Rahul Gandhi since being on Bharat Jodo yatra is largely focusing on 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He is unlikely to spare the time for Himachal Pradesh.

Punjab Congress leader and AICC co-incharge for elections Pratap Singh Bajwa, asked from the public stage, to Priyanka Gandhi to camp in Shimla for next one month as her presence will give a real booster dose to the Congress otherwise lacking a heavyweight star campaigner.

However, Priyanka's presence also may give the BJP fresh ammunition against the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, told the gathering at Sataun-an interior of Sirmaur district that Modi ji has finished the dynasty's rule in the country .

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative