Less cognitive dissonance, easy way out, newer resources, medication on time, money as age of ghosts: 2025

Monday, November 3, 2025

Asim Sarode, an introduction!

Who he is

Asim Sarode is an Indian lawyer and human‐rights activist based in Pune, Maharashtra. Changemaker Library+2asimsarode.wordpress.com+2

Background & early life

He grew up in rural Maharashtra and comes from a family engaged in social change; his grandfather worked with Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan movement. Changemaker Library
He studied law (LL.B) at the Indian Law Society’s Law College, Pune, and later pursued an LL.M at Bharati Vidyapeeth. Star Profiles+1

Work & contributions

He founded the law firm Asim Sarode and Associates in Pune in 1999. BioTrusted+2ZaubaCorp+2
He established a volunteer/student‐driven legal wing of Sahyog Trust called the Human Rights and Law Defenders (HRLD), which provides free legal aid to under-trial prisoners, victims of sexual violence, and marginalized communities. Changemaker Library+1
He has taken public positions on legal and constitutional issues, for example objecting to reuse of voter lists in local elections in Maharashtra. The Indian Express+1

Areas of focus

Access to justice for the under‐privileged: he works to enable victims, witnesses, and marginalized individuals to understand and engage with the legal system. Changemaker Library+1
Human rights advocacy, especially around legal reform, legal aid, and bridging the gap between law & society.
Public interest litigation and legal commentary on governance and democracy in Maharashtra. thelivemaharashtra.in+1

Notable views & public presence

He criticised decisions in Maharashtra’s politics—e.g., arguing that a Speaker’s recognition of a political faction violated the Anti-Defection law. thelivemaharashtra.in
He has publicly criticised reuse of assembly voter lists for local polls, calling it “a betrayal of the Constitution”. The Indian Express

Why he matters

Asim Sarode represents a part of the legal profession in India that works across both courtrooms and society—advocating not just for clients, but for structural change in how the legal system treats vulnerable groups.
His work ties into broader debates in Maharashtra (and India) regarding legal access, rights of under-trials, sexual violence victims, and the role of law in governance.
Because he engages both in legal practice and public commentary, his voice and interventions can influence policy debates, legal reform, and public awareness.

Summary

In short, Asim Sarode is a socially-oriented lawyer and human-rights activist from Maharashtra. He has built a career combining legal practice with advocacy for marginalized populations and has become a public commentator on legal and governance issues in the state.

Ashish Shelar, an introduction!

Who he is

Ashish Shelar (born 3 October 1972) is an Indian politician and sports administrator from Maharashtra. Wikipedia+1 He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Wikipedia

Key positions held

Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing the Vandre West (Bandra West) constituency since 2014. Wikipedia+1
Minister in the Maharashtra state government: as of December 2024, he was appointed as Minister for Information Technology and Minister for Cultural Affairs in the government of ‎Devendra Fadnavis. Wikipedia+1
Prior to that he served in other portfolios including School Education. Wikipedia
Within BJP organisational structure, he has served as President of the BJP’s Mumbai unit. Wikipedia+1
In sports administration: He was Treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from October 2022 until he stepped down after taking ministerial office. Storyboard18+1 He was also appointed as an Ex-Officio Board Member on the Asian Cricket Council in March 2025. The Economic Times

Background & career journey

He hails from Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, later settling in Mumbai (Bandra area) with his family. Wikipedia+1
He studied science (B.Sc) and then law (LLB) at the University of Mumbai. Wikipedia
His entry into politics was via the student wing (ABVP) and later into civic politics (as corporator) in Mumbai before rising to state-level positions. Mumbai Mirror

Areas of interest / influence

Urban governance and civic issues in Mumbai, especially in his Bandra/West constituency. Mumbai Mirror
Cultural affairs: with his current role as Minister for Cultural Affairs, he has initiatives such as preservation of heritage sites in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Times
Sports administration: Beyond politics, he has been actively involved in cricket administration and broader sports governance.
Legal background: As an advocate, he brings legal experience into his legislative and governance roles.

Recent developments & dynamics

His appointment as Minister of IT & Cultural Affairs in December 2024 marked a shift in his portfolio to a more state-wide domain beyond just education. pitchonnet.com
He stepped down from his BCCI Treasurer role when he became minister, because of rules concerning public office & sports board roles. Storyboard18
His position in the Asian Cricket Council signals his continuing tie to sports governance despite his political responsibilities. The Economic Times

Strengths & Reputation

Known in BJP circles as an organisational person, especially for his work in Mumbai and his role in the party’s urban strategy. Mumbai Mirror
Ground-level politician: his beginnings as corporator, engagement in civic issues (such as the Mumbai improvement committee) lend him a street-level appeal. Mumbai Mirror

Areas of Critique / Controversy

As with many politicians, there have been controversies. For example, his earlier role in the BCCI and sports-politics interface drew attention when he assumed the treasurer post. NewsDrum+1
Also, as a vocal BJP leader in Mumbai, his role in inter-party conflicts and urban governance disputes has been part of his public persona.

Why he matters

Ashish Shelar is significant for a few reasons:

He bridges urban Mumbai politics (one of India’s most visible civic theatres) with state-level governance in Maharashtra.
His dual involvement in politics & sports governance gives him a broader influence beyond typical legislative roles.
His current ministerial responsibilities (IT + Cultural Affairs) place him in key growth and heritage sectors in Maharashtra.

Pakistan’s leverage over the Afghan Taliban regime is limited

Objectives

Domestic security: Pakistan seeks to prevent attacks by the TTP and other militant groups against its security forces and civilians. For example, it has announced a “comprehensive, effective and actionable strategy” to eliminate militant outfits. Arab News+2The Diplomat+2
Control of cross-border militancy: One key objective is to stop militants operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan. Pakistan demands that Afghanistan’s Taliban regime act against such groups. The Diplomat+2The Diplomat+2
Reliable relationship with Afghanistan: Pakistan historically wanted a friendly or at least cooperate-friendly government in Kabul to serve its strategic interests (such as stability on its western border, trade, pipelines etc.). The Express Tribune+1
Reasserting state writ and rule of law: Through initiatives like the National Action Plan (Pakistan) (post-2014) to crack down on terrorism, reform prosecution of terrorism cases. Wikipedia+1

🔄 Strategy / Tools — how Pakistan is trying to achieve those objectives

Military operations and kinetic action
- Pakistan has carried out large-scale operations in its tribal areas — e.g., Operation Zarb‑e‑Azb in 2014 aimed at removing militants from North Waziristan. Wikipedia+1
- More recently, Pakistan has shown willingness to carry out cross-border strikes into Afghan territory when it accuses the Afghan side of harbouring TTP militants. The Diplomat
- Intelligence-led operations, legislation, coordination with provincial governments have been emphasised in the new strategy. Foreign Policy+1
Diplomatic and economic pressure
- Pakistan has used trade and transit restrictions, visa rules, border controls (especially on the Afghanistan side) to pressure the Afghan Taliban regime to act. Dawn
- Diplomatic messaging: Pakistan signals that its support for the Taliban regime in Kabul is conditional upon cooperation on militant safe-havens. The Express Tribune+1
Attempts at negotiation and peace talks
- Pakistan has opened channels of talks with the TTP in past years (e.g., truce/ceasefire efforts) though with limited success. Wikipedia+1
Changing policy orientation
- From a posture that emphasised engagement and seeking a “friendly” Taliban regime, Pakistan is now apparently shifting toward a more conditional and even punitive stance: i.e., if Afghanistan-based groups attack Pakistan, then Pakistan will respond via force and hold the Afghan regime responsible. The Express Tribune+1

⚠️ Challenges & contradictions

The TTP remains a potent threat. One analysis notes that Pakistan’s strategy has “fundamental flaws” because military/tactical responses alone may not address the root causes of militancy. United States Institute of Peace
Pakistan’s leverage over the Afghan Taliban regime is limited: the Taliban in Kabul may not respond as Islamabad hopes, so pressure tactics may work only partially. Dawn
Pakistan’s historical policy of differentiating “good Taliban vs bad Taliban” (supporting proxies in Afghanistan while fighting internal insurgents) has come back to bite it. India Today+1
Internal governance, rule of law, provincial coordination remain weak in some border areas, complicating full implementation of counter-terror strategy.
Cross-border operations raise risks of escalation with Afghanistan, as well as potential civilian casualties and international criticism.

Price/Value ratio:

Viltrox has launched the AF 85mm F2.0 EVO FE, the first lens in its new EVO series tailored for Sony E-mount cameras. This full-frame autofocus prime lens combines portability, optical precision, and robust construction, catering to the needs of both photographers and filmmakers. New EVO Optics for Sharper Results The AF 85mm F2.0 EVO features an innovative optical design with 10 elements arranged in 8 groups, including two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements and two High-Refractive (HR) elements. This configuration significantly reduces chromatic aberration, enhances contrast, and provides edge-to-edge sharpness even at wide apertures. Viltrox claims that peak resolving power occurs

The post Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO FE, a Compact Prime for Hybrid Shooters first appeared on 4K Shooters.

And here's a quick summary:

Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4 XF: Ultra-wide prime for Fuji X users; great for landscapes, architecture, astrophotography.
Viltrox AF 56mm F1.4: Portrait-length prime for Sony E-mount; good aperture and value.
Viltrox AF 24mm F1.8: A versatile “everyday” wide prime on Sony E; useful for street, video, vlogging.
Viltrox AF 23mm F1.4: Fast prime for Fuji X; good for low-light, portrait / environmental portrait.
Viltrox 85mm F1.8 Mark II: Longer prime length for Sony E; good for portraits.
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 (Cinema/PL): A more specialised cinema lens or budget lens for video/film work.
The other two entries represent their value “Air/Lab” series (entry & mid-level) and more premium “Pro/Mark” series (higher build/optics) respectively.

🎯 Strengths of Viltrox

Price/Value ratio: You get a lot of optical performance for less money compared with first-party lenses from major camera brands. Many reviewers say “you can’t believe how much lens you get for the price”. TechRadar
Broad mount support: They support many mounts (Sony E, Fuji X, Nikon Z, Canon RF etc). Good if you shoot across systems or want alternatives.
Growing reputation: Joining L-Mount Alliance and frequent new launches show the company is expanding and gaining credibility. Digital Journal+1
Innovation & options: From ultra-wide primes to budget cinema lenses, they cover niche focal lengths and apertures that sometimes big brands skip.

⚠️ Weaknesses / Things to be aware of

Support & warranty concerns: Some user reports indicate difficulties with after-sales, warranty claims, or service. > “Lens stopped being recognised by my camera… customer service absolutely terrible.” Reddit+1
Build / performance may vary: While many lenses perform well, some users report issues (focus-speed, firmware/compatibility, build quality) especially compared to premium brand equivalents.
Not a camera body manufacturer (yet?): Despite rumours, Viltrox has confirmed they are not currently launching a camera system, and remain focused on lenses & accessories. Imaging Resource+1
Brand-ecosystem risks: Because they are “third-party”, future firmware updates, compatibility with future camera bodies, resale value may not be as strong as major brand lenses; you should check mount compatibility, firmware updates etc.
Some reports of quality-control: Example: damaged box on delivery, lack of responsive support. Reddit

Strong theatre roots

1. Strengths of Marathi Cinema

Before talking about what it “lags” in, it’s worth noting:

Artistic depth & realism: Marathi films often excel in social realism (e.g. Court, Fandry, Sairat, The Disciple).
Strong theatre roots: Maharashtra’s theatre culture has trained generations of skilled actors, writers, and directors.
Critical acclaim: Films like Court (2014, by Chaitanya Tamhane) won Venice awards, and Sairat became an all-India phenomenon.
Cultural variety: Marathi cinema blends urban (Pune–Mumbai) themes with rural authenticity, exploring caste, gender, and class with nuance.

So the creative foundation exists — but the global ecosystem hasn’t yet embraced it widely.

⚙️ 2. Why Marathi Cinema Lags Behind World Cinema

(a) Limited budgets and infrastructure

Marathi films are typically made on very small budgets (₹1–5 crore on average), compared with even Malayalam or Tamil films.
This limits marketing, visual production quality, and international promotion.
Few Marathi films have post-production or sound design matching global standards — not due to lack of talent, but lack of funding.

(b) Weak distribution and marketing

Even acclaimed Marathi films struggle for screens in Maharashtra itself.
Multiplexes prioritize Hindi or English films; small regional releases get poor time slots.
There’s little investment in international festival marketing, which is how Korean, Iranian, and Japanese cinema built reputations.

(c) Audience fragmentation

Marathi audiences overlap with Hindi film audiences.
Many urban Maharashtrians simply watch Bollywood films, so Marathi producers hesitate to take big creative or financial risks.
The bilingual identity of Maharashtra (Marathi + Hindi fluency) dilutes the market’s linguistic distinctiveness compared to, say, Malayalam cinema.

(d) Lack of sustained government or industry support

While the Maharashtra government provides some grants, there’s no coordinated strategy like Korea’s KOFIC (Korean Film Council) or France’s CNC.
No strong export policy, co-production support, or tax incentives for art-house cinema.

(e) Narrative conservatism & uneven quality

Many Marathi films rely on similar social themes — village politics, caste, morality — and fewer experiment with new genres (sci-fi, psychological thrillers, dark comedy).
World cinema audiences often look for distinct visual grammar or bold experimentation, which only a few Marathi directors attempt.

(f) Limited global networking

Few Marathi filmmakers regularly attend film markets (Cannes, Berlin, Busan) or secure co-production funding.
This isolates them from global film circuits, festival programmers, and distributors who could showcase their work.

Campaigning & expansion:

✔ Why he says he wants to save the Congress party in Karnataka

Uniting the party & government
Shivakumar has repeatedly said his duty is to protect the party and the government. For example:

“My duty is to save the party and keep the government safe. Apart from this, I have no other duties.”
The Times of India+1
He frames this as his central responsibility amid media talk of internal rifts.
Leadership stability ahead of upcoming elections
Karnataka’s INC is in power in the state and facing pressure from opposition parties. By emphasising “saving the party”, Shivakumar signals that he wants the organisation to be strong, unified and ready for future challenges (local body polls, state elections).
(E.g., his invitation to workers of another party: “the year of Congress in Karnataka”.) The New Indian Express+1
Protecting the party brand and its workers
He also mentions that his duty includes defending and protecting the workers and ensuring internal discipline:

“My first duty is to protect workers... I am a president who treats everyone as equal.” The News Mill+1
This suggests that he views organisational cohesion as key to performance.
Positioning for greater influence / leadership
Although he says saving the party is the priority, many analysts also read his statements as part of his broader strategy to strengthen his standing within the party (both in Karnataka and nationally). Articles point out his desire to retain the state Congress president post and not relinquish it easily. The Week
Countering opposition and projecting strength
In a state with strong opposition (especially from Bharatiya Janata Party + regional players), emphasising the survival and revival of Congress sends a message of resilience: that the party intends to fight, stay relevant and govern well.
He has made statements such as “The Congress flag will fly high in the future in Karnataka.” The New Indian Express

🧮 What this means in practice

Focus on grassroots performance: Shivakumar has warned ministers and party workers that non-performance will lead to exclusion. India Today
Controlling factionalism: By publicly downplaying internal rifts, he attempts to project unity (“There is no rebellion. No personal differences with anyone.”) The News Mill
Campaigning & expansion: He is making appeals across party lines (e.g., inviting workers from other parties to join) and emphasising development works to bolster the party’s image. The New Indian Express
Maintaining key posts: His insistence on retaining the state Congress president’s post highlights his effort to remain the organisational anchor of the party in Karnataka. The Week

🔍 Bigger stakes & context

The Congress sees Karnataka as one of its important states (governed by them) and losing ground could affect its national narrative.
Within Karnataka, Shivakumar represents a strong regional leader (especially among certain communities) and his staying power matters for the party’s caste-coalition strategy.
There are leadership tensions: while Shivakumar emphasises unity and saving the party, other sources point to internal competition (e.g., his role vis-à-vis the Chief Minister, etc.). mint+1

Logistical and readiness issues:

What was planned

The Kerala government had publicly announced (via the Sports Minister) that Messi and the Argentina team would play a friendly match in Kerala (October/November 2025) as a huge draw for football fans.
A commercial sponsor reportedly agreed to important payments to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) under contract for the visit.

⚠️ Why the visit has fallen through

The main obstacles appear to be:

Scheduling clash / time window mismatch: The Argentina team reportedly could not commit to the timeframe Kerala had proposed. For example, the sponsor wanted October while the team said they were unable to come then.
Logistical and readiness issues: Reports say Kerala lacked readiness in certain logistics or infrastructure for the match, and there were delays in arrangements.
Contract / payment issues: The AFA has alleged that the Kerala side / sponsors breached contractual terms. There are also reports of large sums involved (≈ ₹130 crore) by the sponsor with no match event materialising.

🔍 The core takeaway

Messi’s visit to Kerala didn’t happen not because of a single personal decision of Messi, but because the event logistics, scheduling, contract and readiness all failed to align. Kerala’s government, sponsor, and the AFA each have pieces of responsibility in this.

Timing and procedure concerns

Why Tamil Nadu says it opposes SIR

Risk of disenfranchisement
The state government argues that the SIR, especially as proposed to be done “hastily” ahead of upcoming elections, could lead to large numbers of real voters being removed from the rolls unjustly. For example, the government cites the SIR exercise in Bihar (where only the first phase was done so far) and says that the removal of names there sets a worrying precedent. India Today+3The New Indian Express+3news.webindia123.com+3
Timing and procedure concerns
The Tamil Nadu government says that conducting an intensive revision just before the state assembly elections (due early 2026) and in the upcoming monsoon period (with administrative/logistical challenges) is problematic. They argue that adequate time and transparency are lacking. The Times of India+1
Allegations of political motive / lack of trust
The ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), claims that the SIR is being used by the central government (and implicitly by the Bharatiya Janata Party) to manipulate voter rolls and favour certain political outcomes. For example, the Deputy Chief Minister has alleged that the SIR is “politically motivated” with an eye on upcoming elections. The New Indian Express+1
Demand for state-specific safeguards
The state has suggested that any major revision like this should be done after elections, with strong safeguards and following Supreme Court guidelines. For instance, Tamil Nadu had urged that the SIR be done only after the 2026 state election and with full transparency. The New Indian Express

🧭 The broader context

The ECI’s plan: The ECI has announced SIR in 12 states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, with door-to-door verification, removal of duplicates, inclusion of new voters, etc. Lokmat Times+1
Opposition to it doesn’t mean all parties in Tamil Nadu agree with the state government. Some opposition parties (such as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, TVK) also oppose it but accuse the DMK of using the issue for political gain. The New Indian Express
Pro-SIR view: Some parties (e.g., All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, AIADMK, and BJP) say the revision is legitimate and necessary to clean up rolls, remove fake/duplicate voters and ensure electoral integrity. The Times of India

🔍 Key quote

From Tamil Nadu’s resolution:

“Implementing the SIR in 12 states … including Tamil Nadu, without rectifying the irregularities witnessed in Bihar, is tantamount to depriving citizens of their voting rights and burying democracy itself.” The New Indian Express