Mahatma Gandhi was 'quite a complicated being': Minister at book release event
New Delhi (PTI): The role and contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in India's freedom struggle is well documented and he was "quite a complicated being", Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.
"He had actually asked for mobilisation of India's help for the war effort during the First World War," Mr Puri said.
The minister was addressing an event organised in Delhi to release a book, titled 'The Reverse Swing - Colonialism to Cooperation', authored by veteran journalist and Prasar Bharati board member Ashok Tandon.
"One chapter (in the book) is on Mahatma Gandhi - an apostle of peace for Britons. We are all disciples of the Father of the Nation. His role in building India, creating a link between an elitist national movement and the masses, fusing that, (all that) is very well documented," Mr Puri said.
"But let me tell you Mahatma himself was quite a complicated being," he said, adding, "While still in the UK, he (Gandhi) actually asked for mobilisation of India's help for the war effort in the First World War. That's well documented." Puri said that Gandhi's "initial life" in the UK, and his education prepared him for an "English-style barrister".
"When he goes to South Africa, it is then the Gandhi that we know and the Gandhi who contributed to our national movement begins to mature," he added.
Referring to the content of the book, Mr Puri said there is a chapter in it about how India overtook the UK to become the world's fifth-largest economy.
"I think most of us relish that," he said, adding, "When we become the third largest economy and we overtake Japan and Germany, I don't think we will enjoy that much."
The Union minister said the Indo-British cooperation in the "aviation sector, telecommunications, all these" are relevant in understanding the dynamics of the current bilateral relationship between India and the UK.
The Indian-origin community in the UK has given "shape and content" to India's relationship with the UK far more than what a diaspora can do elsewhere, he said.
"I hope the India-UK free trade agreement actually sees the light of the day," he said.
Participating in a panel discussion on the book, Tondon, the author, talked about a chapter on the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and said many, from the Queen to the British Prime Minister, have expressed regret over the incident but they have never officially apologised for it.
"Is it something to do with the British system that when you apologised for some crime and there is a provision for (giving) compensation?" he asked.
With several friends from my college days & former colleagues as part of the distinguished audience, launch of the book ‘The Reverse Swing: Colonialism to Cooperation’ by another good friend for the past many decades, Sh @AshokTandon Ji turned out to be a reunion of sorts! pic.twitter.com/wtxXMNVEoA
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 18, 2023
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
