Mangaluru: On Saturday, at the University College campus in Mangaluru, Dr. Shamsul Islam, a retired Associate Professor of Political Science from the University of Delhi, unveiled posters containing the names of four significant incidents in the state and the names of 132 martyrs from Karnataka who participated in the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. This event was organized as part of the 'BV Kakkilaya Inspired Oration for 2023' on the topic of "Joint Martyrdoms, Joint Heritage of 1857 War of Independence" by the BV Kakkilaya Foundation.

The names of these martyrs were compiled by Dr. Islam from the 'Dictionary of Martyrs: India's Freedom Struggle 1857-1947' and included those who participated in battles at Nargund, Koppal Fort, Halagali, and Surapur in Karnataka.

During his oration, Dr. Islam emphasized that paying tribute to martyrs is a way of showing respect to Mother India. He stressed the importance of acknowledging and discussing the contributions of these martyrs, stating that failing to do so sends a negative message. Dr. Islam also touched upon the principles of the Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh (RSS), asserting that they were against both the nation and humanity.

"The person who assassinated the Father of the Nation was neither a Pakistani nor an agent of the IS. Gandhiji was assassinated by a person who impersonated a fake sense of nationalism," he asserted.

Prior to Dr. Islam's lecture, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who are students of the University College, staged a protest against the lecture alleging the lecture aimed to propagate leftist philosophy among college students. The protesters carried placards with messages like "Go Back Shamsul" and "Save UCM." There were attempts by the ABVP members to confront Dr. Shamsul Islam and Prof. Keshavan Veluthat, a retired Professor of Mangalore University and historian, as they arrived at the venue. Tight police security was provided on the University College campus, and Prof. Veluthat was escorted to the stage by law enforcement officers.

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Sao Paulo (AP): A jacket worn by football legend Pelé in the 1966 World Cup has become a hit among fans of pop singer Bad Bunny since he borrowed it from a collector's sports merchandise store and used it in his recent concerts in Sao Paulo, in his first performances on Brazilian soil.

Bad Bunny's tribute to the three-time World Cup winner, who died in 2022 at age 82, also included a change in the lyrics of the song MONACO, sung by the Puerto Rican artist as "scoring a goal after Pelé and Maradona" instead of "Messi and Maradona."

Cássio Brandão, the owner of the Alambrado Futebol e Cultura store, seeks historical soccer memorabilia and jerseys and has more than 7,000 of them. He owns 115 items that belonged to Pelé and was involved in Bad Bunny's choice for the jacket.

"He took very good care of the piece. It came back only with sweat, wet with sweat, but it was perfect, in the same condition. They were very careful. It returned in the same suitcase," Brandão said.

Pelé's official Instagram later thanked the singer for the tribute, adding that when someone like Bad Bunny honors “the King on Brazilian soil, it means the crown is still shining.”

“I think that today, when I see Bad Bunny doing this, it warms my heart to imagine that many kids across Brazil and around the world are going on YouTube trying to learn more about Pelé, watching his goals and better understanding the magnitude and greatness of this figure, who is the greatest football player in history and, to me, the greatest Brazilian who has ever lived,” Brandão said. AP