Bengaluru FC rope in Halicharan Narzary on three-year contract
Bengaluru (PTI): Bengaluru FC have inked a three-year contract with midfielder Halicharan Narzary ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League, the Blues announced on Wednesday.
Narzary, who joined Hyderabad FC in 2020, has previously turned out for FC Goa, NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters FC and Chennaiyin FC in the ISL.
"I'm excited to join Bengaluru FC, although I am sure that it will be a lot of hard work for me to take my place in the team," said Narzary, after completing the formalities on his deal.
"My target is to reach as many finals as possible and give everything I can for this badge. I have decided to move to BFC as it's one of the best clubs in India in my opinion, and I want to learn as much as I can from this experience."
Having started his career as a teenager at Pailan Arrows (now Indian Arrows) in 2010, Narzary has also turned out for I-League clubs DSK Shivajians FC and Dempo SC.
The 29-year-old represented India at the U19 and U23 levels, and has 27 caps for the senior national team.
"Halicharan is a hardworking and versatile player with a lot of experience in the ISL and we're delighted to be able to sign him. He's been a very important player in a successful period at Hyderabad FC over the last few years and adds competition for places within our team. With the amount of quality that he brings into our squad, we see him as a valuable addition," said Blues' boss Simon Grayson.
Narzary has 103 ISL appearances across nine seasons, and claimed six assists in his most recent campaign, the second highest of any Indian.
The winger was part of Hyderabad FC's title-winning 2021-22 campaign, and was runner-up in the Super Cup with Chennaiyin FC in 2019.
The club has also extended the contracts of Australian defender Aleksandar Jovanovic and midfielder Suresh Wangjam.
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Maharashtra village goes ‘caste-free’, penalties for abuse, 2-hour student “no-phone” period
New Delhi: A village in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district made an effort to redefine social boundaries through a unanimous gram sabha resolution, with residents of Soundala publicly declaring the village "caste-free" earlier this month.
According to a report published by The Print, during a specially convened gram sabha, a resolution was passed on February 5, which calls for the removal of caste-based distinctions from public and social life. It urges residents to interact only on the basis of shared humanity. It also prohibits inquiries into caste identity and affirms equal access to public spaces, religious places, water sources, schools and government services.
Soundala is located about 350 km from Mumbai. It has a population of around 2,500 across nearly 450 families. Majority of the families belong to upper castes while a significant Dalit population, alongside a small number of Muslim and Christian families also live in the village. While overt discrimination had been declining over the years, residents say the resolution gives formal expression to changes that were gradually taking root.
The initiative was led by village sarpanch Sharad Argade. The Print quoted him as saying that the move was initiated because of rising caste and communal tensions in neighbouring areas of the state and he feared that social divisions seen elsewhere could harden in his own village if left unaddressed.
According to Argade, the idea of declaring Soundala caste-free was discussed over time, influenced by social worker Pramod Zinjade and shaped by his family’s long involvement in local politics. Argade’s wife Priyanka, a former sarpanch, is credited by villagers with playing a key role in challenging social norms through her outreach work, which included visiting homes across caste lines.
The resolution states that Soundala will not differentiate on the basis of caste, religion, creed or colour, and adopts the motto “My caste is humanity." The resolution also warns against social or economic boycotts, communal statements and the circulation of inflammatory content on social media, with provisions for penalties.
After the resolution villagers are sharing food in festivals, visiting each other's houses, and attending community events together. Older residents recall a time when Dalits were forced to sit separately at weddings, use different wells, and stay away from upper-caste houses. Members of the Muslim community also spoke of earlier experiences of exclusion that discouraged social interaction.
Soundala has also introduced penalties for verbal abuse, discouraged discriminatory practices against widows and extended financial support for widow remarriage. The gram panchayat also provides educational support to girls up to Class 12 and enforces a daily two-hour “no mobile phone” period for students to encourage study.
Two months before the caste-free resolution, the village had also adopted a practice of playing the national anthem each morning over a loudspeaker. Argade said it was intended to reinforce a shared civic identity.
Acknowledging that caste remains relevant in government policy, particularly in reservation for education and employment, the sarpanch was quoted by The Print as saying that the aim was to confine caste to official records and remove it from daily behaviour.
