This Week in Explainers: The historical past of Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat and the controversy over its revamp

The previous few days have given India lots to cheer about. First got here the Champions Trophy win in opposition to New Zealand, which cricket lovers are nonetheless lapping up. After which an extended weekend courtesy of Holi.

Amid the celebrations, you probably have missed out on the information, we don’t blame you. Firstpost Explainers has you coated in case you are in a temper the catch up.

Let’s start with India’s Sunday win when individuals took to the streets. The thrill was palpable. Nonetheless, a rally took a violent flip in Mhow. In Kashmir, a trend present in Gulmarg stirred controversy and have become a topic of debate within the Meeting. We let you know why.

The row between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the three-language method within the Nationwide Schooling Coverage continued to escalate. Now even Kerala and West Bengal have opposed it.

In information that left Air India red-faced, a Chicago-Delhi flight was pressured to show again as a result of most of its bogs have been clogged and inoperable. Have been flyers in charge?

We discuss this and extra in our weekly roundup of tales about India.

1. After Ravindra Jadeja hit the profitable 4 in opposition to New Zealand within the finals of the Champions Trophy on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium, firecrackers went off in India. Folks poured into the streets to rejoice. Nonetheless, a victory rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow turned violent. Stones have been pelted and a few automobiles have been set on hearth as two sides clashed close to a mosque.
What went fallacious?

2. Tamil Nadu and the Centre have been at loggerheads over the Nationwide Schooling Coverage’s three-language method. Now the row has solely escalated with Schooling Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accusing the Stalin authorities of a ‘U-turn’ on the PM Shri scheme after non-disbursal of funds by New Delhi for one more scheme. This story takes a
deep dive into the controversy.

3. A trend present held in Gulmarg discovered itself on the centre of a political controversy. The matter additionally got here up for dialogue within the J&Okay Meeting on Monday with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying the federal government had no function to play within the occasion. It was the timing of the present – throughout Ramzan – that
brought on outrage.

🔥 Gulmarg Trend Present Sparks Controversy 🔥

Native clerics, mullas and Politicians of Kashmir, J&Okay object to such daring trend present throughout Ramadan

CM Omar Abdullah has ordered a report. What’s your view ? pic.twitter.com/Zt5U01Snvi

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) March 10, 2025

4. It’s one among Mumbai’s most well-known hospitals. Bandra’s Lilavati Hospital is the place prime politicians and celebrities flip to for remedy. Now it finds itself grabbing headlines for all of the fallacious causes. The previous trustees have been accused of embezzling funds to the tune of Rs 1200 crore. There are additionally allegations of “black magic” in opposition to them – eight urns filled with ash and human bones have been reportedly discovered on the hospital premises. Right here’s
a take a look at the case.

5. Elon Musk’s Starlink is coming to India quickly. Telecom giants Jio and Bharti Airtel are partnering with SpaceX to supply the high-speed web service within the nation. Whereas approval from the Indian authorities is awaited, this shall be a giant game-changer for India the place 40 per cent of the inhabitants lacks information connectivity. However how does the system work?
We clarify.

6. India’s air pollution issues proceed. It’s not the large cities alone, however the small cities are additionally battling poor air. 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are within the nation, in line with the World Air High quality Report for 2024. Whereas Delhi is on the checklist, on prime of it’s Byrnihat, on the border of Assam and Meghalaya. What makes
this metropolis probably the most polluted on the earth?

7. Do Indian flyers want a lesson in washroom etiquette? The reply is a giant sure. An Air India flight heading to Delhi from Chicago needed to flip again after
eight out of the 12 bogs have been clogged. The toilets turned unserviceable as a result of polythene luggage, rags and garments had been flushed down and caught within the plumbing. Nonetheless, this isn’t an remoted incident.

🔥🚨BREAKING: An Air India flight was pressured to return on a ten hour journey to Chicago Illinois as a result of their bogs have been clogged with poop leaving a whole bunch Indians trapped on a airplane with no restroom.

Air India Flight 126 was making its manner over Greenland on March 5 when 11 out… pic.twitter.com/FhPfMBYgzU

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 9, 2025

8. End education and examine overseas. That has been a giant dream of hundreds of thousands of Indian college students. Nonetheless, increasingly more children is likely to be abandoning it. The variety of Indians going to Canada, the US and the UK to pursue larger schooling has seen a 27 per cent decline in a 12 months – from 604,926 in 2023 to 440,556 in 2024.
Right here’s why.

9. You’d suppose King Khan guidelines Mumbai and will have this manner. Nonetheless, his huge plans to renovate his home Mannat within the metropolis’s plush Bandra suburb might hit a roadblock. The revamp has been beneath the scanner and now has caught the eye of the Nationwide Inexperienced. We convey you the
full image.

Had a fun-filled Friday? At present is an effective day to take a seat again and skim. This checklist ought to assist. In the event you like the way in which we clarify the information, come again
right here for extra.

PS: And in case you are nursing a hangover and questioning how bhang turned a part of Holi celebrations,
this story is for you.