Myth of the small town and the cult of MS Dhoni

In analysing the phenomenon that MS Dhoni has become, there is an almost immediate attribution that the cricketer’s rise is indicative of a New India and the surge of the small town. However, cautions sociologist Shiv Visvanathan, there is a problem in locating Dhoni’s success wholly in his small-town origins. Because the small-town myth is dying out, he says.

Don’t hold a grudge against ‘brother’ Ishant Sharma: Sammy

Daren Sammy said that he didn’t hold any grudges against Ishant Sharma for calling him ‘Kalu,’ but felt it was important that he put it on record. “I don’t hold any grudges. I’ve spoken to Ishant, I consider him like a brother, just like I did back in 2014. But as a person, if I get to know that there are certain racial slurs being used to describe me or there is a possibility of any such comments, I think it is only wise to confront and clarify,” Sammy said.

Ganja goes digital: Order online, get home delivery

A few among food-delivery agents have emerged as a cog in the city’s preferred ganja peddling apparatus, with police stumbling upon the well-oiled network by chance. In sync with the times, by-referral-only WhatsApp membership is another ganja delivery avenue that is under the police radar.

Kangana Ranaut gets 24 hours to save bungalow

The Mumbai municipal corporation issued a 24-hour notice to actor Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday seeking a reply on alleged “illegal alteration and construction” within the premises of her recently renovated bungalow at Pali Hill in Bandra. The structure is a row house that has been converted into an office. The BMC will demolish the unauthorised portion if there is no reply by Wed.

Live: Covid case fatality rate drops to 1.69%

India’s Covid case tally has crossed 43 lakh mark with a spike of 89,706 new cases & 1,115 deaths, reported in the last 24 hours. Covid-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.69 per cent. Stay with TOI for the latest developments.

LAC: India now holds some solid bargaining chips

As foreign minister S Jaishankar prepares to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow, the clashes on the LAC on Monday where Indian troops held their positions on the heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso have given India some solid bargaining chips to defuse the standoff. The signal to China was that either use force to evict the Indian troops or de-escalate.

School SOPs: Parents’ nod, staggered visits

As per the standard operating procedures released by the ministry of health and family welfare for reopening schools, effective from September 21, students class IX onwards would be allowed to visit schools on “voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers.” The school visit will be subject to the written consent of parents and the interaction will be staggered.