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Kamod’s Nameplate Girls

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The door to Sarpanch Sudarshan Kumar’s home in Kamod village

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rio and Dangal have energised and mobilised Meri Beti Meri Pehchan, a campaign for gender equality in the badlands of Haryana

By Karan Kaushik

It’s a hazy and cold afternoon in Kamod, a village in the Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, about 90 km from the national capital. A tractor offers me a lift to the sarpanch’s house from the spot on the highway where I have been dropped by a state bus.

Buffalos seem to be in a lazy mood as they relish their freshly cut fodder. A snake-charmer and his pets are entertaining the village folk. Kids clap and smartly click pictures of the show on their mobiles. While tradition still rules, this tiny village is determined to usher in a significant social change—that of equal respect, freedom and opportunity for girls and boys, men and women.

And for this, they have taken the important first step—nameplates on the houses here will sport the name of the eldest daughter, followed by those of his mother and father, under the Meri Beti Meri Pehchan campaign, which owes much of its momentum to the Aamir Khan starrer wrestling biopic—Dangal.

Now, Haryana has always had this image of a state unfair, even misogynistic, towards its women. Having one of the worst sex ratios, it has been witness to rapes, honour killings, cultural oppression of women, and more. But social change has been taking place, incrementally as well as radically, quite inexorably, with the rise of the Phogat sisters, Rohtak sisters and the Selfie with Your Daughter campaign, and now this, and Kamod is an apt example.

Shruti Kumar, daughter of Sudarshan

Shruti Kumar, daughter of Sudarshan

Meet nine-year-old Shruti Kumar, who studies in Third C. The little lady is excited to have ‘occupied’ the nameplate of her house. But it is the excitement of a child. Her father Sudarshan Kumar, the village sarpanch, however, shares with us the rationale of the move. He also lets us know how the campaign will pan out.

The gram panchayat has started with houses belonging to 20 anganwadi workers first and plans to expand it to include 500 anganwadi workers’ homes.

“Our village has taken this initiative because we saw that in the Rio Olympics, it was our women who saved the day,” says Kumar. “In our own village a few days ago, a girl named Preeti won a prize for making a documentary about legal literacy on female foeticides. Our daughters have also won first position in sports at state level,” he recounted, adding, significantly, “We, too, here recognise that women are not far behind than men in any field.”

It was Aamir Khan’s blockbuster Dangal that inspired many in the village though Kumar adds that the campaign had been planned before the film’s release. Says he: “The movie made us think, if we can use our daughters to do all the daily chores, why can’t we give them a chance to prove themselves in other fields?”

“Since the Sarpanch has initiated this campaign, everyone is excited and motivated,” says Jagdish Chahar, a village landlord.

Rajwani, Poonam and Sujata pose for a photograph

Rajwani, Poonam and Sujata pose for a photograph

Rajwanti Devi, who is in her late 50s, is one of the anganwadi workers whose home sports her granddaughter’s name on the door and who has played an active role in the campaign. “We want to set an example for other villages,” says she. She, too, admits, that the “story of the Balali sisters” inspired her and her daughter-in-law Poonam Devi, Sujata’s proud mother.

Cinema is a powerful catalyst for social change and Kamod’s story proves it. Having an impressive child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 1,300 girls against 1,000 boys (When the panchayat was formed, members had decided they will honor those homes where a girl was born during Independence Day and Republic Day, says Kumar), Kamod village has around 450 houses and a population of 2,100. It is 15km from Balali village, where wrestler sisters Geeta and Babita live with their father Mahavir Singh Phogat.

The man who started it all, Mahavir Phogat of Balali village

The man who started it all, Mahavir Phogat of Balali village

Mahavir Phogat told India Legal: “This is a great initiative. It will set a good example for the rest of the villages so that they can give their daughters the real honour that they deserve. Through this initiative, girls will claim their identity. When such initiatives are started, it also gives the girls a chance to remain in news and be treated equally also by the media.” In chaste Haryanvi, the proud father added: “Dekho bhai nameplate pe naam aaega to charche to honge hi. Isse badi kya baat ho sakti hai bacchio ke liye? (When their names will appear on the nameplates, it will definitely bring much-needed attention to the girls, and what could be better?)”

Manju Rani travels daily to the city to attend her BA first year classes. All she wants is employment and autonomy before she gets married, she says. Then there is Vandana, an eighth grader, who wants to be a doctor because she likes studying. The teen feels that Dangal is a “wonderful film which left a mark” on her mind.

The village struggles with its own share of problems.  Lack of an internet connection, no hospital and no playground (eventhough the panchayat has purchased sports gear for youngsters) are some of them.

Sarpanch Kumar and his team are working on these. As of now, they are getting a new sewerage system laid. A playground is next on their agenda.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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