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The Empire review: Kunal Kapoor, Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi bring Babur’s saga to life
The Empire, starring Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Dhristi Dhami and Kunal Kapoor, provides an image makeover to Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur, the most-maligned Mughals in India. Possibly second only to descendant Aurangzeb, whose Moti Masjid in Lahore Fort, ties him firmly in Pakistan for the Hindu right-wing.

By– Mohammad Javed Rasheedi
The first season of the 8-episode web series The Empire, helmed by Mitakshara Kumar and created by Nikhil Advani, is heavy with detail and purport to hold attention for the lay viewer. But a historyphile will have reason to replay quite a few scenes.
The Empire, starring Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Dhristi Dhami and Kunal Kapoor, provides an image makeover to Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur, one of the most-maligned Mughals in India. Possibly second only to descendant Aurangzeb, whose Moti Masjid in the Lahore Fort, ties him firmly in Pakistan for the Hindu right-wing.
The web series is currently streaming on Disney+Hotstar.
Based on Alex Rutherford’s historical fiction Empire of the Moghul: Raiders From The North, the series captures the life of Babur who believed his destiny was to form an empire in India. Most of us know the basic bits that Babur was merely 14 when his father died leaving him the kingdom of Ferghana.
His biggest hurdle is Shaybani Khan (Dino Morea), a rival claimant for Ferghana and the neighbouring Samarkand, who occupies the throne. Khan even exploits Babur’s sister, Khanzada Begum (Drashti Dhami), in a sexual arrangement. But the twist in the story reveals that both Khanzada and Babur’s paternal grandmother Aisan Daulat Begum (Shabana Azmi), two powerful women, plotted this tale for Babur’s benefit.
With the guidance of his grandmother and the bravery of his trusted lieutenant, Wazir Khan (Rahul Dev), Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat and wins the throne of Delhi, laying the foundation for the Mughal empire in India.
The series delves into hard, gritty life which lay the groundwork for the Mughal Empire, beyond the idolized love yarn of Salim and Anarkali and Jodha and Akbar’s match to tie-up martial pacts. Mitakshara Kumar and writer Bhavani Iyer look beyond the romanticised idea of Mughals that Hindi cinema has peddled since times immemorial, possibly because cinema verite and the Mughals cannot exist in the same frame. Reality is indeed harsh, for Babur, the forbear of the Mughal dynasty, is not an easy man, he is harsh verging on the barbaric. As opposed to the charm and erudition of the illliterate Akbar and his storeyed court and Shah Jehan’s peacock throne.
The story is of Babur, a young noble trying to claim Samarkand in the face of danger, enemies, his family, especially his sister, her sacrifices and bravery and this entire family’s back and forth with the nemesis, Shaybani Khan. This team of directors and producers have tried something really out of the box and have done a commendable job.
The actors may not be perfect but they are close. In fact, Dino Morea as Shaybani Khan is awesome as is Drashti Dhami. Veteran Shabana Azmi as Aisan Daulat Begum and Rahul Dev as Wazir Khan don’t keep a step awry. Kunal Kapoor doesn’t disappoint as Babur.
Other actors in supporting roles have done a commendable job. Almost all the characters are very well written and the dark shades of some are convincing.
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Among the big takeaways is the breathtaking visuals. The special effects are pretty good, even much better than high-budget films like Thugs of Hindostan, for instance. Cinematography is beautiful in most of the places and it’s hard to take your eyes off the phone. Accuracy of costumes and jewelleries is spot on.
Overall, the show is a very good venture. It may not be consistently satisfying but thanks to strong performances from Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Kunal Kapoor and Drashti Dhami, the period drama sets up a strong foundation for a second season.
In other News, The Kasganj Police arrested a man for allegedly killing his wife and two children in 2018
India News
BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain suffers cardiac arrest, admitted to Lilavati Hospital
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. According to reports BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening. After which he has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Shahnawaz Hussain is the national spokesperson of BJP and he has also been the Industry Minister in Bihar Government.
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.
He was one of the youngest Union Ministers in Atal Bihar Vajpayee’s Cabinet. The BJP leader held several portfolios, including Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Coal, Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of Textiles during Vajpayee regime.
Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a major setback when he had to face defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier in 2006, BJP had brought him to Parliament through by-election. After the defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party did not even give tickets in the 2019 elections. The seat from which Shahnawaz Hussain contested was given to JDU by BJP. However, JDU was a part of NDA at that time.
In the 2020 assembly elections in Bihar, BJP had fielded Shahnawaz Hussain for the Legislative Council elections. Shahnawaz Hussain was successful in winning and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made him the Industries Minister. However, in 2022, BJP suffered a major setback when Nitish Kumar’s party JDU broke ties with NDA and formed the government with RJD.
Shahnawaz Hussain, who once enjoyed power, is now seen in the role of opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. Bihar is the home state of Shahnawaz Hussain and Supaul is his home district.
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Students hold protest in Manipur after photos of two dead students surface online
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence

Hundreds of students took to the streets in Manipur’s capital, Imphal to protest against the brutal murder of two students by suspected armed men. The students demanded justice for the victims. According to reports, photos of two students, who apparently have been decapitated, have gone viral across the social media platforms.
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence, after which security forces used tear gas shells and smoke bombs in an effort to disperse the crowd. Reportedly, multiple students were injured and they were hurried to the hospital for medical treatment.
The photos that have gone viral show two students, a 17-year-old girl and a 20-year-old boy, sitting at the grassy compound in what appears to be a makeshift jungle camp of an armed group.The girl is seen in a white shirt and the boy in a checked shirt holding a backpack. Behind them, two armed men were clearly visible.
In the next viral photo, their bodies are seen slumped on the ground. According to reports, as the girl was a minor, officials concerned to the matter are looking into the allegations of rape, before she was murdered.
Meanwhile, N Biren Singh led Manipur government has asked the people of the northeastern state to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the kidnapping and killing of both the students. In a statement issued by the secretariat of Chief Minister N Biren Singh late on Monday night, the state government asserted that the case has been already handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In addition, the government also assured the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the crime. The statement further underlined that the government was committed to ensuring justice for the murdered students and severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.
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Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI holds their first meeting, aims to work for benefit of women empowerment
Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council members will also recommend government and other institutions on various policy making.

The Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI President Vinita Sahay and Vice President Sandhya Kohli on Tuesday conducted the council’s first physical meeting at Jangpura Extension, New Delhi. Along with the President and Vice President, all 36 Council members took part in the meeting.
As per sources, the major objective of the council members is to spread a robust council who will work for the Council and for the benefit of women empowerment with the spirit of sisterhood.
The vision of the council members is to interact with other councils who are registered with Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) nationally and internationally with an effort to inform them that Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council, WICCI is a team of experienced and dedicated arbitrators, who will keep in view the spirit of the amended Arbitration and Conciliation Act 2016.

Furthermore, the Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council members will also recommend government and other institutions on various policy making. Sources stated that the first meeting was a great success and deliberations were carried out with all council members present in the meeting.
In the Delhi Arbitration and Conciliation Council’s meeting, the council members discussed how to achieve the aforesaid objectives, conduct monthly meetings of council to review action plan, organise webinars and seminars for the awareness of women and further focus on women empowerment by the council of Arbitration and Conciliation initiated in 2023.
Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) is a National Business Chamber for Women that strengthens and builds women’s entrepreneurship and businesses through greater engagement with government, institutions, global trade and networks.
Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) also enables fundamental changes in governmental policies, laws and incentives with a view to robustly encourage and empower women in business, industry and commerce across all sectors.