India's First Sailing Lit Fest which will kick off in Mumbai tomorrow, January 29, 2019

Acclaimed filmmaker, actress and activist Nandita Das joined for a special session with Former First Lady of Britain Cherie Blair opened the fest and bat for India's widows on behalf of the Loomba Foundation. The revenue generated at this festival was donated to the widows of the country.

The Irrawaddy Literary Festival takes place in a Buddhist Stupa that houses the world’s largest book written in gold.
The Shanghai International Literary Festival uses one of the world’s most photographed backdrops – its skyscrapers.

The Mountain Echoes Lit Fest is held in one of the world’s cleanest landscapes of Bhutan.

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival takes place in the 14 ethereal villages immersed among lush green paddy fields.

And now Mumbai is all set to have a Lit Fest that uses its most famous citizen as its venue – The Arabian Sea.

India’s Maximum City hosted India’s first ever Lit Fest on the sea – The Queensline Lit Fest - three days of incredible dialogue and debate by some of the world’s greatest minds – with the spectacular views of Mumbai’s imposing skyline at a distance and sunsets to die for.

Queensline Lit Fest, India’s first literary festival on the sea, took place from 29-31 January 2019 in Mumbai.

It was inaugurated by world-renowned barrister and former first lady of the UK, Cherie Blair, on 29 Jan at 12.30 pm.

The festival takes place on board Mumbai’s brand new addresses on the sea — Queensline Neverland and Queensline Sea YAH — ships that can each accommodate 400 people.

Queensline owner and founder of the QLF Shripriya Dalmia Thirani said, "Space is vital for any sort of intellectual discourse. India is a place for debates and literature. Queensline isn't a cruise ship or just a floating restaurant. It is Mumbai's  brand new address on the sea - its deck the venerable new spot for everything creative. This is the first of out large creative events - the first ever Lit Fest on the sea. We have some of India's greatest minds talking about the issues of the present - from faith and religion to women and widows. It will be a massive draw and we already have a major interest in the festival."

Originally from Turkey, these ships have been visited by Queen Elizabeth, too. They have now been converted into Mumbai’s largest dining rooms on the sea.

This unique Lit Fest will feature some of the best minds from the literary world. The participants and guests will be able to listen to the stalwarts from the world of books and also witness Mumbai’s sensational views.

On 30 January, India’s most renowned photographer Raghu Rai will be in a conversation with festival director Kounteya Sinha, from 4 pm to 6 pm. On 31st January, 5 pm Manisha Koirala is in conversation with veteran writer and critic Uma Nair. Boats will carry VIPs and passengers from Gateway of India to the ship all the three days.

Quotes:

"CEREBRAL DISCOURSES have become common in India - it definitely shows how debate and discussions are intrinsic to the DNA of a common Indian. Mumbai is a Mecca for such incredible festivals. Queensline which is now Mumbai's largest dining room on the sea is clear of its intention - it wants its deck to be Mumbai's latest cultural hub - a place people can engage, talk about arts and culture, watch performances under an open sky glistening with stars and come up with brilliant solutions to our urban and rural needs through debate and dialogue. QLF 2019 will open Mumbai's greatest asset - the Arabian Sea as a place where great minds meet and engage says, Kounteya Sinha - internationally renowned curator and QLF festival director."

2 kg Baby born with ‘Transposition of the great arteries’ congenital heart disease, successfully operated at Jupiter Hospital

A serious & rare open heart surgery performed on 6 days old baby boy with the aid of donation from Mukul Madhav Foundation, Jupiter Foundation and Have a heart Foundation.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Abhijeet Naik, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Rahul Saraf Paediatric Cardiologist, and managed in a dedicated paediatric ICU under the guidance of Dr. Shrinivas Tambe, Consultant Neonatalogist and Paediatric Intensivist. 

A 6 days old baby born with congenital heart disease underwent an open heart surgery. The baby born with the condition ‘Transposition of the great arteries’ at a government hospital and then was shifted to Jupiter Hospital as an emergency case. The surgery (Arterial switch) was performed on 8th December under ‘Hruday Sparsh’, an initiative by Jupiter Hospital.

Transposition of the great arteries is serious and rare heart defect present at birth due to abnormal development of fetal heart.  In condition of ‘Transposition of the great arteries’, the aorta is connected to the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle — the opposite of a normal heart's anatomy. That changes the way blood circulates through the body, leaving a shortage of oxygen in blood flowing from the heart to the rest of the body. Without an adequate supply of oxygen- rich (red) blood, the body cannot function properly and patient faces complications or death if not operated.

Dr. Abhijeet Naik, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon said, “This baby had a condition ‘transposition of the great arteries’, which requires an emergency surgery called as ‘Arterial Switch Operation’. The risk factor in this surgery around 10 percent in babies who weighs less than 2.5kg, the good thing is we are able to do such complex cases in Pune”.

Dr. Rahul Saraf Paediatric Cardiologist said, “Hruday Sparsh, an initiative by Jupiter Hospital with Jupiter Foundation and other trusts, we are trying to help as many patients for their treatment in congenital heart diseases. This is the unique case where with the help of Mukul Madhav Foundation, Jupiter Foundation and Have a Heart Foundation it was done successfully.”

“This is the second life for my baby. For which, we are very thankful to the Jupiter Hospital and doctors who helped and saved our baby from this dangerous disease”. Said patient’s father Shri Padam Manharek Bhujel

The surgery was performed by Dr Abhijeet Naik and his team including Dr Rahul Saraf Paediatric Cardiologist, and managed in a dedicated paediatric ICU under the guidance of Dr. Shrinivas Tambe, Chief Intensivist at Jupiter Hospital, Baner.

The parents of the baby are from Nepal and his father works as a security guard in Pune. They are from a very poor socio-economic background so the surgery was performed under ‘Hruday Sparsh’, an initiative by Jupiter Hospital to spread awareness and providing medical and surgical treatment to the patient in the lower socio-economic background, so they can lead a healthy and happy life.

Harrassment” despite clear guidelines by Ministry of Consumer Affairs: QNET

QNET, a leading multinational company in the e-commerce direct selling space has come under scanner by the authorities in the last few days. With over 60 arrests being made various questions are being raised by the Commissioner of Police in Cyberabad.

The company has now however issued a statement expressing disappointment over the police action. QNET in India operates through its sub-franchisee Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Russel Stamets, Legal Advisor to Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt Ltd in a statement said, “We are disappointed to know of the arrests of our Independent Representatives (IRs) which have taken place in Hyderabad.”

He added that “The action goes entirely against the Stay granted to Vihaan Direct Selling (India) Pvt Ltd by the Supreme Court in March 2017 and the requirement that all States first ensure their compliance with the Direct Selling Guidelines issued by Ministry of Consumer Affairs in September 2016, to which Telangana is no exception.”

According to the company officials, Vihaan Direct Selling is in full compliance of the direct selling guidelines issued by both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In the past, various courts from the State of Karnataka have passed orders quashing complaints against Vihaan and stating that the ‘QNet business is not a Ponzi scheme’.

Expressing surprise by the conduct of authorities in Hyderabad, he said that “Such actions which undermine what the Court(s) have ordered and damages inevitably the brand image of the company.”

Terming the acts/conduct as “harassment” he added that, “in Hyderabad certain consumer complaints date back to October 2018, and well after the 30-day refund period has passed. The company has commenced internal investigation and taken all necessary action in this regard.

The company has a grievance redressal mechanism to address any complaint for any products bought from it. This also has to comply with the requirements of the terms of purchase and in law by complaints/returns being made within a 30-day buy-back period as stipulated by the model Guidelines. Any consumer is expected to directly approach the company for a resolution of his grievance.”

As per the Direct Selling Guidelines which have been adapted by the state, Consumer grievances ought to be treated under The Consumer law and not as wrongful criminal action resulting in arrests.

In the direct selling industry, the Independent representatives (IRs) are not officers or employees of the company. The companies operating in Direct Selling have policies and procedures which they are supposed to adhere to.