Monthly Archives: August 2021

Currently expanding her vistas on multiple digital platforms, actor and talk show host Lakshmi Manchu takes stock of her multi-faceted journey and going against patriarchal conventions

Actor, producer and talk show host Lakshmi Manchu launched her YouTube channel on Sunday, through which she intends to explore topics she hasnt covered on other mediums, television or cinema. She is also hosting the culinary show Aha Bhojanambu for the Telugu streaming platform Aha: I am comfortable wearing specific hats for each platform, she says, talking about her multifaceted journey.

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In the introduction video to her YouTube channel, she invites viewers to share ideas for content. Responding to comments requesting home tour videos, she shrugs, I dont know why so many people want house tours. She plans to keep the first few episodes personal, offering insights into her space and her career, before she dives into other topics.

Pandemic conversations

Meanwhile, season one of Aha Bhojanambu is underway, with a new episode streaming every Friday. The first two episodes featured actor-director Vishwak Sen and actor Rakul Preet Singh. The easy, fun banter is the highlight of the show that tries to unravel the lesser known side of a celebrity: The show isnt about just sharing recipes, but finding the guests connection with food. Food is always personal. At home, she loves to treat friends to good food: I can make dosas simultaneously on two pans at home.

The first time she was a host was in 2008, for the Lakshmi Talk Show on television. Prematho Mee Lakshmi and Memusaitham are among the other shows she has hosted since then.

She has tweaked her approach for OTT and reckons that she can be herself in the digital space: On television if I said something [politically incorrect], I would be requested to re-word it. Here people can see that I have a potty mouth and I dont bother to be correct all the time.

The confidence to be herself also stems from having proved herself over the years: People used to ask why I bother to act or produce when I have a legendary father [actor-producer Mohan Babu]. My naysayers advised me to stay home. A decade later they tell me that I inspire women to be strong and that I have made my father proud.

Has success changed the way she is perceived? It has, but I dont measure success in terms of money. That will come. I dont earn 20 crore for a film, but I live my life to the fullest. For me, success is about waking up each day with excitement about what I am doing as an artiste. We live in a patriarchal society where women are judged by when they get married, how many children they have and when they have. I am married and have a daughter, yes, but I live life on my terms.

In February 2021, Lakshmi was one of the talking points when she essayed Swarnakka, a shrewd Telangana politician, in director Tharun Bhasckers Ramula story for the Netflix Telugu anthology Pitta Kathalu: I still get asked why I portrayed what is perceived to be a negative character. I didnt look at it that way. Swarna was upfront about her intentions from the beginning.

She remembers when Tharun narrated the story to her: He was nervous. When he finished narrating, I asked when do we begin work; he asked madam, nachinda (did you like the character?). If I cannot put myself into a story and character that a brilliant director has for me, then whats the point?

Post Pitta Kathalu, Lakshmi was confident of getting interesting characters that she could take up for cinema and the digital space. However, she admits that well written characters for women are hard to come by: I hate to sound elitist, but I am desperate for good scripts. I need to feel motivated to take up a project.

On the work front, unpredictability has become the norm. There are good days when she gets work done on set, there are bad days when shoots get cancelled if someone on set tests positive for COVID-19: We all adapt. The sooner we understand that we may not have the pre-pandemic freedom to do things the way we wanted to, life will get easier.

Follow this link:
Lakshmi Manchu: My naysayers advised me to stay home - The Hindu

Ifyoure based in Britain or enjoy easy access to it you dont know how lucky you were in July 2021. Credit where its due; when in the right mood, Blighty knows how to put on a show, and over three epic July weekends the UK staged three of the greatest shows on earth. These were the glorious Goodwood Festival of Speed, the born-again British Grand Prix, and the lively London E-Prix. Think of them as quintessentially British, world-class occasions for petrol-heads, hybrid-heads, and electric-heads. In that order.

But can this trio continue to perform annually on the world stage thats watched by untold millions? In the short to medium term, yes. But predicting further ahead, I fear one member of the threesome may be in danger of disappearing up its own you-know-what.

At first glance, the most likely to fall offstage is Goodwood; it has a politically incorrect and huge appetite for old-fashioned petrol, diesel and oil. Wrongly, these old-school products are almost being dumped in the same league of shame thats rightly occupied by true evils such as illegal drugs. But all the while the 11th Duke of Richmond and his family are committed custodians of Goodwood and its Festival, the event is secure. Its unique. And its more about old petrol cars than the new petrol versions soon be banned from our showrooms. Thats why FoS is safe.

Formula E and its future E-Prix meetings I also have confidence in. Theyre coming from a comparatively low starting point, and have much room to grow as EVs eventually become the norm. Within a decade FE will have carved out an important niche as being to the growing army of pure-EV owners what Formula 1 is today to the shrinking, retreating platoons of bruised and bloodied drivers of petrol models. Why are they so brutally bludgeoned and beaten? Because theyve lost the good fight. From 2030, theyll be robbed of their right to buy new cars running on unleaded.

So where will that leave the annual British GP and other F1 events? Not quite up the creek without a paddle, but the F1 industry is traditionally petroleum (more lately petrol-electric hybrid) based and is therefore in uncertain waters. The leading teams and suppliers such as Mercedes, Honda, McLaren, Ferrari and Renault/Alpine have their long-term futures in road cars that are 100 per cent electric, so surely its almost inevitable that their F1 cars will eventually have to be fuelled solely by electricity?

Guess theyll need to turn F1 into F1E, or something equally contentious. The FE boys wont be happy, because they got in first with pure-electric race cars from the likes of Audi and Jaguar, who happen to make more and more pure-electric road cars. So the logic and consistency are there. At this early stage it looks as though F1 hasnt won, while FE could be on course for victory. FE has already established itself at the right and proper time as the worlds No.1 electric-car racing series. Therefore F1/F1E could become superfluous, and fade away into a shadow of its former self. Just like the once colossal World Rally Championship did. Sadly, if WRC can go backwards in such a dramatic fashion, so might F1.

What do you think to the future of Formula E and Formula One? Let us know in the comments...

See the article here:
'Formula E could be on course for victory in its battle with F1' - AutoExpress

Do I have a problem with changing the official name to Aotearoa, New Zealand? No. Go ahead.

It ticks all the boxes. It's inclusive, and it recognises the Treaty partnership that kicked this country off.

But it would be a giant fraud to suggest that Aotearoa as a stand-alone name was somehow the Mori-created name for all of New Zealand.

It never was. And only in modern times have Mori adopted it as the Mori name for the country.

My approach will be poo-pooed as politically incorrect by the treaty rent-a-crowd gate-crashers.

But I'm at this party too, along with every other New Zealander.

So here are some facts to dampen their breathless activist rants.

The word Aotearoa was selected and popularised as the Mori name for New Zealand by - wait for this - Pakeha writers William Pember Reeves and Stephenson Percy Smith.

Next, it was used in the Education Department's school journal.

It flourished from there.

Aotearoa was never used by early Mori to describe New Zealand...

Mori were a collection of tribes and did not have a need for or concept of 'nation'.

It wasn't a country with a name, it was a collection of tribes across islands.

If anything, later on, there are claims that Aotearoa was used by Mori as a name for the North Island, which is still currently disputed.

Mori traditionally adopted the name Niu Tireni, a transliteration of New Zealand, which came from the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand in 1831.

I'm sorry to spoil the party for the activists who somehow think Aotearoa is the answer to a problem that quite frankly doesn't even exist.

Call us New Zealand, yes. Call us Aotearoa, New Zealand, yes. Call us just Aotearoa? No.

It's total bollocks to suggest this meant anything to pre-European Mori.

We have perpetuated this myth that Aotearoa goes way back. It doesn't. It's largely European in its roots. How could the activists accept that?

Duncan Garner is the host of The AM Show.

More here:
Duncan Garner: Should we change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa? No - and here's why - Newshub

Before last summer, the 13 Michigan residents randomly picked to serve on the states first independent, citizen-led redistricting commission were leading ordinary lives.

Now, the decisions they make about how to divvy up Michigans congressional and legislative districts will have implications for decades to come.

The commission is made up of six men and seven women. Two are Black, one is Middle Eastern and the rest are white. Their ages range between 28 and 74 only one is under 30.

Related: Students, retirees and a shop rat are drawing Michigans next political maps

A majority of the commission seven members live in Southeast Michigan. Two live in the northern Lower Peninsula, two live in or near Lansing, one lives in Battle Creek and one lives in Saginaw.

They were chosen randomly in 2020 from roughly 10,000 applicants as part of a system enacted via ballot initiative to put the public in charge of redistricting instead of politicians and party officials with a stake in the outcome.

In their applications and in interviews, all of the commissioners expressed a common theme they see their work as a civic duty that, if done correctly, could help change the states redistricting process for the better.

Commissioner Douglas Clark stands for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Doug Clark, Jr. - Republican

Rochester Hills resident Doug Clark, 74, is one of four Republicans serving on the commission. He is a retired operations and development manager and also served as a captain in the U.S. Army.

Clark said he applied to serve because hes long been interested in getting involved in the civic process, calling the commission the perfect opportunity to do so.

From an expectations standpoint, Clark said learning the ropes and preparing to draw the lines has been a lot more work than I thought it was going to be, but expressed confidence in the vendors and legal experts retained by the commission to assist in the process, as well as the commissions ability to reach bipartisan consensus on drawing the lines.

Theres nothing political that Ive seen yet about this group, he said. Theres no discussion of, Republicans this way, Democrats this way none of that. Were all working toward a common goal of what the people want and not what the parties want.

So I think it will work. At least with this group, I think its going to work.

Juanita Curry takes notes before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Juanita Curry - Democrat

Juanita Curry, a 73-year-old Detroit resident, serves as one of the commissions four Democrats.

Curry is now retired, but worked as a specialized foster care worker. She described herself as a people person whos always worked to help inform her community on matters of import, so she felt applying to the commission made sense.

My main goal is to at least give people some contentment that weve done better, weve brought them to a better situation, she said. That would make me feel really like that I achieved something...We cant please everybody, but pleasing most everyone, or pleasing a majority of people.

Curry said getting up to speed on the intricacies of redistricting has been a learning curve, and the prospect of divvying up districts is daunting. But she stressed that she and other commissioners are committed to keeping things as fair and transparent and honest as we can.

This is a very extraordinary experience, Curry said. Its really changing the world were changing things, and its a good thing.

Anthony Eid speaks during a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Anthony Eid - Independent

Anthony Eid, of Orchard Lake, is a medical student and is one of the five independents serving on the commission. At 28, Eid is the youngest member serving on the panel.

Eid previously served as Wayne State Universitys student body president during his undergraduate studies. He voted for the commissions creation in 2018 and applied himself because he wanted to ensure there was a diversity of age, ideas and cultures represented.

Once the commission begins drawing maps, Eid said he plans on drawing from his science background to evaluate Census data and other evidence available to assist with his decision-making. But he believes the amount and variety of input received from other Michigan residents will be a key factor in how the maps turn out.

Getting more of a diversity of ideas is going to end up with the commission making a better product thats more representative of all of those different ideas, Eid said.

Eid said he considers the independent commission a form of public advocacy, a way to look out for people who arent politically involved or may not understand the intricacies of the redistricting process.

This whole process is about community, its about having maps reflect community values, he said. So we really need the community to come out and let us know their boundaries because different communities have different values, different expectations and different lifestyles.

Commissioner Rhonda Lange (photo courtesy Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission)

Rhonda Lange - Republican

Reed City resident Rhonda Lange, 48, is a real estate agent and serves as one of the commissions four Republicans.

Lange applied for the commission because it would be a way to serve her community and the state, according to her initial application.

During commission meetings, Lange has been a vocal advocate for ensuring small, rural communities get a voice in the redistricting process.

Lange is one of two commissioners who have been attending meetings and public hearings remotely.

Steven Lett stands for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Steven T. Lett - Independent

74-year-old Interlochen resident Steven T. Lett, a semi-retired attorney, serves as one of the commissions five independent members.

Hes also the one who lives the furthest north none of the randomly selected commissioners hail from Michigans Upper Peninsula, so hes taken on a de facto liaison role for much of northern Michigan.

Lett said that while he and other commissioners havent agreed on everything, we have maintained our unanimity on drawing fair lines.

Listening to people and what everybody wants their district to be is a wide variety of things that we have to try to resolve in the end, he said.

Commissioner Brittni Kellom speaks during the first independent redistricting commission public hearing on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in Jackson. Nicole Hester/ MLive.com

Brittni Kellom - Democrat

Detroit resident Brittni Kellom, 34, serves as the commissions chair and is one of four Democrats serving on the panel. She is an entrepreneur and trauma practitioner and is one of two Black women on the commission.

According to her biography, Kellom applied to the commission to affect change by giving agency to everyday citizens, value the voices and perspectives of people in underserved communities and doing her part to shift the experience of voting to a place of empowerment, education, and justice for every human being.

I believe in the power of everyday citizens to effect change in the places in which they live, Kellom wrote in her initial application. I believe in the type of innovation that comes from both collaboration and holding space for others.

Cynthia Orton stands for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Cynthia Orton - Republican

Battle Creek resident Cynthia Orton serves as one of the commissions four Republicans.

Orton, 55, was a stay-at-home mom while her kids were growing up. When they left for college, she decided to go back to school, too. She said some of the classes shes taken recently, such as communications and business courses, have helped her with the commissions work but she thinks the most important skill a commissioner can bring to the process is common sense.

I think a lot of us on the commission just have common sense, and were here to do our job, she said.

Orton said she was motivated to apply because she thought it would be a good way to be civically involved and help the state move forward in a positive direction. Despite the many unprecedented hurdles the commission has faced already, she said shes encouraged by how well the commission has been working together and believes they can come to a compromise.

When we all applied for this or voted for this, even, we could not have seen what it would be like now we werent expecting this, but here we are, she said. It has never happened before in Michigan, so we dont know what that will look like. So that is our next purpose.

Commissioner M.C. Rothhorn stands on stage for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

MC Rothhorn - Democrat

MC Rothhorn, 49, is a financial cooperator from Lansing who serves as one of the commissions four Democrats.

Rothhorn said he applied in part because he feels the democratic process is fragile, noting its important for citizens to engage in it and protect it. He said his experience living in a cooperative an environment that necessitates facilitation, group consensus and listening to others makes him a good fit for the commission.

In many ways, this is the best jury duty ever, Rothhorn said. I like being part of this democracy...jury duty was, at one point, the only way that I felt like I could actually do that. And I was never called, and now Ive been called to the best case ever.

Rothhorn said being on the commission has exceeded his expectations so far, and said hes appreciated the openness and honest discussion the public hearings have inspired.

Theyre being vulnerable theyre giving us what they think we should be taking into consideration as we draw the maps...and why that really matters to them, he said. Im humbled, right, that people would share that.

Commissioner Rebecca Szetela listens during public comment at the first independent redistricting commission public hearing on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in Jackson. Nicole Hester/ MLive.com

Rebecca Szetela - Independent

Canton resident Rebecca Szetela, 48, was a later addition to the commission she was randomly picked to replace another commissioner who resigned in October. She now serves as the commissions vice-chair.

A business attorney, Szetela said she believes her experience with negotiating contracts and other disputes will help her as the commission begins piecing together draft maps. She sees the task before the commission as a good challenge and is confident the commission will be able to come to a nonpartisan consensus on final drafts.

I feel like Ive had good success as an attorney in helping people bridge those divides and come together, and I feel like we can do that here, she said. I feel like it is possible to maybe not satisfy everybody, but to satisfy most people and have most people walk away and say, OK, this process was fair and that they did their best.

Szetela said she appreciates the camaraderie the commission has been able to build over the last several months and hopes that by being as transparent as possible, they can alleviate any concerns or trepidations in the new process.

People are afraid that this process is going to disadvantage them and that theyre not going to be treated fairly, and Im hoping that we can satisfy everybody that that feeling is incorrect, she said. We are listening to them...Our goal is to come up with fair maps.

Janice Vallette speaks during a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Janice Vallette - Independent

Highland Township resident Janice Vallette, 69, is a retired banker and is one of the commissions five Independent members.

She said she voted for the commissions creation in 2018 and decided to apply when she received an application in the mail from the Secretary of State. Vallette said she felt she had the time needed to commit to drawing the maps and thought it was important to get involved.

I just thought it was a way for me to give back, she said. And I do think its really important that as a citizen, a voting person, you get to pick the people that you vote for not them manipulating the district so that they have an advantage.

Vallette has appreciated the input from Michigan residents throughout the public hearing process and encouraged people to continue uploading comments and map suggestions to the website. Of all the people shes spoken with throughout the state, she said the vast majority of them are supportive of the commissions work.

They just really love their communities, she said.

Commissioner Erin Wagner. (Photo courtesy of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission)

Erin Wagner - Republican

Charlotte resident Erin Wagner, 55, is one of the commissions four Republican members.

Wagner is a mom to six and applied to the commission in part because she wanted to ensure gerrymandering wasnt a part of her childrens future, according to her commission biography.

In her initial application, Wagner wrote that she opted to apply because she believes in the process and would like to make sure that the districts are drawn in such a way as to be representative of those who live in those districts.

Wagner is one of two commissioners who have been attending meetings and public hearings remotely.

Richard Weiss stands for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Richard Weiss - Independent

Saginaw resident Richard Weiss, 74, is one of the commissions five Independent members.

A retired autoworker, Weiss said he filled out an application for the same reasons he served on a jury several years ago, even though he could have gotten an exemption.

I dont have to do it, but I figure Im old enough, I have some ideas, I have some experience, he said. I thought, Hey, Im able, Im willing, still havent forgot who I am yet go make a difference.

Theres more to the redistricting process than Weiss initially expected. He quipped that initially he thought, give me a map, a ruler and a pen, Ill have it done in five minutes, but he quickly realized it wouldnt be quite that easy.

Weiss said the diversity of opinions and backgrounds on the commission will help the group reach a consensus that wont necessarily make everyone happy, but will meet the Constitutional requirements.

Dustin Witjes stands for a portrait before a commissioner meeting on Thursday July 1, 2021 in Grand Rapids. Nicole Hester/ MLIVE.com

Dustin Witjes - Democrat

Dustin Witjes, 32, hails from Ypsilanti and is one of the four Democrats serving on the commission.

Witjes was working as a payroll specialist prior to his current role but quit to focus on the commission full-time. He said ultimately plans to return to school to get a masters degree in mathematics.

Witjes enjoys analyzing data and said hes wanted to support the commission ever since he voted for it. He takes the role of laying a solid groundwork for future redistricting commissions seriously, whether they ultimately choose to follow what the current commission does this year to the letter or strike out their own path.

We took bits and pieces from states that have been doing this for a while to get our processes down, and I would imagine that (future commissions) would do the same thing, he said.

Although he wishes more people would participate in public comment, Witjes said he believes the independent redistricting process is currently going as well as it could be, considering the circumstances.

I just want everybody to know that we are going to be putting weight into what everyone has been saying and doing something that I hope all of Michigan will be proud of, Witjes said.

Learn more about the commissions work:

How to weigh in:

The commission took public input during 16 hearings over the last several weeks and will continue to consider public comments submitted to an online portal where residents can upload comments and their own suggested district maps.

After the commission comes up with a set of draft maps, members will tour the state once more to hear from citizens about their specific proposals before voting on a final product.

For more information, Michiganders are encouraged to check out the commissions website or call 833-968-3729, although formal comments on the redistricting process cannot be taken over the phone.

Read this article:
These 13: Meet the ordinary people tasked with drawing Michigans political maps - MLive.com

The QAnon conspiracy web hinges on the belief that former President Donald Trump was sent to expose a secret network of satanic cannibal pedophiles secretly controlling the United States government.

The seditious movement was born in 2017, when an anonymous user named "Q" on 4Chan's Politically Incorrect board, claiming to have Q level clearance, posted a message titled "Calm Before the Storm." There, the user claimed to have evidence of the pedophile ring and emphasized their devotion to Trump's mission to expose them.

The quixotic "storm" referred to by QAnon and its followers is the violent moment when Trump will supposedly provide irrefutable proof of lawmakers' evil deeds, resulting in mass arrests and freedom from the "cabal," when all of Trump's lies will be vindicated and when their Democratic enemies will face mass executions.

This fantasy congealed into one of the QAnon movement's most repeated slogans:

Though its beliefs are absurd to most, the mass delusion has expanded from obscure internet chatter to an unignorable faction of the GOP's voters.

These flames have been fanned by Republican elected officials. Infamous far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia expressed support for the belief ahead of her election. Her colleague, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, suggested there would be mass resignations of elected officials, citing an unnamed source at the Justice Department.

Even then-President Donald Trump, when asked, repeatedly refused to denounce the conspiracy theory, saying they were "people that love our country."

Now, people think House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy may be the latest to join their ranks, citing comments he made on Thursday while railing against the House's recently revived mask mandate.

Watch below.

If I was Kevin McCarthy I would simply not use QAnon dogwhistles during press conferences https://t.co/pnhopk4s7t

McCarthy said:

While some may think it's just a coincidences, QAnon's followers have been trained to see conspiracies in coincidences, scouring thousands of Q's post to see which could possibly align with Trump's recent comments or with day-to-day political developments.

Some thought McCarthy was deliberately baiting QAnon believers.

He wants those votes. https://t.co/zd4rOGQae0

Total Q dog whistle!! McCarthy whipping up the conspirators! This tool does not belong in government!! https://t.co/0nSOKqX9VZ

Is @GOPLeader worried that some members of Q won't vote Republican this cycle? https://t.co/Si9AGklX8P

Kevin McCarthy knows the only people who could possibly still believe in him are the same who would believe in some https://t.co/b0C04esfO2

The party of Q. https://t.co/rOSFCDVtIB

Last year, McCarthy warned that there was "no place for QAnon in the Republican Party." Months later, after he faced backlash from QAnoners and other Republicans for condemning Trump's role in the deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol, McCarthy claimed not to know what QAnon was.

What's more, people pointed out the holes in his logic regarding his dismissal of the virus that's killed over 600 thousand Americans.

That dog whistle aside, it's always been about hospital CAPACITY. It's not whether the vaccinated will be hospita https://t.co/ujTuBtHcPP

Kevin McCarthy deliberately forgets to mention that the vaccinated people that catch a mild dose of covid because t https://t.co/HENw49Ufxu

WOW!!!! I had no idea. Did 600,000 people die and were millions hospitalized from lighting strikes last year? https://t.co/FhUtnbRZxG

Q hasn't posted in months, but followers of the conspiracy theory are beginning to run for local offices and school boards around the country.

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Kevin McCarthy Repeats QAnon's 'Storm Is Coming' Slogan - Second Nexus

The US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on July 15 introduced the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act.

The act, if passed by the US Congress, would provide powerful support for Taiwan, including a requirement that the US secretary of state enter negotiations with the Taiwan Council for US Affairs to rename the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington to the Taiwan Representative Office.

The effort to rename Taiwans representative office in Washington has long been a priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) US diplomats. Taiwanese based in the US, as well as Taiwanese lobbying groups, have expended a great deal of money and effort over the years, diligently working toward this goal.

With the relationship between Taiwan and the US riding high, this presents a golden opportunity for advocates in Washington and Taipei to seize the initiative and rename Taiwans representative office.

Washington breaking off formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 marked Taiwans lowest point on the international stage. At the time, I had just taken the national civil service exam and entered MOFAs ranks as a fresh recruit with the Department for US Affairs. The Taiwan Relations Act, passed by the US Senate in April that year, established the American Institute in Taiwan.

The Executive Yuan reciprocated by establishing the Coordination Council for North American Affairs to handle non-official relations with its estranged ally.

However, many Taiwanese were confused by its name and could not comprehend the role or function of this new organization.

In 1994, the administration of US president Bill Clinton carried out a review of policy regarding Taiwan. One of the requirements stemming from the review was that Taiwans representative office in Washington change its name to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, which is still in use to this day.

However, the Taipei headquarters continued to be called the Coordination Council for North American Affairs up until August 2019, when it was renamed the Taiwan Council for US Affairs. Following four decades of glacial progress, a few tentative steps were taken toward reflecting reality.

It is yet to be seen whether the EAGLE Act, the latest in a line of Taiwan-friendly legislation proposed by the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, becomes law, but it is undoubtedly a reflection of continued universal cross-party congressional support for Taiwan.

This precious support, which began with the administration of former US president Donald Trump and has continued under US President Joe Biden, is founded upon several facets: the US Indo-Pacific geopolitical strategy, core trust, economic cooperation and high-tech supply chains. Deepening trust and solidifying the rock solid relationship between the two countries requires consistency, continuity and predictability. Taiwan should take advantage of the warming relationship to push for the renaming of its representative offices.

Among high-level officials in the Biden administration responsible for setting the US Taiwan policy whether working for the White House, National Security Council, Department of State or other government departments there is no shortage of sober and rational people who, if not pro-Taiwan, then at least have an intimate understanding of Taiwan and its geostrategic importance.

While such people take the US national interest as a starting point, they are familiar with the Indo-Pacific region and the complex triangular relationship between Taiwan, China, and the US. For this reason, they do not engage in wishful thinking nor make emotional judgments.

Renaming Taiwans representative office in Washington would not only reflect reality and the current state of affairs, recognizing the significant relaxation of contact restrictions, it would also reflect the greater decisionmaking space in Washington and the increased appetite for resisting pressure from Beijing. Additionally, cross-party support in Congress bolsters the argument for renaming the representative office.

In 1995, I took over as director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Atlanta. We sent out invitations, written in English, for the traditional Double Ten National Day banquet with Taiwan appended to Republic of China (ROC). This caused a sensation back home. I received a severe dressing down from my superiors and was promptly transferred to another post. This was the only time I received disciplinary action during my four decades in Taiwans diplomatic corps. To this day, I have a clear conscience and bear no grudge.

At the time, I was criticized for causing a diplomatic incident, using verbal sophistry and twisted logic, and for being unrepentant.

A general order was issued to all of Taiwans representative offices around the world, which stated that if important dignitaries or other local individuals are uncertain about the distinction between the ROC and the Peoples Republic of China, and require the addition of Taiwan to clarify that this China is not the other China, the representative office need not have dealings with such ill-informed people or invite them to representative office functions in the future.

For the past quarter of a century, the argument has been made that the time is not right or that it would be politically incorrect to rename Taiwans representative office in Washington.

My intention regarding the Double Ten National Day banquets was merely to highlight Taiwans view. Today, all of Taiwans representative offices and civic organizations enthusiastically employ creative methods to promote Taiwan as a democratic partner, charitable nation and force for good around the world.

Taiwan is an independent and sovereign nation whose official name, according to the Constitution, is the Republic of China. As the nation navigates the international stage and strives to elevate its status among countries with whom Taiwan does not have a formal diplomatic relationship of which the US is the most important barometer the time is right, after more than 40 years, to respect the dignity of our distinct identity and rename our representative office in Washington the Taiwan Representative Office.

Stanley Kao was Taiwans representative to the US from 2016 to 2020.

Translated by Edward Jones

Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.

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Taiwan's reality is dawning in US -

Formative Fears is a column that focuses on horror movies revolving around young people or adults reliving something that scared them at a young age. There is no age limit on fears like death, monsters, and the unknown. Overall, this series expresses what it felt like to be a frightened child and what still scares us well into adulthood.

The namesake of George Ratliffes movie Joshua follows in the footsteps of other cinematic bad seeds. This child is only a demon in the metaphorical sense; he has no preternatural abilities to help him dismantle his unsuspecting family. In contrast, Joshua Cairns (Jacob Kogan) success hinges on his precocity and his parents obliviousness. By the time Brad (Sam Rockwell) and Abby (Vera Farmiga) figure it out for themselves, their falsely picture-perfect life has already come undone at the hands of a nine-year-old boy.

As everyone else dotes on his baby sister Lily, Joshua contemplates his place in the family like any other former only child might. Second-pregnancy fears extend to the firstborn as much as they do to parents, but Brad and Abby fail to see their sons insecurities. Early on, Joshuas grabs for attention are innocuous; he entertains everyone with the piano and tells his father he wants to quit soccer. Neither parent hears their sons whispered cries for consideration and support, though. Abby instead asks Joshua to keep it quiet for the baby, and Brads lack of argument is misread as disinterest in his sons life.

Joshuas disturbing behavior is triggered by a home video; the recording shows what his father meant when he said Joshua had a lot of spirit at Lilys age. Most importantly, the eerie footage captures Abbys first bout of postpartum depression. Joshua may be smarter than other kids, but even he is still too young to understand Abbys emotional state is a symptom as opposed to a reflection of how she truly feels about her children. Even so, the anguished person seen in the video is nothing like the seemingly delighted mother Joshua sees today with Lily. Abby has assured her brother Ned (Dallas Roberts) everything is going to be different this time around, but as soon as Lily starts to cry incessantly, her tune changes. Abbys resolve melts away, and Brads pious mother Hazel (Celia Weston) is brought in to help.

Beneath Joshuas kempt exterior and sophisticated demeanor is a predator. He typically refrains from full-on, physical violence in favor of manipulation and mind games. Joshua also has an uncanny knack for recognizing peoples flaws and weaknesses. With his mother, the boy sets off her paranoia and anxiety by spoiling the bliss she feels with Lily and tampering with her meds. The doubt he plants in her head is manifested by the pounding construction noises from the unit above the Cairns. Meanwhile, Brad is more difficult to crack. He openly admits to a teacher had he known a kid like Joshua when he was younger, he probably would have bullied him. Now having a son as intelligent as Joshua, Brad feels exposed for who he is and never will be. His brand of fatherhood consists mainly of high fives and phoned-in courtesies, but Brad can no longer coast on charm or irksome optimism in this precarious relationship. None of that has any effect on someone as capable and vicious as Joshua.

Deconstructing Joshua is no easy feat. He is not the work of satanic meddling or villainous teachings, and his dramatic transformation from mere prodigy to enfant terrible almost comes out of nowhere. Of course, there are armchair diagnoses that work in a pinch; sociopathy is the go-to answer in these sorts of movies. Something else to consider is maybe Joshua is really testing the bounds of love. The aforementioned videotape stirs up questions about the mother-child bond, whereas with Brad, Joshua outright asks him if he loves his weird son. He hesitates, then quickly delivers the answer any parent would or should in these formative moments: Ill always love you, no matter what. Joshua is so convinced by his own perceived otherness, he accepts skewed interpretations of his parents words and actions rather than what is plainly communicated or displayed. Add in his darker instincts, and Joshua goes to extremes when challenging his mother and fathers love.

To no surprise, Joshuas malefic change coincides with Lilys arrival; he is celebrating his own sort of birth. With Brad and Abby so focused on the new baby, Joshua can peel off the veneer cultivated by his parents and society. He can play the wrong notes, study the loss of childhood innocence through Alice in Wonderland, and most of all, he can decide who raises him from this point onward. To Joshua, growing and improving means getting rid of what holds him back.

Ratliffe conveys domestic disquietude with a fair amount of vagueness. There is no mistaking the goings-on in the Cairn home as anything but the work of a juvenile antagonist whose every move is deliberate and never squandered. However, the director and co-writer David Gilbert frame the story so Joshuas twisted behavior is understood even if not certain. The most substantial clarity comes in the form of a song. Upon closer inspection of Joshuas original composition at the end a haunting track called The Fly, composed and written by Dave Matthews missing pieces of the puzzle fall in place. An air of ambiguity still surrounds earlier events, but the confessional lyrics are as insightful as they are chilling. That persistent speculation, along with stacked performances and reams of dread, is exactly why Joshua sticks to the ribs.

William Marchs 1954 novel The Bad Seed has inspired countless stories of wicked children as well as stoked the argument of nature versus nurture. The horror genre has exploited both sides of the discourse; evil is either inborn or taught. And while the Damien Thorns and Rosemarys babies make many adults nervous, there is something profoundly more upsetting about children like Joshua, whose malevolence has no ready explanation or unnatural origin.

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Josh and his wife have always wanted a classic car. Now that they are close to retirement, this is the perfect opportunity to get a big American cruiser with a V8 and rear-wheel-drive so they can enjoy local car shows and vintage car events. What car should they buy?

(Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. )

Here is the scenario:

Hi there, my wife and I are close to retirement and we want to get a classic cruiser to take to car shows and cruise-ins. We have always loved classic cars and we are now in a position to get our own car. We have always loved the big cruiser type cars like the Chevy Impala, Biscayne, late 60s Cadillacs, 60s Buicks, Ford Galaxie, Dodge Monaco, just to name a few. We dont need a pristine numbers matching all original car with a meticulous restoration, but something that is in decent shape with some punch would be nice.

We have a budget of up to $30,00 and are open to coupes, sedans or convertibles. We dont want an import or something with fewer than 8 cylinders.

Budget: Up to $30,000

Daily Driver: No

Location: Kansas City, MO

Wants: Classic, American, V8

Doesnt want: Import or something too small

Image: AutotraderClassics.com

G/O Media may get a commission

Vintage rides and classics are a bit outside my area of expertise so I tend to make judgement calls on what seems cool. And honestly, when you are buying a car like there really is no wrong answer so its usually best to go with what speaks to you.

With this kind of budget, I would be drawn to something like this Dodge Dart GTS as some of the upgrades offer a bit more than just straight-line speed. However, you seem to be focused more on a cruiser than a performance car, so perhaps going with something a little different could work. Every year, there is a big classic car gathering in Wildwood, NJ, and folks bring some cool rides from all around the area. You see a lot of Malibus, Bel Airs, Corvettes, and your usual muscle cars. However, I dont think Ive seen a Plymouth Valiant like this. It covers your basics with a 4.8-liter V8 sending power to the rear wheels, and it comes in well under budget so you can make whatever upgrades you like.

Congrats on your upcoming retirement, Josh. It sounds like you want to take it easy in a classic American cruiser, but without giving up any oomph under the hood. I would recommend a wagon, because you could have lots of room for friends at car meets in something like this Buick Special, but thats a lot of car for the engine. So, Im recommending this 1972 Ford Ranchero, instead.

This 72 Rancho is car meet-ready, it seems. Its a wonder in baby blue. Its quite beautiful, and is the classic car equivalent of the pickup that one friend of yours always seems to need. You can cruise and carry all the goods stylishly in the Rancho, which predates the famous El Camino, for car/truck goodness.

This one is very close to you and will leave you with a good chunk of money, priced at just over half your budgets ceiling. The seller lists many of the upgrades, among them a new 302 V8 engine. They even say you can eat off its clean surfaces, but Id refrain from that. You dont wanna mess up that paint.

These requirements feel like a personal attack. Fine, Ill keep the diesel Smart Fortwo that I found to myself! In all seriousness, I think I found something here thatll youll enjoy. Check out this 1967 Lincoln Continental.

I see that youre looking for a sizable 1960s American land yacht. The Continental hits this right out of the park. This massive beauty is 18-feet-long with a hood and trunk so long that they can act as a runway for a 747. The Continental weighs in at an impressive 5,000 pounds and is motivated with a 7.6-liter V8 making 340 HP.

This one comes in budget and is described in being in great condition. It was repainted in the 1990s and has a ton of original parts. Its not in show car condition, which means that you wont feel bad taking it on a road trip.

Josh, I know youre the more seasoned of the two of us, meaning you should be using antiquated expressions, but allow me to say: I like the cut of your jib. We dont want ... something with fewer than eight cylinders is the way we should all be living our lives. Its bold. Its bordering on politically incorrect these days. Its in some ways illogical. But you know what you want, and I respect that.

Youre in an exciting position right now. Thirty grand is a lot of cash to be able to drop on an old cruiser; the number of options is absurd.

I, of course, am always keen to recommend something a bit different. Something with a fun story. Something with quirks. And the Edsel brand itself was a giant quirk in some ways. Named after Henry Fords son, the brand was a huge flop and only lasted a few years. It wasnt just the cars polarizing styling (Reception in the early days wasnt exactly positive); many factors contributed to Edsels demise.

Still, that just makes the cars rarer and more interesting, I think. I actually think the styling is great, and the push-button transmission shifter in the center of the steering wheel does it get any cooler?

Theres one for sale in Illinois for $7,500. It needs a bit of work, but seems like a great base for a fun project.

Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.

Excerpt from:
I Have A $30,000 Budget For A Classic Car With A V8 And Rear Drive! What Should I Buy? - Jalopnik

Nothing has beenmore polarizing to the 4x4/off-road/overland communityespecially to those of the Land Rover Defender faithfulthan the introduction of the new Defender. To a lot of the old Defender owners like yours truly, its cult status is undeniable.To the more rabid ones, its nearly a religion, and the new iteration is heresy, to say the least.

My introduction to the faith started when as a boy in elementary school, when I was exposed to the now politically incorrect commercials of the Camel brand cigarette. The sheer machismo and lone wolf image of a guy and his Land Rover driving and floating down the river, winching through inhospitable terrain, just triggered my imagination. Unlike my fellow kids whowere into the Marlboro man, my intro to the Land Rover brand was additionally fueled at the start of the 80s by thearrival of the Camel Trophy, orwhat we call now Adventure Motorsports.

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The Camel Trophy is an adventure driving competition withLand Rover vehicles crossing the most inhospitable terrain in the worldfrom the cold, desolate climate of Mongolia, to the jungles of Southeast Asia, to the freezing conditions of Patagonia in South America. These competitions ran for two decades. Each event would last for weeks, and the essence ofit wasgettingthe entire convoy of participants in Land Roversthrough said terrain. Thatandfinishing special tasks along the way and having teams assist each other just to get through.

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I, on the other hand, had personal experiences with various 4x4s ever since I was a kid in our province up north. During summers, I traveledaround the Cordillera mountain range, accompanying my fathers brothers and sister, all doctors who do their duty as health officers of various mountainous municipalities. And during school months, I regularly went up to our family farm in Tanay, Rizal on weekends.

Nowadays Tanay is better known as an eco-tourism destination. Back then, it was practically the wild wild west. It may be just a couple of hours away from Metro Manila, but the roadsorthe lack thereofrequired some serious4x4 and off-road driving skills just to get back home. Add to that some field-repair mechanical skills once the inevitable repairs are needed for the vehicles used both up north and in the Rizal province.

PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

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None of the 4x4 vehicles I drove back then were Land Rovers, partly due to the cost of acquiring one and also because of the lack of availability of Land Rover products. Yet during those days,inthe back of my adventurous mind, I kept dreaming ofthe Camel cigarette man and the Camel Trophy.

But enough of the reminiscinglets get to the meat of it all. I have had several Land Rover vehicles through the years: from a Series 3 pickup to several Discovery 1s, from V8s to diesels, from automatics to manuals,from base modelsto luxurious top-of-the-line variants,and yes, two Defendersboth 110-wheelbase vehicles. Over time,I have also had various very popular Japanese, American, and even German 4x4s. But I never surrendered my membership inthe Land Rover cult.

The essence of it all is adventure and the ability to cover a lot of inhospitable ground with simple, easy-to-fix 4WD vehicles. Yes, they do fail at some time, but to be honest, I personally have had the least field breakdowns in my old Defender and was always able to limp them home. As for theother brands, I have had to leave them up in the boonies and go back for them. My Defenders always brought me home.

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PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

The old Defender was also quite comfortable in terms of ride quality among its peers, many thanks to its long-travel coil-spring suspension which could only be found back then on more expensive and luxurious 4x4s.The added ride comfort meant longer distances covered without stopping, as well as getting to the destinations faster because youre not beaten up by the road conditions.

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It inspired confidence and it made you want to go further. Since its simple and easy to fix, the idea of breakdowns in the middle of nowhere was no big deal, just provided you carry the right spare parts. My old Defender station wagon has been all over the darkest corners of Luzon and Visayas, and my worst troubles so far have only been a broken exhaust and a bad bearing on the aircon belt tensioner. So, yeah, that should answer all the alleged horror stories of poor reliability of the old Defender. The secret was the simplicity of it. And that satisfied my need for motoring adventure these past few decades.

PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

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So what does the new Defender bring to the table here in the 21st century for this old Defender veteran? In the past 12 months, I have had the opportunity to drive both the new top-spec Defender P400 six-cylinder petrol and the D240 diesel with the adventure package, through the mountains of Rizal and the rock and lahar fields around Mount Pinatubo.

Truth be told, they are not even close to being the same vehicles. Maybe they share the same heritage and DNA, but theyre entirely different machines. And it may be a surprise to my brethren in the old Defender faith, but yes, I do like what the new Defender is. Im still not completely sold to the new front fascia though. Its basically everything we of the old guard want our old Defenders to be and yet not what we want it to be. Let me explain.

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PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

The new car is extremely comfortable for long adventure drives, with great legroom and elbow room thatthe old one barely provided. It has a lot more power and torqueespecially compared to the non-computer controlled 300TDI enginesand is very quiet, too. Cargo room and payload capacity is better than that of the old trucks.

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Nearly every bit of 21st-century automotive tech can be accessedwithatouch of the displays, with a push of a button, or with a twist of a knob. Its just plain, with no physical effort required to usethough it may require some above-average intelligence to understand and operate. Thanks to its 84 (give or take a chip) ECUs doing all the thinking for you, no need to sortout what needs to be done to get through rough terrain.

PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

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Off-road driving is the essence of what a Defender is and the new car is no slouch off-road in terms of its ability to gain traction on any surface. Any driver with some sense of balance and a bit of mechanical knowledge can make the new car do amazing things off-road, but my beef withit is thecomplexity required to raise the car and place larger tires for more ground clearance; one of the true essentials in moderate to difficult terrain.

Yes, you can raise the vehicle usingits adjustable air suspension, but after that, it literally gets complicated to raise higher for bigger tires. Its for this reason that I worry about snagging or hitting the lower sections of the body, which is very expensive to repair.

The concerns for all these electronics and mechanical complications, in my opinion, have substance. Gone is the term keep it simple on the new car. But then again, realistically speaking, where on this earth in this age would you get an opportunity to truly explore the vast never-been-to places without help? Civilization isjust a phone call away, especially in our country of small- to medium-sized islands and where civilization is just a few kilometers walk away.

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PHOTO BY Paul del Rosario

Thinking of crossing the African continent from the north to the southeast then to the west and vice versa in the new Defender? Why not? An undertaking like this always takes preparation, and that means preparing the new car (or any 4x4 for that matter) for the adventure should any trouble come along. Journeys such as these are more recreational now than a necessity, and any recreational endeavor would be executed with the most possible comfort and convenience, since the cost is usually considered in doing an adventure like this.Andtruth be told, not many can truly afford it, let alone have the time for it.

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So in closing, do I want a new Defender? Oh yes, definitely. As a family adventure wagon and as a daily driver, the new car does both very well. But Ill be keeping the old warhorse in reserve for my own personal punishment enjoyment.

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What a long-time Land Rover Defender owner thinks of the new one - Top Gear Philippines

Kaveree Bamzai's new book on Shah Rukh, Aamir, and Salman benefits the most from its timeliness, given the rising conversations around Islamophobia, the streaming vs theatres debate, and the Khans' own complacencies.

At a time when Hindi film superstars, who have reigned over the country's collective imagination for decades, are undergoing a litmus test thanks to the shutdown of theatres and rise of streaming platforms, it seems like an appropriate vantage point to assess in retrospect the cause, impact, and graph of the Khan phenomenon.

In a timely book, seasoned Hindi film journalist Kaveree Bamzai traces the link between the trajectory of three Muslim superstars in an increasingly communally polarised world. The Three Khans: And the Emergence of New India scans the troughs and crests of Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan through the lens of their sociopolitical standings, and even through the lens of their perceived identities as Muslim icons.

As emerging youth icons

The three Khans made their Hindi film breakthroughs at around the same time. In 1988, under then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's leadership, the country's youth found newfound energy and purpose, particularly after he pushed through a Constitutional amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. "This extended voting rights to 50 million more people and acknowledged the country's youth power," Bamzai notes in the chapter 'Then There Were Three.' "The rising number of young people would subsequently be described as the 'demographic dividend.'"

And that is also what the youth wanted to see on the big screen young faces, fresh ideas, and new voices. When Mansoor Khan's musical romance Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak released, it was a much needed respite from the 'angry young cinema' of that time that was getting older and excessive. Sample the other hits of that year: Tezaab, Dayavan, Khoon Bhari Maang, and Zakhmi Aurat. All of these were revenge dramas with the same pitch and tone that were once made popular by Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s. But with formulaic films like Shahenshah in the same year,his brand of cinema was battling the same mid-life crisis that the yesteryear star was tackling then, at 46.

Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak broke new ground with the fine vision and finer touches by Mansoor. The Hindi film heroine, reprised by Juhi Chawla, continued to be sweet and innocent but also became more 'determined,' being introduced as riding horses, desiring physical proximity, and rebelling with the same grit as the hero. The Hindi film hero too, upgraded by Aamir, was not your run-of-the-mill macho persona like most A-leagues male stars of that decade Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, and Sunny Deol. His physicality was more inclined towards that of Rishi Kapoor, the epitome of young romances.

Like Mansoor, another filmmaker's son infused Hindi cinema with freshness through Maine Pyar Kiya next year. Sooraj Barjatya introduced Salman Khan as Prem in a film about first love. Again, Barjatya updated the Bollywood gender dynamics by making Salman the object of desire, as opposed to the heroine Bhagyashree. At the same time, SRK made waves on television with the show Fauji, which led to his splash on the big screen with Raj Kanwar's 1992 film Deewana.

Riding on the liberalisation wave

The sociopolitical and socioeconomic discourse in India took a drastic turn in the early 1990s, which coincided with the Khans getting a new lease of life as conduits of public sentiment and imagination. The Babri Masjid demolition, the 1993 Mumbai riots, and investigation of the Islamists-dominated underworld shook the nation to its core but the three Khans rode the LPG wave to tide through the troubling times. They did not wear their Muslim identities on their sleeves then, but instead served as flagbearers of a changing India, thanks to the opening up of its economy.

SRK was audacious enough to do three consecutive anti-hero roles in Yash Chopra's Darr (1993), Baazigar (1993), and Anjaam (1994). He played an obsessed stalker in the first film, channeling a rage that was more individualistic, as opposed to the collective social anger of Bachchan's streak of Angry Young Man films in the '70s. SRK's relentless, single minded quest for fulfilling his individual desire was symbolic of a nation on the cusp of becoming more micro than macro, thanks to the consumer becoming the king of the market.

SRK and Juhi Chawla in Darr

To his credit, SRK took a 360-degree turn two years later with Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which painted him as an Indian-born Londoner who drinks beer but also does not flee with the woman he loves (Kajol) without the consent of her family. A year earlier, Barjatya's Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, starring Salman, like DDLJ consolidated Indian values and customs, and insisted they need to go hand in hand with the growing individualism in India. And then in 1995 came Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela, where a tapori Munna (Aamir) "embodies the lower middle class, dazzled by the gfts of liberalisation from five-star hotels to foreign cars but not swept away by them," as Bamzai notes in the chapter 'A Split Nation, Divided Stars.'

New millennium, wider leaps

The new millennium witnessed two of the three KhansAamir and SRK looking to expand their reigns overseas. SRK already had a head start with his brand of NRI cinema like DDLJ, Yash Chopra's Dil Toh Pagal Hai (2007), and Karan Johar's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Having turned producer with Dreamz Unlimted, he mounted his historical epic Asoka on a global scale, gearing up for its world premiere at the Toronoto Film Festival in 2001. But that plunge across continents was hijacked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in the US.

Aamir Khan in Lagaan

This allowed Aamir to position his historical epic Lagaan, with which he also turned producer, at the same level. Lagaan made the cut as a nominee in the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars next year. While it didn't won the golden statuette, the momentum helped Aamir build a world-class crew for his next epic, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, that included Dame Maggie Smith's son Tony Stephens in a supporting role as a British soldier. The villainisation of Muslims across the globe could not deter the Khans' overseas expansion, as evidenced by the record-breaking box office collection of SRK's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and the premiere of his historical romance Devdas at the Cannes Film Festival.

The third Khan, however, continued to consolidate his Indian market, but not as successfully. It was only in 2009 that Salman reemerged as the working-class hero with Wanted, and then with Dabangg in 2010. Around the same time, SRK's Om Shanti Om (2007) broke new box-office ground, only to be upstaged by Aamir's Ghajini the next year. In the late 2000s, the three Khans finally came to head-to-head with remarkable box office clouts.

As unrealised Muslim icons

The appeal of Khans has rarely overlapped with their identity as Muslim icons. That is also because they have portrayed Muslim characters only infrequently and have not addressed Muslim issues as voraciously. While they have not shied away from embracing their religion, they have identified themselves primarily as Indian, as substantiated by their interviews and public dealings over the years.

It is only in the Twitter trolls' comments and irresponsible statements of certain political figures (not only of the Bhartiya Janata Party, but even Shiv Sena) that the Muslimness of the three Khans is brought up, and even linked with Pakistan. That has been more the case with Aamir and SRK, since they have been more vocal towards national issues such as religious intolerance, the Narmada Bachao Andolan, and the ban on Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League. Salman has largely remained silent, though he is deemed to be the most politically incorrect of the three.

Still from Bajrangi Bhaijaan

He is also the only one who has not played a Muslim character on screen, except in Sultan, where his religious identity was only hinted at with the waving of green flags as he wrestles or his visits to the mosque. But that does not imply that he has steered clear of politics in cinema completely. His 2015 blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan, directed by Kabir Khan, is a love letter to India-Pakistan harmony.

Similarly, Aamir may have endorsed religious tolerance through films like Rajkumar Hirani's PK (2014), but he has played a Muslim character only twice in the over three-decade long career. While his twin roles of Samar and Sahir Khan in Dhoom 3 (2012) were not much of a political comment, he insisted his turn as the betraying Muslim man Dil Navaz in Earth (1999) wasinformed more by the character'sindividual choice rather than religious indoctrination.

Aamir Khan in Earth

SRK has been the most frequent and direct in portraying a Muslim man in his films. Whether it was as the progressive archaeologist Amjd Ali Khan in Kamal Haasan's 2000 historical film Hey Ram, as the hockey coach determined to lead the Indian hockey girls team to a world cup win in order to clean the taint of being a gaddar (traitor) in Chak De! India (2007), or an American Muslim battling both Asperger's syndrome and Islamophobia as an immediate aftermath of 9/11 in My Name Is Khan, SRK has been the most political of the three Khans, only if one manages to look beyond his NRI cinema and money spinners.

Kajol and SRK in My Name Is Khan

In the chapter 'A New Order for a New India,' Bamzai argues with inputs from experts that it is unlikely the country will ever see three Muslims as national icons again, given that Hindutva is on the rise. While they have been pushed into silence as far as their offscreen views are concerned, they continue to make cinema that has the potential to be at least mildly political. SRK's reported next is Pathan, which borrows its title from a Muslim identity SRK has often owned himself. Salman's next is Tiger 3, the preceding two parts of which have preached India-Pakistan harmony. And Aamir is filming for Laal Singh Chadha, the official Hindi remake of Forrest Gump, best known for the journey of a man alongside that of a nation.

While stars like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn continue to bank on the advantage of having their films preach in line with the ideals of the current establishment, the Khans may not be able to replicate the same. They are often compared to the trinity of Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, and Dilip Kumar who helped further Nehruvian ideals of socialism in the 1960s, but then came the hurricane of Amitabh Bachchan which rebelled against the status quo with unmatched fury. A more interesting and appropriate parallel drawn in the book is between the three Khans and the three Muslim leading ladies of the 1950s Waheeda Rahman, Nargis, and Madhubala.

A future without the Khans?

More than the national issue of the rising Hindutva or the industry issue of streaming vs theatres, the primary cause of the Khans' downfall, this writer believes, is their complacency. Aamir may be the least complacent of the three, given his reputation as a method actor, yet the fate of his next film is crucial. The same rings true for Salman, who has just encountered a massive failure in Radhe: The Most Wanted Bhai as he continues to dole out films and roles that look like clones of each other. The trickiest case is that of SRK who, as Bamzai puts it in the book, remains "stuck between the changeless Khan and the ever-changing Khan."

Early chapters in the book quote liberally from past interviews of the three Khans when they were insecure of their successes. SRK said in 1991, "Six years from now, when people stop thinking about you, you're a f*ck-up. And you'll realise it yourself, but by then you've lost yourself." Salman said in 1990, "Signing 20 films isn't going to get you security. I'd call it risky. The next release flops and the others could soon be on the shelves." Aamir said in the same year, "I've learnt the intense fan following for QSQT was for something new rather than for something good."

SRK, Salman, and Aamir

The three Khans seem as insecure now, but they are less frank about it. Their fears and vulnerabilities end up manifesting in their choices and acting. It seems like India continues to change, but the three Khans cannot get themselves to change with it.Looking from avantage point like the one offered in this book may help them to capture a nation's imagination like they once did in the late '80s.

The Three Khans: And The Emergence of New India is published by Westland Books.

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Tracing the graphs of the three Khans in a nation transformed by sociopolitical upheavals - Firstpost