UNSAVOURY RUCKUS
   Date :31-Dec-2019

Time and Tide_1 &nbs
 
THE running feud between Governor Mr. Jagdeep Dhankar and the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamta Banerjee and her colleagues has become rather unsavoury and lowers the dignity of the high Constitutional office of the State’s Governor. It was patently cheap politics to bar the Governor from entering the Jadavpur University campus a few days ago under the pretext that students were agitating against the Citizenship Law. Such instances of the political leadership of the State led by Ms. Banerjee sullying the image of the Governor are occurring quite often ever since the new Governor was appointed. The State’s leadership has indulged in petty political one-upmanship against the Governor, thereby lowering the dignity of the office of the Governor. In West Bengal unfortunately the Trinmool Congress has chosen to attack the Governor politically. This is an anathema to the fundamental principle of Indian model of governance -- federal in structure and unitary in spirit. The Trinamool Congress is bombing this very foundation.
 
HIGH FOR HUMPY
 
THE comeback to the 64 squares continues to be a thrilling ride for Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy. Through Grand Prix performances she has held on to her World No. 3 position. Now, in a proverbial icing on the cake, Humpy has ended 2019 in grand style by grabbing the World Women’s Rapid Chess Championship title in Moscow. The 32-year-old will always hold this title as a special one, for, it has come in a format where Humpy finds herself a misfit. A player of classical mould, Humpy always said the Rapid and Blitz formats of the game were not “her cup of tea”. Yet, the never-ending urge of a sportsperson forced her to give it another try at the Rapid title. Humpy’s success underscores how players of her ilk are indulged in a ceaseless pursuit of excellence. Chess has had its share of such champions and Humpy sits right in the top bracket occupied by Viswanathan Anand. What makes such players different is their non-chalance to the lack of plaudits that many other sports receive. They march on... and on!