IT IS AROUND noon, and the commercial centre of Khejroli, a sub-tehsil in Shahpura constituency, around an hour's drive from Jaipur city, is bathed in the balmy winter sunlight. It comprises a smattering of shops and food stalls that are getting ready for the day's business. In the centre of the small marketplace is a platform with cement benches built around an old banyan tree, forming the chaupal or the local meeting place.
The place is abuzz, with the campaign offices of the BJP and the Congress situated not far away and with the candidates set to focus on Khejroli for the day. BJP workers, gathered in the courtyard of the party office, rush to welcome and garland their candidate-Upen Yadav. Upen, 33, is the BJP's surprise candidate for Shahpura in the Jaipur Rural district. He has been a youth rights activist for the past 12 years and enjoys fame all over Rajasthan, especially for his protests on the issue of leaks of question papers of recruitment exams.
Upen has completed the morning leg of the day's campaign, and has some time to relax before he proceeds on a road show along with Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal had also campaigned for him earlier. Upen says his goal is to visit every village in the predominantly rural constituency, and he is doing so barefoot. He shows his muddied feet, saying they hurt immensely, but this is his way of conveying to the voters that he can feel their pain.
"It is a humbling experience and I want the people to know that I am ready to suffer for them," says Upen. "I have a three-year-old daughter. It is not easy for me to forget about my family's well-being and take on the establishment. But this is who I am."
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 03, 2023 من THE WEEK India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 03, 2023 من THE WEEK India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Hat-Trick Or Has-Beens?
India look to win their third straight Test series in Australia, but ageing superstars and recent humiliation at home have cast a shadow on their hopes
Constipation Can Put Your Heart At Risk
PEOPLE WITH CONSTIPATION have an increased risk of major cardiac events, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure, especially if they also have high blood pressure, finds an international study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Too Much Sitting Can Accelerate Ageing
SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS can harm the heart and accelerate ageing, even if you are young and get the minimum recommended amount of daily exercise, according to a US study published in the journal PLOS One.
Efficiency and innovation
As health care evolves, professionals must employ innovative methods to refine their skills
Level up
Only 30 per cent of needy patients are able to undergo transplant in India; we need more dedicated transplant centres
HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL
While stem cell therapies have shown success in treating blood disorders, orthopaedic ailments, autoimmune diseases and eye issues, there is hope that they can one day treat patients with heart disease, blindness, Parkinson's, HIV, diabetes and spinal cord injuries
Mind matters
Your mindset can limit or expand your physical ability
Cutting edge
Would you go under the knife if a robot was the one holding it? Or would you say, \"No way, I need a human touch\"? You might have to decide soon because a robot that can imitate skilled human surgeons is already here.
The smallest cut
Minimally invasive surgeries have a bright future, with virtual reality and 3D procedures offering greater precision and AI on the horizon
Signalling a revolution
Canadian scientist and entrepreneur Sachdev Sidhu is focused on bringing cutting-edge antibody engineering to his country of origin
