News
Hindu Man Gains Recognition for Defending Muslim
Deepak Kumar’s defiance against Hindu vigilantes has garnered widespread recognition as an exceptional display of bravery, but it has also led to him receiving threats to his life.
Mohammad Deepak is the name that has been making headlines in India, as a Hindu man who stood up for a Muslim shopkeeper.
A series of events has catapulted Deepak to fame, earning him recognition as an unlikely hero in the country, after he confronted a group of activists from a hardline Hindu group.
Deepak has been hailed as a symbol of secular India and a representation of the country's pluralism, while also facing backlash, including protests and death threats, for his actions.
The incident that brought him to the forefront took place on January 26 in the town of Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, and was captured on video, which subsequently went viral.
The video footage shows Deepak, a 42-year-old gym owner, engaging with activists from Bajrang Dal, who were harassing Vakeel Ahmed, the owner of a clothing store.
According to Deepak, he was visiting a friend's shop when he witnessed the activists heckling Ahmed, telling him to remove the word "Baba" from his shop's name, "Baba School Dress and Matching Centre", which has been in operation for 30 years.
The term "Baba" is commonly used in India to refer to mystics, gurus, and elderly men, and is used by both Hindus and Muslims.
However, the Bajrang Dal activists insisted that the term "Baba" in Kotdwar could only refer to Siddhabali Baba, a local temple dedicated to the Hindu god Hanuman, and that a Muslim had no right to use it in his shop's name.
Ahmed's son can be heard requesting more time to comply with the demand, but the activists were adamant that it must be done soon.
Deepak intervened in the situation, drawn in by the commotion outside the shop, and later recounted the events to BBC Hindi.
In the video, Deepak can be heard asking, "Are Muslims not citizens of India?"
He described his actions as spontaneous, stating that he did not appreciate the way the young men were speaking to the elderly Ahmed, targeting him because of his religion.
Ahmed, 68, expressed gratitude towards Deepak, saying that it is difficult to predict what might have happened if he had not intervened, as the activists could have escalated the situation.
After Deepak's intervention, the Bajrang Dal activists asked for his name, to which he responded by identifying himself as Mohammad Deepak.
By introducing himself with a combination of Hindu and Muslim names, Deepak aimed to convey that he is an Indian, and that everyone has the right to live in the country regardless of their faith.
The activists were taken aback by Deepak's response and left the scene, but a few days later, a large group of Bajrang Dal supporters gathered outside his gym to protest.
Following a complaint from Ahmed, the police registered a case against the unidentified individuals, and also filed a case against Deepak after receiving a complaint from two Hindu activists.
The incident and the subsequent police action have garnered significant attention in India, with many hailing Deepak's actions as a rare instance of courage in the face of rising attacks on Muslims by Hindu mobs.
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress party MP, has praised Deepak as a "hero of India" who is fighting for the constitution and humanity, and has called for more individuals like him to stand up against hate and intolerance.
An article in the Indian Express noted that the video of the incident has provided a sense of hope, highlighting Deepak's words as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up against hatred and intolerance.
The article stated that Deepak's actions demonstrate the "real India", where individuals have the right to live and express themselves freely, without fear of persecution.
Many people have taken to social media to express solidarity with Deepak and commend him for his bravery, with his phone ringing non-stop and his social media following increasing significantly.
A video he posted on January 29 has garnered over five million likes, in which he says, "I am not a Hindu, I am not a Muslim, I am not a Sikh, I am not a Christian. First and foremost, I am a human being."
Deepak is still coming to terms with his newfound fame, stating that he never anticipated that his intervention would receive so much attention.
He said, "I simply did what I thought was right, without expecting it to become such a big issue, but now it's national news."
However, his actions have not been without consequence, as he has faced criticism and backlash from some quarters.
Deepak has received numerous death threats and abusive messages on social media, with one such threatening phone call being posted on X.
The caller can be heard saying, "Bajrang Dal shouldn't have spared you… I'll teach you a lesson soon."
Deepak's family has been left "traumatised" by the attention, and he is under significant mental pressure, while his gym, which was once thriving, is now largely deserted.
The number of people visiting his gym has decreased significantly, from over 150 to just 15, due to fear and intimidation.
Deepak said, "I used to have a lot of people coming to train here, but now they are afraid to come, and I'm facing financial difficulties as a result."
Opposition MP John Brittas, who visited Deepak, described him as a "beacon of hope" in the struggle against communalism and has taken a membership at his gym, which is now facing financial difficulties due to threats from communal elements.
As news of Deepak's financial struggles spread, people from across India have offered to buy gym memberships to support him, with one X post saying, "We can't let a good man lose."
Despite the challenges and threats he faces, Deepak remains resolute, stating that if he is confronted with a similar situation in the future, he will continue to stand up against what is wrong.
He said, "If we remain silent today, tomorrow our children will also learn the same silence," emphasizing the importance of speaking out against injustice and intolerance.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
-
News7 hours agoAustralian Politics Faces Questions Over Gender Equality Amid Sussan Ley’s Appointment
-
News4 hours agoFarage Says Reform to Replace Traditional Tory Party
-
News7 hours agoUK Braces for Cold Snap with Snow and Ice Alerts Expected
-
News4 hours agoWrexham Pair Seek Win Against Former Team Ipswich
-
News9 hours agoLiberal Party Removes Australia’s First Female Leader
-
News4 hours agoHusband’s alleged £600k theft for sex and antiques blamed on drug side effects
-
Business10 hours agoBBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool
-
News2 days agoSunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people