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The Constitution of India is an embodiment of the aspirations of its citizens. These aspirations were also reflected in the long and painstaking process through which the Constitution came into being. This process, however, didn’t begin on November 26, 1949, when the first session of the Constituent Assembly was gavelled into existence. Debates and discussions on what should be incorporated into the Constitution started in the 19th century itself. Social movements played a crucial role in shaping the constitutional discourse, laying down the foundations of equality, dignity, social justice, and equal opportunity for any future document to govern a yet-to-be-born republic. The movements, led by Jyotiba Phule and Dr. BR Ambedkar, respectively, in different periods of history are representative of the direct impact of social movements on the framing of the Constitution. Phule’s constitutional project took inspiration from the 13th Amendment (1865) to the American Constitution, which abolished the slavery of African Americans. In 1873, Phule wrote a seminal book, titled Gulamgiri (translated as slavery), with a dedication to “the good people of the United States as a token of admiration for their sublime disinterested and self-sacrificing devotion in the cause” of slavery. Phule also hoped that the oppressor communities in India would follow a similar track in abolishing untouchability and emancipating the oppressed castes. Gulamgiri was a sharp critique of India’s caste system and oppression. In the same year, Phule also started the Satyashodhak Samaj (the truth seekers’ society) movement to unite the oppressed castes, promote their education, and build an alternative vision of an equal society. He further advocated before the British government for free and compulsory education for all. In 1882, he submitted to the Hunter Commission a document that asked the administration to “be kind enough to sanction measures for the spread of female primary education”. Dr. Ambedkar built further on Phule’s legacy in demanding constitutional rights for the oppressed castes. Before the Southborough Committee in 1919, Dr Ambedkar insisted on universal adult franchise (voting rights) for all Indians. Rejecting the contention that “franchise should be given to those only who can be expected to make an intelligent use of it’, he argued that franchise would promote the political awakening of the marginalised communities, who had long been excluded from politics and the social mainstream. The two Mahad Satyagraha led by Dr Ambedkar in 1927 established the groundwork for the non-discrimination principle and broadened the constitutional imagination of rights. The Satyagraha was a challenge to the age-old practice of restricting Dalits from accessing water from a public source used by oppressor castes. Dr Ambedkar regarded the access to public places and water resources as a fundamental civil right. In March 1927, thousands of oppressed castes walked several kilometres, under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar, to drink water from the Chavdar tank, which was made open to everyone by the Mahad municipality in Maharashtra. However, after the gathering drank water from the tank, it was attacked by a large crowd of people from the oppressor castes, who came with sticks and stones. Later, the oppressor castes performed purification of the water tank by chanting hymns, while taking out the water from the tank in pots. This was seen by Dr Ambedkar as an effort to demoralise the Dalits in demanding their rights. Dr Ambedkar then launched a second Satyagraha in Mahad in December 1927. During this gathering, he presented certain resolutions prepared by him beforehand. These resolutions highlighted the principles that all human beings were born equal; the use of public roads, public schools, public water sources and temples is open to all; and that the “law should be equally applicable to all”. These are the modern principles of equality before law and equal protection of laws, and non-discrimination, which were later incorporated in Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The second Mahad Satyagraha also rejected the authority of “Manusmriti” as Dr Ambedkar publicly burnt it. During the Round Table conferences in London in the early 1930s, Dr Ambedkar presented a clause on non-discrimination and equal access to public places, which were inspired not only by Mahad Satyagraha, but the words of the American Civil Rights Act of 1875. His negotiations at the Conference, and later with Mahatma Gandhi, led to the reservation of seats for Dalits in Parliament and state assemblies. This framework was expanded later in the Constitution by providing for the reservation of seats for backward classes, including the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in government services and educational institutions. Around this time, Dr. Ambedkar also wrote a landmark lecture titled “Annihilation of Caste” as part of his advocacy against caste oppression, but refused to deliver it after the organisers asked him to tone down his content. Later published as a book in 1936, it conceptualised “a society based on liberty, equality and fraternity”. As he elaboarated in this treatise, fraternity was “only another name for democracy”. These ideas garnered through the anti-caste social movements were brought by Dr Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly. Similarly, other members of the assembly carried forward the demands from anti-colonial struggle, women’s movements, Adivasi movements, and peasant movements. In effect, social movements were instrumental in deciding the fate of the final text of several constitutional provisions such as equality, free speech, freedom of conscience and social reform, universal adult franchise, constitutional remedies, and even the Preamble. The broader principles embedded in the Constitution, influenced by earlier pre-independence social movements, were invoked by subsequent movements to advocate for enhanced constitutional safeguards and rights for citizens. Post-independence social movements have led to the enactment of laws to prohibit and prevent atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis, outlaw manual scavenging, and provide adequate quotas in educational institutions for other backward classes. Several pieces of legislation, such as the law providing the right to information, have been passed due to the efforts of civil society-led movements. These vignettes hint at why the Indian Constitution is a unique document – one that lays the legal foundation of a republic but more importantly creates a just and equitable social landscape for that republic to stand and thrive on. This is why pioneering American constitutionalist Granville Austin called the Constitution primarily a social document, one that he described as the cornerstone of a nation. Anurag Bhaskar is the author of The Foresighted Ambedkar: Ideas That Shaped Indian Constitution Discourse. The views expressed are personal.
Veridas face biometrics coming to 85,000-seat Mâs Monumental in ArgentinaMolecular zip code draws killer T cells straight to brain tumors December 5, 2024 University of California - San Francisco Scientists have developed a 'molecular GPS' to guide immune cells into the brain and kill tumors without harming healthy tissue. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Researchers have found a way to program immune cells to attack glioblastoma and treat the inflammation of multiple sclerosis in mice. The technology will soon be tested in a clinical trial for people with glioblastoma. UCSF scientists have developed a "molecular GPS" to guide immune cells into the brain and kill tumors without harming healthy tissue. This living cell therapy can navigate through the body to a specific organ, addressing what has been a major limitation of CAR-T cancer therapies until now. The technology worked in mice and the researchers expect it to be tested in a clinical trial next year. The scientists showed how the immune cells could eliminate a deadly brain tumor called glioblastoma and prevent recurrences. They also used the cells to tamp down inflammation in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. "Living cells, especially immune cells, are adapted to move around the body, sense where they are, and find their targets," said Wendell Lim, PhD, UCSF professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology and co-senior author of the paper, which appears in Science on Dec. 5. Navigating to the source of disease Nearly 300,000 patients are diagnosed with brain cancers each year in the United States, and it is the leading cause of cancer mortality in children. Brain cancers are among the hardest cancers to treat. Surgery and chemotherapy are risky, and drugs can't always get into the brain. To get around these problems, the scientists developed a "molecular GPS" for immune cells that guided them with a "zip code" for the brain and a "street address" for the tumor. They found the ideal molecular zip code in a protein called brevican, which helps to form the jelly-like structure of the brain, and only appears there. For the street address, they used two proteins that are found on most brain cancers. The scientists programmed the immune cells to attack only if they first detected brevican and then detected one or the other of the brain cancer proteins. Once in the bloodstream, they easily navigated to the mouse's brain and eliminated a growing tumor. Immune cells that remained in the bloodstream stayed dormant. This prevented tissues elsewhere in the body that happened to have the same protein "address" from being attacked. One hundred days later, the scientists introduced new tumor cells into the brain, and enough immune cells were left to find and kill them, a good indication that they may be able to prevent any remaining cancer cells from growing back. "The brain-primed CAR-T cells were very, very effective at clearing glioblastoma in our mouse models, the most effective intervention we've seen yet in the lab," said Milos Simic, PhD, the Valhalla Foundation Cell Design Fellow and co-first author of the paper. "It shows just how well the GPS ensured that they would only work in the brain. The same strategy even worked to clear brain metastases of breast cancer." In another experiment, the researchers used the brain GPS system to engineer cells that deliver anti-inflammatory molecules to the brain in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. The engineered cells reached their target, and the inflammation faded. The scientists hope this approach will soon be ready for patients with other debilitating nervous system diseases. "Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest cancers, and this approach is poised to give patients a fighting chance," said Hideho Okada, MD, UCSF oncologist and co-senior author of the paper. "Between cancer, brain metastases, immune disease and neurodegeneration, millions of patients could someday benefit from targeted brain therapies like the one we've developed." Story Source: Materials provided by University of California - San Francisco . Original written by Levi Gadye. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :
Giants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the SaintsOpinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own Akila Selvaraj has consistently proven herself as an experienced professional in product management and AI integration, blending over 17 years of expertise in product management, AI integration, and enterprise architecture. As Chief of Products and AI Product Manager at a leading tech firm, Akila has delivered significant projects leveraging artificial intelligence, big data, and IoT to address industry needs to meet evolving industry demands. Her career spans impactful roles across sectors like finance, manufacturing, and quick-service restaurants, where she has successfully delivered on complex projects and steered cross-functional teams across global locations. “In today’s tech landscape, innovation isn’t optional –- it’s the foundation on which successful solutions are built,” Akila emphasizes, summarizing her career philosophy. Akila’s current role involves leading an ambitious AI-driven product line that targets environmental sustainability through advanced monitoring systems. Her team developed an air quality monitoring solution powered by machine learning algorithms and AI avatars, which provides real-time updates, safety recommendations, and connections to service providers. This solution has offered users tailored guidance on air quality while also addressing the market’s growing demand for user-friendly, actionable data on environmental health. “AI facilitates monitoring, predicting, and responding to environmental issues with improved efficiency and accuracy,” Akila explains. Her work in this domain showcases her ability to leverage AI to provide meaningful, real-time insights, bridging technology and user needs. Akila’s experience is beyond environmental technology, as she also led the development of a virtual hosting service. Designed to enhance customer engagement, the AI-powered system incorporates video, voice, and chatbots to deliver personalized interactions that cater to both B2B and B2C clients. This service has significantly increased client conversion rates by providing a dynamic, human-like user experience, which is particularly effective in retargeting campaigns. Reflecting on her goals for the project, Akila says, “Our objective is to create interactions that feel personal and intuitive. AI has the potential to transform how we engage with customers by making every touchpoint a meaningful one.” During her tenure at a global data solutions company, Akila served as Big Data Architect for a renowned quick-service restaurant chain. She played a key role in a landmark cloud migration project that transitioned their order processing system to a cloud-based architecture, integrating AI-powered analytics for order forecasting and dynamic promotions. This transformation not only improved order accuracy but also enhanced speed and operational cost efficiency—an outcome that positioned her client as a frontrunner in the industry. In addition to this achievement, Akila led the development of an AI-powered forecasting engine that enabled real-time analysis of customer purchasing patterns. This tool empowered her client to make data-informed promotional offers, which improved customer engagement and sales. “The project integrated predictive intelligence into business operations, improving decision-making and efficiency, aligning technology with business strategy in a way that directly impacted profitability,” she notes. Prior to her role in the quick-service domain, Akila held a leadership position at a prominent IT services firm, where she managed next-gen big data initiatives for a major manufacturing client. She spearheaded the migration of legacy ETL workflows to modern, cloud-based platforms, introducing tools like Talend and Spark to optimize data processing times and model efficiency. Her efforts reduced data processing time by 30%, enabling faster and more informed decision-making for the client. Akila’s expertise in data integration also led her to architect reusable data quality frameworks that set new operational benchmarks for accuracy and consistency in data handling. This accomplishment earned her recognition within the organization and became a foundational model for subsequent projects. “Quality data is the bedrock of any AI or data-driven initiative; without it, we’re building on sand,” she says, underscoring her commitment to data integrity. Akila’s experience with cloud technology is extensive, particularly in managing the migration of enterprise data to platforms like AWS and Redshift. Her migration strategy included robust data mapping and testing protocols that ensured zero data loss and seamless system integration, delivering scalable, cost-effective solutions for her clients. Her approach not only streamlined operations but also allowed her clients to leverage the power of cloud computing for enhanced analytics. Her notable projects in this field include the cloud migration of a financial services client’s data infrastructure, resulting in improved scalability and cost savings, and a retail client’s archival and compliance solutions, which allowed for streamlined, efficient data retention aligned with regulatory standards. Akila has demonstrated her expertise through her work on AI-powered mobile applications. At her previous organization, she led the development of an app that used machine learning to deliver personalized restaurant recommendations based on user preferences, location, and dietary needs. By harnessing AI for real-time, tailored recommendations, this app helped her client significantly boost customer engagement and repeat business, exemplifying how targeted, data-informed experiences enhance user satisfaction. Reflecting on this, Akila states, “In the digital era, personalization has become a standard for user engagement. We aim to create applications that anticipate needs and make experiences memorable.” Akila’s career is marked by accolades and recognitions that speak to her dedication to innovation and excellence. From “Employee of the Month” awards for her technical leadership to special acknowledgments for significant contributions to AI and cloud migration projects, she has continually demonstrated her value as a forward-thinking leader. At her current organization, she received recognition for her transformative work in personalized marketing campaigns, underscoring her expertise in AI product development and user engagement strategies. As Akila looks to the future, her goal remains clear: to drive the next generation of AI and data-driven products that solve real-world challenges across industries. Her career highlights the application of technical expertise and strategic thinking to create meaningful impact in a rapidly evolving field. “The potential of AI is only limited by our ability to innovate and adapt. I’m committed to pushing these boundaries to create value at every step,” she shares. Akila Selvaraj’s career reflects her commitment to pushing the envelope of technology and bringing purposeful, AI-powered solutions to life. Her work demonstrates the potential for user-centered innovation in addressing technological challenges. Jon Stojan is a professional writer based in Wisconsin. He guides editorial teams consisting of writers across the US to help them become more skilled and diverse writers. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
USC QB Miller Moss enters transfer portal after losing starting job to Jayden Maiava
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday dissolved the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Uttar Pradesh, along with the district and block units, effective immediately, according to a press statement. This decision is being seen as part of the party’s plan to restructure its Uttar Pradesh unit and prepare for the next Assembly elections in the state in 2027. In an official statement, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed the decision, saying, “Congress President has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, along with the district presidents and Block Congress Committees of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect.” All committees, sub-committees, and district-level units of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee have been dissolved with immediate effect, following which all the old officials, executive committee members, and leaders with special charge will no longer hold these posts. The Congress’s performance in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2022 Assembly elections was disappointing. Therefore, the party needs to re-establish itself in Uttar Pradesh, which was once a Congress stronghold. However, under Kharge’s leadership, the grand old party is trying to bring forward youth and grassroots leaders into its fold. The party leadership believes it is necessary to change the old committee and induct new energy into it. As many as 403 Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh will play an important role in the upcoming elections. The objective of the organisational change is to strengthen the Congress at the regional level. The party will select a new leadership, which can understand the ground issues better. At the same time, efforts will also be made to fix the accountability of old leaders. This decision by Congress will have more impact in those Assembly seats in the state where the party currently has less influence. New committees could be formed to create a balance between young and experienced party leaders in Uttar Pradesh. Congress will now re-establish its organisation in both rural and urban areas of the state keeping in mind caste equations. Earlier on November 6, Kharge had dissolved the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), along with its district and block units, in a significant restructuring move. The decision, effective immediately, aimed to revamp the party’s structure in the Congress-led hill state, which had not seen a major reorganisation since the party’s government was established there,
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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., details her resolution requiring staffers to use bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex on 'The Ingraham Angle.' New Hampshire Judge Steven McAuliffe presided over a case involving parents in the state who wore pro-girl armbands at a high school girls soccer game that included a transgender athlete . During the case, McAuliffe pushed back on the parents for repeatedly referring to the athlete as a boy. "You seem to go out of your way to suggest there’s no such thing as a trans girl ," McAuliffe said during the hearing. McAuliffe's federal judicial service dates back to 1992, when he was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush. On Thursday, McAuliffe heard arguments in a case in which plaintiffs Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote sued the Bow School District after being banned from school grounds for wearing the wristbands at their daughters' soccer game in September. THE PRONOUN POLICE HAVE ARRIVED AND ARE COMING FOR YOU NEXT The wristbands said "XX" in reference to the natural female chromosomes. The "XX" logo has become an unspoken symbol of the ongoing legal and political battle against transgender inclusion in girls and women's sports across the country. Many consider it a women's rights phenomenon. The no-trespass orders have since expired, but McAuliffe is deciding whether the plaintiffs should be allowed to wear the wristbands and carry signs at upcoming school events, including basketball games, swim meets and a music concert, while the case proceeds. A protester outside the Kansas Statehouse holds a sign after a rally for transgender rights on the Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2023, in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna) They wore the wristbands because another federal judge in New Hampshire, Landya McCafferty, who was appointed to her seat by President Obama in 2013, ruled two transgender athletes would be allowed to play on high school girls soccer teams, overruling a state law in place to prevent that from happening. Fifteen-year-old Parker Tirrell, a transgender athlete, was allowed to compete for Plymouth Regional High School. In a lawsuit filed by Fellers and Foote, they alleged they were told by school officials to remove the armbands or they would have to leave the game. TRANS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER LEGAL HEARING OPENED WITH LONG AND HEATED DEBATE OVER WHAT PRONOUNS TO USE Both of the fathers say the intention of the armband was not to protest Tirrell, but to support their own daughters in a game that featured a biological male. McAuliffe questioned the notion that the wristbands were in support of their own daughters. "Sometimes the message you think you’re sending might not be the message that is being sent," he said. McAuliffe asked Foote whether it occurred to him that a transgender person might interpret the pink XX wristbands as an attempt to invalidate their existence. "If he’s a trans female, pink might be a color he likes," Foote responded. First lady Jill Biden, right, and Steven J. McAuliffe, widower of Christa McAuliffe, arrive at the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord, N.H., March 17, 2021. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Transgender inclusion in girls' and women's sports emerged as a mainstream political issue in the last few years. Instances of athletes discovered to be male and then legally protected to continue playing have emerged in rapid succession since the start of the Biden administration. This includes instances like those involving Tirrell in New Hampshire and others in Virginia and California. At the college level, a situation at San Jose State University involving a transgender volleyball player has prompted multiple lawsuits and a media firestorm. It became a talking point of Donald Trump's presidential campaign before his recent election win. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump and even his wife, Melania, who has admitted to disagreeing with Republicans on issues of LGBT rights, each announced they are opposed to letting biological males compete in girls and women's sports. Trump advocated for a blanket ban during a Fox News town hall event on the campaign trail. Multiple states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address the issue after the Biden-Harris administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions," in April. The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports. The Supreme Court then voted 5-4 in August to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce portions of that new rule after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states. During the most recent election cycle, multiple Democrats, including Texas Rep. Collin Allred backtracked on past support for transgender inclusion in women's sports. That trend continued after the election when Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton spoke out against his party's stance and actions in enabling transgender inclusion in multiple interviews, inciting fierce backlash and even a massive pro-transgender rally outside his office. Now, multiple judges like McAuliffe across the country are presiding over cases about the eligibility of transgender athletes in sports. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
ASP Isotopes (ASPI) Accused of Deceiving Investors with Bogus Nuclear Tech Claims– Hagens BermanALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face any gun charges after an internal affairs investigation by the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. “Because the case law is silent regarding the specific issue, and the legislative intent of the CPL statute does not support charges under these facts, no charges will issue in this matter, and the warrant is denied,” the prosecutor’s office said in an emailed statement. Williams was the passenger in a car that was pulled over by police after midnight on Oct. 8 during the team’s bye week. His brother was the driver of the vehicle and told police there were two guns inside the car. One of those guns was registered to Williams’ brother and in the back seat. The other was registered to the Lions wide receiver and was under the front passenger seat. At the time, Williams was told he was going to be taken into custody for not having a concealed-carry pistol license, unlike his brother and driver, who had the proper paperwork. Williams was handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car when he told the officers multiple times he played for the Lions and had the gun for protection because he lives in Detroit. According to the initial WXYZ report, a Detroit police lieutenant decided Williams should be released from custody after others reported to the scene . No police report was filed, and internal affairs was investigating the matter, the response by the involved officers and why Williams wasn’t detained. “We have looked at this case thoroughly and objectively,” Kym Worthy, the county’s prosecutor, said in a statement. “We did not consider that Mr. Williams is a Detroit professional athlete in our decision-making. We have charged Detroit area athletes before and would not have hesitated to do so again if the facts of this case could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. “When it comes to charging decisions, we do not take into consideration who the potential defendant is, how much power and influence they have, or how beloved they may be. We deal with the facts and the law only.” Worthy’s office said the vehicle driver was a CPL holder and that the receiver’s brother had “care, custody and control” of the car. The prosecutor urged the state legislature to investigate these laws further so prosecutors have more “steady and meaningful guidance” on related situations in the future. “Guidance is needed for the future on how many weapons can a valid CPL say that they have control over?” Worthy said. “Despite all of this, if Mr. Williams had the gun on his person, he would have been charged ... “We had a team of experienced lawyers look at this case - as we often do - especially when the law is unclear or unsettled. We all agreed that this decision is the right and just one. And I am personally certain that the right decision has been made with these specific and unique set of facts.” The Lions said Williams told them about the incident and remained honest with them from the get-go. Dan Campbell, the team’s head coach, said Williams was worth sticking with and that he feels this is another learning moment. Williams has been back in action for the last three games after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. “Look, for me, I judge people over what’s in their heart, and I know what this kid’s made of, and he’s worth hanging with,” Campbell said last month. “So, he’s going to learn from this, he’s going to grow, he’ll be better for all of this.”