On a February evening, global pop sensation Ed Sheeran picked up his guitar for an impromptu performance on Church Street in Bengaluru. As the crowd sang along to Shape of You, the moment felt electric — until police abruptly shut it down. Permission, they said, had not been granted. That even a superstar couldn’t busk freely underscored a fundamental issue: Indian cities have yet to embrace street performances as part of urban life.

Experts said that the incident highlighted not only a cultural issue, but reflected on the broader gaps in urban planning where cities overlook the street’s potential as a dynamic space for community engagement and artistic expression.

This is also in contrast to cities across the world such as London, New York, and Paris, where street performances are an essential part of urban cultural fabric. London’s Covent Garden, for example, is known for its lively street performers; New York City’s Times Square is a magnet for buskers, and Paris’ Place du Tertre in Montmartre has been a thriving cultural hub where artists and performers co-exist with locals and tourists.

Indian performers, on the other hand, remain caught in a web of outdated regulations and inconsistent enforcement. Even in Bengaluru, known for its cultural vibrancy, artists struggle to find a place where music and urban life can coexist.

“This is part of a larger issue — the lack of social spaces in our cities,” said urban designer Aakash Hingorani. “Street performances bring vibrancy to urban life, offering a much-needed breather from its fast-paced, mechanical nature. Street performances humanise the city, transforming streets from mere transit corridors into places where people pause, interact, and share experiences. We need to value our streets as spaces meant for people — walkable, socially engaging, and culturally enriching.”

Urban planner and architect Dikshu Kukreja echoed the sentiments. “Our cities prioritise vehicle movement, commercial zones, and security concerns at the expense of artistic and social vibrancy,” he says. “Unlike London or New York, where cultural planning is embedded in urban design, Indian cities lack a framework that integrates artistic expression into city life.”

But, the absence of clear policies leaves buskers vulnerable. Police intervention is inconsistent, and obtaining permission is often a bureaucratic nightmare. This legal uncertainty creates an environment of fear, where performers never know if they’ll be allowed to play or be forced to pack up.

Where buskers belong

Globally, cities have found creative ways to support street culture. London’s Covent Garden, for instance, has a licensing system to regulate performances while maintaining public order. New York’s Times Square performers follow guidelines that balance artistic freedom with pedestrian safety. Similarly, Paris’ Place du Tertre requires artists to register with authorities, granting them legitimacy.

In India, informal busking hubs have emerged in places like Connaught Place and Khan Market in Delhi, Carter Road and Marine Drive in Mumbai, and Park Street in Kolkata. But the lack of clear regulations and support leaves them in a legal grey area — one day they may perform without issue, while the next, they could be forced to stop.

“I face problems with the police no matter where I perform in Kolkata,” says Rishav Ghosh, a guitarist who has been busking at Park Street every evening since 2020. “Some people assume I’m begging, but I just want to share my music. Yes, I have a QR code for tips — music is my livelihood. Some of the greatest musicians started as buskers. Cities need policies to protect and empower us.”

Experts argue that India needs designated cultural zones — pedestrian streets, public squares, and marketplaces — where performances are legal and encouraged. But not everyone is on board with such a plan.

In Connaught Place, traders are among the most ardent opposers. “We already have vendors blocking corridors, and we don’t want buskers adding to the chaos,” says Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association. “Connaught Place is a commercial centre, not a cultural hub.”

Kukreja stressed that the solution lies in achieving balance. “Cities like Singapore and Melbourne have flexible licensing that allow performers to use designated zones during peak hours, ensuring cultural vibrancy without overcrowding,” he said.

But in India, the legal status of busking remains ambiguous.

“There’s no specific provision to grant licenses to buskers,” says Tushar Giri Nath, chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. “They might fit under the Street Vending Act, but since they accept tips rather than selling goods, it’s unclear. It’s a complex issue, and we need to examine various legal aspects.”

Hingorani suggested a self-regulated model, allowing artists to perform freely while ensuring they don’t obstruct public movement.

Busker Anshu Sinha, who has performed in Delhi’s Khan Market for eight years, agrees. “I perform after shops shut, so I don’t face resistance. My audience consists mostly of pub-goers at night, so shop owners have no reason to complain,” he said. “Problems arise when buskers disrupt businesses or cause a nuisance.”

Cities and street art

Some Indian cities are experimenting with urban spaces that support artistic expression.

In Delhi, the revamped Ring Road features Stall, a covered performance space hosting street plays. Coimbatore’s Periyakulam Lake Promenade has amphitheaters where local bands and buskers perform regularly. The city has also transformed a flyover into an artist-friendly zone.

“Our Car-Free Sundays initiative has turned Racecourse Road into an open cultural space,” says Bhaskar Srinivasan of Coimbatore’s Smart Cities Mission. “From 6am to 9am every Sunday, it becomes a stage for dance, music, and art.”

Hingorani stressed that these initiatives should be the norm, not the exception. “If we want cities where art and culture thrive, we must rethink urban design. Streets should be platforms for expression, not just spaces for traffic,” he said. “Buskers bring life to cities—at no cost. We need to recognise their value.”

India stands at the cusp of economic glory, aspiring to become a $5 trillion economy and a global powerhouse. However, there is a “silent epidemic” of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that threatens our economic and developmental ambitions. Today, NCDs are the leading cause of death in the country, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all deaths. To secure a healthy and prosperous future, India must urgently embrace a preventive health-care mindset — one that can heal before there is a need to heal.

Also read | What is balance rehabilitation therapy and why should it be a part of primary healthcare? 

The rising tide of NCDs, their economic toll

Over the past few decades, India has undergone an epidemiological transition. Communicable diseases such as infections have come under control but have been overtaken by NCDs. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancers, chronic lung diseases, and stroke kill an estimated five million to six million Indians each year. What is particularly alarming is that NCDs are striking Indians at younger ages.

India’s working-age population is increasingly affected — a disturbing trend when its GDP target relies on the youthful demographic dividend. In fact, 22% of Indians over 30 years are at risk of dying from an NCD before they hit the age of 70. We see this mirror in our hospitals every month with 30 to 40-year olds with heart ailments or in need of dialysis due to diabetic complications.

Beyond the human cost, the economic impact of NCDs is staggering due to the resulting loss of productivity and reduced workforce participation. Studies estimate that NCDs may already be costing India around 5%-10% of its GDP. A World Economic Forum (and Harvard School of Public Health) study projected that between 2012 and 2030, NCDs would inflict a loss of around $3.5 trillion–$4 trillion on the Indian economy. Hence, an investment in preventive health care is not an expense but an economic strategy. Prevention is our best insurance policy for sustainable development.

The good news is that most NCDs are largely preventable. Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, pollution, and genetic predisposition are some of the key culprits. By modifying these, we can significantly reduce NCD risk. It is estimated that about 80% of premature heart disease, stroke, and diabetes cases can be prevented by addressing lifestyle factors.

Today, around 22%-23% of adults are overweight, and there is an urgent need to tackle obesity. We must make physical activity a part of one’s daily routine with at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, be it in the form of walking, yoga, or sports. A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and proteins, and lower in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats is a must.

Air pollution is a health emergency directly impacting rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and even heart attacks. We must view pollution control as part of preventive medicine.

Finally, the most important measure is regular health screenings. Detecting these conditions early, through screenings starting at the age of 40 years or earlier if there is family history, can literally be a lifesaver. Early detection means timely intervention — controlling blood pressure before it causes a stroke, or removing a precancerous polyp before it turns into colon cancer. Screening such as mammograms for breast cancer or HPV tests for cervical cancer can find early, curable stages of disease.

Technology can transform prevention

Digital health technology — from smartphone apps and wearables to big data analytics — is a game changer. India has over 750 million smartphone users, which means we have the ability to deliver health advice, reminders, and risk assessments in the palm of everyone’s hand. Wearable devices and health trackers allow individuals to keep an eye on their health stats. The integration of such real-time data into preventive care plans is an exciting new frontier.

Most transformative is the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in predictive health modelling. AI algorithms can analyse vast datasets to predict an individual’s risk for various NCDs with remarkable accuracy. AI tools can analyse an individual’s profile and generate a “health risk score” that forecasts the likelihood of, say, a cardiac event or developing diabetes over the next decade. AI also helps in early diagnostics — for instance, machine learning models can scan chest X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans to detect early lung nodules or early signs of fatty liver that a human might miss, enabling pre-emptive action.

However, preventive medicine, augmented by AI, should always remain humane, compassionate, and patient-centric. Used responsibly, digital health and AI will be our greatest allies in making preventive care more proactive, precise, and accessible.

Fostering a ‘preventive mindset’

Preventive medicine is not just a set of services but a mindset. I envision a future where every individual, community, corporate and government thinks “health-first” in every action and policy. Individuals must become the champions of their own health. I urge every reader to schedule that check-up you have been postponing and make small daily changes such as taking the stairs or cutting down on sugar to protect your well-being. Corporates and workplaces play a pivotal role by investing in employee wellness programmes — from annual health checks to in-house counsellors and fitness sessions.

Health-care providers must pivot from a reactive cure model to a preventive care model. The government’s role is extremely important and initiatives such as the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs and the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres that focus on screening and prevention are stellar steps. Beyond this, public policies should also be health-oriented: urban planning should create green spaces for exercise; education curricula should include health and nutrition, and food industry regulations should encourage reduced salt and sugar.

In the years that I have striven to make preventive care accessible and impactful, I have seen thousands of lives transformed because a disease was caught early or a risk factor was managed in time. Every individual has the power to make choices that guard their health. And those choices, scaled across 1.4 billion Indians, can help define our nation’s health and happiness and ensure we reach our economic goals too.

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy is Chairman, Apollo Hospitals

Concerns and discussions over Trump’s tariffs can wait. MSMEs in Coimbatore are grappling with the China Plus One opportunity knocking at their doors for some time now. Companies in the US and Europe keen on an alternative to China for their production needs have set their sights on Coimbatore, which was once known as the Manchester of South India due to its textiles cluster. The global firms are looking for auto component and power ancillaries, machine parts, precision engineering products as well as textiles and electronics. The list could grow as there’s opportunity in every sector. It’s up to Coimbatore to open up and grow its capabilities.
Funding scalability is an issue to be addressed since there’s a limit to what MSMEs can borrow from banks. And the traditional Coimbatore mindset is to not jump at new opportunities but to hasten slowly. “The foundry sector has embraced the China Plus One opportunity as companies from Europe and the US came calling. While Europe has its own limitations in terms of order size, the orders from the US are large. But this comes with its own set of problems,” says M Ramesh, managing director, Alphacraft Pvt Ltd, which exports aluminium castings to leading brands in the US and Europe.
“In terms of capacities, China is 20 years ahead of us. If there is work for five machines, they will erect 50, expecting more work. When the work comes, they deliver. Otherwise, they keep the machines idle. Not just approvals, funding and interest rates too play a key role for them. If someone is doing 100 crore turnover this year, they can take it to 500 crore next year. The opportunity is 10x, but I am hinting at just 5x. We are up against the wall here,” says Ramesh.
“We lack both capacities and at times capabilities in manufacturing some parts. Hence, we have been delivering what’s possible. Knowing the opportunities, companies here are now in a phase where they are investing. But that is not happening at the phase the customers want,” says Ganesh Jagadeesan, managing director, Indo Shell Cast Pvt Limited. “The opportunity is big, but it is easier to get the investment in China, while we spend a lot of time running here behind loans and approvals. While big size companies handle it with ease, the medium and small size companies have their own challenges in addressing them,” he adds.
Of late, knowing the limitations of companies here, several multinationals are themselves looking at establishing manufacturing facilities here. “This way, we get an opportunity for employment and not for entrepreneurship development,” says Jagadeesan.
Coimbatore units cannot borrow for scalability overnight, since banks look for security. SME IPOs are another route; they can go public through BSE and NSE. Companies in India have been taking that route. “Private equity is the best option for such companies, especially for those into exports. Or MSMEs can avail the latest scheme introduced by the Centre – Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (MCGS MSME) that provides up to 100 crore credit through banks without security,” says M Ponnuswami, CMD, Pon Pure Chemicals group, and co-chairman, CII MSME National Council.
Unfortunately, MSMEs have limited options for raising equity. They are too small for an IPO and in most cases too small for private equity, barring aerospace and defence. “SME IPO and family investments have been the only options. In the process, they have become too dependent on debt and this trend has persisted for almost two decades now,” says C Venkat Subramanyam, founder, Veda Corporate Advisors, leading mid-market investment bank. “This is in stark contrast to small and medium sized businesses in tech services, digital, consumer and health care, which attract both venture capital and private equity funds. The need of the hour is a dedicated VC fund for MSME manufacturers that can enable them to scale, compete aggressively with Chinese companies and capitalize on this big shift from China,” he says. Until then, the banks will continue to celebrate how they contained their NPAs, unmindful of China and Donald Trump.

On the World Health Day 2025, with WHO’s theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” India continues to strengthen its healthcare systems through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission, marking significant progress in improving maternal and child health, expanding digital healthcare access, and enhancing public health infrastructure.

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, underscores the importance of global health and calls for collective action to address pressing health challenges. Started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1950, it unites governments, institutions, and communities in addressing critical health priorities each year.

According to an official release, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made substantial strides in improving India’s public health outcomes through various key initiatives and programs. The National Health Mission (NHM) has played a central role in this progress.
The release mentioned that the MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) in India dropped from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per 1,00,000 live births, a decline of 33 points.

“Over the last 30 years (1990-2020), MMR declined by 83% in India,” the release stated.

It also highlighted that IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) dropped from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020) per 1,000 live births, NMR(Neonatal Mortality Rate) reduced from 26 (2014) to 20 (2020) per 1,000 live births and U5MR(Under-5 Mortality Rate) declined from 45 (2014) to 32 (2020) per 1,000 live births.The government also took several initiatives for Maternal Health and Pregnant Women.As per the release, Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) was conducted at facility and community levels to identify causes of maternal deaths and implement corrective actions for improving obstetric care.

Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card & Safe Motherhood Booklet were distributed to educate pregnant women on nutrition, rest, pregnancy danger signs, government schemes, and benefits of institutional deliveries.

Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal: A name-based digital platform to track pregnant women and newborns, ensuring timely antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Part of POSHAN Abhiyan; focuses on testing, treatment, and prevention of anaemia in adolescents and pregnant women through nutrition, awareness, and addressing non-nutritional causes.

The release stated that as of April 5, 2025, there are over 1.76 lakh active Ayushman Arogya Mandirs(Health & Wellness Centres) in India, providing comprehensive primary health care.

According to the portal, 107.10 crores screenings for hypertension and 94.56 crores screenings for diabetes have been conducted at the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a unified digital health ecosystem to securely connect patients, healthcare providers, and systems through an interoperable digital infrastructure. As of April 5, 2025, over 76 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created under the ABDM.

There are over 5.95 lakh verified healthcare professionals registered under the ABDM Scheme, with over3.86 lakh verified health facilities. Under ABDM, more than 52 crores health records are linked.

Further, the release highlighted that the WHO World Malaria Report 2024 highlights India’s major strides in malaria elimination, with a 69 per cent drop in cases and 68 per cent reduction in deaths between 2017 and 2023.

“Contributing just 0.8 per cent of global cases in 2023, India’s exit from WHO’s High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024 marks a significant public health achievement,” the release stated.

The Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024, a feat recognised by the WHO, it stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the New Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram on Sunday, emphasised that developing Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure is among his government’s highest priorities. 

Highlighting the Centre’s ongoing support for various projects in the state, he said, “The infrastructure of Tamil Nadu is a top priority for the government. In the past decade, the state’s rail budget has increased more than sevenfold. Despite this significant growth, some people continue to complain without justification…”

Significant rise in Rail Budget post-2014

Pointing to the contrast in budgetary allocations over the years, he remarked, “Before 2014, only Rs 900 crore were allocated each year. You know who was the ‘karta-dharta’ of the INDI alliance at that time. However, this year, Tamil Nadu’s rail budget has exceeded Rs 6000 crore.”

He also outlined progress in the state’s railways and roadways, saying, “Additionally, the Indian government is modernizing 77 railway stations, including the one in Rameswaram. In the past 10 years, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a lot of work has been done on village roads and highways. After 2014, with the help of the Central Government, around 4000 kilometres of roads have been built in Tamil Nadu…”

Metro connectivity and housing for the poor

He said modern public transport like the Chennai Metro has improved ease of travel and noted, “In the last 10 years, more than 4 crore pucca houses have been given to poor families across the country, and under the PM Awas Yojana, more than 12 lakh pucca houses have been provided to my poor brothers and sisters here in Tamil Nadu…”

Underscoring the state’s importance in India’s developmental journey, he added, “I believe the country’s overall development will improve as Tamil Nadu’s potential is realized.” He highlighted that over the past decade, the NDA government has tripled the fund allocation to Tamil Nadu compared to the pre-2014 period, saying, “In the last decade, the central government has allocated three times more funding to Tamil Nadu compared to the period before 2014. The Modi government has provided three times the funds to Tamil Nadu while the INDI alliance was in power. This support has contributed to the growth of the economy and industry in the state.”

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister flagged off a train and a ship from the New Pamban Bridge — India’s first vertical lift sea bridge — in the presence of Governor RN Ravi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Speaking about the new services, he said, “The new train service will improve connectivity from Rameswaram to Chennai and other parts of the country. This will benefit both trade and tourism in Tamil Nadu. New jobs and opportunities will also be created for the youth…”

He attributed the country’s economic expansion to infrastructure development: “A major reason for such rapid growth is also our splendid modern infrastructure. In the past 10 years, we have increased the budget for infrastructure like rail, road, airports, water, ports, electricity, gas pipelines… by nearly six times.”

Listing key achievements across the country, he said, “In the north, in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the highest rail bridges in the world, the Chenab Bridge, has been completed. In the west, in Mumbai, India’s longest sea bridge, the Atal Setu, has been constructed. In the east, in Assam, you can see the Bogibeel Bridge. And in the south, the Pamban Bridge, one of the few vertical lift bridges in the world, has been constructed…”

Bullet train, modern trains and freight corridors

He also spoke of ongoing national projects: “Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors are also being developed. Work is progressing rapidly on the country’s first bullet train. Modern trains like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat are making our rail network more advanced…”

Highlighting support to Tamil Nadu’s farming community, he said, “In Tamil Nadu, lakhs of small farmers have received around Rs 12,000 crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Additionally, farmers of Tamil Nadu have also received claims worth Rs 14,800 crore through the PM Fasal Bima Yojana.”

Rs 8,300 crore projects dedicated to the nation

The Prime Minister noted Tamil Nadu’s significance in the blue economy, saying, “India’s growth story is going to have a significant contribution from our Blue Economy, and the world can clearly see the strength of Tamil Nadu in this sector. The fishing community of Tamil Nadu is extremely hardworking… In the last 5 years, under the PM Matsya Sampada Scheme, Tamil Nadu has received crores of rupees for fisheries development…”

Concluding his address, he said, “I feel blessed that I could pray at the Ramanathaswamy temple today. On this special day, I got the opportunity to hand over development works worth Rs 8,300 crores. These rail and road projects will boost connectivity in Tamil Nadu. I congratulate my brother and sisters in Tamil Nadu for these projects.”

(With inputs from ANI)

INS Trikand, a mission-deployed stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, on Friday intercepted a distress call from an Iranian dhow Al Omeedi, operating approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Oman coast.

The Navy, in a release, said upon investigation, it was found that a crew member of the dhow had sustained severe injuries to his fingers while working on the engine and was in critical condition and that he had been transferred to another dhow, FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia, which was en route to Iran.

“Trikand immediately altered her course to provide medical assistance to the injured crew member. The crew of FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia consisted of 11 Pakistani (nine Baloch and two Sindhi) and five Iranian personnel. The injured Pakistani (Baloch) national had suffered multiple fractures and severe hand injuries, resulting in heavy blood loss,” the Navy said.

The medical officer of INS Trikand, along with a team comprising MARCOS (Marine Commandos) and the ship’s boarding team, boarded the vessel to administer aid, it said.

After administering local anaesthesia, the ship’s medical team performed suturing and splinting on the injured fingers, and the surgical procedure, which lasted for over three hours, was completed, it said,

Bleeding was controlled in time, thereby preventing potential permanent loss of the injured fingers due to gangrene, the Navy said.

“Additionally, medical supplies, including antibiotics, were provided to the vessel to ensure the crew’s well-being until they reached Iran. The entire crew expressed their deep gratitude to the Indian Navy for the timely assistance in saving their crewmate’s life,” the Navy said.

A day after the two countries finalised crucial agreements to deepen energy and defence ties, the two leaders emphasised the religious and cultural links between India and Sri Lanka by visiting the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura, a world heritage site and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia.

Modi and Dissanayake joined a ceremony to inaugurate the 128-km Maho-Omanthai railway line refurbished with Indian assistance of $91.27 million. They also launched another project to build an advanced signaling system from the railway line from Maho to Anuradhapura with an Indian grant of $14.89.

These railway modernisation projects implemented under the bilateral development partnership will help strengthen north-south rail connectivity in Sri Lanka, Indian officials said. The projects will also facilitate the fast and efficient movement of passenger and freight traffic across the country.

“Boosting connectivity and enhancing friendship! In Anuradhapura, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and I jointly inaugurated the track upgradation of the existing Maho-Omanthai railway line,” Modi said in a social media post.

“The signalling project which involves the installation of an advanced signalling and telecommunication system along the Maho-Anuradhapura section was also launched. India is proud to support Sri Lanka in various aspects of their development journey,” he said.

Also Read: India, Sri Lanka ink 10 agreements including in defence, power, energy

India has provided concessional financing of more than $2 billion to Sri Lanka through credit lines funded by EXIM Bank for development projects, especially in the railways sector. This has included a credit line of $167.40 million for upgrading the coastal railway track, two credit lines worth almost $800 million for upgrading the northern railways, and another credit line of $318 million for passenger coaches, rolling stock and signalling systems.

Earlier, the two leaders went to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple and offered prayers at the Mahabodhi tree, which is believed to have grown from a Bo sapling brought to Sri Lanka from India by Sangamitta Maha Theri in the third century BCE. Sangamitta, a Buddhist nun and the eldest daughter of Emperor Ashoka, and her brother Mahinda travelled to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of the Buddha.

The two leaders also sought blessings from the head monk of the shrine and interacted with other monks.

“Offered prayers at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura with President Dissanayake. It’s a deeply humbling moment to be at one of the most revered sites in Buddhism,” Modi said in another social media post. “It is a living symbol of peace, enlightenment and spiritual continuity. May the teachings of Lord Buddha always guide us.”

In recent years, India has stepped up efforts to build on ancient Buddhist ties with several countries across the region, including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as part of efforts to counter China’s attempts to use Buddhism to enhance its influence in South and Southeast Asia.

In 2022, Modi announced a grant of $15 million for promoting Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka. The first project under this grant was the solar electrification of Buddhist shrines at a cost of $10 million. Last year, India sent sacred relics of the Buddha on a tour of several cities in Thailand.

Also read: Fulfil aspirations of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority: Modi to Dissanayake

Modi departed directly from Anuradhapura for Tamil Nadu, where he was set to inaugurate several projects. In a message thanking Dissanayake and the people of Sri Lanka, Modi said: “Be it in Colombo or Anuradhapura, this visit has reaffirmed the deep cultural, spiritual and civilisational ties between our two nations. It will surely add momentum to our bilateral relations.”

As he flew to Tamil Nadu, Modi said in yet another social media post: “On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya.”

The swanky new sea bridge at Pamban glistens in the summer sun. Dubbed as an engineering marvel, this imposing lifting-span structure facilitates better train operations in the Palk Strait, connecting Ramanathapuram with the Rameswaram island.

The British-era old Pamban Rail Bridge, comprising two cantilever bridges, had to be replaced because its highly corroded centre span made the structure vulnerable. All trains had to slow down while passing through the bridge. When Southern Railway decided to spruce things up, it wanted the new lift span as a single piece, between two sub-structures.

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