| Greetings from India! You're reading Meanwhile, Back Home, our daily newsletter specially curated for our overseas readers. While you were asleep, it was a whirlwind of a day here in India. We've got the top highlights lined up for you.
Welcome back, reader It is impossible to look back into the events that culminated in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack without one name popping up – Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir, arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan. According to diplomatic editor Shubhajit Roy, Munir is quite unlike his predecessors. Crisply put, he is a profoundly religious military outsider who wields Quranic rhetoric as deftly as battlefield strategy. Dubbed the "Mullah General," his speeches brim with Islamic theology, framing Pakistan as a divine project. His tenure as ISI chief included the Pulwama attack (2019), but a feud with former PM Imran Khan saw him briefly sidelined. With Khan jailed and Pakistan in turmoil, Munir was heard doubling down on anti-India rhetoric, calling Kashmir Pakistan’s "jugular vein" and invoking jihad. Incidentally, the Pahalgam terror strike (April 22) followed his fiery April 15 speech.
 Spotlight
Now that we know the next census will include caste, some critical questions must be answered before the counting begins. How will OBCs be classified, and whether every caste, even in the general category, should be listed separately? Officials say these decisions will be as political as they are logistical, with at least six months to prepare. Here’s what’s at stake: 📌 Central vs. state OBC lists Unlike Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SCs/STs), there isn’t a single list for OBCs. The Centre maintains one roster for federal jobs, while states have their own (often longer) lists. Will the Census use only the Central list’s 2,650 communities or include state variations? The choice could reshape reservation debates. 📌 Counting the "general" castes Currently, the Census lumps "general category" castes together. But, Bihar and Telangana’s surveys broke them down (take Reddys in Telangana and Brahmins in Bihar). Should the national Census do the same? It’s a thorny question as detailed data could redefine dominant caste narratives. 📌 No proof Past surveys relied on self-declaration without documents. Officials argue people don’t lie about caste, but will the data hold up to scrutiny without verification? 📌A six-month sprint From Gazette notifications to updating digital forms, the prep work is massive. Enumerators need fresh training, software must add OBC/sub-caste fields, and states must sync timelines. The 2021 digital Census blueprint helps, but caste adds a new layer of complexity.
☕ Spill the Expresso Collab alert Rapper Hanumankind has revealed his collaboration on a rap song for Tamil actor Thalapathy Vijay’s highly anticipated final film, Jana Nayagan. The political action thriller, directed by H Vinoth, marks Vijay’s last project before his political plunge. Hanumankind, fresh off global hits such as ‘Big Dawgs’ and ‘Run It Up’, teased the track as a standout addition to the film’s soundtrack. With Ravichander Anirudh’s music and Arivu’s lyrics, Jana Nayagan is set for a Pongal 2026 release. Guru Nanak Jahaz Review: The historical drama revisits the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, a crucial chapter in Sikh migration to Canada. Starring Tarsem Jassar and Gurpreet Ghuggi, the film chronicles the resilience of 376 Indian passengers aboard the SS Komagata Maru (renamed Guru Nanak Jahaz), who challenged discriminatory British colonial policies. In her review, Sukhpreet Kahlon writes that the film successfully immerses viewers in the era with its authentic period detailing. However, its dense historical focus occasionally slows the narrative. Jassar delivers a compelling performance, while the soulful track "Be-Deshe" (sung by Ranjit Bawa) drives home the migrants’ longing for hope and dignity.
🚨 Must Read The Pasmanda question The upcoming national caste census is likely to classify Pasmanda Muslims (backward classes comprising ~70% of Indian Muslims) as OBCs, as per The Indian Express sources. This aligns with PM Modi's push for their socio-economic upliftment. While Bihar (73%) and Telangana (81%) surveys already recognised Pasmandas as backward, BJP warns against "haphazard" categorisation. Critics demand concrete welfare measures beyond enumeration, such as SC status for Dalit Muslims.
📚 Book Nook Counting caste As India gears up for a landmark caste census, understanding the stakes is more crucial than ever. Whether you're a policymaker, student, or simply curious, these books unpack the deep links between caste, governance, and power. Start with Counting Caste by Trina Vithayathil to examine how governments stalled caste data. For broader context, The Oxford Handbook of Caste offers academic depth, while the Routledge Handbook of Census Resources shows how data drives policy. Add Hindutva and A Dying Race to trace ideological roots.
📰 In Other News Israel to Porbandar A viral video by Leelu Kuchhadiya, an Israel-based woman from Porbandar, alleging her family was abducted by Hiralba Jadeja—linked to the powerful ‘Godmother’ Santokben’s clan—prompted Gujarat Police to act. Initially, her father, husband, and son denied the claims but later revealed they were held hostage for over two weeks, forced to sign blank cheques. Hiralba, widow of ex-MLA Bhura Jadeja, was arrested for abduction and extortion. That’s all for now. Until next time, Aishwarya Khosla
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