New Delhi : Hypertension has emerged as a major health problem in India with one in four Indians suffering from it. Early detection and management of hypertension is necessary to prevent complications such as cardiovascular disease. However, it is a challenge given the shortfall of trained health workforce, particularly in rural areas.

A new study done by Indian and Australian researchers has found that training available workforce such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) could be effective in rural areas. Researchers led by Prof Amanda Thrift from Monash University developed a training package for health workers and evaluated its effectiveness. The training module helps health workers identify and control hypertension in the community. The study measured effectiveness of the tool in terms of knowledge, skills and perception of health workers.

The study was conducted in Trivandrum in Kerala, West Godavari and Rishi Valley in Andhra Pradesh. “We selected these places based on quality of health workforce available there. Trivandrum has good healthcare facilities, while West Godavari has average and Rishi Valley has poor facilities,” Pallab Kumar Maulik, a member of the research team, said while speaking to India Science Wire.

As part of the study, 15 ASHAs attended a five-day training workshop that was delivered using interactive instructional strategies. They then led community-based education support groups for three months. Training materials incorporated details on managing hypertension, goal setting, facilitating group meetings, and measuring blood pressure and body weight. “We have introduced some very simple lifestyle interventions like how to talk with people, how to measure blood pressure, risks of hypertension, utility of measuring blood pressure etc.,” Dr Maulik said.

The training was designed to provide ASHAs with knowledge regarding hypertension and its factors, strategies to manage hypertension via knowledge about healthy lifestyle and adherence to medications, and skill in facilitation of group meetings. Health workers were also taught to deliver community group-based education, and provide support for individuals with hypertension. After the training, researchers found that ASHAs’ knowledge of hypertension improved from a mean score of 64% before training to 76% post-training and 84% after the three-month intervention.

Dr Maulik said results of the study would be shared with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). “We hope the government will further use this to improve health facilities particularly in rural areas,” he added. According to him, it was not only health workers but communities also responded positively. 

The research team included Marwa Abdel, Clara K. Chow, Pallab Kumar Maulik, Rama Guggilla, Rohina Joshi (George institute, Australia and India); Amanda Gay Thrift, Michaela Riddell, Oduru Suresh, Roger George Evans (Monash University); Ajay Mahal, Brian Oldenburg (University of Melbourne); Kavumpurathu Raman Thankappan, Gomathyamma Krishnakurup Mini (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology); Kartik Kalyanram and Kamakshi Kartik (Rishi Valley Rural Health Centre) and Nihal Thomas (Christian Medical College, Vellore). The study has been published in journal BMC Health Services Research. (India Science Wire)

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked the security forces not to launch operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan which begins on Thursday. 

The decision was taken to help the peace loving Muslims observe Ramzan when devout Muslims observe fast during the month in a peaceful environment. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has already informed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the Centre’s decision.

However, Security Forces will reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people.

“Government expects everyone to cooperate in this initiative and help the Muslim brothers & sisters to observe Ramzan peacefully and without any difficulties. It is important to isolate the forces that bring a bad name to Islam by resorting to mindless violence and terror,” a Home Ministry release said here on Wednesday. 

Mumbai: To overcome problems of access, Availability, affordability, and accountability in Healthcare Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Shushrusha’s Suman Ramesh Tulsiani Hospital (SSRTH) a 140-bedded super specialty hospital at Kannamwar Nagar-1, Vikhroli. Shri. Ram Naik, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri. Prakash Mehta, State Cabinet Minister for Housing Department, and Shri. Subash Deshmukh, Minister of co-operation were also present.

Shushrusha’s Suman Ramesh Tulsiani Hospital (SSRTH), situated along with the eastern express highway at Vikhroli, is 6 storey facility. Hospital has carpet area about one lac sq.Ft. Hospital has 140 bed capacity, which is classified into EMS, Day care, General ward, maternity ward with labour room and separate operation theatre, Twin sharing, Single occupancy, ICUs and NICU beds. Facility has well equipped Operation theatre complex of 3 modular OTs, Modular procedure room attached to EMS and OPD,  CSSD, 24 bedded ICU, 6 bedded NICU and 8 bedded PICU. 

Speaking at the inauguration function founder Dr. Nand Kishore S Laud, Chairman and Consultant Orth. Surgeon, Shushrusha Citizen’s Co-operative Hospital, Ltd said “We would harness the latest technology with a dedicated team of doctors to offer the best care to patients. Offers cutting edge technology in a transparent & ethical manner is a key priority. All services will be given as a cost effective manner for patient benefit. This institution is run by the people for the people.”

How The co-op setup work:

People contribute equity to become shareholders, and in return, shareholders and their families get concessions on consultation, and procedures. Healthcare is offered to other patients at affordable rates.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis appreciated the efforts of Shushrusha board and complimented them for their good work. He made a specific mention that the chief minster laid the foundation stone and inaugurated the hospital. He supported the concept of Co-operative Hospital and mentioned that the government could do whatever it can to help such kind of initiative.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh Shri. Ram Naik, expressed his long association with hospital and said it is one the best hospital not only in India but all over world. Also he Gave blessing for future journery of Shushrusha Hospitals.

Umesh Prasad, an Indian origin doctor, settled in the United Kingdom, has launched two new monthly academic research journals — ”European Journal of Sciences (EJS)” & ”European Journal of Social Sciences (EJSS).’’

Dr Prasad has already launched ” Scientific European’’® (a science magazine) early this year, according to a UK Education Consultancy Services Ltd announcement.   

While the magazine Scientific European® is geared towards general audience who are interested in science and technology to make them aware of advances in the scientific fields, the new journals European Journal of Sciences (EJS)® & European Journal of Social Sciences (EJSS)® will disseminate primary research to academic and scientific community after evaluation by the peers, the announcement said.

European Journal of Sciences (EJS)® [ISSN 2516-8169 (Online)|ISSN 2516-8150 (Print)] aims to report original scientific research of significance to the scientific community through proper evaluation of the findings. This covers all areas of sciences including but not limited to physical sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, mathematical sciences, computer sciences, engineering sciences, environmental sciences and earth sciences.

European Journal of Social Sciences (EJSS)® [ISSN 2516-8525 (Print)|ISSN 2516-8533 (online)] aims to report original academic research of significance in the area of social sciences to the academic community through proper evaluation of the results or findings by the peers. This covers all areas of social sciences including but not limited to anthropology, archaeology, behavioural sciences, criminology, cultural studies, demography, developmental studies, economics, education, gender studies, geography, gerontology, history, international studies, linguistics, media studies, philosophy, political sciences, psychology, public administration, rural and urban studies, social work, sociology and sustainability studies.

Both the journals are ‘’Open Access’’, available in both online and print formats and are published on a monthly basis.

Umesh Prasad, the founder editor, said: ‘’We value inclusive dissemination. We wish to enhance access to systems and processes of sharing of new knowledge acquired through primary scientific research. We think there is a genuine need for more specific journals dedicated to the scientific community where researchers can publish up-to-date, high-quality and original research papers along with relevant and insightful reviews about their cutting-edge works. Hence, here we are with the premiere issues of European Journal of Sciences (EJS) and European Journal of Social Sciences (EJSS)! Hope these journals provide a vibrant, engaging, integrative and collaborative platform for the researchers to present their works after rigorous and fair peer review process’’.

Karnataka assembly election results 2018: Former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa led BJP ousted the Siddaramaiah led Congress and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda led JD (S) in the 2018 state assembly polls. Polling was held in 222 constituencies of the 224-member Assembly as elections in two constituencies, Jayanagara and Rajrajeshwari were countermanded.

Congress has announced that it will support the JD(S) and according to media reports, it is also ready to offer the chief minister’s post to seal the post-poll alliance. Outgoing Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah and senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear that this move has sanction from the high command.

This little detail is all important because in case there was a “pre-poll alliance”, the governor would have been duty-bound to call the alliance partners to prove majority. However, since there was no such alliance when all parties went to the polls, the governor is duty-bound to call the single-largest party (SLP) for staking claim to form a government, and in this case, it is the BJP.

Therefore, going by the book, the BJP, if it manages to emerge as the SLP, it will have the right to be called first, and from that point, it will be a game of numbers because the BJP will try to factionalise the Congress and JD(S) MLAs and the alliance partners will try to keep their flock together. Get ready for resort politics.

After the dramatic development of the Congress and the JD(S) coming together, BJP’s chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that the party will wait for the final results to be declared.

Meanwhile, Union Ministers J.P. Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar are heading to Bengaluru today.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has put all requests on hold and will not be meeting either JDS-Congress or the BJP till all the results are declared. 

As per the latest trends, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 104 seats, while the Congress is ahead in 77 seats. The Janata Dal (Secular) is at third place with 39 seats. The counting of votes for 222 of the 224 Assembly seats is being carried out across at 58,546 polling stations at nearly 38 counting centres.

The exit polls have predicted a hung assembly in Karnataka just like the opinion polls did. However, exit polls are divided on whether the Congress or the BJP will emerge as the single largest party while they say that the JDS will emerge as the kingmaker. But a majority of exit polls have predicted advantage BJP, with Today’s-Chanakya Times Now predicting a clear mandate for the party. On the other hand, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll has predicted a clear victory for the Congress.

Poll pundits have called it a wave-less election in Karnataka. However, both the Congress and the BJP have claimed that they will win the election and form the government in the state on their own. The JDS, meanwhile, according to reports has backed a Dalit face for the Chief Minister’s post if it wants the Congress to ally with it in case of a hung Assembly. While the Congress has pitched for Siddaramaiah, the man who is the first to have completed 5 years as CM in Karnataka, as its CM candidate, the BJP is rooting for former CM Yeddyurappa’s return.

New Delhi: A ground breaking new study reveals the extent of daily harassment feared by girls in India in public spaces, including being subjected to lewd comments, inappropriate touching and other forms of sexual assault.

Save the Children’s new report WINGS 2018: World of India’s Girls – A study on the perception of girls’ safety in public spaces, launched today by Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, reveals that 1 in 3 adolescent girls in India expect to be inappropriately touched or stalked when they venture out in public, and about one out of five feel they are at risk of being physically assaulted, including rape.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, Â“Women and girls must be at the heart of policies that guide urban development. The processes should not be prescriptive and hence it is important that from policies to its execution, it has participation of girls and women. The philosophy of new India 2022 has to be routed through the Sarvodaya and Antodaya – that means ‘the last first’. So, let us begin from the most marginalised girls and women.”

The research included surveys with more than 4,000 adolescent girls and boys in India, as well as 800 parents of adolescent girls, which was conducted across six states, 30 cities and 84 villages in 12 districts of Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

Endorsing the report, Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women & Child Development, pointed out that Â“The rights of women and girls and their perception of safety are of utmost importance in achieving an inclusive and equitable society. The Indian government has enabled progressive laws like the POCSO Act 2012 and the Criminal Amendments Act 2013, but a part of the onus lies with families and communities towards ensuring girl’s safety. I congratulate Save the Children in bringing out this report that explores support system available to girls in case of harassment in public spaces, and analyses the effectiveness of the administrative and civil society interventions and services in place to address the issue.”

“These findings reveal the danger and fear faced by millions of Indian girls every day when they go outside their homes, and the harmful impact this can have on their self-confidence and ability to move around freely,” said Bidisha Pillai, CEO, Save the Children in India. “This harmful phenomenon is also putting girls’ futures at risk, encouraging child marriage and making it more difficult to get an education, pursue meaningful employment and engage with the world.”

“All children have a right to feel safe and protected when they are in a public space, and if this right is violated, they should be able to have confidence that law enforcement authorities will take them seriously and properly investigate their claims,” she added.

The report alsorecognizes a number of significant initiatives of the government and civil society to address the issue, including funding for the Nirbhaya Fund, which aims to make public spaces safer for girls and women. But Pillai says far more must be done, pointing out that many incidents of harassment and abuse go unreported every day.

The report also found that:

·         More than two-thirds of adolescent girls from urban and rural areas said they would confide in their mothers when they face harassment in a public space

·         Nearly two out of five said that if their parents found out about an incident of harassment in a public space, they would restrict their movement outside of home

Emphasizing on the need for a safer environment for girls, actor Richa Chadda added, Â“Safety for girls can be ensured if existing laws are strictly enforced but most importantly if boys are raised differently.”

WINGS 2018, which shines a spotlight on the issue while gaining greater understanding of the factors that make girls feel unsafe, makes recommendations to improve public safety for girls based on comments they made during the research.

These measures include improved policing, with greater representation of women in the police force, the installation of improved lighting in public spaces, greater development of community support mechanisms like self-help groups, children’s groups and mothers’ groups, mandatory gender training for all public transport drivers including Uber and Ola, and greater resourcing at a political level for girls’ safety.

Pillai emphasized that it’s everyone’s responsibility to make the country safe for girls. “We need to stand together – policy makers, administrators, law enforcement agencies, civil society and members of the public – not only to provide short-term solutions to address public safety, but simultaneously challenge deeply-embedded gender norms that deny girls of their basic rights.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released REPLACE, a step-by-step guide for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply that is estimated to result in more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease. 

  
Industrially-produced trans fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snack food, baked foods, and fried foods. Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life than other fats. But healthier alternatives can be used that would not affect taste or cost of food.
 
“WHO calls on governments to use theREPLACE action package to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the food supply,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Implementing the six strategic actions in the REPLACEpackage will help achieve the elimination of trans-fat, and represent a major victory in the global  fight against cardiovascular disease.”
 
REPLACE provides six strategic actions to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the food supply:
 

Review dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change.

Promote the replacement of industrially-produced trans fats with healthier fats and oils.

Legislateor enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats.

Assess and monitor trans fats content in the food supply and changes in trans-fat consumption in the population.

Create awareness of the negative health impact of trans fats among policy makers, producers, suppliers, and the public.

Enforce compliance of policies and regulations.

 

Several high-income countries have virtually eliminated industrially-produced trans fats through legally imposed limits on the amount that can be contained in packaged food. Some governments have implemented nationwide bans on partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of industrially-produced trans fats, a statement issued by WHO said.
 
In Denmark, the first country to mandate restrictions on industrially-produced trans fats, the trans-fat content of food products declined dramatically and cardiovascular disease deaths declined more quickly than in comparable OECD countries.
 
Action is needed in low- and middle-income countries, where controls of use of industrially-produced trans fats are often weaker, to ensure that the benefits are felt equally around the world.   
 

Elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the global food supply has been identified as one of the priority targets of WHO’s strategic plan, the draft 13^th General Programme of Work (GPW13) which will guide the work of WHO in 2019-2023. This is on the agenda of the 71^st World Health Assembly that will be held in Geneva on 21 – 26 May 2018.

As part of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, the global community has committed to reducing premature death from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030. Global elimination of industrially-produced trans fats can help achieve this goal.
 
There are two main sources for trans fats: natural sources (in the dairy products and meat of ruminants such as cows and sheep) and industrially-produced sources (partially hydrogenated oils).
 
Partially hydrogenated oils were first introduced into the food supply in the early 20^th century as a replacement for butter, and became more popular in the 1950s through 1970s with the discovery of the negative health impacts of saturated fatty acids. Partially hydrogenated oils are primarily used for deep frying and as an ingredient in baked goods; they can be replaced in both.
 
WHO recommends that the total trans-fat intake be limited to less than 1% of total energy intake, which translates to less than 2.2 g/day with a 2,000-calorie diet. Trans fats increases levels of LDL-cholesterol, a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk, and decreases levels of HDL-cholesterol, which carry away cholesterol from arteries and transport it to the liver, that secretes it into the bile. Diets high in trans-fat increase heart disease risk by 21% and deaths by 28%. 

Replacing trans fats with unsaturated fatty acids decreases the risk of heart disease, in part, by ameliorating the negative effects of trans fats on blood lipids. In addition, there are indications that trans-fat may increase inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.

SHIMLA : Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda, presided over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with four States – Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Union Territory of Chandigarh for implementing Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission (PMRSSM).

Speaking at the function, Mr. J P Nadda said that “we are witnessing history as the first MoU of Ayushman Bharat is being signed here. The scheme shall be a big game changer in the healthcare”. Health Minister further said that the initiatives undertaken by the Government eventually become the largest health programs of the world due to the sheer numbers in India. He cited TB and Leprosy elimination programs of the Government. “ Through our programs and initiatives, we are ensuring that the healthcare is accessible, affordable and equitable,”

Mr. Nadda further stated that Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission (PMRSSM) will protect around 50 crore people (from about 10 crore families). “It will be cashless and paperless access to services upto Rs. 5 lakhs per year will be available for the beneficiary families at the point of service in both public and private empanelled hospitals across India.” He further said that the beneficiaries under the scheme can avail of services anywhere in India and it is expected to bring a visible relief to the target families by mitigating the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes.

The Union Health Minister further stated that health is at the centre-stage and the Government is looking at it holistically. He said that PMRSSM will protect the people and at the same time Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) will deliver comprehensive primary health care. “The H&WC would provide preventive, promotive, and curative care for non-communicable diseases, dental, mental, geriatric care, palliative care, etc. The Government has initiated universal screening of common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and common cancers, which will eventually help in reducing the disease burden of the country.

Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh said that Ayushman Bharat in itself is a blessing.“I extend my gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister and Union Health Minister for giving an opportunity to host this historic signing of MoUs for the world’s largest health insurance scheme”. He further said that this will provide momentum to the Ayushman Bharat program of the government. He said that he will ensure that the program reaches to every household. He further informed that that the health indicators of the State are good and his government will further try to improve them. He said that the State now have six medical colleges and one AIIMS approved by Central Government. We are now coming up with a Medical University in the state, he added.

Speaking at the occasion TrivendraSingh Rawat, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand said that Ayushman Bharat is going to be a revolutionary step in the healthcare and assured all the support for its implementation in the state. He added that as per the latest census 20 lakh families will be covered under this scheme in Uttarakhand. He said that government is ensuring that every household gets medical facilities within the distance of 10 km.  Shri Rawat also said that the gender ratio in the state has improved along with other public health facilities, including increase in the number of doctors in the state.

Through these MoU, the States will formally commit to implement PMRSSM. The MoU clearly outlines roles of Central and State/ UT Governments for the implementation of PMRSSM.Similar regional workshops are also planned in due course of time across India to sign MoU with States/UTs for rolling out of PMRSSM in each region.

From bad loans to loan defaulters to financial frauds and embezzlement, the Indian banking system seems to be in a crisis mode. And, needless to say, it will have a cascading effect on most sectors – including real estate. 

To build a project, developers largely rely on banks for their capital needs. Alternately, they seek customer advances to proceed with construction. If they are not adequately funded, their projects either go belly-up or are delayed extensively, causing disruption in the entire property-cycle. Much to the dismay of developers, the recent events in the banking industry have caused commercial banks as well as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to become more cautious about disbursing heavy loans to real estate developers.

Numbers suggest that bank lending to the real estate sector came down from 68% in 2013 to a mere 17% in 2016 due to mounting NPAs. Despite the continuous efforts by the Central Government to strengthen public sector banks by infusing bonds and launching regulatory reforms (recapitalization), the piling up of bad loans and NPAs is hurting public sectors banks. In June 2017, the share of bad loans was around 10% of the total loans disbursed by the banking system. 

Simultaneously, the gross non-performing assets had grown by nearly 190% (~8 lakh crore) in December 2017 from ~3 lakh crore in March 2015. As a result, banks’ credit growth is now at an all-time low since 1951. This will have repercussions on the real estate sector in the short to mid-term:

• Cash-starved developers face further heat:

The current banking crisis has pushed several banks into hyper-vigilance about disbursing loans. The few leading developers who have good previous track records are unruffled, but banks are refraining from lending to smaller developers. This inevitably puts pressure on such developers, who are already cash-starved and under immense pressure to complete their ongoing projects.

Under RERA, builders need to complete their project on time to avoid penalties. As a result, they are either being wiped out or seeking alternate funding via private equity or other NBFCs which offer to fund at significantly higher interest rates (nearly 18%-21%, as opposed to bank loans which come at 11%-13%). This extra burden will inevitably be passed on to prospective homebuyers in the form of increased property prices. 

• A setback for affordable housing:

Despite being accorded infrastructure status by the Government, affordable housing projects are likely to suffer due to the ongoing banking mess. To avoid a further crisis, most banks have laid down stringent lending norms; as such, banks are refusing to fund even projects that fall under the affordable housing category due to the mounting NPAs in previous years. This could seriously derail the Government’s ambitious project ‘Housing for All by 2022’ mission.

• Impact on property prices:

With banks being extra cautious and literally pulling out of the property market, private equity players and other financial institutions have come to the rescue of several Indian developers. The current numbers indicate that nearly 75% of the funding in real estate is via the PE route. These options are eventually expensive for developers who, in turn, pass the buck to property buyers by increasing property prices. If banks proactively extended credit to developers at subsidized rates, it would eventually help keep a check on property prices as well.

• Property cycle stagnation:

With banks shying away from lending to developers, the property cycle may grind to a halt across cities. There are several under-construction projects that need funding for completion. For instance, NCR has maximum project delays due to the severe cash crunch. With banks refusing to give funding to many developers there, these players are unable to complete their projects. If banks offered them credit, their projects would be completed and the development cycle could resume – which would ultimately lead to a faster revival of the sector.

On the Positive Side

The recent crisis is paving the way for several structural changes within the Indian banking system. For instance, the RBI unveiled a new charter of rules early this year for recognizing defaulting loans and ways to resolve the crisis. More so, the passing of the NPA ordinance in 2017 empowered the RBI to directly intervene in bad loans and thereby go some ways in resolving the NPA deadlock. An overall reduction in bad loans will eventually encourage banks to issue fresh loans to credible players. With a healthier banking system, the economy can also begin firing on all cylinders again. 

(The opinion expressed by author is personal.)

[Directed & Produced: Bimal Roy/ Story & Screenplay: Ritwik Ghatak/Dialogue: Rajinder Singh Bedi/Cinematography: Dilip Gupta/ Editing:  Hrishikesh Mukherjee/ Lyrics: Shailendra/Music:Salil Choudhury/Playback: Lata Mangeshkar,Mukesh,Mohd Rafi and Manna Dey/ Starring: Dilip Kumar,Vyjayanthimala,Pran,Johnny Walker,Jayant andTarun Bose]

Three years after Devdas (1955) had lit the marquee, Bimal Roy took up two lightweight stories both starring Dilip Kumar- Madhumati and Yahudi (1958), huge twin hits at the box-office. Ritwik Ghatak drafted his story in to the script for Madhumati with Rajinder Singh Bedi contributing the dialogues. It was the only celluloid collaboration between Roy and Ghatak that led to Bimal Roy’s biggest commercial success.  After Do Bigha Zameen, Bimal Roy was criticized for the Kishore Kumar starrer Naukri and Madhumati. Madhumati proved to be Roy’s biggest hit ever. The film was the 5^th biggest film of the 50s. 

Dilip Kumar in his autobiography recollects that when Bimal Roy gave him the first narration, along with Ritwik Ghatak, the actor could sense Roy’s passion. There were others who dampened the coals by telling Roy that it was a risky film with reincarnation in layers that might be difficult for the viewer to absorb. But there was others like his editor Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who egged him on to experiment with a genre that offered wonderful cinematic prospects.

Madhumati walked away with nine Filmfare Awards of a total 15 awards that were given away at the 6th Filmfare Awards including Best Film, Director, Music (Salil Choudhury), Best Supporting Actor (Johnny Walker), Best Female Playback (Lata Mangeshkar), Best Editing (Hrishikesh Mukherjee)  Best Dialogue (Rajinder Singh Bedi), Best Art Direction (Sudhendu Roy) and Best Cinematographer(   Dilip Gupta).The Filmfare it truly deserved, that for story, went to Pt. Mukhram Sharma for Sadhna (1958). 

In 1958, Vyjayanthimala was nominated twice for the Filmfare Awards for two hits released within a month of each other – Madhumati and Sadhna. She won the Filmfare for B.R. Chopra’s Sadhna but Madhumati took Vyjayanthimala to stardom. Dilip Kumar had two releases in 1958 – Madhumati and Yahudi. Both were directed by Bimal Roy, but he was pipped to the best actor’s post by his friend Dev Anand for Kala Pani.

Madhumati was the first Indian film to be launched abroad. A bashful Bimal Roy created a sensation by performing the muhurat ceremony of Madhumati in front of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Theatre in Czechoslovakia. Dilip Kumar faced the camera, while Soviet actress Tatyana Konjuchova, switched on the camera. Polish actress Barbara Polonska acted as clapper-boy.

Salil Chaudhary’s reputation as a composer had stood the test of fire in his debut film Do Bigha Zamin he had also authored the story of the film to boot but Bollywood’s populist industry labelled Salil Chowdhury a flop music director. Bimal Roy worked in tandem with Sachin Dev Burman and Salil Chowdhury. SD Burman was busy composing music for Sujata when Madhumati was on the drawing board and was for Salil Chowdhury to compose! But the rumour mills were doing overtime that Dilip Kumar, Madhumati’s hero, was vehemently opposed to Salil Chowdhury as a composer.Salil Chowdhury and Shailendra were stumped, the thespian’s resistance questioned their talent, but the two buoyed by Bimal Roy’s unlimited faith created history. After the release of Madhumati, the Salil Chowdhury signed no less than nineteen films.

Salil Choudhary used Assamese folk tunes in most songs, like Chad gayo paapi bichua, Zulmi sang ankh ladi or Ghadi ghadi mora dil dhadke. The film was an all-out triumph for Salil Choudhury is a fact that Lata Mangeshkar counts Aaja Re Pardesi from Madhumati as among her ten best songs ever. She confesses to love all the songs of Madhumati and recounted in an interview that it was a special day when the theme song, Aaja Re Pardesi was recorded as Shailendra gave her flowers and the reticent Bimal Roy not given to any praise came forward to congratulate her. The perfectionist that Bimal Roy was had reshot Aaja re pardesi because he was not happy with the results. 

Mubarak Begum (1936-2016) the legendary playback unfortunately could never cash on the success of a blockbuster like Madhumati. Her number, Hum haal-e-dil sunaenge, in Bimal Roy’s Madhumati (1958) is still remembered even 60 years later. She continued to live in penury in a small house of the Behrampauda area in western suburb of Jogeshwari in Mumbai, with an ailing daughter and a son, who worked as a chauffeur. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh had sanctioned her a flat in Jogeshwari from the Chief Minister’s discretionary quota, with lyricist Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi raising the money for her flat.

Dilip Gupta (1911-99) had Mickey, Goofy and the Three Little Pigs singing a farewell song for him in a cartoon short personally drawn by Walt Disney when he was returning to India in 1935 after working for Disney in Hollywood. Dilip Gupta attended the New York Institute of Photography, worked at the Paramount Studios with Clark Gable and Greta Garbo, and trained himself in animation at Disney’s studio.

He received the first Filmfare trophy for cinematography for Madhumati and mentored Radhu Karmakar, Taru Dutt, Aloke Dasgupta, Apurba Bhattacharya, V Prabhakar, A K Bir, Barun Mukherji and Balu Mahendra as his students at FTII. Dilip Gupta himself had a great guru at New Theatres, as Nitin Bose.

Bimal Roy had decided to shoot ‘Madhumati’ (1958) at Ranikhet, near Nainital. This was rare as noir films were shot indoors, to give an image of ominous. As there were no monitors in those days, when the developed prints arrived many rushes were found to be foggy. Since a reshoot at Ranikhet would puncture the budget, a set was created inside the Aarey Milk Colony, Igatpuri, a forested area near Mumbai. To keep the film within the budget, Roy gave up his director’s fees. Similarly Bimal Roy had shot the Kumbh Mela to be used as part of a feature film Amar Kumbh ki Khoj, which sadly never got made. Incidentally the ambiance of the crowd in the Kumbh film was utilized as the ambiance sound of the mela scene of Madhumati by Bimal Roy! 

Bimal Roy’s marshalling of talent whether in extracting convincing performances, evocative cinematography, edgy editing or the evergreen musical score by Salil Choudhury to recreate mood and ambiance makes the film more than a riveting tale of reincarnation and revenge. The standard clichés that are in a typical Hindi Film Potboiler – A sprawling haunted mansion, hero learning of his past life, the naive and innocent village belle and the lecherous zamindar lusting after the damsel do not run away from Bimal Roy’s steely grip and he uses these elements to his film’s utmost advantage. 

Madhumati is the grandmother of such famous reincarnation films as Milan, Mehbooba, Karz, Karan Arjun and Kudrat.