DailyBrief: Sandeshkhali celebrates the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh; and all about the world's first vedic clock to be inaugurated by PM Modi

Market Watch

• The benchmark indices ended on a positive note. The Sensex was up 195.42 points at 72,500.30, and the Nifty was up 31.60 points at 21,982.80.
• Sectorally, all indices ended in the green except the healthcare sector.

Sandeshkhali celebrates holi after the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh

Sheikh Shahjahan, who had been on the run since January 5 after Enforcement Directorate officials were attacked by his supporters, was arrested from Minakhan in North 24 Parganas following a 55-day manhunt.

The arrogance: Shahjahan Sheikh who is accused of sexual assault and land grabbing was seen arrogantly walking into the police station leading to further criticism. In the clip, the police can also be seen making way for him akin to a welcome for a VIP while he is seen waving off the press.

• He was arrested a day before PM Modi's visit to the state on March 1st, and 2 days after the Calcutta High Court criticized the West Bengal government for inaction and clarified that there was no stay on Sheikh's arrest.

Protected by the state? The Enforcement Directorate has suggested that the swift arrest following a High Court clarification indicates Shahjahan was protected by Bengal police, questioning the delay in his apprehension despite serious allegations and an existing non-bailable warrant.

Too late: Today, the TMC suspended Shahjahan Sheikh from the party for 6 years. It didn’t suspend him when women of Sandeshkhali village accused him of land grabbing and sexual assault. It didn’t suspend him when a mob on his behest attacked raiding Enforcement Directorate officers. It didn’t suspend him when the Calcutta High Court pulled up the government.

• Sheikh was sent to 10 days of police custody, and the West Bengal police's criminal investigation department took over the case.

Untimely holi: The jubilant villagers of Sandeshkhali celebrated with an untimely Holi after the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh.

Here’s a complete lowdown on what went down at Sandeshkhali and the larger link to illegal trafficking:

Clip du jour

Reporter’s cheeky comment on US policy cracks up US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller.

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All about the world's first Vedic Clock to be inaugurated by PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil the 'Vikramaditya Vedic Clock', a unique timepiece based on ancient Indian Panchang in Ujjain. It calculates time using the Vedic Hindu Panchang, planetary positions, and various astrological considerations, also indicating IST and GMT.

• The Vedic Clock, to be unveiled virtually by PM Modi, will be located on an 85-foot tower at Jantar Mantar, adjacent to the Government Jiwaji Observatory, in Ujjain.

The details: The Vedic clock will display time on a digital LED, in terms of Muhurats, Kaals, and Kasthas, which are units of time in the Vedic system corresponding to hours, minutes, and seconds, respectively. 

• The time calculation is based on the duration from one sunrise to the next, and the period between two sunrises is divided into 30 parts, with each 'hour' consisting of 48 minutes.

Why Ujjain? Ujjain has historical importance in time calculation, as it was once considered India’s central meridian. 

• The city determined the country's time zones and time difference and is located at the precise point of interaction with the zero meridian and the Tropic of Cancer. Ujjain's location and its observatory have played a pivotal role in determining time for centuries.

The Vedic Time System is not linear but is considered cyclic, with a range of rhythms. Vedic astronomy provides a detailed division of time up to the lowest subdivision level of Prāņa (respiration), which is a time-lapse of four seconds. The system also includes units such as Nimesha (88.889 milliseconds) and larger cycles like the Kalpa, which is a period equal to the daytime of Brahma, the creator god.

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