Vol 0220-1
12 Pages CURSOR April 2020 | 150
www.cursormag.com
FALL OF THE MAHARAJA
A special report on
what led to Air India’s
disinvestment >>> P8
COVID-19: “We’ve become Cursor’s guide
A gory summer conversational to lockdown binge
for Europe P6 imperialists” P10 watching P11
FROM THE EDITOR
FIRST Where the Cursor
Editor-at-Large uses
WORD editor’s privilege to
brief, talk up and sell
@SamSharma99 you the magazine
you just bought.
As the nation is under lockdown gripped with coronavirus fears,
this edition of Cursor magazine brings you the best of news. In our
fight with COVID-19, we pledge full support to working from home and
social distancing. As a society and a nation we must work together to
flatten the curve. Only if we stick together (pun intended) we’ll be able to
come out of this crisis. Help, donate, stay home.
This edition of the Cursor magazine brings you a breakdown of how, and why the
coronavirus pandemic ravaged the continent of Europe. In perhaps the greatest calamity
the continent has faced since World War Two, Europe has seen over a million cases and
over 100,000 deaths due to COVID-19. This, and more in world news.
In our cover story, we bring you the tale of how Air India nosedived. The Maharaja, once a
symbol of India’s March to becoming a world power in aviation, is now desperate and destitute.
In a deep dive for April’s Cursor Cover story, we look at the tale of how the Maharaja lost his
sheen. A story of mismanagement, corruption and capitalist agenda. Which brought us to -
mounting debt and eventually Air India’s much debated, long pending disinvestment.
In Opinion, Samit Sharma spares his thoughts on how due to
a polarisation of media and our beliefs, we have all become
opinion imperialists. And lastly, in Leisure we bring you a
binge watching guide to survive the coronavirus lockdown.
Stay safe, stay home, keep reading.
Samit Sharma,
Editor in Chief, Cursor magazine.
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WHAT’S IN
STORE INDEX
CURSOR MAGAZINE - APRIL 2020
How COVID - 19
ravaged Europe 06
The worst hit -Italy,
Spain and France 07
Letting the
COVER
STORY Maharaja go
08
An Imperialism
of Opinion 10
Lockdown Binge
Watching Guide 11
THE WORLD
HOW “The calm that was
the storm”
COVID-19 How the coronavirus
RAVAGED swept Spain, Italy,
and France
EUROPE
SAMIT SHARMA
Italy
T hey could have known. They should have
197,675 cases
prepared. They didn’t listen. Europe, in April, was
the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic — France
where the outbreak, uncontrolled, morphed into
162,100 cases
catastrophe. Nearly 80,000 dead. More than
800,000 infected. And the devastation is far from
over. Spain
The world’s largest economy is paralyzed. The 226,629 cases
planet’s most open societies are frozen in fear —
with the continent’s treasured freedoms blamed
for accelerating the spread of the most pernicious
contagion to afflict humankind in more than 100
years.
Figures as of April 25, 2020
They failed to hear the warnings that containment
would prove ineffective. They failed to heed
experts who said no country could fight the virus
on its own, failed to perceive that the world’s most
advanced health care systems were at grave risk
An EU Leadership Failure?
of being overwhelmed. They failed to understand
that drastic measures would be needed until Italy The European Commission, which has
— patient zero among EU member countries —
frantically imposed travel restrictions that limited power over health matters,
impeded European leaders’ own movements. sensed danger in January but didn’t
convey real urgency until March. And
EU nations, despite their pledge to an ever-closer
union, reacted selfishly and chaotically once the EU leaders lost a crucial week, perhaps
threat became evident. Health ministers — four of longer, focused on preventing a
whom quit or were fired during the crisis — renewed migration crisis at the Turkish
bickered. Governments misled Brussels about border, even as a crisis of far more
their preparedness, then hoarded essential
equipment and haphazardly shut their borders,
gargantuan scale had already begun
disrupting commerce and stranding citizens. killing dozens of EU citizens in northern
Italy by February 2020.
6
EU’S WORST HIT COUNTRIES
Spain
A new European COVID epicentre
The number of cases in Spain passed 2,23,759, a
figure that includes those shown to have
developed antibodies against COVID, on April 25.
The figure came as Spain passed an important
landmark in its fight against the virus on Friday,
April 25 with the daily number of recoveries
outpacing the number of new infections for the
first time since the start of the pandemic.
Spain has been ramping up the use of antibody
tests which show whether a patient's immune
system has began developing defences against
the coronavirus, meaning they have been
infected in the past.
<<< Ronda, Spain deserted under lockdown
Italy
The gory COVID March slowed in April
Italy began testing after diagnosing its first local
patient on Feb 21 in Codogno, a small town in the
wealthy Lombardy region. Cases, deaths surged,
with scientists suspecting that the virus had been
around, unnoticed, for weeks.
The first major western country to face the viral
disease, which originated in China late last year,
Italian authorities recorded 190,000 confirmed
cases and 25,500 deaths.
In a bid to prevent the outbreak, Italy halted air
traffic to and from China on Jan. 31 after two
Chinese tourists tested positive in Rome, already
too late.
The Il Duomo square in Milan is disinfected >>>
France
Grapples nervously, cautious of 2nd wave
France registered 761 more deaths from
coronavirus infections on April 25, bringing the
total to 18,681, the fourth-highest tally in the
world, but the number of people in hospital has
declined for a third day running.
And, in another sign that the lockdown put in place
a month ago is working, Jerome Salomon, head of
the public health authority, said the total of people
in intensive care units (ICU) fell for the ninth day in
a row, at 6,027, a low point since April 1.
At 18,681 the number of fatalities is up 4,2% over
24 hours, with the rate of increase decelerating
for the second day running amid concerns of a
2nd wave.
<<< A nurse on a deserted Paris Metro
7
cover story
India’s flag carrier. Once the pride of
Indian skies, Air India faded away this
millenium. So why is the government
selling it? Should it be sold? What let
to the Maharaja’s fall? We dive in
Letting the
Maharaja go
As Air India struggles to find a buyer, the
government eagerly waits for bids
SAMIT SHARMA
A fter an unsuccessful attempt to sell extend the April 30 deadline to bid for Air
Air India in 2018, the government in India as the COVID-19 fallout has
January 2020 restarted the divestment disrupted economic activities globally, an
process and invited bids for selling 100 per official has said. This would be the
cent of its equity in the state-owned airline, second extension in the deadline to
including Air India's 100 per cent submit bids for Air India since the
shareholding in AI Express Ltd and 50 per government initiated the process of
cent in Air India SATS Airport Services stake sale in the debt-ridden national
Private Ltd. The government is likely to carrier on January 27.
8
"To keep Air India running, we have invested two aircraft leasing firms have issued default
Rs 50,000 crore so far. That money is the notices to the state-run airline and have
government's money, it's your money. It threatened to take legal recourse if dues are
could have been used for school education," not cleared. The banks, to whom AI had
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley had said outstanding interest payment of over Rs
in a television interview in 2015. "And if the 800 crore, were Standard Chartered bank,
private sector can handle 86 per cent of Dena Bank and Bank of India. US-based
flying, it can also handle 100 per cent." That Wells Fargo Trust Services and the Dubai
statement was a precursor to an Aerospace Enterprise have also sent notices
announcement that followed in June 2017: to AI for defaulting on lease rental payments
the airline would be privatised. on aircraft
As the government keeps extending lifeline AI HAS MONEY. AI IS DOING
after lifeline in the form of loans, it is finally
the taxpayer who is bearing the brunt of
WELL, THE FLIGHTS ARE FULL.
these attempts to pull off the impossible. THEY ARE LOSING MONEY
Marred by decades of mismanagement, a BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION IN
slew of bad commercial decisions, THE HIGHER SYSTEM. THERE’S
bending of rules to serve the needs of
the babus that run it, the
NO ORDER, JUST BLAME GAME.
erstwhile Maharaja has !PUNIT PANAS,
been nosediving steadily,
losing market share even as GENERAL MANAGER, AIR
it sinks deeper into a financial INDIA ENGINEERING
quagmire, defaulting on
loans and delaying
salaries to staff.
Losing market share
Widening losses
Gross mismanagement
Now for some has also taken its toll
mind-numbing on the airline's
numbers. Air India has market share. Air
been wallowing in India's market
losses ever since its share plunged to
merger with Indian an all-time low
Airlines in 2007. It has been of 11.8 per cent this
accumulating losses of Rs 5,000 September, down from 19.8
crore every year, resulting in cumulative per cent in January 2014. This is despite the
losses of Rs 47,145.62 crore in 2016-17. Air number of passengers across all airlines
India has also amassed a huge debt. The growing 19 per cent in the last 5 years.
airline owes a consortium of foreign banks Although these numbers have dipped
Rs 20,000-odd crore towards aircraft recently due to th economic slowdown and
purchases in recent years. It also has a the coronavirus pandemic, they are not
working capital loan of around Rs 32,000 indicative of the Indian avaition market,
crore-advanced by 18 public sector which after these crises end, will grow again.
banks-and needs Rs 6,500 crore to service Meanwhile, staff seem disgruntled. "I don't
its debt annually. To meet that, it receives Rs think any plan is working for the airline. We
2,500 crore from equity by the government have been at the receiving end of several
and claims depreciation of Rs 1,500 crore. It wrong policies," says a senior crew member
still has an annual shortfall of Rs 2,500 with the airline, not wanting to be identified.
crore, for which it is forced to borrow from For now, nothing seems to be working for Air
banks. India. Even as the government pours in good
Reports in July last year said that Air India has money after bad, India's official carrier sinks
defaulted on government-guaranteed loans further into the quagmire. This time, there
given to it by three banks. These banks and may be no escape.
9
OPINION
Imperialism of Opinion
People today see beliefs unlike their own as an opportunity
to subdue the other, rendering discourse impossible
SAMIT SHARMA
of mind would go a long way at diffusing tensions in
w
every conflict. Acceptance, however is a timid
friend. One that refuses to show itself when gangs
e live in charged times. As our communities, of opinion run amok.
the nation and the world grow more polarised, their
People consider their opinions as something that
people too, turn hateful and incredulous. The vitriolic
makes their self. And to disagree with the same is
debates we watch and hear all around us take a toll.
seen as an invitation to dispute, not one to heed, to
They enter our lives, we pick sides and we start
listen and to accept. Every argument over ‘what I
despising the other with no room for reason.
think is right’ is a lesson in the importance of being
Off late, we see an imperialism of opinion taking able to change your mind. By engaging with people
over. An aggressive extension of authority over mere and ideas we disagree with, we get stronger, not
thoughts and beliefs that might challenge our own. weaker. Tuning out opposing viewpoints will not
Much like the arbitrary, unrighteous monarchs that make them go away. Lending an ear just might.
once challenged our liberties, more people see Even by agreeing to disagree, you resolve unease.
beliefs unlike their own as opportunity to subdue. There is common ground, one of understanding, of
That two incompatible opinions and by extension, mutual respect, and of agreement. Keep your iden-
opinion holders must duel till one is vanquished. tity separate from your opinion. Replace otiose
opinions once they’re no good. They must be
Opposition to a plurality of belief is the foundation of slotted out as they’re replaced with newer ones. To
all prejudice and discrimination. To refuse to listen be able to accept is to be able to dispose of what
and reason is to refuse to accept. To accept a you thought was paramount. To always be right is to
contrarian view, to have a change of heart, a change always be prepared to change your mind.
10
leisure
The Cursor
Lockdown
Binging
Guide
SAMIT SHARMA
01 02
Special Ops The Family Man
Stream on - Hotstar Stream on - Amazon Prime
No. of Episodes - 8 No. of Episodes - 10
Starring - Kay Kay Menon, Starring - Manoj Bajpayee,
Vinay Pathak, KaranThaker Priyamani, Gul Panag
Directed by - Neeraj Pandey Directed by - Raj & Krishna DK
Hotstar series Special Ops is a hunt for that sixth The Family Man is an edgy action-drama series,
man - Hafiz Ali (Sajjad Delafrooz), whose which tells the story of a middle-class man who
existence no one believes in. Except for one man works for a special cell of the National Investigation
- intelligence officer Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Agency. As he protects the nation from terrorists,
Menon). Singh leads a hunt for this sixth man he also has to protect his family from the impact of
with five agents over 12 countries. his secretive, high-pressure job.
03 04
The Test Bard of Blood
Stream on - Amazon Prime Stream on - Netflix
No. of Episodes - 8 No. of Episodes - 7
Starring - Justin Langer, Starring - Emran Hashmi,
Australian Cricket Team Sobhita Dhulipala, Kirti K
Directed by - Adrian Brown Directed by - Ribhu Dasgupta
The documentary series is for more than just Political espionage thriller based on "Bard of
cricket buffs. It talks about the Australian men's Blood," by Bilal Siddiqi. Follows four Indian
cricket team's path to redemption under the intelligence officers belonging to the Indian
captaincy of Tim Paine with the joint effort under Intelligence Wing (IIW) who are compromised,
Justin Langer who was appointed as the head before they can relay an important piece of
coach of the Australian cricket team in 2018. information to India.
11
