This Week in Explainers: A bitter separation is one of the many troubles of Gautam Singhania

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for India. It started on a heartbreaking note as India lost to Australia in the World Cup finals. Skipper Rohit Sharma was in tears and so were hundreds and thousands of cricket fans. The good news has been hard to come by. The tunnel rescue in Uttarkashi continues. We’ve been following that story closely, explaining the rescue operations and why there has been a delay. In Uttar Pradesh, there has been a big uproar over the ban on halal products. We tell you all about it. In Rajasthan, it’s a big test for Congress and BJP as the state votes on Saturday. And Raymond, the fabric giant, is making massive losses. The reason could surprise you. All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers, where we help you understand the news from India. 1. The weekend is here and for many, it brings back memories of the last one. Last Saturday, many Indian cricket fans were anxious. On Sunday, they were stunned as they watched the World Cup cricket finals. There were a few shocking moments, a pitch invader who breached security and ran onto the field. Who was he and are such intrusions common? We explain. The bigger bolt, of course, came later. Yes, the Virat Kohli wicket. Yet no one was prepared for India to lose after the Men in Blue put on a stellar performance throughout the tournament. The defeat to Australia was hard to fathom. But why? Why does the loss of your favourite team hurt so much? It’s called “sports fans blues” and we tell you all about it. Don’t miss the story, as acceptance, they say, is the last stage of grief. [caption id=“attachment_13428482” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] An Indian fan looks dejected after India lost the ICC Cricket World Cup final to Australia on 12 November. Reuters[/caption] 2. While most of us were cheering for Rohit Sharma & Co, a few on social media were cheering for the Indian economy. Well, it has been a bright spot as it grows faster than other big economies. There was buzz that the country had crossed the $4 trillion mark. Turns out that was misinformation. We are not there yet but how close are we? Here’s the true story.

3. Some meaty news for Uttar Pradesh. It is cracking down on halal products. The state has imposed a ban on the production, storage, and distribution of all halal-certified items save for those meant for export. But what is this certification? And what does it have to do with Islamic law? We explain. 4. Earlier this week, Budhni Manjhiyain, a woman from the Santhal tribe, died at the age of 80. She became infamous as Jawaharlal Nehru’s “tribal wife”. No, they were not married. All the then-prime minister did was garland her during the inauguration of a dam in 1959. It was an innocent act. He was only reciprocating to her gesture. But that changed Budhni’s life forever. She was ostracised by her community and remained an outcast. This is her tragic tale. [caption id=“attachment_13428502” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Budhni Manjhiyain inaugurates a power station at the Panchet dam in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1959. Image Courtesy: Nehru Memorial Museum And Library, New Delhi[/caption] 5. From a fake wife, we move to an estranged one. Nawaz Modi Singhania, the wife of Raymond tycoon Gautam Singhania, has been grabbing headlines since videos of her being stopped from entering a company event went viral. The next day, her husband announced that the two had parted ways after being married for 32 years. The separation has been bitter. Now Modi has accused Singhania of physically assaulting her and their minor daughter. “Gautam kicked and punched me,” she said. Here’s what she has alleged. According to legal sources close to Singhania, he is likely to seek legal action in the face of the allegations. So far, he has refrained from commenting. [caption id=“attachment_13428522” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Nawaz Modi Sighania has accused her husband Gautam Singhania of physically assaulting her and their minor daughter. File photo/PTI[/caption] That’s not the end of the industrialist’s troubles. He is also estranged from his father who built the business empire and now regrets handing it over to Gautam. There’s more. Since the news of the separation broke, Raymond’s shares have been seeing a steady fall. Public spats come at a heavy price. 6. It’s election season. Rajasthan goes to polls on Saturday. The political power in the desert state has been oscillating between the Congress and the BJP since 1993. Right now the Grand Old Party is at the helm. Will the pattern continue? And if BJP wins will it pick Vasundhara Raje as its chief minister? We analyse. If the weekends are what you reserve for catching up on the news, this list will be handy. And if you like the way we explain, keep coming back for more.