GMRT detection of HI 21 cm associated absorption towards the z=1.2 red quasar 3C 190

We report the GMRT detection of associated HI 21 cm-line absorption in the z = 1.1946 red quasar 3C 190. Most of the absorption is blue-shifted with respect to the systemic redshift. The absorption, at similar to 647.7 MHz, is broad and complex, spanning a velocity width of similar to 600 kms(-1). Since the core is self-absorbed at this frequency, the absorption is most likely towards the hotspots. Comparison of the radio and deep optical images reveal linear filaments in the optical which overlap with the brighter radio jet towards the south-west. We therefore suggest that most of the HI 21 cm-line absorption could be occurring in the atomic gas shocked by the south-west jet.