War or Compromise !!

The following is a written episode depicting a real life event, where I happpened to drop by a "Sab Padhe, Sab Badhe Program" school. You must've seen these kind of schools at city sides.Everyday you can see little heads dressed in white and blue, or sometimes white pink. If you ever happened to interact with these kids, am sure you'll be amazed by the response of the kids. However, the well off community would never bother even looking at their state. Well, coming back to the scene, I dropped into such a school, out of no reason why, maybe the low drowning mood pulled me in. First I happened to be sitting at the compund(nobody there bothers, who comes in and who goes out so i was'nt given any special attention). Childen from age groups 5 to 12 we're sitting in the same class(i'd rather say a short pitch cricket ground) and taught the same thing. At the break i felt like speaking out, interact and just break the awkward silence. I mushed in, called fo a kid near me, he didnt respond. Gave a slight knock on his shoulder, he turned back, i called him he ran away. Am i scary? I thought to myself, Naah you're not, i answered myself back. Fine lets give another try, called for a little girl sitting a couple metres away. A kid i guess 7-8 years old, i expected a smiling hello in return to my greetings, but it was'nt. It was rather a very flat "What?", boy, i had'nt been doing good here, i thought. The crowd was pretty hostile there, was'nt expecting so. I've been hearing from folks go to the underprivileged areas, and the people will look you up, well this was'nt really the scene here. Fine, I realize, even in college, reading from manuals and doing it on equipment is as different as Gel and Butter. So, their "not so friendly response was'nt turning out to be a non digestive fact. But blessed be my skills, i managed to crack a conversation here, name, age, family background have been legendary conversation ingredients, but they never go out of trend. The conversation had an interesting turn after this:
Me: Why do you even come to school?
Kid: Mom sent me.(not very interested)
Me: Do you really understand what they teach in here, or you just turn up for the free food?
Kid: Sometimes I do, Food is horrible anyway. Very Boring. Playing is fun.
Me: Then why do u come here, despite you dont like the food.
Kid: They say, if I goto school I'll have a car of my own!

After this I could no longer take the conversation any further. Blessed little kid, at a Government Programmed School, without any skilled teacher, nor with a capital background to pace up with the Quality and Competitive system in trend. Her dreams are so 1-Dimensional, yet baby girl has no idea about the complexity out there. She believes just staying in that school she'll actually get a Car for herself, a home, a living. Seriously, how many of us would even dare to send our own child to go such a place and yet give them the freedom to dream that big. Cheating them ,are'nt we ?
Look at the present scenario of the Country, Educated Unemployment a major setback in the course of "Shining India". I've seen dozens of Engineers, Managers and graduates running here and there for jobs, crying the hell out, beating about every bush, frustrated souls, yet nothing comes to hand. They've been to Elite schools, High Charging Colleges yet no assurity of jobs, forget about owning a class. Now think about that kid I met, and tell me, is there anyone who has the metal to bring her into today's dark scenario. No one's that cold a soul to do it. Time has taken a toll on everything and lots of damages have been done which cannot be undone, we have the present to clean for the future, our own future.

Romantic Poets dream of the world before Pandora opened the Box that brought to world all its frivalries. A world where everyone was equal, food grew up on trees and was ready to eat. Humans spent their life, playing throughout the day, never saw things like pain, jealousy and other evil instincts. But we know its just folklore, and never was nor will ever be. So, a modern world with equality is never practical, lets just give up to this fact cause, noting really can be done. Evil resides inside everyone and it will stay till infinity. But what we could do is find a way alongside it. The idealists are either dead or proved as threats to the society cause, no two people's ideals are the same. So leading a crowd with a single idea is sure to fall, as we are'nt living in movies! The need of the hour requires us to bridge a way where you got to hold Evil and Angel side by side. It either ends the way it started, ie the Big Bang or we can sustain holding hands, with little compromises on every part to make this place if not Fair, but still a better one.

"Cause, we have this day, and history can be made anyday.
Come O' Fella we have a world to win
The escape out of misery might be thin
But before your blood runs cold
We got to stain the sword that we hold
For all the stories may get Nullified
But A Life in Youth made an example, is a Life in Youth Justified."

- Anish Singh

The language of protest

Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Pagdi Sambhal,  one of my favourite songs, is a song which has come to symbolize the spirit of our most loved revolutionary youth, whose birthday happens to fall this month. But this song is unfortunately restricted to a mere spectacle of Bhangda dance and patriotic fervor. Why I am so much concerned with it, is due to the fact that it also forms one of the earliest ways of protest this country has seen. It was supposedly performed by Bhagat Singh and his comrades in a college function in front of British guests, to bring into light the exploitation of Indian society and culture by the British, which wounded its self-respect.

Almost 80 years later we are left with violence accompanying most of the protests. The recent incidents at FTII Pune, and painting exhibition in Ahmedabad are mere bricks in the wall, which inhibits us from extending our desire for a tolerant democratic country to each and every section of the society. The very recent attack at a Film Festival in Hyderebad, is nothing more than a clear show of lawlessness that prevails in the country. 

Those who are engaged in violent protests against a film screening or songs sung, by the so called ignored or forgotten sections of the country, what exactly they wish to communicate? Are they making it clear that they don’t have any space for those in their imagination of the nation?
Aloysius correctly writes India is a case of nationalism without a nation.

I was quite disturbed by the right wing assault over the exhibition in Ahmedabad put up by Pakistani artists. Are we against art, or are we against Pakistan, it is time when we clear this mist. Because if we are against art we are in trouble, and if we are against Pakistan, we ought to ponder where does art come in between. Why is it so that we continue to import sugar from Pakistan but reject their artists a decent place here?  Let us learn doing things the right way.

As I write this, I am cut short by the news of the uneasiness caused by the supposed Zubin Mehta concert in Kashmir. We have those who are against it, but are in fact projecting Kashmir as a mere place marred by conflicts, then there are those who are opposing it, because it is a state sponsored project for a limited audience, whereas we actually need to improve the overall condition of the Kashmiri culture and society. I am still doubtful that what form is it going to take, would violence take place of music and art, and more violence in its response is going to characterize the Indian landscape.

How is it that we are going to find a parallel way of expressing our discontent, because even after having a glorious past of knowledge, art and science and 60 years of democracy we still fall short of inventing the ‘language of protest’.

Dreams On camera : Anjana Sharing her dream with DOC team

She loves life !!

Social networking sites burgeoned on Women’s Day with ‘salutes’ and ‘respects’ towards mothers, sister and wives etc. What was further interesting to see, was that there were even some who thought it imperative to remember Malala, Irom Sharmila and the Delhi rape-case victim. Irom Sharmila having attented the court proceedings couple of days before, had made her even popular for such an occasion. It’s not that we have not respected women, or have not hailed them as epitome of peace, prosperity and bravery, but what is the concern of the present article is the image we attributed to women like Malala and Irom Sharmila.

We came on to the streets, demanding justice for the Delhi rape victim; there were even protests in solidarity with Malala and Sharmila. Where we saw the girl in Delhi rape case as a victim of rising violence towards women, Malala and Sharmila for us are the ones who have the courage to stand against oppression and injustice. We surely do not want the Delhi rape case to be repeated again, but wish there are more Malals and Irom Sharmilas. It is here that I ask why?

We stood together demanding security and justice for women, and would still be doing the same. This I feel, though is not easy but also not so difficult too, in purview of what Irom Sharmila and Malala are going through. To live like Sharmila and Malala is to waste a life. Malala was bedridden for weeks, Irom Sharmila is being force fed, her body organs have begun to degenerate irreversibly, her menstrual periods have halted. I for sure do not want more Malalas and Sharmilas. I do not want to see individual women standing against the whole State. I do not see it as bravery and regard it an act of heroism. I see it as cowardice on the part of our society that, we want Malala and Sharmila to stand against a whole system. Life is to enjoy, life is to live. I do not see Malala and Sharmila as living, they are merely surviving. There ‘survival’ is ‘life’ for us because we see hope in it. Behind the veneer of praising them is the hidden truth of our inaction.

It is time to end the hypocrisy we have been carrying since centuries towards women and the people from distant parts of the country. Why is it so that the people of Manipur an Kashmir are alone in demanding their right to live with dignity, why can’t we stand up for them. Until when will they be considered as ‘the other’?

Why don’t we also recognize the value of life and freedom for them? Does every village and city need a Tufail Mattoo and Manorama to be brutally killed to make us, the-deaf, hear?

 It is our responsibility to come forward and take up the cause of Irom Sharmila, for if the struggle of Sharmila fails, it would be the biggest failure of the democratic traditions of this country. No one else should stand for us; no one should waste his/her life.
Irom Sharmila herself said ,”I love life”.

Exposing Eve-Teasers

Eve-Teasers captured on Camera in Mumbai

We found this post dwelling on Social media: 

This is a photograph of two assholes that harassed my friend two days ago.
She was travelling in a rick – and it was in the middle of the afternoon, as you can tell. They followed her rickshaw, they were obvious about their interest and didn’t stop rash riding next to her for a very long time, just so they could stare and make remarks. When the rickshaw driver told them to back off and ride properly, they held on to her rickshaw.

We’ve had our bags stolen, we’ve had men stare and make nasty remarks too. This time last year – I wouldn’t have put this up.
But today, I feel like it’s important for everyone to see these faces. Important for people to acknowledge that this sort of behaviour isn’t okay. It’s not safe either. I’m glad she clicked this photograph – but it also scared the shit out of me because I was worried.

A lot of times, teasing doesn’t stop right here. Every day, we get out of our homes, unsure of our safety as women, and the sad part is – we are all to be blamed for it. For all I know, these men have done much worse in the past & probably gotten away with it. That’s why they are still roaming around freely.

Their faces deserved to be exposed. These are the kind of disgusting men that fucking deserve to be publicly stripped and stoned.

It’s just not okay.

#mumbai #city #unsafe #reality

Via : Saloni Choujar

An Open letter to Barack Obama

Dear obama,

So you are telling us that USA have enough funds for one more war, but is short of it when it comes to making whole education system completely free or making medical care absolutely free for all.

I wonder what you did with that amount you got along with that Nobel Peace Prize. Did you throw that too in buying weapons ?? Or saved it for 2016 retirement ??

You know your Autobiography suggested that you are something different, a legend in making but alas you were no different except for your color for which history would remember you.

'Hope' and 'change' died away with those innocent kids who were killed by the army of who you are the supreme commander. History would never forgive you.

You claim to restore democracy in far lands but look into your own home affairs.You people are prosecuting 'Manning' and hunting 'Snowden', both have support of the people and your congress calls them traitors. Your government is selectively filling jails with a specific race,color and religion and you call your country democratic.

Nobody ever attacked USA to restore democracy(to shut down your jails)over there !!

Please ! Barack just stop pretending like a Legend ,excuse this world. How many corpses do you wish to count before you retire ?

RIP democracy, RIP Justice, RIP Peace.

Yours sincerely,
A global citizen

“Dictatorship can be the only savior for corrupt India”

Observe for an instant, the topics in trend for discussion among the people around you, Mumbai Gang rape, Rupee v/s Dollar, Onion Prices? Narendra Modi? and all discussions end by painting black over the Government. The blame game never ends, as if there doesn’t seem to be any convincing point in the whole discussion. But as wise-men say, a debate is always ended at a conclusion which is supported by a strong background reading. But unfortunately, our “Superior Level” Debaters could’nt spare so much time for this area, and hence it turns out to be a never ending debate.

Why dont we start it from the beginning as to why Democracy, which was devised for equal benefitting has turned out to be acting as a Braking agent in all processes of Development. The question is, is it only in our Country where Democracy is turning out to be a Retarding agent or with everyone? Well, the fact that we are in India we’d obviously assume it to be ours, and the fact that we’re self centric individuals we’d always see our problems as the biggest ones. Fine, then let us restrict ourselves to our own country cause that’s what the Tagline asks for.
We’ve had a history which eventually led us to this sort of ‘Slave Mentality’, and this shadow of ours is not leaving us in near immediate future. But lets not talk negative here.

Instead of searching for answers outside, why dont we look into our own-selves and search for it. Lets put in a simple exercise, practice Democracy in your own friend circle. I’d share with you a sample study of mine;
I planned for arranging a School Reunion previous Year and left the the other mates to decide with the date, assuring ts convenient for all. The Reunion never happened, cause we could never turn up with the “perfect date of mass convenience.”
Next year, I planned about arranging one again, but this time, i preferred Dictatorship over Democracy, I chose a Random Date myself as per my calendrical convenience and put it up. The turn out was 80%.

The fact that we learn is that we’ve grown into minds which works well when given orders and deadlines, but fail when given choices. Parliamentary Meetings, Judiciary Courts keep holding bills,cases for years but still does’nt come up with solid ones till we get to see Anshans and protests. For any Substantial Gross Development to be seen in our country atleast controlled Dictatorship would bring about Overnight Changes. It all depends on the perspective, Whether you see it a Taboo, a negative one; or the only exit from all Confused opinions and Split Mentalities and Misunderstood Ideologies

GANDHI AND GODSE : WAS HANGING OF GODSE AGAINST GANDHI'S IDEOLOGIES??

GANDHI AND GODSE

A STRANGE IDEOLOGICAL PARADOX : TALKING "GODSE" AND "GANDHI":
Wasn't it strange that the assassin of Gandhi, i.e Nathuram Godse....was hanged ( a form of violence)...which gandhi would of himself never supported..( it was like an eye for an eye, killing godse cause he killed gandhi)
wasn't this a paradox.

and btw its Nathuram godse birthday today
( p.s: this post is not in favour of what godse did, but rather against violence and any abusive comments will be deleted without any notice.)

Protesting the removal of cartoon from ncert text books

WE PROTEST,

BAN OF THE CARTOON BY THE PARLIAMENT.......ITS A VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION....
IF YOU PROTEST IT TOO...THEN SHARE THIS PIC..LET THE MESSAGE SPREAD....
MAKE THIS PIC YOUR PROFILE PIC..COVER PIC..ANYTHING
TALK ABOUT IT.....MAKE PEOPLE AWARE ABOUT IT...

E MAIL THE PARLIAMENT AGAINST IT....

PROTECT YOUR OWN FREEDOM..IT'S IN YOUR OWN HANDS

Suprio Das : The unsung revolutionary scientist

MR. Supriyo das

Let's meet an unsung revolutionary. He is inventing revolutionary devices for poor and downtrodden people of Society. Quite less reported scientist- Mr. Suprio Das. He works selflessly, having ditched so many flowery, cushy job offers to what he loves most- putting in research to invent/develop low-cost, affordable devices for masses...... Putting here detail of one of his innovative devices- ZIMBA- http://www.thebetterindia.com/5089/tbi-innovations-zimba-a-simple-machine-to-quench-the-thirst-for-clean-water
Some description of the device from the site-
"An affordable device that does not need electricity or moving gears but runs only on gravity, is scientist Suprio Das’s answer to water contamination."
"In the year 2005, the presence of arsenic in Kolkata’s ground-water caught Das’s attention. He began visiting small villages in Bengal to collect water samples. He then volunteered to work with a local NGO on arsenic mitigation. In 2011, his invention, ZIMBA, an automated chlorine dozer, was installed in a village near Gobardanga, Bengal and consequently in five slums of Dhaka this February"
"How does ZIMBA work? Once installed, it automatically adds chlorine to water in correct proportions, explains Das. It can be fitted to a rural community’s existing water source, such as the hand pump of a well or the tap of a rainwater harvesting cistern."
"Deriving the correct ratio of chlorine to water, a common problem for most people working with chlorine, required precision and the creator of ZIMBA achieved it after much hard work."
"When asked about funds for the project, Das, who gave up a stable career in electrical engineering to innovate independently, says, “It is not just raw material but also tools and manpower that are required for experimenting and prototyping. I start with my own resources and then look for funding to move ahead. Projects die when funds are not available but for ZIMBA I was fortunate to get some funding from a US-based organization.” The relative cost of the device when patented, Das tells us, can be approximately Rs 5000 and one unit can serve more than 50 families. If produced in bulk the cost can be brought down by 50 per cent."

YUVA REVOLUTION salutes him for his dedication and noble works.

picture credit- http://www.thebetterindia.com/

Manohar Parrikar: The "hope" of Indian politics

Manohar Parrikar

THE "HOPE" OF INDIAN POLITICS : ONE CHIEF MINISTER WE ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF : DO YOU KNOW HIM ?? :

THE NEW SYMBOL OF SIMPLICITY IN POLITICS : NO BODYGUARDS, NO VVIP TREATMENT, NOTHING :

People often ask YUVA REVOLUTION who do you support for prime minister, so let us today introduce you to a person who deserves to lead india as prime minister .

"Can you believe it? He came to this dinner by cab! Yes, he actually took one of our Mumbai taxis. Oh, that's him… the guy in that simple, blue linen shirt. No bodyguards, no entourage." The 'him' in question was Goa's newly minted

chief minister " Manohar Parrikar "

with his simple ways when he once walked out of the Rajasthan airport. Senior leader Sushma Swaraj in an election campaign meeting narrated the anecdote.

"One day, I was waiting on an airport in Rajasthan when the staff came rushing to me and asked where is Goa CM (Parrikar) as he was expected to land in the flight.

We started searching for him and saw that Parrikar was already walking out of the airport with his bag hanging to shoulder without insisting for VVIP treatment," she said

Read related articles on his simplicity : http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/rajengarabadu/707/63384/goa-cm-flies-the-way-you-and-i-do.html

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/politically-incorrect/entry/breaking-the-cm-mould

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/manohar-parrikars-austere-ways/921712/2

STORY OF AN UNSUNG WAR HERO: A SPY WHO WAS FORGOTTEN.

THE STORY OF A HERO : A SPY WHO SPENT 20 YEARS IN JAIL FOR INDIA  :  FORGOTTEN BY INDIAN GOVERNMENT :
DO SHARE THIS STORY AND LET OTHER KNOW ABOUT THIS HERO :

Mehboob elahi : The 1971 war spy

MEHBOOB ELAHI : Yes the man you see in the pic is a spy, named mehboob elahi, a 1971 war hero who should get medals but is not even being given pension.

Mehboob elahi was sent to army to bangladesh in the year 1968, his duty was to then go to pakistan and enter the pakistani army, as a person from east pakistan ( now bangladesh), as the war was coming.

mehboob was successful in doing so and got recruited in the engineering department, of pakistani army, two months before 1971 war.

He started doing his job of transferring information to india, he came under ISI radar but escaped back to india before they could nab him.

But he was sent back to pakistan get few more papers, after 2 months in kolkata.

But this time he was caught due to a double agent working for pakistan named " kashmiri lal sharma".

He was captured and tortured by the pakistani army alongwith other 4 spies of indian army for 20 years, He was released in the year 1996 along with 4 other spies and a lady spy of india.

He says many of his comrades of 1971 war died in prison and many went mad due to the torture given. He says the higher officials knew about it but did nothing

Today he is even not given pension. Do you think government should change its attitude towards spies working for the nation??

Both India and pakistan refuse to recognize their spies once they are caught

source : bbc hindi : http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2012/05/120502_spy_story_aa.shtml

LET'S SAVE WHISTLING WOODS !! : The only international level media and film making institute

Save the Worlds top 10, Asia's largest, India's only full-fledged Film School.
Save Whistling Woods
Save India's Bright Future
Save Education

sign the petition : http://www.change.org/petitions/save-our-future?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=friends_wall

details of the movement :
Support world-class media education in India! Support the Whistling Woods petition!


This student-driven campaign is important because we are in danger of losing a world class campus with state of the art technology and unparalleled industry opportunities. While I’m sure you have heard about the Whistling Woods matter in the media, here is a brief statement of facts:



1. The MSFCDC a wholly owned government of Maharashtre Undertaking, commonly known as Filmcity, and Mukta Arts came together in a joint venture to set up Whistling Woods International – Institute for Film, Communication, Animation and Media Arts in 2000.
2. Today, Whistling Woods is one of the top 10 film schools in the world and is dutifully bridging the gap in the film & media industry of trained & educated talent. (See full institutional profile & achievements in the following section)
3. The state government filed an affidavit in 2010 in response to a PIL stating that they had not followed proper paperwork in the formation of the joint venture.
4. The courts ordered the joint venture to be cancelled and ordered the land and building to be handed over to the state government.
5. Mukta Arts has invested over 100 crores in good faith and the same should not go to waste.
6. We are hence putting together a petition to take to the President of India to intervene in the matter.

We need support from all those who believe that world-class education should be encouraged in India.


Kindly sign this petition to show your support!

              *************************A student's perspective *************************


*********************by a whistling wood student**********************************


After completing my 10th grade board exams I had to make a choice, like many other students as to
what I wanted to do in life and in which field to make my career in. My parents took me to an education
fair where I was exposed to very many streams of learning. That was the first time I personally came to
know about Whistling Woods International and visited the campus with my parents to learn more about
the courses it offered. I remember us coming back home and discussing it with my grandparents and
every word I spoke, they could make out I was completely awestruck, and awestruck I was!

Within the next few days itself I was damn sure, this is the place where I want to study. Whistling
Woods International, I thought had been custom made to the things I was looking for. It made me put
all my passions of dance, stage-drama, photography, story telling, etc. all together into films. I had
also researched about the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and the Satyajit Ray Film and
Television Institute in Kolkata but the courses there were all post-graduate courses and I wanted to
start off immediately because I knew by then that I wanted to get into filmmaking. Whistling Woods
International actually saved 3 years of my life which I would have just spent pursuing a degree, because
I could join straight after my 12th grade board exams. I was floored by the equipment they provided
students to work with, and that too hands on. The first time I actually visited the campus, my mother got
tired walking all around the huge campus, I remember her very innocently asking the person showing
us the huge sound mixing console in the Dolby room whether all the buttons on it work or not! On top
of all that Subhash Ghai’s name was associated with the institute and that was an important factor in
convincing my parents to send me to Whistling Woods International.

I still remember how excited I was on the first day we had classes. Students of all age groups from
all over India and the world were together in one classroom learning from the best in the industry.
Through my course in Whistling Woods International it has become like a second home to me. I come
early morning, have breakfast with my classmates and even with teachers at times with talks about
films, we go into our classes and they end around 5pm. We have films screenings in the evenings or
guest interactions with professionals working in the industry. Later we go to the library or work on our
student films, discussing script ideas with our mentors, or having pre-production meetings with the crew,
or editing our films or if nothing else we would go to the student’s lounge and play table tennis and
pool. My mother complaints at times that I only come home to sleep but I can’t help it, Whistling Woods
involves me all throughout the day!



**********************do sign the petition nd encourage others too**************************
P.S : all information and article shared by Shray Jay mishra, a student of Whistling wood.
If you have any queries to ask you can contact him on facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/shrayjaimishra

Killing the Innocents

Ever noticed the immense love of a mother for her new born?? And ever did it come in your wildest of imagination that the same loving, caring mother could have killed an unborn child in her womb? Well, I am not telling you to imagine a hypothetical situation. It's very real. So, did you ever wonder what made the same mother be two totally different person (murderer, and caring mother) in two different situations?? I hope not. But let's ponder over it, because the situation is frighteningly bad and we have been following ostrich approach till now.

A famous saying in Sanskrit goes- " यत्र नार्यस्तु पूजयन्ते, रमन्ते तत्र देवता" (where women is worshipped, there lives GOD). But unfortunately, here in our country, many people are so inhumane that forget worshipping women, they ruthlessly ensure that there is no female arrival in the family. And surprising fact is that womenfolk themselves play a key role in this!! What can be more ironic than the fact that female population is working to finish off their own gender!!

When I look around myself and ask myself as to what most I would like to change, I find a very clear answer- "female foeticide". I want to see a complete stop to this evil practice carried around in society. Ending a speechless, defenseless life is the height of cruelty. I wonder how come this savage practice still prevalent in our society. 

According to a report, estimates of the number of female fetuses being destroyed every year vary from two million to five millions. Even if we assume it to be just two millions, then every minute, 4 innocent lives are being terminated illegally. As per the provisional 2011 Census report, Child sex ratio (0-6 yrs) has declined from 927 females against 1000 males in 2001, to 914 females against 1000 males in 2011. In fact Haryana and Punjab at the bottom of ladder are having frighteningly low ratio with 830 and 846 females respectively (against 1000 males). And, can you believe it, a 2005 New York Times article estimates the number of missing girls to be 50 million. (missing means missing in numbers compared to male population). 

So can you imagine how much social mayhem will be unleashed by such vast gender gap?? Increasing number of sexual assaults on females are already being witnessed. Apart from that, there are many more grave issues cropping up like trafficking of females for prostitution, buying of brides from higher sex ratio regions , wife sharing with multiple brothers etc.

So you see where it is leading to?? A monstrous, savage society, where the few leftover females too will be ruthlessly mauled by human vultures. A 2003 movie-“Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women”, very correctly depicts  that kind of frightening situation in which the female protagonist is subjected to all kind inhumane tortures. 

In 2008, the UN announced that the number of ‘missing’ women in India had climbed to 62 million. As the famous activist Rita Banerji, writes in her report- “What this means in terms of India's social reality is that there are at least 62 million males without hope of ever finding female partners from within their own cultural setting. The possibility of social mayhem under such conditions is terrifying — and what it would involve could lead to widespread sexual crimes, perversion, and near anarchical law-and-order situations.”

      

So you see, the issue of female foeticide has reached an alarmingly dangerous level. We have to act to stop it and we have to act NOW.

Now, point is, how to stop this evil practice?

On legal front there are already so many laws to stop this evil practice. The PNDT Act was specifically enacted  to check female foeticide. It not only prohibits determination and disclosure of the sex of foetus, but also prohibits any advertisements related to pre- natal determination of sex.To counter the sex-selective abortions, there is MTP Act which lays down clear conditions under which abortions can be performed.

But do these laws work? NO, because there is severe failure in their implementation. Executive machinery is highly lethargic and judicial process moves at snail's pace. But even strict legal implementation alone may not be sufficient. It will only reduce the practice, not eradicate it completely. For complete eradication, we will have to change the psyche of people involved in the heinous crime. In short, we have to find a full-proof, socio-legal remedy to this evil.

Talking of social aspect, we will have to look at the root cause. In this case, there are multiple causes. Here are some major ones-

• Dowry- a girl child means you have to save lacs of rupees for her dowry.
• A medieval thinking that a boy child  carries the family name (generation) forward but girl child can't!!
• A (mis)conception that only a boy child can perform the last riots properly, helping parents gain salvation!!
• More expenses and care needed in bringing up a girl child.
• Girl child is "paraye ghar ki amanat"(asset of "other" family). She has to go one day. On the other hand, male child is "budhape ka sahara" (old-age support), expenses incurred over a boy child is a good investment!!

So you can see, female foeticide is driven by age-old customs, patriarchal, medieval thinking. Our society is unfairly biased towards male child. There is vast inequality between male and female sections of society. According to the recent Human Development Report 2011, India ranks 129 out of 146 countries on the Gender Inequality Index, below even Bangladesh and Pakistan. 

The solution lies in convincing people to reform their mentality, which undoubtedly, is a mammoth task. Nevertheless, this mammoth task has to be completed if we don't wish to face an extremely alarming, “Matrubhoomi” like situation. 

Out of the above few reasons cited, Dowry is the biggest driving factor for female foeticide. Having a girl child feels like a burden, a liability, all thanks to the ingrained Dowry culture in the society. Love marriage is still a taboo thing for most sections of society, and in arranged marriages, dowry has become a norm- you want your daughter married, then pay n lacs of rupees, or else keep searching in the dark. Arranged marriages have become a business deal, you pay the price (dowry) or the deal won't go through. If dowry culture ends, then I am sure there will be more than 75% decline in the female foeticide cases. So eradication of Dowry culture should be our first target.

There are also so many dowry related laws but as I mentioned earlier, existing laws are not properly implemented. Moreover, laws alone can't eradicate an evil which has been persisting for decades. We have to bring about a complete psychological change in our society, and for that we will have to rely more on ourselves than on our legal system. But how to change this ingrained Dowry mentality? I am putting forward a few suggestions regarding this-

• First, we should TALK. We should talk about it with our friends, our elders, our colleagues, in short, with everyone around us. The biggest mistake that we commit, is not talk about it. I have seen on my facebook page that very few comments come in dowry related posts, whereas a post evoking religious sentiments or a post evoking patriotic sentiments get a volley of comments. People think it's useless to talk about it (or may be they have nothing to talk!!). We have to keep in mind that if we don't talk about it, then it is going to stay here. So we should  talk about it everywhere we can, opposing it in the strongest terms.

• People should volunteer not to take dowry. I suggest we should make a matrimonial website where everyone promising NOT to accept and give dowry should get registered. We can publicize the site on various city's facebook fan pages (by asking their admins to support the initiative). If a NO DOWRY marriage is solemnized via that platform, then the bride-groom pair and their parents should be felicitated by a district level administrative officer for the nice example set in front of the society. The marriage should also be reported in local newspapers as a heroic act, so that it inspires others too.

• Religious leaders should be consulted for help. We should request them to include detailed talk on evils of dowry in their religious preachings. The aim should be to convince people that taking dowry is a sinful act. Ours being a predominantly religious society, this is definitely going to have significant affect.

• We should rally for forcing Govt. to  include dowry in school syllabus. The chapter on dowry should ideally contain a powerful story which should be able to leave a deep impression on children's minds. The aim should be to sow the seeds of morality in small,growing up minds. Taking dowry is morally wrong, and it should be established in the minds of youngsters as early as possible.

• We youth should step forward. India is a country of youth. According to reports, the average Indian will be only 29 years old in 2020. Youth are known for their innovative ideas, enthusiastic working style, and a never-say-die spirit. We should take the lead in this war against dowry. We should promise that we will try our best to convince our parents not to demand dowry. We, on our own part, should take an oath that in future, when we have children, we won't indulge in this evil practice. We will neither take nor give dowry. This way, even if our parents' generation fails to put an end to dowry, we, in our generation's time, can expect a significant decline in the practice.

Well, these were just some suggestions which can be effective tools in the war against dowry. There can be many more such initiatives, but bottom line is that we should be motivated enough to fight this well-ingrained dowry mentality in society.

Apart from these, there is of course the need to totally overhaul our executive machinery. Police administration needs to take a proactive approach in tackling dowry, rather than the present lethargically-reactive approach. There should be region-wise police teams to make quick raids in suspected dowry cases (without even waiting for complaint from either side). Police should instill fear in the minds of dowry supporters. Dowry laws should be enforced with seriousness.

Eradication of dowry will automatically lead to eradication of female foeticide. Other causes of female foeticide are far less serious and will be taken care of by education. Already, urban masses seem not biased towards male child, and are also shedding their patriarchal mentality. Only the dowry factor still persists everywhere, so it needs to be focussed upon. 

Govt. too needs to make effective regulations to counter female foeticide. It should be ensured that diagnostic tests are not misused for pre-natal gender determination. Doctors caught performing illegal abortions (and hence violating the MTP Act) should be dealt with seriously, their practicing license should be suspended  immediately. All the related existent laws  need to be seriously implemented. And for that, we too need to put pressure on Govt., so that female foeticide becomes one of the priority for Govt. The 50 million missing campaign  by Rita Banerji   is one such laudable campaign.  

Still, very little is being done by us. People just don't  take the female foeticide issue seriously. They think that there are just some isolated cases. They forget that most of the sex-selective abortions are done in a quite hush-hush condition, which, only few close friends and relatives come to know of. People take myopic view of their surroundings and become content thinking that there is just a few cases of female foeticide around them. This is our biggest challenge, and this is what I want to overcome first. We need to make people realize that female foeticide is really rampant in our society and it is an extremely serious issue. We must get prepared to tackle this challenge quickly, or else the day is not far when we will face "Matrubhoomi" like situation.

 Let's Arise, Awake, Act..... and ACT NOW.....

(If you liked this post then please share it with your friends, so that the ideas expressed here could spread fast. And do leave your feedback in the comment section below, add up your own views  if possible, because a healthy discussion is very necessary on such issues. Thanks)

P.S.- Author of this blog-post is Shantinath Chaudhary and he can be contacted at - shantissst@gmail.com 
This blog-post had also been submitted for the Stayfree "Time to Change" contest on indiblogger.

India is a developing country...someone somewhere is always developing something : Angana sengupta

In the geography class when teacher used to tell, “India is a developing country,” for a moment I was confused, what a developing country I asked. She fumbled with her saree and explained comething that was nowhere close to the answer very confidently.

Still however, I never understood the meaning of the sentence and that was the B.W era, AKA BEFORE WIKIPEDIA in fact it was Before Internet era, so there was no one other than school textbook who could give me this information. I remember walking sadly home, that why my country is still developing country when it dawned on me. It occurred to me when I was walking home one day from school and I fell in a ditch dig on the road. I could have sworn that the ditch did not exist 15 minutes before, no one believed me.
However it dawned me inside the ditch that, India is a developing country because someone somewhere is always developing something. It was uncanny.

The street outside my house was dug open 17 times in 4 months, yes I kept count. It was never the same person, 1st it was the electricity department, then it was the telephone department, then it was someone else who had no idea why he was digging it. After some days I figured it out. There was a hidden treasure buried somewhere nearby and so when at the night the workers left for the day, I entered the trench to check out if my guess was correct, but apart from layers and layers of mud found none.

There are some places which are dug up in your routes. During my college days, I used to travel via local bus. On the way there was always a young energetic man who I guess always loved running after the bus to catch it. He had no name, at least I never asked him. But he was always there to board the bus at BARC stop. That day also he was running after the bus hoping to catch it or may be doing a race with it. As he drew closer to the gate of the bus, something suddenly happened before my eyes. Well there was some construction work going on the read and he couldn’t control his running, wham, crash and BANG. The man fell into the bug ditch that was dug on the road. So his routine was shaken by the incident, so were his nerves.

India is a developing country, if you observe the political manifesto of the local member of parliament. They are always filled with construction work. They also more construction work if you promise to vote them, indicating that they are DEVELOPING THIS COUNTRY (:D).

Bridges are being constructed everywhere and the time taken to build a bridge is same as the time taken for election ( but we will have this topic some other day). Constructions are now part and parcel of Indian life. One fine winter morning you are rushing office thinking of all good things you are going to explain in meeting, when a big board on the road tells you to take a ‘DETOUR’. A ride of 5 minutes becomes one of 15 minutes.

The new wave of smart phones has taken the chair of weapons of mass distraction on the street. In a group of 3 people walking, I of them is on call, the other one playing with the phone and the third one is simply wondering why he is with the two. One advantage of these trenches are people now pay attention on street rather in the phone.

Said my friend, the iPhone addict, “It was horrible man… too horrible of an experience. While walking towards your house I was too busy tweeting when I fell into the dug trench outside your gate. For a moment I thought… for a moment I thought…”

Poor guy, I said to myself, I had named the trench Krrish 2 years back, now this was Krrish part 4 (yes, I name trenches, we all got bored sometimes, don’t we? ) the poor guy was traumatized by the incident.
“Horrible horrible experience…, ”he said , “ For a moment I thought, my iPhone will shatter into pieces.”
He said hugging the iPhone tightly, “ If only they make an app about warning people of the dug up trenches.”
“They did it LONG BACK dude, it’s called EYES and it is installed in YOUR HEAD. What were you tweeting about anyways?”

“I was tweeting about the 4th anniversary of the trench…” he added sadly.

But then again, India is a developing country, people are developing every inch of it. One day it is a village, the next a day a fully dug out city full of trenches. We are just 60 years old and it’s not easy developing such a large country overnight. Whatever Romans will say, INDIA CAN NOT BE BUILD IN A DAY. Can it??

"हिंदुस्तान मै दो भारत भारत बसते है" ?? : अनुराग कुमार

आरक्षण एक ऐसी परम्परा  है जिसकी  शुरुआत  देश मै जातीयता की खाई को  पाटने के लिए और पिछडो  के उत्थान  के लिए  शुरु किया गया था | परन्तु आज आरक्षण एक ऐसी वस्तु  बन चुकी है जो जातीयता की लड़ाई  की आग मे घी का काम कर रही है | इस आग को बढ़ाने का काम हमारे राजनेता कर रहे है | आज लोग आरक्षण की बातें  सिर्फ इसलिए कर रहे है  क्यूंकि उनका  अपना मतलब सिद्ध होता है | आज कोई भी नैतिकता की बातें नहीं करता है,आज कोई दूसरो  की भलाई की बातें नहीं करता,आज कोई आम आदमी और गरीबो की बातें नहीं करता, आज तो  बातें होती है सिर्फ जातीयता की,बातें होती है खुद की उत्थान  की बातें होती है, जाति और आरक्षण के नाम पर किसी विशेष को फायदा पहुचाने की और इन सब चीजों के बीच हमारा वो हिंदुस्तान कहीं पीछे रह गया है जिसका  सपना भगत सिंह,गाँधी,सुभाष ने देखा था | आज हम अपने चारो ओर देखते है की आरक्षण की लड़ाई लगी हुई है हर किसी को आरक्षण चाहिए,किसी को धर्म के नाम पर किसी को जात के नाम पर | आज हालत ये है की अमीर  आदमी भी आरक्षण की मांग करते है और वोट की गन्दी राजनीती करने वाली सरकार उनका समर्थन करती है |

इस सन्दर्भ मे हाल मै हुए   उत्तर प्रदेश के  चुनाव का एक छोटा सा उदाहरण है जिसमे  हमारे नेता लोग ने धर्म विशेष लोगो की वोट की उम्मीद   मे धार्मिक  आरक्षण  के लिए बोली लगाई जैसे एक पार्टी ने ४% की लगाई तो  अगले ने ९% की लगाई  तब अगली पार्टी पीछे  क्यूँ रहती उसने १८% की बोली लगाई और परिणाम यह रहा की जबसे ज्यादा  बोली लगाने वाले पार्टी को ही जनता ने बहुमत दिया क्यूंकि वो पार्टी सबसे ज्यादा सेकुलर पार्टी की रूप मै   सामने आई | ये समझ मै नहीं आता की लोग आरक्षण की नाम पर किसी पार्टी को सेकुलर या गरीबो का मसीहा कैसे मान लेती  है?कहीं हमारे हिंदुस्तान की तस्वीर और बुरी न हो जाये, आरक्षण के आग मे कही करीब आने के बाजे हमारे देश के लोग और दूर  न हो जाएं एक दुसरे से| इस बात पर हमें सोचने की जरुरत है की हिंदुस्तान मे कहीं दो के जगह  कई  भारत ना हो जाए?

गंगा बहती हो क्यों

रचना: पंडित नरेंद्र शर्मा
स्वर: भूपेन हजारिका


विस्तार है अपार प्रजा दोनों पार
करे हाहाकार निःशब्द सदा
ओ गंगा तुम, गंगा बहती हो क्यों


नैतिकता नष्ट हुयी,
मानवता भ्रष्ट हुयी
निर्लज्ज भाव से बहती हो क्यों


इतिहास की पुकार करे हुंकार
ओ गंगा की धार
निर्बल जन को सबल संग्रामी
समग्र गामी बनाती नहीं हो क्यों


विस्तार है अपार प्रजा दोनों पार
करे हाहाकार
निःशब्द सदा
ओ गंगा तुम,
ओ गंगा बहती हो क्यों


अनपढ़ जन अक्षरहीन,
अनगिन जन खाद्य विहीन
नेत्र विहीन
देख मौन हो क्यों


इतिहास की पुकार करे हुंकार
ओ गंगा की धार निर्बल जन को
सबल संग्रामी
समग्र गामी बनाती नहीं हो क्यों


विस्तार है अपार प्रजा दोनों पार
करे हाहाकार निःशब्द सदा
ओ गंगा तुम, गंगा बहती हो क्यों


व्यक्ति रहे व्यक्ति केंद्रित,
सकल समाज व्यक्तित्व रहित
निश्प्राण समाज को तोड़ती न क्यों


इतिहास की पुकार करे हुंकार
ओ गंगा की धार निर्बल जन को
सबल संग्रामी समग्र गामी बनाती नहीं हो क्यों


विस्तार है अपार प्रजा दोनों पार
करे हाहाकार निःशब्द सदाओ गंगा तुम,
गंगा बहती हो क्यों


श्रुतस्विनी क्यों न रहीं,
तुम निश्चय चेतन नहीं प्राणों में प्रेरणा देती न क्यों,
उन्मद अवनी कुरुक्षेत्र बनी
गंगे जननी नव भारत में,
भीष्म रूपी सुत समर जयी जनती नहीं हो क्यों


विस्तार है अपार प्रजा दोनों पार
करे हाहाकार

निःशब्द सदाओ गंगा तुम,
गंगा बहती हो क्यों

somalia

A child’s crying for food,

But the conditions are doing nothing good.

And as the earth heats up during the day,

From my heart, my soul, I say:

“Oh! Somalia! Oh! East Africa!

People are dying out of hunger,

And we can watch no longer!

Oh! Somalia! Oh! East Africa!

Through my poem I want to tell you,

That we’re here and are trying to help you!”

Thousands have died, and it’s still increasing,

And all you need is healing and feeding.

There’s still a thing left mankind,

And so I say leaving other tensions behind:

“Oh! Somalia! Oh! East Africa!

Soon you will be out of your misery

And there’ll be happiness in your country!

Oh! Somalia! Oh! East Africa!

Through my poem I want to tell you,

That we’re here and are trying to help you!”

Oh! We are here for you

© Shahrukh Jamal.

http://www.facebook.com/shahrukhj

If - Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;

If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Do INDIANS lack Art of Giving???

Sometimes I wonder why Indians are so insensitive to the needs of the fellow countrymen. It makes me ponder if we really lack the compassion and empathy that we should have for the needy ones around us.

Having been part of two major fund raising Campaigns I noticed that people don't want to part ways with money even when it's the question of Life or Death for the other fellow Indian. While it's quite natural to be a bit possessive of what you have but I fail to understand why do people don't want to donate even some minimum amount of money for a cause when this can bring a ray of hope for someone's life. 

And though in this post I am talking more of donations, but this applies to other things too be it even devoting some time for a cause or spreading some time for promotion of a cause etc.

People spend money without much thinking on religious rituals and they even give money generously to religious trusts but ask them to donate some money for a social cause and they will give you a stern look as if you are out to loot his money. They just won't like to even hear you and if at all they listen to you then they will make a hundred queries regarding that. I don't imply that they should not inquire about it. I mean, I concede that when a person is giving a particular amount (howsoever little that be), then he has all the rights to inquire about it and ensure its accountability, but at the same time I want to point out the difference in the two cases.

Talking about our elite class whom common men see in high regard and expects to come out with some help, its no better there too. The rich Celebrities, Politicians(good ones), businessmen are all the same. We think they have lots of money, so they would help if the cause gets noticed by them, but its just a big illusion for us. They live in their posh bungalows, and never care for individual cases. Yes, they might be associated with a few NGOs in some cases, but rarely do they come out to help individuals. Some might argue that it might be due to high no. of cases coming to them. But then why can't they spare a little for every few Genuine cases coming there way. And if they feel it unable to help monetarily, then they can help in numerous other ways like by appealing to media, mentioning it on their blogs etc. But no, they just don't turn up with any significant help.

I am really unable to understand INDIANS' lack of empathy and concern for the fellow citizens. Why can't every Indian donate a small part of money for some genuine causes. A student can easily spare Rs 50-100 for saving someone's life and similarly a Celebrity can very easily donate a few thousands for such emergency, genuine causes. But nothing of this sort actually happens. Celebrities donate lacs of money to some famous temple's trust but they won't give a single rupee for such individual causes. Its as if, giving small amount would look demeaning for a person of their stature.

In short, everyone from Celebrities to famous Corporate honchos to the common people are to be blamed for this apathy. Compared to this, our western counterparts are far better. They are far more generous in giving away their wealth for noble causes. This leaves me wondering why we Indians are like this!! Well, I am no expert in this field so I invite you readers to give your opinions on this.

But anyway, here is my view as to why this difference in attitude is there between us and our western brothers.

First thing is that in Western Countries there is no legacy of leaving behind hugely amassed wealth for the coming generations. There, children start living independently (on their own expenses) early and parents get their minds off the worries to support their children. All this may be attributed mainly to the prevailing culture there and partly to the high employment rate.

 In fact in the words of the Great philanthropist Warren Buffet-  " I want to give my Kids enough so that they could feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing." 

On the contrary, we in India have family values firmly engraved in our Culture. We remain connected to our siblings and elders forever. While this is very good culture but what happens is that this gives rise to a family-centric approach from the very childhood. So when we grow up, we are less likely to help someone outside our family. We fail to understand that though not blood relatives, but others too are our own brothers and sisters. And thus most of us rarely take trouble to come out and help other fellow Indians.

Another reason might be that Indians are generally quite religious in nature. Indians blindly believe in many religious things and practices without giving it much thought. The overall result is that we end up getting unfairly inclined towards religious acts than some much needed humane efforts. In my opinion, it's much more important to get indulged in some social, humane efforts than following some religious acts and rituals. I believe, GOD can't be made happier by doing anything else other than serving His own creatures. But it's really very sad to see few Indians actually believing  in this.

One more reason that must be accounted for is the financial status of the people. The financial status of the citizens of a country too determines the mentality of the people there. If there is a vast gap in economic status of two countries then it is bound to have some great differences in the thinking of the people too.

 Apart from these, there may be so many other reasons and I hope to find them in the course of my Life.  But  for now I just hope that the better sense prevails in our fellow Countrymen and they indulge in social causes significantly more than they do right now. I just hope that we INDIANS learn the Art of Giving and make it a part of our Life. CHEERS !!!

P.S.- This post has been picked up from a blog(simply a copy-paste version). Original post by the author can be found here- http://bit.ly/b9ZN33