tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60876718893326513272024-03-04T20:55:04.588-08:00the India of todayof life in India...issues that bother...stuff that needs to change...contemporary India...fun India...mad India...India as I know it...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-3497026141131108982015-10-01T03:11:00.002-07:002015-10-01T03:39:06.890-07:00The Talwars and justice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.thequint.com/india/2015/07/18/aarushi-was-bubbly-jumping-at-my-house-a-day-before-her-death" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"If and when the innocence of the Talwars gets proven, what we did to them as a country, as a society will also be out. We ruined them. The Talwars lost their reason to live – Aarushi – but we as a people killed them, stripping them of their dignity forever," says Fiza Jha, Aarushi Talwar's best friend in a poignant article.</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; line-height: 36px;">What if the Talwars are innocent? Having seen the utter messy way in which CBI and the police handled the case, and the salacious way the media played it up, there are very good chances that they might be. And have been wrongly thrown into jail, with their lives messed up, torn and destroyed beyond repair. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; line-height: 36px;">Not one person who has known them has said that they could have murdered their only daughter who they loved and adored, and househelp Hemraj. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3c3c3c;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; line-height: 36px;">Journalist Shoma Chaudhury who has been following the case says this on catchnews.com: ...</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #00243c; line-height: 27.2px;"> <a href="http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/lies-prejudice-how-the-talwars-were-convicted-without-evidence-1436341374.html" target="_blank">this case also has a much deeper significance for every Indian. If any of us are to be safe, investigations, legal processes and convictions have to be much sounder and fairer than what the Talwars have faced.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">An then of course, there is Avirook Sen's book Aarushi!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-10391454613060778192015-06-28T06:42:00.000-07:002015-06-28T06:42:14.546-07:00Now this judge wants to put a rapist in the house of a six year old girl!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The article in today's Indian Express <a href="https://www.blogger.com/See%20more%20at:%20http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/madras-high-court-judge-gives-bail-to-rape-accused-to-mediate-with-victim/#sthash.1x3zKEr3.dpuf" target="_blank">Madras HC judge gives bail to rape accused to ‘mediate’ with victim</a> is shocking. A judge of a Madras High Court actually wants a rape victim to marry the rapist and subject her to the torture of living with him for the rest of her life! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And worse, he knows the woman has a six year old daughter as a consequence of that rape. Does the judge really think that the little girl will be safe with a rapist in her house? Why does he want to put the little girl in danger?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The judge talks of a concept called reconciliation. There are crimes where there cannot be any reconciliation and these are - murder, attempt to murder, sexual assault, rape, and acid attack among them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The brave woman in <span style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/one-day-ill-tell-my-girl-her-father-was-a-rapist/#sthash.bIeRrmPU.dpuf" target="_blank">‘One day, I’ll tell my girl her father was a rapist’</a> has asked that the judge cancel his order. She is quoted as saying: "</span><span style="line-height: 16px;">Only those who live here and see my plight understand the kind of problems I have undergone… There are several ways to make money. But you can’t buy dignity. Isn’t this order, without seeking my opinion, now asking me to place my self-respect at the mercy of the man who raped me? How can I have a life with him? I can only request the top judge (Chief Justice) to cancel this order.” </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;">What was galling was a statement made by the judge about the woman: "She is not yet married. She is an unwed mother." So in his eyes placing her and the child with the rapist is a better option! God save the women of this country. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-18469117634978050282015-06-09T22:37:00.000-07:002015-06-09T22:37:32.201-07:00Raped, 24 weeks pregnant, abandoned by family, court denies permsission to abort<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The Times of India had recently reported --</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">AHMEDABAD: </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #999999; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Apr 7, 2015, 05.45AM IST </span>A<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a class="inlineshare" href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Rape-survivors-abortion-plea-stumps-Gujarat-HC/articleshow/46831473.cms#" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #336797; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="inlineoriginal" style="color: #3f3f3f;">24-year old woman, who is seven months pregnant from rape, has moved Gujarat high court seeking permission to abort her unwanted child.</span></a><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Law, however, does not allow medical termination of pregnancy of over 20 weeks. Unable to allow the woman to abort her pregnancy, the court on Monday asked the state government how it could help if she delivers the unwanted child. Justice J B Pardiwala said a seven-month fetus has high survival chances and there is no question of taking life by allowing abortion.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The Surat-based woman was abducted from her village in Botad by seven people. Six months into the ordeal, she escaped. Freedom spelt more agony as she was 24 weeks pregnant and her husband and in-laws dumped her citing her pregnancy. Her own family also did not want her to have the child. Botad police too refused to register FIR and insisted on a compromise. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">For more - </span><br />
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Rape-survivors-abortion-plea-stumps-Gujarat-HC/articleshow/46831473.cms<br />
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<b>What do you think should be done? </b>Write in with your views.</h2>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-86480634599502460742015-03-17T11:30:00.000-07:002015-03-17T11:30:10.670-07:00Nuggets of Jain wisdom <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Book review</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Title:</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Rishabhayan: The Story of the First King</i></div>
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Author: Acharya Mahapragya</div>
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Translator: Sudhamahi Regunathan</div>
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Harper Element: An imprint of HarperCollins <i>Publishers</i></div>
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<i>Rishabhayan: The Story of the First King</i> is a rare book of its kind. Written by Acharaya Mahapragya, a respected Jain monk and scholar, it tells the story of Rishabha, the first King and its very first Tirthankara, and through it introduces the basic concepts of Jainism. The commentary provided by Sudhamahi Regunathan, former Vice Chancellor, of the Jain Vishwa Bharati University, who has also translated the work from Hindi to English, makes it an immensely readable book. Sudhamahi Regunathan puts the concepts into context to help the lay reader, or a student of religion and theology unravel the throes of the past and discover the gems Jainism has to offer.</div>
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How did the story of human life begin and progress? What was society like before what we term ‘civilisation’? How did punishment evolve? When did the concept of family take root? These are just some of the questions that the book answers, all in about 2000 very beautifully crafted verses.</div>
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Rishaba’s story is set almost 2500 years before Christ. Consider that Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, was in the sixth century BC. A Tirthankara<span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #545454;"> is a person who attains a state of enlightenment through meditation and conquers the cycle of death and rebirth.</span> It is with the birth of Rishaba that society began to be organised, or put it in the Acharya’s words, it was the beginning of Indian civilisation.</div>
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The book is a mine of wisdom. You get introduced to the pillars of Jain thought -- non violence, non absolutism and non possession. You learn about <i>anekanta </i>or relativity that states truth is multi-dimensional, and forms the foundation of Jain philosophy. </div>
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The verses deal with administration and governance of society. The Acharya writes that the underlying principle of governance is equality of all living beings. A healthy society is one in which there is no shortage of wealth and materials, and yet their influence on people is also not overbearing.</div>
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Punishment was the first tool of administration. Initially remorse was enough to control people. Soon they grew thick skinned and direct admonishment had to be used. But crime could not be contained by admonishment for too long and then the third tool – reprimand came into effect, the Acharya explains.</div>
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Or sample this, in the Acharya’s elegant style: One should eat food as a bee draws nectar from a flower without harming it or as a cow grazes on the grass without uprooting it. It is only the donkey that uproots the entire plant!</div>
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Or this on longevity –</div>
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<i>Lack of anger, lack of greed,</i></div>
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<i>Mental peace, positive outlook, and</i></div>
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<i>Balanced nutrition, these five potent</i></div>
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<i>influences ensured longevity</i></div>
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<i>The causes of a short lifespan are five:</i></div>
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<i>Fear stress, passions high,</i></div>
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<i>Imbalanced food and collective effect</i></div>
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<i>Of all negative emotions and thoughts</i></div>
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The Acharya should know. He lived till 89 years and passed away recently.</div>
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Sudhamahi writes that translation has been challenging as she had to find synonyms for the philosophical terms and accommodate the adages and proverbs common in Hindi, Rajasthani and Sanskrit into a culturally different language. But she has done so with an elan matching the Acharya’s elegant style and the result is a treasure house capturing the journey of human society.</div>
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If you are fond of contemplating on life, or a poet, or a student of religion, the book is recommended for you.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-87491236422191568392014-12-31T21:14:00.000-08:002014-12-31T21:29:24.015-08:00My favourite photo of 2014: Women scientists celebrate at ISRO <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">My favourite photo of 2014: Women scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation celebrate after successfully putting spacecraft Mangalyaan </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">into the Mars orbit.</span></b><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Loved their smiles and shared their joy! We are told 20 per cent of the employees at the space research organisation are women. Forty-four year old Nan</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">dini Harinath, physicist and a mother of two, was the person who operated the spacecraft between Earth and Mars,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> as t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">he deputy operations director of the mission.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">To see an interesting contrast between NASA and ISRO, log into a post by </span></span><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #5d5d5d; line-height: 22px;">Melanie Meadors at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">: </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">http://geekmom.com/2014/09/welcome-mars-india/</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-31511228230365644002014-09-10T08:14:00.001-07:002014-09-10T08:14:26.882-07:00Mary Kom worth watching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Mary Kom</i> another wonderful Bollywood film. Loved it! Its story line, its character portrayal, the settings...all commendable. Fine acting by Priyanka as five times World Boxing Champion and Olympics winner M.C. Mary Kom, and Darshan Singh as Onler Kom, her husband. The film moves at great pace and before you know, it is the end. Over two hours of action and not a dull moment!<br />
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And what wonderful role models both Mary Kom and Onler make for our youngsters. Mary as a young woman who has taken up boxing, and her husband, as a supportive partner who offers to look after the babies while she trains to re-enter the boxing ring after pregnancy and childbirth, and gets ready to compete. I have not seen such inspiring figures, such powerful role models for our youngsters in a long long time. And ones that break the stereotypes for both men and women!<br />
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I am very dismayed to learn that the film has not yet been released in Manipur, Mary Kom's home state. There is a ban on Hindi films there by a militant group. And while the people of Manipur are travelling to neighbouring states to see the film, theatre owners in the state dare not screen the film and face the wrath of the militants. <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/will-mary-kom-be-released-in-manipur-boxers-husband-onler-tries-his-best/496917-8-66.html" target="_blank">Also read that Onler is trying his best to get it released there</a>. He has been in touch with the Chief Minister's office. Now imagine having to knock at the CM's door to have a film released about the national figure who has done her state and the country proud. What knots we tie ourselves in!<br />
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Then I hear, that there is some controversy over why the character of Mary Kom was not played by a Manipuri actress. It does not have to. In fact, it is good that it was played by a Punjabi from Meerut (if I am correct about Priyanka's origins). Cinema is an art form and no art form should be restricted or be restrictive. I thought Priyanka did justice to the role and so do Mary and Onler!<br />
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There is criticism and with reason about the north-east being left out from national mainstream. The rest of India knows so little about the north east. This is one film that is a giant step in changing that through the story of one of its best known face. I saw the hall full when I went to see it in Delhi. The audience largely youngsters, seemed to have loved it. Manipur should welcome the film. Screen it in schools and colleges as should the rest of India. It is not often that we get a film like this! Great job by its director, Omung Kumar and producer, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-75289715260394459042014-08-11T22:24:00.001-07:002014-08-12T05:33:21.368-07:00We need more men like them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well done! It is great that some Indian men have started voicing that Indian women have it bad because of Indian men! Watch this powerful video:
<a href="http://https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdPqGLB18js"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bdPqGLB18js?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></a>
India would be a great place for women if we had more men like them! Thank you guys!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-42479817029384853942014-08-06T01:25:00.000-07:002014-08-13T21:22:10.367-07:00Violence is NOT Glamour!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I cant get over this! We must be really depraved if violence starts to inspire us. I am shocked and very saddened by this fashion shoot. I am giving you the link:
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http://jezebel.com/indian-fashion-shoot-features-woman-being-attacked-by-m-1616298554?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow <br />
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I refuse to put any of the photos from this shoot on my blog for they are all downright offensive.They stink! I enjoy fashion. I sincerely believe fashion has to be elegant, it has to be artistic, it has to appeal. But the way it is portrayed by the designer/photographer makes me want to throw up. Yuk! And the man actually seems proud of his creation! He does not think he has done anything wrong. <br />
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This fashion shoot falls in the same category as the<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6087671889332651327#editor/target=post;postID=2035399254353312663;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname" target="_blank"> Ford ad</a>, the Japanese rape game videos and their ilk that sink so low as to use violence on women for game, fashion and sale purposes. And I would go as far as to say that the creator of this shoot, some Shetye, is as bad as a rapist. Do you agree? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-25395259055517201902014-05-04T23:00:00.002-07:002014-07-17T22:38:18.992-07:00Living with cancer in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Number of cancer cases in India predicted to double in next 20 years</span></span></h2>
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<b>India reports about one million new cases of cancer every year. <span style="background-color: transparent;">India is on the verge of a cancer epidemic, states <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-17/news/49214616_1_cancer-patients-cancer-cases-globocan" target="_blank">a report </a>in The Economic Times:</span></b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
I
was one among the million cases last year. It was one late August
evening in 2013, I learnt that I have cancer. I had been feeling normal: I
went to work, drove the car, carried heavy bags filled with groceries,
was regular about my walks, could go through a long action-packed day with energy.. It was pain in the region of my left ovary for about three days that drove me to the gynaecologist, who after an examination sent me for an ultra sound test. <br />
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The technician at the
ultrasound clinic announced it in a most matter of fact way: "You have a
tumour." I was referred to an
oncologist. And as I walked into the Cancer Centre, I knew my life had
taken a sharp turn. Though I knew next to nothing about cancer, my heart
was filled with dread. The word had such a sinister ring to it.<br />
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When
I met the oncologist, I told him how scared I was walking into the
Centre. He smiled and said, "What would you like us to do? Change the
name?" I did not have an answer to that then. I do not have one today.<br />
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I
used to skip articles on cancer, or change the channel when I came
across a talk on the subject. I was fit and healthy and never imagined
cancer could strike me. But today, I read everything on it that I come
across. And in doing so, I realise that though modern medicine has
advanced, there are many many areas for which it has no answers yet...I also realise how vulnerable we all are. Cancer can strike anytime...anyone. Even children. <br />
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<b>On
this page I will post links to articles and sites that I find
informative and useful. Though there is a lot being written about the
subject abroad, I will restrict myself to the scene in India. If you
have landed on this page looking for some information, I hope you will
not be disappointed. Do comment and share links to useful sites. </b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What causes cancer? Discovering the answers</span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/low-vitamin-d-levels-in-body-linked-to-cancer-heart-disease/%20%20http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/3/5/1548.full" style="background-color: white; line-height: 40px;" target="_blank">Low vitamin D levels in body linked to cancer, heart disease</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-17/news/49214616_1_cancer-patients-cancer-cases-globocan" target="_blank">Number of cancer cases in India predicted to double in next 20 years</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://gallagher-photo.com/environmental-stories/pesticide-poisoning-punjab-india/" target="_blank">Punjab is becoming a hotspot of cancer cases in India. Is the culprit high pesticide use? </a> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cancer drugs</b></span></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Govt-mulls-cancer-drug-patent-waiver/articleshow/34653069.cms?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=digest_section" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Govt mulls cancer drug patent waiver</span></a></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Connect</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/Cancer-survivor-to-make-a-fitness-plea/articleshow/34388671.cms" target="_blank">For women in Navi Mumbai - Reflect and connect </a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pets and cancer </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.petflow.com/i-never-knew-that-dogs-had-this-amazing-gift-i-love-mine-even-more-after-watching-this/#2O5RLkurzuZZKHIs.01" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dogs can smell out cancer!</span></b></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dress well, it helps!</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look good with no hair -</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhyo9OMplaeiTkxKZiks7eTPFLW3QscT93_m7s2gREoN8zlhSTJLQydwEfUZDks1YwQFqJTS_4y-_APHyvxncD1X0TboWII-mnh6YD4tdOg6O_-Y_Bu7uAO6Yd0aQJYq0cobSC3ovuoU/s1600/style+-henna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhyo9OMplaeiTkxKZiks7eTPFLW3QscT93_m7s2gREoN8zlhSTJLQydwEfUZDks1YwQFqJTS_4y-_APHyvxncD1X0TboWII-mnh6YD4tdOg6O_-Y_Bu7uAO6Yd0aQJYq0cobSC3ovuoU/s1600/style+-henna.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See this - a new fashion statement for those suffering hair loss from chemotherapy. Henna, bindis and jewellery - a very Indian look. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/13/henna-heals-hair-loss_n_5311004.html?&ir=Impact&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000058" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the amazing lovely look!</span></b><br />
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The recent statements by two Samajwadi Party leaders, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Abu Azmi on rape are a direct slap on the face of the Indian women.<br />
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The Indian Constitution has given Indian women an equal status. But Mulayam declared on April 10, as India was getting ready to go to polls, that it was unfair to award death penalty to rapists for their 'mistake'. Mulayam, who has been chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the defence minister of India, is the leader of Samajwadi Party that is currently ruling in the state. Speaking at a election rally in the town of Moradabad, he promised to bring about changes in the tough anti-rape law if his party comes to power in the 2014 general elections. Read the full story<a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/elections2014/election-beat/mulayam-says-boys-make-mistakes-death-penalty-for-rape-needless-reports/article1-1206630.aspx"> here.</a> It was his terming rape as ‘a mistake committed by boys’ that had women fuming. <br />
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Abu Azmi went a step further. He called for punishing a woman who is raped! He is reported to have said the following when a reporter asked him for a solution to the problem of rapes: "Solution is this: any woman if, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged. It shouldn't be allowed even if a woman goes by consent." <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/shocking-women-having-sex-should-be-hanged-says-abu-azmi-507147">For more on Azmi's comment, click on the link.</a> Later, after facing the ire of women’s organisations and some political parties, he retracted. By that time his son had come out with a statement citing a generation gap between senior members of the party and others who were of the view that a rapist deserved strict punishment. But that was a little too late. The message of what the leaders stand for had been made loud and clear. <br />
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When rape is termed a 'mistake' by boys and men, it completely negates the enormity of the crime that is known to scar a woman for life. At the same time, the blame is put squarely on the woman for the crime. Mulayam Singh Yadav epitomises this mindset that treats girls and women as second class citizens, as commodities and puts boys and men at a pedestal, worthy of special treatment. <br />
<br />
With their utterances, Azmi and Mulayam join a chain of men in positions of power, whose statements keep the women subjugated and shackled in a society that is already heavily biased against the woman. In fact, these statements can be said to lead to greater violence against the female of the species, not just physical and mental, but that which stifles her very existence: rising number of female foetuses being aborted, neglect of the female child, poor literacy and education levels, poor participation in the organised workforce. <br />
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Statements like these negate the work of many individuals and organisations which have been trying very hard to bring about a change in the status of Indian women. When a common person finds a leader endorsing such a view, he is only emboldened, and once again the notion that a woman can be treated any way one wants, reverberates through the society. <br />
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The woman has traditionally been blamed for the violence on her. Rape has been used to keep women subjugated, ensuring that they do not step out of the many restrictions imposed on them: of dress, of behaviour, of their place in society, of being second to men. It was after decades of silence and inaction that the rape law was made stringent. It was a gang rape of horrific proportions in a bus moving on the roads of South Delhi, the most affluent of India’s neighbourhoods, that shook the nation and finally saw a lax law getting some teeth. <br />
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Before that, India had seen <a href="http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2011/09/my-article-on-recent-judgments-on-rape.html">some of the most inane judgments on rape</a>. A former Chief Justice was q<a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/let-victim-wed-rapist-if-she-so-desires-chief-justice-of-india/article1-516234.aspx">uoted as stating that a victim should be allowed to marry the rapist</a>, a throwback to some medieval practice. The Bombay High Court actually reduced punishment for a man convicted of sodomising a 10-month-old girl baby, accepting his contention that he lost control over himself as he was living away from his family! <a href="http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/hc-reduces-prison-term-for-man-who-sodomised-baby/896954/">Click here for the full story. </a> Panchayats have let off rapists with punishments like five shoe smacks, and small fines, sending a message that rape is not a big crime. <br />
<br />
And now, we have these statements by men from a party dominant and in power in one of the most backward states in the country: Uttar Pradesh. The state performs poorly on all social indicators like maternal mortality, child sex ratio, age at marriage, nutrition for women, life expectancy, education and workforce participation, and a rising crime graph. <br />
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It is important for women to feel secure in the knowledge that they matter, that any injustice done to them will be dealt with, that they are not second class citizens but enjoy the same status as men in the country, in society and in their families. Only then will there be progress. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You might like to read an earlier article by me in <i>The Tribune</i> -</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110902/edit.htm#6" target="_blank">Violence most foul</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And an earlier post - <b><a href="ttp://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2013/12/more-on-warped-mindsets-of-judges.html" target="_blank">More on the warped mindsets of judges</a></b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-70463731674488641012014-03-18T23:21:00.001-07:002014-03-20T08:11:01.515-07:00India is FINALLY changing <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGC6vl3lzf0">Queen</a>: One of the best Hindi films I have even seen. No melodrama, no dancing around trees, no bizarre clothes, no overdressed painted heroine and best of all a hero who is no hero! The film has never a dull moment, plenty of laughs, touches your heart and makes you feel good. It is the first film of Kangana Ranaut that I have watched. She has put up a great convincing act of a middle class Punjabi girl discovering herself. Lisa Hayden looks stunning and does her role so well. Rajkumar Rao, the anti-hero is superb. I could not believe that I was watching a convincing Hindi film FINALLY! And that a film like this can draw the crowds! WOW! <a href="http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/kangana-ranaut-queen-box-office-collections-in-two-weeks/1/204346.html" target="_blank">And how! </a><br />
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It is still sinking in that India is changing.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqggcpL79qw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And then there is this ad. What a shaadi (marriage)! Bridal jewellery being sold by a woman getting remarried. Hold! The bride has a child. Wait! the bride has a GIRL child. I loved the ad - courageous, bold and yet, very Indian! <br />
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Congratulations to Vikas Bahl for a pathbreaking film and to <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tanishq-reamarriage-ad-gauri-shinde/1/320656.html" target="_blank">Gauri Shinde</a> for a great ad!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-3722642347864292572014-01-19T05:06:00.001-08:002014-01-26T22:56:41.476-08:00Surviving and enjoying Delhi: A guide for foreign women travellers to India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>15 safety tips for foreign women travellers to India </b>- F<b>rom a woman who grew up and lives in Delhi, one of the most hostile cities for women</b> </span></h4>
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<a href="http://http//www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10573344/Danish-tourist-gang-raped-in-Delhi.html">Recent cases of rape </a>and harassment of female tourists are scaring women from visiting India. Tourist numbers have fallen, more so of women travelling alone. Do not let these instances put you off from visiting and discovering India. </div>
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India is a country like no other – unique, culturally rich, with strong religious roots, philosophically overpowering, with hoary traditions, a medley of colours, smells, many culinary traditions, a rich cultural heritage, exquisite dances, many musical forms, stunning sculptures, gorgeous textiles, rich embroideries, skilled crafts…. </div>
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Delhi, its capital is equally exciting. It is a city like no other. It has great old monuments, dating back thousands of years. It is a city that lives history. Every day. History is part of Delhi life: Old Fort, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, Mughal Gardens (if you come at the right season to see them in their glory), India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan…. It has some great bazaars and markets where you can spend hours shopping or just looking at the wares….Chandni Chowk, Dariba Kalaan, Sarojini Nagar, Janpath, Lajpat Nagar ….. And if you can stomach it, sample Delhi’s culinary traditions at Paranthewale Galli, Old Delhi, Pandara Road market …</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discovering Delhi Photo by Naveen Sarma Protected by copyright</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discovering Delhi Photo by Naveen Sarma Protected by copyright</td></tr>
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All this can be yours to discover and enjoy provided you follow some safety precautions: </div>
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1. While walking on the pavements, do not make eye contact with a stranger. Ditto at a restaurant. Men here could mistake it for an invitation. And then you could have a louse making your life miserable. </div>
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2. While walking, chose the side where you can see the traffic come in your direction. Do not walk in the direction of the flow of the traffic. There have been instances of women being pulled into vehicles. As long as you can see what is coming in front of you, you can be on your guard. </div>
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3. People here do stare. On the roads and public places you will encounter men who have little or no education and are not exposed much to foreigners. So someone who dresses differently attracts attention. Preferably wear trousers, long skirts or an Indian dress like a salwar kameez. Do not display your legs or wear deep necklines. Men here can’t handle them! Though this dress code is no guarantee that you will not be pawed or groped, you will certainly attract less attention to yourself. And with it less of the leering men. </div>
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4. Do not ask strangers, especially single men or a group of men, for directions. It is best to seek out a family group or a cop in that order of preference. </div>
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5. Avoid walking on deserted, badly lit stretches. Or taking an auto or taxi through one. Always keep to the main road, avoid bylanes. Keep a map handy. And the name, address and telephone numbers of the place you are staying in and of local contacts you may have. </div>
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6. In case you find someone stalking you, seek out a group of women, or a family group and tell them about it. Women will understand your problem. Indian families do go out of their way to help. But do seek out young and smart women. Older women steeped in tradition, could be just too shy to respond or may not speak English. </div>
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7. In case someone touches you inappropriately, yell and attract attention. Carry and use a pepper spray. Do not be scared of using your voice. It is your best defence. Most of the time you will find the creep sauntering away. </div>
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8. You may even have strange men coming up to you and saying hello. Do not feel compelled to reply. Do what Indian women would do – Ignore them. Pretend you never heard and carry on with what you were doing. And if a strange man waves at you, please do not wave back. You may be inviting unwanted attention. </div>
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9. When you check into a hotel room, do ensure that all door and window bolts are in working order. You should be able to lock yourself in. See that the windows are barred, to rule out any intruder entry. Your door should have a safely chain or a peephole. </div>
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10. In a hotel room, keep the door open when a waiter or house staff enters. Station yourself near the door till the attendant has finished the job he has come for. </div>
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11. Do not accept food from strangers. It could be laced with drugs. </div>
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12. Always note down the number of the autorickshaw or taxi you use. And pass it on to a local contact loudly so that the driver hears it. </div>
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13. Do not share the front seat of the taxi or auto with the driver. It is not done in India. Use the back passenger seat. By sharing the driver’s seat you send out a wrong signal. </div>
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14. Be selective and discerning about taking up invitations to people’s homes while trying to make friends. Meet and get to know your new friends in a public place. </div>
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15. Do not give the impression of being too friendly or approachable. It is better to be aloof and safe. If you find a hotel staff member or the owner getting too friendly move out to another hotel. </div>
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<b>Some of my friends and I have decided to offer local guide services to women travelling alone or in small groups to discover Delhi. In case you are interested you could get in touch with me at - shreevenkatram@yahoo.com . </b></div>
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Alexis Lai,a journalist at CNN.com’s Hong Kong bureau has this to say about her travels in India - <a href="http://travel.cnn.com/female-solo-travel-india-218191">Should solo female travelers avoid India?</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-57553160331560972372013-12-26T02:05:00.000-08:002013-12-27T21:16:58.073-08:00More on the warped mindsets of judges <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On my blog I have dealt with the warped mindsets of judges in India and other countries while dealing with cases of crime against women.
However, I was very happy to note a two–member bench of the Delhi High Court actually expunging two remarks by a judge of a fast track court who had made "gender biased" and "insensitive" comments about women. The Delhi High Court stated that such comments should not be made.
Referring to the judge's comment that women in the age group of 19-24 years voluntarily elope with their lovers, the bench said the remark is "not based on any empirical data". To read further, log on to <a href="http://http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Judges-should-not-make-insensitive-gender-biased-comments-Delhi-high-court/articleshow/27747996.cms">the Times of India report</a>.
Meanwhile, we have a bizarre judgment. This one comes from the United States of America. A US court actually gave a rapist parental rights over the child born of that rape! With the order, a young girl who was 14 when she was raped and became pregnant, becomes bound to the man she wants nothing to do with.
The plaintiff and her mother repeatedly informed state officials that they wanted no contact with the man for any purpose and that they did not want the child born of the crime to have a relationship with him. But their pleas were ignored. Patriarchal mindsets completely negate the feelings of the woman and the crime done to her!
To read about the case log on to - http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/raped-and-impregnated-14-girl-must-now-share-parental-rights-her-attacker .
Shannon Argueta from the US discusses rape culture and weird judgments at: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/08/28/rapist-to-serve-30-day-sentence-after-judge-blames-deceased-teenage-victim/
This is what she says: "This is an unbelievable example of rape culture in this country. This judge is blaming a child for her own rape. When did it become the victim’s fault? When did the law stop expecting rapists to control themselves? This man raped that child; Sexual intercourse without consent is rape! The judge convicted him of rape and then said that the victim was just as much in control of the situation as the perpetrator? I would laugh at the logic if I weren’t so disgusted. Children CANNOT consent to sex! That is why we have laws that are supposed to protect them and acknowledge that they are not mature enough to make that sort of decision. It doesn’t matter if a 14-year-old looks like she is 34. It doesn’t matter if she is mature for her age; A 14-year-old is still a child."
In India judges have actually condoned the rape of babies! Yes, you read it right. Here is the link to some shocking judgments and pronouncements by our judges:http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2010/03/shame-six-month-old-baby-girl-raped.html
http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2011/09/my-article-on-recent-judgments-on-rape.html
http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2012/01/rape-molestation-and-judgement.html
http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2012/02/justice-dispensers-who-will-make-them.htmlAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-76830547392634376472013-09-16T00:43:00.001-07:002013-09-17T01:41:25.934-07:00The Delhi Bar Council must act <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Really glad that the Delhi Bar Council is taking a serious view of the utterances by defence lawyer A P Singh on the 23-year-old victim in the December 16 gangrape case in which she lost her life.
The lawyer for two of the convicts is reported to have said, "..<a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/delhi/42080612_1_satyamev-jayate-yogesh-khanna-nirbhaya" target="_blank">.if my daughter was having premarital sex </a>and moving around at night with her boyfriend, I would have burnt her alive. I would not have let this situation happen. All parents should adopt such an attitude."<br />
A few questions for him -
1. Is there anything called 'adulthood' in his lexicon? The woman was an adult, free to choose who she wanted to be with, go out with.<br />
2.Does the fact that a woman is out at night with or without a man, give the right to men who come across her to rape her?<br />
3. Why hasn't he made such statements about the men who raped? Were they habitual rapists? Did they indulge in pre and post marital sex? Why is this not being talked about?<br />
4. He would have burnt his daughter alive, he says. What would he do if his son indulged in premarital sex? Boast that he had arrived? Is finally a man?<br />
5. As a lawyer he is extolling parents to kill their daughters. What is wrong with this man?<br />
6. Is he actually advocating that girls be locked up, not allowed to go out so that such situations do not happen? As a lawyer, instead of advocating basic human rights, he is actually preaching that theto freedom of movement, the right to decide who to be with etc etc are curtailed!<br />
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I am waiting to see how the Delhi Bar Council will act.<br />
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To see the growing frustration of women with the judicial and police systems, <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/at-a-police-station-she-slapped-the-man-accused-of-trying-to-rape-her/290202?ndtv_rhs" target="_blank">watch this video, where a woman hits out at her molester</a>. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-55048795392094252712013-08-22T23:33:00.000-07:002013-08-23T02:16:22.346-07:00Of sexual harassment and gang rapes in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1878518/report-woman-photographer-allegedly-gang-raped-in-mahalaxmi-area-in-mumbai" target="_blank">Another gang rape. This time in Mumbai. </a>Mumbai, as I used to know it way back in the mid-Seventies was a secure place for women. Unlike Delhi, I could stay out late, board a late night bus, which I often did after my office duty as a journalist, and feel safe. Unlike Delhi, the men in Mumbai were better behaved. They did not grope and pass lewd comments. They were comfortable with women around and did not make them feel like strange objects to be stared at. A taxi driver once went out of his way to drop me to my destination during a particularly heavy monsoon shower, when the city had become waterlogged and came practically to a halt. My attempts at waving taxis to stop was proving futile, for they all had passengers. And then he came along. He told me he was on his way home, but he would drop me at my place, which was in a different direction. To my great surprise he did not ask me for any extra fare.<br />
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That was the Mumbai I knew, a safer city for women. But over the years, instead of becoming better, it has deteriorated, become an unsafe metro. This ghastly crime, <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Mob-molests-2-women-on-New-Year-s-Day/Article1-266701.aspx" target="_blank">as well as the New Year assaults on women</a>, show <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-02/mumbai/27748963_1_molested-juhu-beach-circuit-cameras" target="_blank">that the city of Mumbai has sunk to the same pit as Delhi</a>!<br />
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This comes soon after <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1023053" target="_blank">a Canadian student</a> on a study tour of India, described her harrowing experience of being in India. What she described and what has driven her into depression so severe that she has to seek treatment for it, is what Indian women face day in and day out. It is the price they have to pay for "stepping out" of their homes into work spaces, or just to enjoy a movie or eat out. The sad tragedy is that the criminals get seldom punished. Eight months later, despite a fast track special court and the public outrage, the bunch of men who raped the Delhi girl on a bus, are still to be punished. One demon ended his life. Probably he was shamed to face the world! We have had some people clamour for showing leniency to another who was not yet 18! But the act he committed was not an act any child would commit. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/final-arguments-to-begin-in-delhi-gangrape-case/article5045151.ece?homepage=true" target="_blank">The hearings are still on..</a>.. We are awaiting punishment for the gang of goons. The state has yet to act on behalf of a young girl who lost her life in a most brutal way and her friend who was beaten up. And as we wait, another gang rape.<br />
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Why doesn't India act decisively for once? And tell the women that it cares for them!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-50740298448123176892013-07-23T22:25:00.001-07:002013-08-07T03:30:57.092-07:00Take acid attacks seriously - they are worse than murder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was very dismayed to read <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/StopAcidAttacks/I-can-t-even-cry-anymore-says-Annu-Mukherjee-blinded-in-an-acid-attack/Article1-1097308.aspx" target="_blank">Annu Mukherjee's story</a> in the Hindustan Times today. The young woman had surmounted many hurdles to make a decent life for herself and her brother. The acid attackers not only snatched away her means to a livelihood, disfigured and blinded her, but threw her into facing a lonely tragic life. Her brother, who she was was supporting had to stop his studies. What was extremely heart wrenching was that the attackers also took away Annu's ability to cry. Her eyes have been so disfigured that tears do not come anymore.<br />
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And what was the punishment the attackers got? Five years in jail and a Rs 1,60,000 fine. Today they are roaming free. An inadequate punishment for disfiguring a woman for life, blinding her, snatching away her identity and only source of income, leaving her to a life of penury and loneliness.<br />
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The attackers should have been behind bars for life. For they are extremely dangerous to be let out in society. Now that they have been freed, they should be made to contribute towards her medical and living expenses. Fifty per cent of what Meena Khan and her brother earn should go to Annu till she is in a position to support herself by opening the dance school she wants. What do you say?<br />
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Earlier post: <a href="http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2013/06/an-acid-attack-is-worse-than-murder-for.html" target="_blank">An acid attack is wrose than murder for it makes life a living hell</a><br />
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And this news item -<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/SC-curbs-acid-sale-orders-more-money-for-victims/Article1-1094323.aspx" target="_blank">SC curbs acid sale, orders more money for victims</a></span></h1>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-91548563938601123062013-07-21T05:40:00.000-07:002013-07-23T23:40:49.378-07:00Serving a poison free meal to our children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandaman_primary_school_lunch_incident" target="_blank">Bihar midday meal tragedy</a> in which over 20 children died after consuming a meal laced with pesticide prepared in their school brings home many well known facts -<br />
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1. The facilities in majority of our government run schools are so poor, be it classroom itself, the playground, or the quality of teachers, that it is a crime to call it a school.<br />
2. Providing some sub standard grain and hoping the health of the children improves is a fallacy. Borne out by the fact that even after years of the midday meal scheme, large proportions of Indian children are undernourished, underweight and stunted. <br />
3. The communities these schools serve are so poor and disempowered that they cannot demand their rights to a nourishing, hygienically cooked meal for their children. <br />
4. Therefore, when there are no proper utensils for cooking, or storage, or adequate rations, there is no protest from them or a demand for what is their right.<br />
5. The persons who are enstrusted with the job of preparing the meal get no training in hygiene. India's poor are forced to live in extremely unhygenic conditions and being illiterate and uneducated, they often do not know how such conditions impact their health. In the Bihar case, the person who put the oil in the pesticide container, probably did not realise that pesticide can kill. Probably the person did not know that pesticide should be stored away from food. <br />
And when the children protested over the taste and look of the food cooked, the <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/21203809.cms" target="_blank">principal forced them to eat</a> saying nothing could be wrong as the oil had come from her husband's shop.<br />
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A question that bothers is why was a pesticide container kept next to the school rations in the first place? <br />
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The Bihar government is <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/midday-meal-safety-norms-to-be-painted-on-walls-of-schools/article4937739.ece?homepage=true&ref=relatedNews" target="_blank">planning to paint the midday meal safety norms on the walls</a>. Would that help? What happens if the cook is illiterate? <br />
What would help is -<br />
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A course in basic hygiene and food storage. <br />
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Regular checks by a monitoring team, which should be the members from the community whose children study in the school, or the Village Health and <br />
Sanitation committee or an equivalent local body in the urban areas.<br />
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Something that has been seen to work, to improve the standard of the food cooked and served is the involvement of the mothers of the school-going children, be it in procurement, storage and cooking of the rations. It has worked in many parts of Tamil Nadu<a href="http://shreevenkatram.blogspot.in/2009/02/more-than-meal.html" target="_blank"> and I wrote about it three years ago </a>when I saw the state's midday meal programme.<br />
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If it can work there, it should work in other states including Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, home to many midday meal scandals. But for that the 'control' or to use a politically correct word 'management' of the scheme should be in the hands of the parents. The government's role should be of a provider and facilitator, the parents and a teacher representative would be the implementators -- lifting of the rations provided only if they meet a certain quality, preparing and serving of the meals. <br />
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More on -<br />
<a href="http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/bRmJIopPOFNx5onIwCjNcO/Everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-midday-meals.html" target="_blank">India's midday meal programme</a><br />
<a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/07/22/bihar-midday-meal-poisoning-idINDEE96L0B120130722" target="_blank">WHO had asked India to ban toxin that killed children</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-70985977814757231872013-06-26T02:20:00.000-07:002013-06-27T22:43:59.343-07:00This is what makes India special <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A lot has been said about India's politicians and her land mafia and their rapacious greed which stops at nothing. The cloudburst, and the floods and landslides that have followed in Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal, were exacerbated by the doings of the politician-land mafia who have mindlessly plundered the region. Hundreds dead, tragedy after tragedy, house collapses, property worth crores lost, the unending suffering ...<br />
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Amidst all this, come stories of how our security forces have been helping out. If it were not for them and their selfless service, one shudders to think what more could have happened. These men, have the nation's gratitude. However, <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/india/rs-1-cr-for-cricketers-a-pittance-for-uttarakhand-heroes-905681.html" target="_blank">we treat them badly. </a>Our parliamentarians have grudged them small pay hikes, <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-21/india/28313978_1_indian-mps-constituency-allowance-three-fold-hike" target="_blank">while giving themselves hefty increases</a>. That is another story.<br />
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Here I want to focus on what makes India special. It is the generosity of the ordinary Indians. People who have little, but give it unstintingly. These are the people, who rush to help whenever tragedy strikes....while our politicians quibble over turf and upmanship and our rich are slow to open their purses. <br />
<br />
I have put together stories that are indeed moving and celebrate that special quality we call <i>humaneness:</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/others-to-the-rescue-grocery-store-keeper-friends-feed-over-800-a-day/1133925/" target="_blank"><b>Grocery store keeper and friends feed over 800 a day</b></a><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-pilgrims-bring-home-a-hero/articleshow/20771858.cms" target="_blank">Chennai pilgrims bring home a hero</a></b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NorthIndiaRainFury2013/Uttarakhand-floods-When-all-else-failed-youth-took-charge/Article1-1082430.aspx?hts0021" target="_blank">Youth took charge</a></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Villagers-rescue-43-foreigners/articleshow/20808850.cms" target="_blank">Villagers rescue 43 foreigners</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/relief-camps-by-locals-dot-stretch-from-rishikesh-to-kedarnath/1134890/" target="_blank">Relief camps by locals</a><br />
<br />
This one celebrates the IAF women pilots<br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Women-IAF-pilots-prove-their-worth-in-Uttarakhand-rescue/articleshow/20771161.cms" target="_blank"><b>IAF women pilots to the rescue</b></a><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-22188765132007861892013-06-18T23:06:00.000-07:002013-06-18T23:53:00.128-07:00When marriage for a girl is more important than education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A news item in the Times of India:<br />
<h1 class="multi-line-title-1">
<a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-06/kanpur/39788101_1_marriage-proposal-15-year-old-girl-asp-ram-kishun" target="_blank">Father kills daughter for refusing to marry</a></h1>
Some portions from the news item -<br />
<br />
<i>KANPUR: A man allegedly killed his 15-year-old girl for refusing to marry
a boy of his choice at Virma in Uttar Pradesh's
KanpurDehat on Tuesday evening. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Police said the girl had apparently turned down the proposal saying she was
young and wanted to study.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The girl was an intermediate student and had been staying with her maternal
uncle in Gudha village to complete her studies. She had returned home for summer
vacations.</i><br />
<br />
<i>A police officer said ever since she had returned home, Shukla had been
pestering her to accept the marriage proposal.</i><br />
<br />
So what does this say about the society -<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>You should not have an opinion of your own girl. You dare not go against parental wishes. Father knows best. </li>
<li>He can even kill you for opposing him. </li>
<li>Marriage is more important than education.</li>
<li>What use is education? Your role in society is to cook, look after your husband and his family, and bear children.</li>
</ul>
<div>
This is the mindset that has to change. Until then....</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-63220972870319439272013-06-14T01:20:00.001-07:002013-06-14T01:20:06.026-07:00Why does this happen?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><a href="ttp://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Lucknow/UP-Lover-s-family-burns-girl-to-death-in-front-of-panchayat/Article1-1076167.aspx" target="_blank">Lover's family burns girl to death in front of panchayat</a></b><br />
<br />
Yes, you read it right. The item appeared in Hindustan Times today and I am reproducing it below:<br />
<br />
A woman was brutally assaulted and her daughter burnt alive in public view,
and in the presence of the village panchayat, Uttar Pradesh Police said Friday. The incident occurred at Karahkol village of Deoria, 475 km from state
capital Lucknow.<br />
Police said a girl named Manju was in love with a boy named Ranjit of the
same village. The boy's family opposed the relationship, and the matter was
taken to the panchayat.<br />
<div class="clr_lft">
</div>
<br />
At the panchayat meeting, Manju's mother pleaded that since the two loved
each other, they should be allowed to marry. <br />
Incensed by the proposal, Jai Hind, Ranjit's father, and members of his
family assaulted Manju's mother Gyanwati and rained blows and kicks on her. <br />
Manju rushed to help her mother as she was being attacked, and members of
Ranjit's family doused her with kerosene and set her on fire. <br />
Police reached the spot on being informed of the incident. By that time,
Manju, who was taken to a nearby medical facility, had died of burn injuries.
<br />
Seven people have been charged with the crime, and two of them have been
arrested. Policemen said the absconding five would soon be nabbed.<br />
<br />
<b>Questions that have been bothering me:Why didn't anyone from the panchayat or from those who had gathered, try and prevent the boy's father from burning Manju alive? Or do anything to save her? And why did they not protest when her mother was being assaulted?</b><br />
<br />
Shame on the panchayat members! Their mouths, hands and feet were self tied.<br />
They failed to prevent the murder in front of their eyes.<br />
<br />
They probably thought by keeping quiet they would be sending a strong message to the community:<br />
<i>Youngsters should not fall in love. </i><br />
<i>They should not make independent decisions about their marriage. </i><br />
<i>How dare the girl want to marry a man of her choice! </i><br />
<i>How dare her mother support the young girl! </i><br />
<i>For young girls should not have a say in who they marry. The elders know better. </i><br />
<i>It is okay for a man to beat a woman.</i><br />
<br />
<b>The boy's father and other relatives who took part in the crime must be arrested and punished. But, all members of the panchayat in whose presence the murder took place are equally responsible. There is no mention, as yet, of any panchayat member being arrested. </b><br />
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-92142141828548338102013-06-09T08:56:00.002-07:002013-06-09T11:04:29.138-07:00Please sign the petition -- Justice for Preeti Rathi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The life of <a href="http://an%20acid%20attack%20is%20worse%20than%20murder%20for%20it%20makes%20life%20a%20living%20hell/" target="_blank">Preeti Rathi,</a> a young vivacious girl who was on the verge of starting a career as a nurse, was cut short by a man who threw acid on her in Mumbai. She was injured so severely that she passed away after fighting a month-long battle. <br />
<br />
Preeti Rathi's father, Amar Singh Rathi, is making an appeal that you sign <a href="https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/justice-for-preeti-rathi-acidattack-cbimustinvestigate?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=26322&alert_id=mXeAbVcbRh_XZrJUrgQoD" target="_blank">the petition demanding an a CBI enquiry into who threw the acid on his daughter</a>. In his petition he says: " I demand justice for my daughter who suffered so much because of this criminal. After my daughter passed away, I met the home minister of Maharashtra, R.R.Patil, and demanded a CBI enquiry. He promised an enquiry but I have not been provided with any time frame for it. The enquiry has not even started yet. <br />
<br />
With every passing day, the chance of nabbing the culprit is getting bleaker. I have started this petition to ensure that the Home Minister keeps his promise and the enquiry is started as soon as possible."<br />
<br />
The rising number of acid attacks on young girls is a very worrying trend. Unfortunately, the punishment so far meted out to such criminals hardly matches the severity of the life-long damage they inflict on the women.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-31387568896523267422013-06-05T21:30:00.000-07:002013-06-08T23:19:04.157-07:00Dear Reader, Would you be interested in reading this story?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>DID LOVE TRIUMPH OR FAIL?</b><br />
<br />
A blue sequined dupatta was wound around her face. Only her eyes could be seen. She had collected the medicines from the chemist and was coming down the steps as I went in. If I had not been so preoccupied with my problems, I might have thought she looked rather strange. Why would a woman cover her face so? <br />
<br />
But stranger still: She called out my name. I turned towards her. Who was she and how did she know me?<br />
<br />
If only the dupatta would come undone. If only she would pull it off…I would recognize her... “Tanu. I am Tanu,” she was saying by way of explanation. <br />
<br />
“Tanu who?” I asked. This was like the film magazines of my younger days or the MTV of today that give you snapshots of body parts and then ask who they belong to.<br />
<br />
The summer breeze played with the edges of the dupatta that fell on her shoulders. But so deftly was it wrapped around her face that it would take a demon of a wind to unwind it.…. She lifted her eyes to stare back at me.<br />
<br />
Oh yes! I had met the eyes. In the hospital next to Mami’s bed. It was THE TANU. “How are you?” I asked.<br />
<br />
“I am back at the hospital. I am getting admitted today. Another operation.” I looked over her shoulder and in the vicinity beyond hoping to see him. And he was there, standing a little away as he always did. Quiet. Distant, but watchful. If he recognized me, he did not show it... <br />
<br />
Tanu had sharp chiseled features framed by a thick curtain of straight hair, which she tied in a loose ponytail. Her lips were an inverted C, pulled down at the corners, like the arc of a bow. But every now and then, they would lift into a captivating smile, keeping you hooked. <br />
<br />
Tanu had occupied the bed next to Lakshmi Mami's at the hospital. I had been struck by her perfect features when I first saw her six months ago as she lay absolutely still under the heavy blanket. She looked young and very forlorn, I couldn't help asking her why she was there. She uttered just one word, "Operation" and looked away. She clearly did not wish to speak. <br />
<br />
During my daily hour-long visits over the ten days that Mami spent at the hospital, Tanu opened up. To tell me the story of her life. A strange tale of longing, deceit, acceptance and love…<br />
<br />
Now, as I stood facing her at the chemist, I wanted to ask her about him. The man who never visited, but who she called everyday. The man who she would talk to late into the night even after the nurses had turned down the lights, while the other man sat quietly on the attendant’s bed and watched. <br />
<br />
Had HE come with her this time?<br />
--------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Dear Reader,<br />
Does this blurb make you want to read the true life story? If yes, do send me a message at <a href="mailto:shreevenkatram@yahoo.com">shreevenkatram@yahoo.com</a> . I would value your opinion. I am trying my hand at a short story for the first time and your reaction would give me an indication if I am set on the right track!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-72233054864651179712013-06-04T23:38:00.002-07:002013-06-06T00:14:59.700-07:00An acid attack is worse than murder for it makes life a living hell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was one of those posts that I began and then gave up midway. It was lying as a 'draft' for months. And for the past few days, ever since <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Lieutenant-rank-was-just-2-weeks-away-for-acid-attack-victim/articleshow/20419434.cms" target="_blank">Preeti Rathi's case</a> made the headlines, I have been thinking a lot on the subject of acid attacks. <br />
<br />
Acid attacks is one of the most barbaric crimes. In India, the perpetrators are usually men who cannot take ‘no’ for an answer and so seek to destroy the woman. The crime is so horrific that the woman is disfigured for life. She loses her identity, her future and with it the will to live. Everything is destroyed and some victims have described the attack apart from the searing pain, physical torture and disfigurement, as something worse than death. <br />
<br />
Every other day we hear of an acid attack on a young woman. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/56-acid-attack-complaints-in-3-months/articleshow/20321298.cms" target="_blank">Delhi alone saw 56 acid attacks over a span of three months. </a><br />
<br />
The recent amendments to the law give ten years to a maximum of life imprisonment to the criminal for destroying another human being. The punishment should be for life, nothing less! There shouldn't be bail for such a horrific crime. A person who can willfully destroy another human being in this fashion, is very dangerous to have around and should be behind bars.<br />
<br />
Even though the Justice Verma committee had recommended life imprisonment for the culprits, our law makers reduced it to ten years of imprisonment and some fine. The new law has nothing on the rehabilitation of the victim, who needs to spend on reconstructive surgery, usually falls into depression, and finds it hard to get employment and carry on a normal life. Till date, there has been no effort to curb the sale of the corrosive acid which is very easy to procure and available in every market.<br />
<br />
Why is there such leniency towards the culprits? All I can say is that our law makers have failed to feel the pain and the horror of an acid attack and what it can do to a woman. They have done nothing for her rehabilitation.<br />
<br />
<b>Recent cases of acid attacks</b><br />
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Acid-attack-on-4-sisters-in-UP-one-risks-losing-sight/Article1-1036574.aspx<br />
<br />
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/vinodhini-karaikal-acid-attack-victim-dies/article4406780.ece<br />
<br />
<b>The new law does not help victims</b><br />
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Acid-attacks-New-law-hikes-punishment-but-doesn-t-help-victims/Article1-1038797.aspx<br />
<br />
<b>And this - Acid attacks in Italy</b> - http://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/articles/2013/05/13/acid-attacks-against-women-on-the-rise-in-italy.html<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-42996515880625263102013-05-27T10:21:00.001-07:002013-05-27T21:25:50.686-07:00An American son -in-law or an American daughter-in-law? Any guesses, who Indians prefer?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">Indians settled in the United States have a saying, "If you are lucky you will get an American son-in-law, and if unlucky, you will get an American daughter-in-law!'</span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">And in this statement lies the essence of India's traditions, so bound against the woman. An American son-in-law is welcome for he will behave like a normal human being, expect no dowry, no special favours , and not expect to be treated like a demi-god. He will help your daughter around the house, and when he comes over for a visit or even a meal he will share the chores and wash the dishes. What a relief in a country where there are no servants!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">But an American daughter-in-law would also behave like a normal human being, not sacrificing her interests, or subjugating her will, or herself to her in-laws who expect to be treated as the most important people in her life. She will not let them take all her decisions - what she should wear, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> what she should cook for her husband, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;">w</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">hen she should have a child, how she should look after the baby, what food to give the baby, when she should visit her family and friends ... the list can go on. The poor in-laws! She has robbed them of all the pleasures they thought would be theirs when they became the parents of a boy, their ticket to lifelong security, salvation and a pretty gilded slave, to carry out all their biddings!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia;">What is more, the American daughter-in-law doesn't even bring dowry, and worse, makes their precious son work in the kitchen and around the house. Indian mothers, as you know, cannot bear the sight of their sons in the kitchen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia;">So great is the longing for a son among Indian parents, that they do not hesitate to do away with the daughter. For in these days of high costs it is expensive bringing up a child and who wants daughters when they would rather have a son. So as Indian families become smaller, the girl is sacrificed. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Father-tries-to-kill-3-day-old-girl/articleshow/20128568.cms?intenttarget=no" target="_blank">Like this father in Hyderabad tried to do</a>. Even as I write, somehow calling him a 'father' seems so bizarre. A person like him should be called a fiend and put behind bars. But no, in our society behaving in this shocking way against the female of the species is tolerated. The sympathy is with the poor man for being saddled with a daughter! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087671889332651327.post-90900993143746233102013-05-12T02:40:00.000-07:002013-05-23T09:20:56.831-07:00Another heart-warming story <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another heart warming story of India's children. With just a little guidance, this is what they can achieve -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A rag picker enters the National Institute of Design and wants to design automobiles. But first he wants to design an aid that will reduce the burden of the LPG delivery man as he struggles with a cylinder over flights of stairs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why is it that such an aid has not been desgined before? We have had the LPG cyclinders for over 50 years now and the delivery man has been struggling since then with his heavy burden.No one thought of it before, least of all the oil companies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wonder why is that so? Is it because no one thinks of the hardship of the poor? Of how life can be made just a little comfortable for them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Read this story in The Times of India - <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Destinys-design-Rag-picker-makes-it-to-NID/articleshow/20009704.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Destinys-design-Rag-picker-makes-it-to-NID/articleshow/20009704.cms</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07723599344108054280noreply@blogger.com0