This is a rare interview with Destiny. We caught him in an unusually conversational mood.
Me: Please familiarise yourself to the readers…
Destiny: I’m the one who is angrily thought of when things go wrong and is given no credit when life is smooth sailing.
Me: How are you related to Life?
Destiny: Life is my wife. Despite our differences, we are peaceful together, because I usually get my way.
Me: How do you feel when people talk of ‘defeating destiny’?
Destiny: I quietly smile at myself. It is nice to see brave and daring people. But I’m hard to defeat.
Me: Aren’t you being arrogant?
Destiny: If at any point you become as powerful as I, you would realise that arrogance is the alter ego of power.
Me: Why is it so difficult to understand you?
Destiny: Perhaps because I do my own thing. My job is to be judgemental. I’m very proud of my unpredictability. Trust me, I don’t intend to harm anyone.
Me: Why do things that happen, happen?
Destiny: This is one question I ask Life and she asks me. Both of us seem to have answers and yet don’t.
Me: There are people who doubt your existence…
Destiny: Wait until the next time they say ‘what a luck!’
Me: Some claim that you are especially cruel to them…
Destiny: Every single person seems to think so. Believe me, I do not discriminate.
Me: What would happen in your absence?
Destiny: Life would become lonely. We enjoy each other’s company. I’m sure even you do.
Raksha Kumar
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A mockery of love and marriage--KANK review
Contrary to popular claims, I believe, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was a typical Karan Johar film. It was not bad but was would not be counted in the league of the best movies in the history of Bollywood.
For those of you who haven’t caught the film, this is a gist of the plot: Dev Saran (Shah Rukh Khan) and Rhea Saran (Priety Zinta) are married for 5 years. Rishi (Abhishiek Bachchan) and Maya (Rani Mukherjee) are also wed after a comtemplating for three years.
Both marriages turn out to be a failure because Dev and Maya are (I think) fools who do not recognize the love that their partners give them. They find "love" in each other and decide after much deliberation to break up with their respective spouses. In the end, they 'live happily together'.
The film has a few good performances and a few very good ones. Notably, Junior B (notwithstanding the immense fascination I have for him) has given a fantastic performance. The treatment of a few scenes is also commendable. And since Johar works with big budgets, the locations are also mind blowing. Given a chance, this is the Album I would love to own. It has awesome sound tracks.
But I think the film is all about the concept of marriage and love. It is this that I want to delve into. I would like to point out a few discrepancies and contradictions in the concept the film deals with.
First: The moot question is, why do you love a person? I feel, for his/ her qualities, ethics, attitude, habits and to whatever extent, looks. Then this concept of love-has-no-reasons is ridiculous. Why would anybody who has as good a husband as Rishi, want to find love elsewhere especially in a person who is eternally irritated and frustrated with everything under the sun? The film talks about love having no logic. Any thing illogical is beyond my comprehension.
Second: Rhea is a sensible, hard-working, rational person. Then why did she marry an annoying being such as Dev in the first place? (The film says that it is how Dev had always been, not that he had become irritable because of ups and downs in his married life.)
Third: (Sexy) Sam, who loves his late wife dearly, is seen with every other teenager in New York City. This is also contradictory to the claim that love is eternal.
Fourth: There is a scene when Maya says that physical relationship with a person is not as important as sharing one’s woes and happiness. Then why does she not keep her relationship with Dev to just sharing her ‘joys and sorrows’?
It is here that there is the master of contradictions: Both Dev and Maya knew that they were in love with each other and not their respective spouses. Then why were they jealous of each other’s independent sex life? Intellectual compatibility was present was the most important thing. So, is loving a person all about a physical relationship? If not, why do they make it sound like one?
Bottom line: if you have nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, this is not a bad film to watch.
On a lighter note, I’d say that Rishi is the Perfect Husband. What do you say?
Raksha Kumar
For those of you who haven’t caught the film, this is a gist of the plot: Dev Saran (Shah Rukh Khan) and Rhea Saran (Priety Zinta) are married for 5 years. Rishi (Abhishiek Bachchan) and Maya (Rani Mukherjee) are also wed after a comtemplating for three years.
Both marriages turn out to be a failure because Dev and Maya are (I think) fools who do not recognize the love that their partners give them. They find "love" in each other and decide after much deliberation to break up with their respective spouses. In the end, they 'live happily together'.
The film has a few good performances and a few very good ones. Notably, Junior B (notwithstanding the immense fascination I have for him) has given a fantastic performance. The treatment of a few scenes is also commendable. And since Johar works with big budgets, the locations are also mind blowing. Given a chance, this is the Album I would love to own. It has awesome sound tracks.
But I think the film is all about the concept of marriage and love. It is this that I want to delve into. I would like to point out a few discrepancies and contradictions in the concept the film deals with.
First: The moot question is, why do you love a person? I feel, for his/ her qualities, ethics, attitude, habits and to whatever extent, looks. Then this concept of love-has-no-reasons is ridiculous. Why would anybody who has as good a husband as Rishi, want to find love elsewhere especially in a person who is eternally irritated and frustrated with everything under the sun? The film talks about love having no logic. Any thing illogical is beyond my comprehension.
Second: Rhea is a sensible, hard-working, rational person. Then why did she marry an annoying being such as Dev in the first place? (The film says that it is how Dev had always been, not that he had become irritable because of ups and downs in his married life.)
Third: (Sexy) Sam, who loves his late wife dearly, is seen with every other teenager in New York City. This is also contradictory to the claim that love is eternal.
Fourth: There is a scene when Maya says that physical relationship with a person is not as important as sharing one’s woes and happiness. Then why does she not keep her relationship with Dev to just sharing her ‘joys and sorrows’?
It is here that there is the master of contradictions: Both Dev and Maya knew that they were in love with each other and not their respective spouses. Then why were they jealous of each other’s independent sex life? Intellectual compatibility was present was the most important thing. So, is loving a person all about a physical relationship? If not, why do they make it sound like one?
Bottom line: if you have nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, this is not a bad film to watch.
On a lighter note, I’d say that Rishi is the Perfect Husband. What do you say?
Raksha Kumar
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Too much ado about nothing?
I heard Jaspal Bhatti, a well known comedian, say that Diwali is the ‘festival of corruption’. The officials are bribed in the garb of Diwali gifts, he says.
I say Diwali is more injurious than just that. It creates problems of air and sound pollution, contributes to child labour, makes life hell for the birds, brings economic class differences blatantly out in the open and most importantly acts as a perfect pretext for the businesses to create hype and sell their products.
You would be forgiven for thinking that I’m a spoilt sport who does not enjoy the festival that the media claim is being enjoyed by the whole nation. Well, you might be right. At the same time I shall stick to my stand Diwali is unnecessarily over done.
You must have guessed by now that I’m not very religious. Therefore, as I understand it, festivals are occasions to get together and spend some memorable time with your loved ones, which you are otherwise denied of in this busy world. So why would you want to spend it in a din with anxiety about the safety of the people you care for?
Let’s look at the objections one by one. Pollution: it needs very little explanation. My mother is an asthma patient and I know how many precautions she’s got to take in the run up to the festival. Most researchers, today, talk in one voice about the dangers of global warming and depleting ozone layer. Why would anyone want to contribute to it?
Even on a normal day, our cities are a din, and it would not be wrong if I said that people have not understood the real danger of noise pollution yet.
Commuting on the days of the festival is a nightmare. What about the people in hospitals or have to go to one? Birds have become a rare sight in the cities due to their changing architecture and lifestyle. Diwali literally is a death call for millions of our avian friends.
Most of you might think I’m overreacting. But my main objection is that it has become a classic example of what might happen if the media join hands with commercial interests that are- business, trade and commerce. It could be a fatal combination. The media tell you what to buy, how much to spend et al.
For instance, Cadbury Celebrations pack makes your diwali complete. For most people it is a battle between the aspiration and the inability to buy products.
You might say that this is true of most festivals these days. Point taken. I think it comes out starkly in the festival of goddess Laxmi.
Most middle class families end up saving money in the run up to the festival and usually spend more than they have saved. The figures prove that there is an increase in the loan rates during the festive season. Sweets, dry fruits, clothing and, not to forget, the firecrackers are the essentials on every person’s shopping list. Sometimes it is uncalled for.
Well, I will not be surprised if I get some extreme reactions to my extreme thoughts!
Raksha Kumar
I say Diwali is more injurious than just that. It creates problems of air and sound pollution, contributes to child labour, makes life hell for the birds, brings economic class differences blatantly out in the open and most importantly acts as a perfect pretext for the businesses to create hype and sell their products.
You would be forgiven for thinking that I’m a spoilt sport who does not enjoy the festival that the media claim is being enjoyed by the whole nation. Well, you might be right. At the same time I shall stick to my stand Diwali is unnecessarily over done.
You must have guessed by now that I’m not very religious. Therefore, as I understand it, festivals are occasions to get together and spend some memorable time with your loved ones, which you are otherwise denied of in this busy world. So why would you want to spend it in a din with anxiety about the safety of the people you care for?
Let’s look at the objections one by one. Pollution: it needs very little explanation. My mother is an asthma patient and I know how many precautions she’s got to take in the run up to the festival. Most researchers, today, talk in one voice about the dangers of global warming and depleting ozone layer. Why would anyone want to contribute to it?
Even on a normal day, our cities are a din, and it would not be wrong if I said that people have not understood the real danger of noise pollution yet.
Commuting on the days of the festival is a nightmare. What about the people in hospitals or have to go to one? Birds have become a rare sight in the cities due to their changing architecture and lifestyle. Diwali literally is a death call for millions of our avian friends.
Most of you might think I’m overreacting. But my main objection is that it has become a classic example of what might happen if the media join hands with commercial interests that are- business, trade and commerce. It could be a fatal combination. The media tell you what to buy, how much to spend et al.
For instance, Cadbury Celebrations pack makes your diwali complete. For most people it is a battle between the aspiration and the inability to buy products.
You might say that this is true of most festivals these days. Point taken. I think it comes out starkly in the festival of goddess Laxmi.
Most middle class families end up saving money in the run up to the festival and usually spend more than they have saved. The figures prove that there is an increase in the loan rates during the festive season. Sweets, dry fruits, clothing and, not to forget, the firecrackers are the essentials on every person’s shopping list. Sometimes it is uncalled for.
Well, I will not be surprised if I get some extreme reactions to my extreme thoughts!
Raksha Kumar
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
CAN YOU SUGGEST A TITLE?
This is my first attempt at story writing. Read on.
She liked him. He used to visit her often. Everyday, actually. She had grown used to his presence. At twelve, Sana only thought of him as a solace from the gloom around. There was nothing that could bring colour to her mundane life. Except for him, perhaps.
He was very close to the family, thus his frequent visits failed to raise eyebrows. Moreover, he was in his early twenties, a dozen years older than her.
He miraculously seemed to understand her every mood, her every emotion. At that age, what mattered most to Sana was that he never forgot her birthday, brought her gifts (mostly cuddly items from Archies), greeting cards and posters.
Usually secretive, Sana was very ‘open’ with him. They seemed to connect perfectly well with each other.
It all changed. Suddenly.
He had finished his MBA and had to be married. He saw less of her. She was also too busy growing into a young woman, introspecting.
He found a match that she thought was perfect for him. A few months after his wedding, she realised she was spending a lot of time reliving their moments together.She looked back at those times like she never had.
She thought of the greeting card signed, “need me anytime, anywhere…i’m there.”
She thought of the poster that said “be mine, forever”.
She thought of the teddy bear, which had “you are too sweet…” written on it.
She thought of the thousand times he’d said, “Sana, you look simply beautiful.”
How foolish of her to not have noticed this before!
Was she his adolescent love? First crush. Teenage love. The very thought of which brings a smile on your face, something that’s true yet untrue, something whose uncertainty is the only certainty. It is momentary, but stays with you all your life.
But now, Sana realized, that perhaps he meant much more to her than she had to him.
The realisation came too late. Things had changed. He was a married man full of responsibilities. No more phones on her birthday. No more gifts. No more laughing together.
They had been ‘special’ people to each other. When he understood this, she didn’t. And when she began to understand it, the wheels of time had turned, irreversibly.
Sana still hopes they can be ‘special’ in each other’s lives. Again. What’s wrong in that, she asks herself. But she knows that their lives don’t intertwine anymore.
They are changed people now.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Raksha Kumar.
She liked him. He used to visit her often. Everyday, actually. She had grown used to his presence. At twelve, Sana only thought of him as a solace from the gloom around. There was nothing that could bring colour to her mundane life. Except for him, perhaps.
He was very close to the family, thus his frequent visits failed to raise eyebrows. Moreover, he was in his early twenties, a dozen years older than her.
He miraculously seemed to understand her every mood, her every emotion. At that age, what mattered most to Sana was that he never forgot her birthday, brought her gifts (mostly cuddly items from Archies), greeting cards and posters.
Usually secretive, Sana was very ‘open’ with him. They seemed to connect perfectly well with each other.
It all changed. Suddenly.
He had finished his MBA and had to be married. He saw less of her. She was also too busy growing into a young woman, introspecting.
He found a match that she thought was perfect for him. A few months after his wedding, she realised she was spending a lot of time reliving their moments together.She looked back at those times like she never had.
She thought of the greeting card signed, “need me anytime, anywhere…i’m there.”
She thought of the poster that said “be mine, forever”.
She thought of the teddy bear, which had “you are too sweet…” written on it.
She thought of the thousand times he’d said, “Sana, you look simply beautiful.”
How foolish of her to not have noticed this before!
Was she his adolescent love? First crush. Teenage love. The very thought of which brings a smile on your face, something that’s true yet untrue, something whose uncertainty is the only certainty. It is momentary, but stays with you all your life.
But now, Sana realized, that perhaps he meant much more to her than she had to him.
The realisation came too late. Things had changed. He was a married man full of responsibilities. No more phones on her birthday. No more gifts. No more laughing together.
They had been ‘special’ people to each other. When he understood this, she didn’t. And when she began to understand it, the wheels of time had turned, irreversibly.
Sana still hopes they can be ‘special’ in each other’s lives. Again. What’s wrong in that, she asks herself. But she knows that their lives don’t intertwine anymore.
They are changed people now.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Raksha Kumar.
Pachpan khambe, Lal Deeware (55 pillars, red walls)
The Prime Minister of this nation visited our college last week. Once again Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi proved it has brilliant organisational skills. Once again, LSR proved that it was a (fully?) ‘stage-managed’ college.
If the show goes well, it is to the credit of the stage-managers and the actors. But if the show sees a glitch, it is most definitely the fault of the actors.
Never in my life had I thought I’d put up an act to please a large group of people. But that’s what I did in the first two years of my college life- without my knowledge of it.
Don’t get me wrong. I realise how fortunate I am to be a part of a great institution when a majority of my peers don’t have access to higher education at all.
However, just as any democratic institution, our college would do well if it took criticism and worked on its drawbacks.
If there is a discontentment and you can’t voice it, it is a failure of a democratic institution. Take my word for it, there are many – teachers and students alike- who suppress their displeasure with the college.
There are many reasons for my being disillusioned. But not all of it can be explained and not all of it will be understood by those who have not had a close contact with the college.
However, I shall give three arguments to substantiate my point.
First: the PM visited our college to mark the grand finale of our golden jubilee celebrations. Four speeches were made out of which one was by the PM. The other three – by Mr. Arun Bharat Ram, grandson of the founder Lala Shri Ram, Mr. Dilip Paintal, Vice Chancellor, Delhi University and Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, Principal, LSR- were almost identical. They all spoke about LSR’s illustrious past, about the (unsurpassable?) achievements of LSR and about LSR’s glorious future.
I have always felt that milestones are not only occasions to thump your back but also to introspect. In his 1997 50th Independence Day speech, Atal Bihari Vajpayee also, spoke about what India should do to be one of the best nations of the world.
If anyone who’d seen the college at close quarters had heard the speeches, they’d know how superficial they were.
Second: one issue that bothers me endlessly is that the college has two monopolistic business entities on campus- the Café (in common Indian parlance, the canteen) and the College Bookstore.
Both are highly over-priced. I wouldn’t blame them. They are, after all, catering to the 60% (my estimate) of LSR’s student community who can afford to buy their products. The other 40% can only fight between the desire and the inability to own these products.
If it is well known that it is an ‘elite college’, then why should the not-so-elite send their kids there? Because the college is also being run on UGC (university grants commission) grants, a semi-government college, if you like. Anyone who has the requisite marks is free to apply, irrespective of her financial background.
(Never mind the skewed system of examination marks that favours the students of the public schools, it is the topic of another debate).
The college should ensure that these monopolies on the campus regulate their prices to accommodate the student pocket.
Third: There is so much ‘social work’ everywhere. AIDS, condom usage, orphanages, old age homes, RTI, public policy and homosexuality are just a few issues I hear all around the college, everyday.
There are students who don’t even understand the issues fully. To me, they look like the bright future of the ‘NGO industry’.
Just ask how many of them are against MNCs ‘robbing’ India of its economic and cultural wealth. And ask how many can live without Benitton, Mc Donald’s, Levis and Reebok. You’d know what I am talking about.
LSR is still the beautiful place I walked into two years ago. To be fair to the institution, I learnt to read between the lines and see things differently from this very college.
When you teach students to criticise, you can’t expect them to keep you outside the scanner. It is easy to criticise and easier still to teach how to criticise. To be able to accept criticism shows one’s true strength.
Raksha Kumar
If the show goes well, it is to the credit of the stage-managers and the actors. But if the show sees a glitch, it is most definitely the fault of the actors.
Never in my life had I thought I’d put up an act to please a large group of people. But that’s what I did in the first two years of my college life- without my knowledge of it.
Don’t get me wrong. I realise how fortunate I am to be a part of a great institution when a majority of my peers don’t have access to higher education at all.
However, just as any democratic institution, our college would do well if it took criticism and worked on its drawbacks.
If there is a discontentment and you can’t voice it, it is a failure of a democratic institution. Take my word for it, there are many – teachers and students alike- who suppress their displeasure with the college.
There are many reasons for my being disillusioned. But not all of it can be explained and not all of it will be understood by those who have not had a close contact with the college.
However, I shall give three arguments to substantiate my point.
First: the PM visited our college to mark the grand finale of our golden jubilee celebrations. Four speeches were made out of which one was by the PM. The other three – by Mr. Arun Bharat Ram, grandson of the founder Lala Shri Ram, Mr. Dilip Paintal, Vice Chancellor, Delhi University and Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, Principal, LSR- were almost identical. They all spoke about LSR’s illustrious past, about the (unsurpassable?) achievements of LSR and about LSR’s glorious future.
I have always felt that milestones are not only occasions to thump your back but also to introspect. In his 1997 50th Independence Day speech, Atal Bihari Vajpayee also, spoke about what India should do to be one of the best nations of the world.
If anyone who’d seen the college at close quarters had heard the speeches, they’d know how superficial they were.
Second: one issue that bothers me endlessly is that the college has two monopolistic business entities on campus- the Café (in common Indian parlance, the canteen) and the College Bookstore.
Both are highly over-priced. I wouldn’t blame them. They are, after all, catering to the 60% (my estimate) of LSR’s student community who can afford to buy their products. The other 40% can only fight between the desire and the inability to own these products.
If it is well known that it is an ‘elite college’, then why should the not-so-elite send their kids there? Because the college is also being run on UGC (university grants commission) grants, a semi-government college, if you like. Anyone who has the requisite marks is free to apply, irrespective of her financial background.
(Never mind the skewed system of examination marks that favours the students of the public schools, it is the topic of another debate).
The college should ensure that these monopolies on the campus regulate their prices to accommodate the student pocket.
Third: There is so much ‘social work’ everywhere. AIDS, condom usage, orphanages, old age homes, RTI, public policy and homosexuality are just a few issues I hear all around the college, everyday.
There are students who don’t even understand the issues fully. To me, they look like the bright future of the ‘NGO industry’.
Just ask how many of them are against MNCs ‘robbing’ India of its economic and cultural wealth. And ask how many can live without Benitton, Mc Donald’s, Levis and Reebok. You’d know what I am talking about.
LSR is still the beautiful place I walked into two years ago. To be fair to the institution, I learnt to read between the lines and see things differently from this very college.
When you teach students to criticise, you can’t expect them to keep you outside the scanner. It is easy to criticise and easier still to teach how to criticise. To be able to accept criticism shows one’s true strength.
Raksha Kumar
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Ramp modelling a viable career option
The following is a news story I did for a news agency I'm working for.
By Raksha Kumar, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): As India's fashion industry races to catch up with the rest of the world, ramp modelling is fast becoming a viable option for young women.
It's also a sign of the changing times that large sections of Indian society that not too long ago looked down on modelling as a profession are coming around to accept it as a career that holds promise.
"People have become more broad minded; the designers have grown and become more experimental," contended Monikangkana Dutta, who will be walking the ramp for the third time at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) that opened here Wednesday."Globalisation has helped as it has served to expand peoples' minds," said Shruthi Agrawal, who does so for the first time at the Aug 30-Sep 3 fashion week.
Even so, it wasn't easy for Shruthi, whose parents insisted she first focus on her studies."My parents wanted me to give priority to my studies so I did my post graduation," she said.Being a Muslim, Sanea Sheikh, also a fashion week first-timer, had a slightly different problem - of changing mindsets."It was difficult. It took time to convince my parents."
But then, as Monikangkana pointed out, young women wanting to become models have invariably faced parental roadblocks."Four to five years ago, 70 percent of the models rebelled against their families to become models. Today their numbers are much lower."
To that extent, Garima Parnami was rather lucky."My parents are very open minded, they trust me," said Garima, who will walk the ramp at the fashion week and hopes it will be the gateway to a rewarding career.
Seema Gupta, mother of model Nandita Gupta, cited growing professionalism as the reason for modelling being accepted as a profession."There are agencies that take complete responsibility for the grooming of the youngsters," she stated.
The jury, however, is out on that one.According to Garima, "agencies only serve cooked food; they don't teach you how to cook. You have to eat what they serve". Monikangkana agreed, saying the agencies were not the least helpful. "Most agencies are only money making machines," she maintained.
Even so, the sheer number of agencies that exist are a pointer to the fact that they do serve a purpose.In sum, few will dispute the fact that urban India's acceptance of modelling as a career has phenomenally increased in the past few years.
Indo-Asian News Service
By Raksha Kumar, Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): As India's fashion industry races to catch up with the rest of the world, ramp modelling is fast becoming a viable option for young women.
It's also a sign of the changing times that large sections of Indian society that not too long ago looked down on modelling as a profession are coming around to accept it as a career that holds promise.
"People have become more broad minded; the designers have grown and become more experimental," contended Monikangkana Dutta, who will be walking the ramp for the third time at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) that opened here Wednesday."Globalisation has helped as it has served to expand peoples' minds," said Shruthi Agrawal, who does so for the first time at the Aug 30-Sep 3 fashion week.
Even so, it wasn't easy for Shruthi, whose parents insisted she first focus on her studies."My parents wanted me to give priority to my studies so I did my post graduation," she said.Being a Muslim, Sanea Sheikh, also a fashion week first-timer, had a slightly different problem - of changing mindsets."It was difficult. It took time to convince my parents."
But then, as Monikangkana pointed out, young women wanting to become models have invariably faced parental roadblocks."Four to five years ago, 70 percent of the models rebelled against their families to become models. Today their numbers are much lower."
To that extent, Garima Parnami was rather lucky."My parents are very open minded, they trust me," said Garima, who will walk the ramp at the fashion week and hopes it will be the gateway to a rewarding career.
Seema Gupta, mother of model Nandita Gupta, cited growing professionalism as the reason for modelling being accepted as a profession."There are agencies that take complete responsibility for the grooming of the youngsters," she stated.
The jury, however, is out on that one.According to Garima, "agencies only serve cooked food; they don't teach you how to cook. You have to eat what they serve". Monikangkana agreed, saying the agencies were not the least helpful. "Most agencies are only money making machines," she maintained.
Even so, the sheer number of agencies that exist are a pointer to the fact that they do serve a purpose.In sum, few will dispute the fact that urban India's acceptance of modelling as a career has phenomenally increased in the past few years.
Indo-Asian News Service
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Different Colours of Journalism
"JOURNALISTS ARE NOT LIARS… they are factually challenged."
-a (wise) man.
In this age of 24*7 journalism, the profession is one of the most spoken about, criticized, yet, interestingly the most sought after.
The people in the profession rarely realize their invaluable contribution to the ever expanding database of jokes when they frame headlines like, ‘Teenage Girls Often Have Babies Fathered By Men’.
But you would forgive them for such minor errors, because they work under tremendous pressures. They have to beat the competition! Their rivals in the field would write a headline reading, ‘Tomatoes Come In Big, Little And Small Sizes’ (The Daily Progress, March 30, 1995). I wonder if there were any more sizes he could have mentioned.
No wonder they say that ‘Professional Journalism’ is an oxymoron!
Why are we picking on the small scribes? After all, how many of us have seen the ‘big’ ones in in action make such blunders? Perhaps a few here or there. On the second of November the Los Angeles Times carried a headline ‘Larger Kangaroos Leap Farther, Researchers Find’. I see, what a research that should have been! Twenty days after this The New York Times said ‘Our Survey Finds Dirtier Subways After Cleaning Jobs Were Cut’. Elementary, my dear Watson, why would you want a survey to tell you that!
Now I know the true meaning of competition.
These incidents have forced 'experts' to say that journalism is literature in hurry. Veterans in this field are God’s gift to mankind. Therefore a wise man once remarked, ‘that old reporters never die they just get de-pressed, and old photographers never die they just stop developing’.
‘Who needs comedians? Journalists are much more laughable,’ such compliments are showered on the journalists who can remark ‘War Dims Hope For Peace’ (fantastic!) or even better, ‘Panda Mating Fails, Senior Veterinarian Takes Over.’
I won’t be surprised if we started watching news channels for our daily dose of entertainment. Much has been written about intelligent journalists asking people in flood affected areas whether they are comfortable and cozy!
As a prospective journalist it is my duty to give you both sides of the picture. And the not-so-bad news is that not all of journalism is as bad. There is hope and I wish things change for the better in the future.
Raksha Kumar.
-a (wise) man.
In this age of 24*7 journalism, the profession is one of the most spoken about, criticized, yet, interestingly the most sought after.
The people in the profession rarely realize their invaluable contribution to the ever expanding database of jokes when they frame headlines like, ‘Teenage Girls Often Have Babies Fathered By Men’.
But you would forgive them for such minor errors, because they work under tremendous pressures. They have to beat the competition! Their rivals in the field would write a headline reading, ‘Tomatoes Come In Big, Little And Small Sizes’ (The Daily Progress, March 30, 1995). I wonder if there were any more sizes he could have mentioned.
No wonder they say that ‘Professional Journalism’ is an oxymoron!
Why are we picking on the small scribes? After all, how many of us have seen the ‘big’ ones in in action make such blunders? Perhaps a few here or there. On the second of November the Los Angeles Times carried a headline ‘Larger Kangaroos Leap Farther, Researchers Find’. I see, what a research that should have been! Twenty days after this The New York Times said ‘Our Survey Finds Dirtier Subways After Cleaning Jobs Were Cut’. Elementary, my dear Watson, why would you want a survey to tell you that!
Now I know the true meaning of competition.
These incidents have forced 'experts' to say that journalism is literature in hurry. Veterans in this field are God’s gift to mankind. Therefore a wise man once remarked, ‘that old reporters never die they just get de-pressed, and old photographers never die they just stop developing’.
‘Who needs comedians? Journalists are much more laughable,’ such compliments are showered on the journalists who can remark ‘War Dims Hope For Peace’ (fantastic!) or even better, ‘Panda Mating Fails, Senior Veterinarian Takes Over.’
I won’t be surprised if we started watching news channels for our daily dose of entertainment. Much has been written about intelligent journalists asking people in flood affected areas whether they are comfortable and cozy!
As a prospective journalist it is my duty to give you both sides of the picture. And the not-so-bad news is that not all of journalism is as bad. There is hope and I wish things change for the better in the future.
Raksha Kumar.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Women choose neo-look salwar-kameez as office wear
This is a story I did for a news agency I'm working for.
Salwar kameez, the three-piece traditional Indian garment considered the second skin of the unfashionable brigade, is now being flaunted as corporate wear.
The neo-look salwar-kameez bears little resemblance to the dress that the women of Punjab have been wearing for years. The stylish cuts, the colour schemes and the smart motifs lend this Indian garment a truly global look.
Kameez is a knee-length tunic worn over a salwar, a trouser. A duppatta is a long flowing piece of cloth that completes the ensemble.
Unlike before there are hundreds of designs to choose from. But the range of fusion wear - a mix of ethnic and western designs - continues to be a hit with the young and the not-so-young.
The new designs, which can easily pass off as western attire, are doing well both in India and abroad. In fact the garments are being cleverly marketed as "Indo-western" wear.
Company executive Sadhana Mehta, who wears salwar-kameez to work, told IANS: "Some years ago I would never wear a salwar-kameez to work. The women wore corporate western suits to look smart like their male colleagues. Not anymore."
Apart from the neo-look, it is the comfort factor which makes the garment so popular.
"Comfort levels are high. It fits all body types. You can play around with designs which make you look fat, thin, tall, short," says Priya Pradhan, who owns a boutique in Bangalore.
A salesman at Westside, a retail clothes outlet, says, "Fusion fashion has given the salwar suit a new lease of life. We can see its presence in the West, where the salwar is seen as being 'cool'."
There are hundreds of online sites that sell only salwar-kameez. A spokesperson for a design house in New Delhi says, "Because of their graceful feminine elegance salwar-kameez fill the void created by western attire."
Even students love wearing the modern avatar of the salwar-kameez to the campus. Twenty-one-year old Maya, a Delhi University student, wears short kurtas which can pass off as spaghetti tops, over a salwar which can pass off as a trouser. She often wears a short kurta over a pair of jeans and tops it off with a stole (a dupatta).
But old-timers are not too happy with the neo-look. "The purpose of the dupatta is lost," rues 56-year-old Kuljeet Kaur, a housewife.
Vinoo Tripathi, a sociologist, has the last word. "The story of the salwar is another classic example of India's limited influence on the West and the complete westernisation of Indian tradition."
Raksha Kumar
Salwar kameez, the three-piece traditional Indian garment considered the second skin of the unfashionable brigade, is now being flaunted as corporate wear.
The neo-look salwar-kameez bears little resemblance to the dress that the women of Punjab have been wearing for years. The stylish cuts, the colour schemes and the smart motifs lend this Indian garment a truly global look.
Kameez is a knee-length tunic worn over a salwar, a trouser. A duppatta is a long flowing piece of cloth that completes the ensemble.
Unlike before there are hundreds of designs to choose from. But the range of fusion wear - a mix of ethnic and western designs - continues to be a hit with the young and the not-so-young.
The new designs, which can easily pass off as western attire, are doing well both in India and abroad. In fact the garments are being cleverly marketed as "Indo-western" wear.
Company executive Sadhana Mehta, who wears salwar-kameez to work, told IANS: "Some years ago I would never wear a salwar-kameez to work. The women wore corporate western suits to look smart like their male colleagues. Not anymore."
Apart from the neo-look, it is the comfort factor which makes the garment so popular.
"Comfort levels are high. It fits all body types. You can play around with designs which make you look fat, thin, tall, short," says Priya Pradhan, who owns a boutique in Bangalore.
A salesman at Westside, a retail clothes outlet, says, "Fusion fashion has given the salwar suit a new lease of life. We can see its presence in the West, where the salwar is seen as being 'cool'."
There are hundreds of online sites that sell only salwar-kameez. A spokesperson for a design house in New Delhi says, "Because of their graceful feminine elegance salwar-kameez fill the void created by western attire."
Even students love wearing the modern avatar of the salwar-kameez to the campus. Twenty-one-year old Maya, a Delhi University student, wears short kurtas which can pass off as spaghetti tops, over a salwar which can pass off as a trouser. She often wears a short kurta over a pair of jeans and tops it off with a stole (a dupatta).
But old-timers are not too happy with the neo-look. "The purpose of the dupatta is lost," rues 56-year-old Kuljeet Kaur, a housewife.
Vinoo Tripathi, a sociologist, has the last word. "The story of the salwar is another classic example of India's limited influence on the West and the complete westernisation of Indian tradition."
Raksha Kumar
Is SMS killing creativity?
This is a story I did for a news agency I'm working for.
Text messages and short message service (SMS) have become an easy mode of communication for everyone. But sceptics argue that they are killing the creative side of people.
Madhu Gupta, 47, feels low-cost services like SMS (short message service) are doing away with creativity among the youngsters as her daughter wished her for her birthday by forwarding an SMS.
"We used to spend hours decorating a card for parents during their birthdays; today I just get an SMS from my daughter. I feel as if someone else is wishing me on her behalf," Gupta told IANS.
However, Shalini, a university student disagrees with Gupta. "Well someone must have framed the initial message, how can it then kill creativity."
Argues 23-year-old Anupama, "It is a quick way of keeping in touch with near and dear ones. It is the best way out when you have nothing to say."
"The readymade SMSs stops us from thinking, they make us believe that we are not good communicators," says a Delhi-based psychology teacher.
"However, there are no official data to prove that SMS forwards hinder creativity levels," says the teacher.
The markets today are flooded with books having readymade text messages, available for Rs.10, and according to a vendor who is earning considerably well by selling them, his primary customers are youngsters.
A Bangalore-based psychologist, told IANS, "Due to physical distances day by day, there is a greater need for people to be in touch."
"And not everyone has been good at expression and will never be. But we can exercise the right side of our brain a bit more, which is what we need in this technology-dominated world."
Raksha Kumar
Text messages and short message service (SMS) have become an easy mode of communication for everyone. But sceptics argue that they are killing the creative side of people.
Madhu Gupta, 47, feels low-cost services like SMS (short message service) are doing away with creativity among the youngsters as her daughter wished her for her birthday by forwarding an SMS.
"We used to spend hours decorating a card for parents during their birthdays; today I just get an SMS from my daughter. I feel as if someone else is wishing me on her behalf," Gupta told IANS.
However, Shalini, a university student disagrees with Gupta. "Well someone must have framed the initial message, how can it then kill creativity."
Argues 23-year-old Anupama, "It is a quick way of keeping in touch with near and dear ones. It is the best way out when you have nothing to say."
"The readymade SMSs stops us from thinking, they make us believe that we are not good communicators," says a Delhi-based psychology teacher.
"However, there are no official data to prove that SMS forwards hinder creativity levels," says the teacher.
The markets today are flooded with books having readymade text messages, available for Rs.10, and according to a vendor who is earning considerably well by selling them, his primary customers are youngsters.
A Bangalore-based psychologist, told IANS, "Due to physical distances day by day, there is a greater need for people to be in touch."
"And not everyone has been good at expression and will never be. But we can exercise the right side of our brain a bit more, which is what we need in this technology-dominated world."
Raksha Kumar
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
To call or not to call?
It has been written about a lot. Because of a lot of adverse media attention, I had developed a particular perception of the sales promotion calls you get on your phone. I usually give a stern response and hang up, later regretting a little for having done so. There was one phone call that made me change my perception.
“Am I speaking with Ms. Raksha Kumar?”, came a husky voice with a strong Punjabi accent.
“Who’s this?”, asked I.
“I’m calling from *** bank, may I take some of your time?” she asked politely. Clearly, the lines were well rehearsed.
“Well….I was in the middle of something important” I wasn’t completely lying.
Sensing my hesitation, she nearly broke down, “ma’am, I have called 20 people since morning, with no positive responses. I have three brothers and two sisters. Please let me speak to you.”
Without knowing how to react, I said, “sure….go ahead.” The least I could do was to listen to her. For the next five minutes, she explained a new scheme her bank was launching. “…aap ka faida hi faida hai” she concluded. She seemed satisfied with her efforts.
After politely declining her offer, I hung up. Later that evening I thought of the difficulties faced by the poor sales people. There are kilometers and kilometers of newsprint devoted to tell us what a nuisance these people are and how their calls disturb us at all times, without much consideration about our needs and time…
I thought about what competition has done and how people would have to strive to live in this globalized world. What would the lady do to feed her brothers and sisters? Why do we have to be so preoccupied with our own worries? Surely we can listen to what they have to say if we are not into something important? But these thoughts didn’t last long.
The next morning I received another call. “May I talk to Ms. Raksha Kumar?”, said another well rehearsed voice. “Yes…that’s me?”, my manner was a lot more relaxed.
“Ma’am, I’m calling from ### bank and want to inform you about our new scheme.” , said he.
“Yes…”, said I, trying to infuse enthusiasm into my voice. Perhaps I was guilty about what I had done to the lady the previous day.
This time I counted. He took four and a half minutes. When I declined the offer, he said “aap ek aurat hai…please mera dard samajye.” And went on to narrate his dard, problems.
Now I was guarded. I sensed that he was trying to work me into buying his ‘new scheme’. Again it was time for me to think. Though I can’t be completely sure about how untrue the stories were, I realized that people may do anything to sell. Just anything.
I have vowed to be guarded since.
Raksha Kumar.
“Am I speaking with Ms. Raksha Kumar?”, came a husky voice with a strong Punjabi accent.
“Who’s this?”, asked I.
“I’m calling from *** bank, may I take some of your time?” she asked politely. Clearly, the lines were well rehearsed.
“Well….I was in the middle of something important” I wasn’t completely lying.
Sensing my hesitation, she nearly broke down, “ma’am, I have called 20 people since morning, with no positive responses. I have three brothers and two sisters. Please let me speak to you.”
Without knowing how to react, I said, “sure….go ahead.” The least I could do was to listen to her. For the next five minutes, she explained a new scheme her bank was launching. “…aap ka faida hi faida hai” she concluded. She seemed satisfied with her efforts.
After politely declining her offer, I hung up. Later that evening I thought of the difficulties faced by the poor sales people. There are kilometers and kilometers of newsprint devoted to tell us what a nuisance these people are and how their calls disturb us at all times, without much consideration about our needs and time…
I thought about what competition has done and how people would have to strive to live in this globalized world. What would the lady do to feed her brothers and sisters? Why do we have to be so preoccupied with our own worries? Surely we can listen to what they have to say if we are not into something important? But these thoughts didn’t last long.
The next morning I received another call. “May I talk to Ms. Raksha Kumar?”, said another well rehearsed voice. “Yes…that’s me?”, my manner was a lot more relaxed.
“Ma’am, I’m calling from ### bank and want to inform you about our new scheme.” , said he.
“Yes…”, said I, trying to infuse enthusiasm into my voice. Perhaps I was guilty about what I had done to the lady the previous day.
This time I counted. He took four and a half minutes. When I declined the offer, he said “aap ek aurat hai…please mera dard samajye.” And went on to narrate his dard, problems.
Now I was guarded. I sensed that he was trying to work me into buying his ‘new scheme’. Again it was time for me to think. Though I can’t be completely sure about how untrue the stories were, I realized that people may do anything to sell. Just anything.
I have vowed to be guarded since.
Raksha Kumar.
Tough decisions
There were eighteen young guests at home that Sunday evening. All of them from a charitable residential school run by a trust. Excited, my aunt was encouraging them to come forward and show their talents to the little gathering. For the next two hours they sang and danced and kept us entertained. One thing was certain: they housed vast talent pools. Whether their school is doing a good job of nurturing their talents, is yet to be judged.
These are children from weaker economic backgrounds. They are given many facilities, good education and a strict set of values. It need not be emphasized that values are subjective by nature. The young impressionable minds are preached ‘Hindu values’. They are encouraged to denounce western culture, dresses, food and ‘non-Hindu’ influences.
While such a stream of thought has a rightful claim to existence in the Indian society which swears by free speech, the question is should philanthropy function under certain conditions?
Is it right to preach certain ‘sectarian’ values to a group of children from various backgrounds, casts, sects and religions? The trust is doing a great service to the society by helping to raise 18 of its unfortunate kids. But the values inflicted on them need not be the ones they would learn if they were fortunate enough to live with their parents.
There are no easy answers to this. One way of answering it is by conceding that the charitable institute should be the sole decider of what its students should learn. After all, many schools are run by funds of temples and other religious organizations. Some might do it to spread awareness about their religion, but not all.
When the above argument is accepted, we are considering philanthropy to be a favor to the society. But when all the privileged in the society consider it their duty to help the less-fortunate, philanthropy acquires a new meaning. It will then be accountable to the society. We could point fingers at those not doing justice to their duties. Otherwise we will be happy with a school preaching, what are widely considered, divisive values. A verdict (not in black and white terms) will be needed soon.
In the wake of Bill Gates’s announcement that he’d quit Microsoft in two years and pledge his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Warren Buffet (currently the second richest man in the world) pledging 85% of his assets to the same foundation, we could perhaps assume that even the market-driven western world considers philanthropy an integral part of the society.
The incident that made me think about this debate that Sunday evening, also left me with sweet memories of those kids and their dance to the tune of ‘koi kahe kheta rahe…hum logo ki tokar mein hai yeh jamana…kis liye hichkichana……gayenge hum apne dilo ka fasana.”
Raksha Kumar
These are children from weaker economic backgrounds. They are given many facilities, good education and a strict set of values. It need not be emphasized that values are subjective by nature. The young impressionable minds are preached ‘Hindu values’. They are encouraged to denounce western culture, dresses, food and ‘non-Hindu’ influences.
While such a stream of thought has a rightful claim to existence in the Indian society which swears by free speech, the question is should philanthropy function under certain conditions?
Is it right to preach certain ‘sectarian’ values to a group of children from various backgrounds, casts, sects and religions? The trust is doing a great service to the society by helping to raise 18 of its unfortunate kids. But the values inflicted on them need not be the ones they would learn if they were fortunate enough to live with their parents.
There are no easy answers to this. One way of answering it is by conceding that the charitable institute should be the sole decider of what its students should learn. After all, many schools are run by funds of temples and other religious organizations. Some might do it to spread awareness about their religion, but not all.
When the above argument is accepted, we are considering philanthropy to be a favor to the society. But when all the privileged in the society consider it their duty to help the less-fortunate, philanthropy acquires a new meaning. It will then be accountable to the society. We could point fingers at those not doing justice to their duties. Otherwise we will be happy with a school preaching, what are widely considered, divisive values. A verdict (not in black and white terms) will be needed soon.
In the wake of Bill Gates’s announcement that he’d quit Microsoft in two years and pledge his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Warren Buffet (currently the second richest man in the world) pledging 85% of his assets to the same foundation, we could perhaps assume that even the market-driven western world considers philanthropy an integral part of the society.
The incident that made me think about this debate that Sunday evening, also left me with sweet memories of those kids and their dance to the tune of ‘koi kahe kheta rahe…hum logo ki tokar mein hai yeh jamana…kis liye hichkichana……gayenge hum apne dilo ka fasana.”
Raksha Kumar
Perceiving misperceptions.
I was walking into the premises. “Do you study here?”, I heard someone call out to me. The voice was tense and slightly anxious. When enquired further, the lady said that her daughter had applied in the prestigious Delhi University (DU) College we were standing in front of. A few seconds later a frail looking girl stepped out of the shadows. After about half hour of chatting with the two, I gathered the following facts: the girl had aced her class 12 marks after grueling 14-hour days for the whole year; had lost more than 25kgs! Her only aim: admission into the ‘best’ college.
Until this time I had thought that such students were focused and knew what they wanted from life. But that girl made me realize that she had worked hard, with dedication only to secure admissions in a college that would make her close circle of friends gasp and admire her. She had no idea of what course she wanted or what the course would have in store for her.
This brought my attention to perhaps another less-talked-of flaw in our education system.
By giving a divine status to some colleges, we are exerting unwanted pressure on our students.
Since I study in one of the widely acclaimed colleges, I agree that there are certain facilities that may put us in a privileged position. But my objection is to how education has become something that could be flaunted.
It is almost indisputable that education, in the right sense, gives us humility. It is ironic that students from the ‘best’ colleges are arrogant about their alma-maters. This creates invisible barriers among the student community. From my experience I could conclude that those arrogant will have an air of superiority around them (ultimately to their detriment), and this would make the others underestimate their capabilities. Surely, this is uncalled for.
Once, in a debate competition a student from a less-sought –after DU college had remarked that on the judges’ score sheet his college would start from a minus five where as I would start from a plus five, thanks to the name of my college. Whether that was true or not, the fact is that there is clear segregation and distinct grouping in the minds of people.
Part of the blame should also rest on the media which are bent on creating perceptions for us.
There are so many problems plaguing our education system which are an interconnected mess and they need immediate attention. In the beginning of a new academic year, we have got to realize that, we could do without creating more problems by fueling our egos and nurturing false notions.
Raksha Kumar
Until this time I had thought that such students were focused and knew what they wanted from life. But that girl made me realize that she had worked hard, with dedication only to secure admissions in a college that would make her close circle of friends gasp and admire her. She had no idea of what course she wanted or what the course would have in store for her.
This brought my attention to perhaps another less-talked-of flaw in our education system.
By giving a divine status to some colleges, we are exerting unwanted pressure on our students.
Since I study in one of the widely acclaimed colleges, I agree that there are certain facilities that may put us in a privileged position. But my objection is to how education has become something that could be flaunted.
It is almost indisputable that education, in the right sense, gives us humility. It is ironic that students from the ‘best’ colleges are arrogant about their alma-maters. This creates invisible barriers among the student community. From my experience I could conclude that those arrogant will have an air of superiority around them (ultimately to their detriment), and this would make the others underestimate their capabilities. Surely, this is uncalled for.
Once, in a debate competition a student from a less-sought –after DU college had remarked that on the judges’ score sheet his college would start from a minus five where as I would start from a plus five, thanks to the name of my college. Whether that was true or not, the fact is that there is clear segregation and distinct grouping in the minds of people.
Part of the blame should also rest on the media which are bent on creating perceptions for us.
There are so many problems plaguing our education system which are an interconnected mess and they need immediate attention. In the beginning of a new academic year, we have got to realize that, we could do without creating more problems by fueling our egos and nurturing false notions.
Raksha Kumar
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Am I asking for too much?
Moving Towards An Inclusive Society
Shoba(name changed) is not any other 20-year old. She lacks the two things that make people ‘normal’ in our society. She is not gifted with eyesight. To add to it, she lacks the financial resources. She is studying in a reputed college in Delhi (makes her one of the ‘lucky’, I learnt!). But she has one thing that not all of us can claim to have- the habit of not complaining. This, I’ve always felt, is imbibed in her socialization. Shoba, rarely, if ever, asks for things even meant for her.
The reason for this, according to me, is the nature of politics in India. Unfortunately the differently abled population- which form, according to 2001 census, 2-3% of our population and unofficial figures are said to be 60-70million- is not considered to be a vibrant vote bank, as a result successive governments have done little for the amelioration of this section.
People with special abilities are made to believe that they are fortunate to have gotten what ever they have! Of course, I say. Why not! Two out of 7000 Delhi Transport Corporation buses are disable friendly, to find buildings with ramps (to help the physically challenged) would be an achievement in itself. Not even government buildings have these facilities. Education and employment levels, of this chunk of population, are abysmally low. The psychological trauma they undergo is another heartrending issue all together.
The differently abled people contribute to just 0.52% of the total number of people employed in government jobs, infrastructure facilities are very hostile for them hence mobility becomes a problem. This certainly adds a feather to the government’s cap, doesn’t it?
While it is fair to criticize the government, it must be considered that the private sector has done little to help those with disabilities. In the Private sector mere 0.28% of its total employed is disabled. Worse, it is only 0.05% in MNCs. The ‘growth’ of the economy is doing little for those who live in the peripheries.
Social activist Mr. Abidi alleged that Mc Donalds and other transnational companies, which are governed by strict laws, show double standards when they come to India. They have ramps and other facilities provided at their centers in the west, they happen to ignore the law when it comes to India. The indifference of these companies is questionable. The companies, however, argue that there is a case against philanthropy and that they look at each individual as a consumer. Well, a nice way of giving back to the society what you’ve got from it!
There are also complaints about the agenda of the disabled women being sidelined by feminist movements. Well, women are fighting for themselves!
I’ve personally been touched by a few accounts of the less fortunate. I have been writing exams for the visually challenged, every time I write, I’m saddened by lack of opportunities ‘they’ have, in terms of jobs or otherwise. Stories about these are all over the place.
Wonder where the media has been? I have no problems with their extensive coverage of all the ‘Page3 parties’ as they are called (there is a huge chunk of passive audience out there, who is being fed rubbish and they are taking it with relish!). But, until a few years ago, the media was the only institution with a conscience.
Most of the coverage that the media gives to this issue is around the 1st week of December, when the world disability day happens to be. How many ‘responsible’ newspapers or TV channels include stories on these issues on a regular basis? Only regular coverage can keep the issue alive. But why will the media bring up issues if the politicians do not want them in the fore? After all, it’s the world of give and take. And the specially abled have to take only what they are given!
There is only one TV sign language news bulletin per week by Prasar Bharti. Dissemination of information in formats accessible to people with sensory impairments is restricted.
Let’s for a moment introspect. There is an inadvertent attempt to alienate the less privileged, whether we want it or not. ‘They’ are looked at with sympathy by the rest of the population that almost vanishes the next moment due to an overload of preoccupations. It is sad, but what can we do about it?
The situation is different only when we encounter physically and mentally challenged people at close quarters- either a family member of a close friend.
The government, largely, depends on the voluntary sector for help (at least in India). Even the public consciousness and awareness campaigns by voluntary organizations can be called a ‘recent phenomenon’. We can at least talk of the employment of the employable physically disabled, the state of the unemployable and mentally challenged is worse due to lack of social security measures. Can these be a ray of hope? But wait. We have told the specially abled not to be hopeful at all.
The day we change our outlook towards this problem, we would truly be moving towards an inclusive society. I’m forced to ask, with great pain, is the idea of an inclusive society Utopian?
Raksha Kumar
Shoba(name changed) is not any other 20-year old. She lacks the two things that make people ‘normal’ in our society. She is not gifted with eyesight. To add to it, she lacks the financial resources. She is studying in a reputed college in Delhi (makes her one of the ‘lucky’, I learnt!). But she has one thing that not all of us can claim to have- the habit of not complaining. This, I’ve always felt, is imbibed in her socialization. Shoba, rarely, if ever, asks for things even meant for her.
The reason for this, according to me, is the nature of politics in India. Unfortunately the differently abled population- which form, according to 2001 census, 2-3% of our population and unofficial figures are said to be 60-70million- is not considered to be a vibrant vote bank, as a result successive governments have done little for the amelioration of this section.
People with special abilities are made to believe that they are fortunate to have gotten what ever they have! Of course, I say. Why not! Two out of 7000 Delhi Transport Corporation buses are disable friendly, to find buildings with ramps (to help the physically challenged) would be an achievement in itself. Not even government buildings have these facilities. Education and employment levels, of this chunk of population, are abysmally low. The psychological trauma they undergo is another heartrending issue all together.
The differently abled people contribute to just 0.52% of the total number of people employed in government jobs, infrastructure facilities are very hostile for them hence mobility becomes a problem. This certainly adds a feather to the government’s cap, doesn’t it?
While it is fair to criticize the government, it must be considered that the private sector has done little to help those with disabilities. In the Private sector mere 0.28% of its total employed is disabled. Worse, it is only 0.05% in MNCs. The ‘growth’ of the economy is doing little for those who live in the peripheries.
Social activist Mr. Abidi alleged that Mc Donalds and other transnational companies, which are governed by strict laws, show double standards when they come to India. They have ramps and other facilities provided at their centers in the west, they happen to ignore the law when it comes to India. The indifference of these companies is questionable. The companies, however, argue that there is a case against philanthropy and that they look at each individual as a consumer. Well, a nice way of giving back to the society what you’ve got from it!
There are also complaints about the agenda of the disabled women being sidelined by feminist movements. Well, women are fighting for themselves!
I’ve personally been touched by a few accounts of the less fortunate. I have been writing exams for the visually challenged, every time I write, I’m saddened by lack of opportunities ‘they’ have, in terms of jobs or otherwise. Stories about these are all over the place.
Wonder where the media has been? I have no problems with their extensive coverage of all the ‘Page3 parties’ as they are called (there is a huge chunk of passive audience out there, who is being fed rubbish and they are taking it with relish!). But, until a few years ago, the media was the only institution with a conscience.
Most of the coverage that the media gives to this issue is around the 1st week of December, when the world disability day happens to be. How many ‘responsible’ newspapers or TV channels include stories on these issues on a regular basis? Only regular coverage can keep the issue alive. But why will the media bring up issues if the politicians do not want them in the fore? After all, it’s the world of give and take. And the specially abled have to take only what they are given!
There is only one TV sign language news bulletin per week by Prasar Bharti. Dissemination of information in formats accessible to people with sensory impairments is restricted.
Let’s for a moment introspect. There is an inadvertent attempt to alienate the less privileged, whether we want it or not. ‘They’ are looked at with sympathy by the rest of the population that almost vanishes the next moment due to an overload of preoccupations. It is sad, but what can we do about it?
The situation is different only when we encounter physically and mentally challenged people at close quarters- either a family member of a close friend.
The government, largely, depends on the voluntary sector for help (at least in India). Even the public consciousness and awareness campaigns by voluntary organizations can be called a ‘recent phenomenon’. We can at least talk of the employment of the employable physically disabled, the state of the unemployable and mentally challenged is worse due to lack of social security measures. Can these be a ray of hope? But wait. We have told the specially abled not to be hopeful at all.
The day we change our outlook towards this problem, we would truly be moving towards an inclusive society. I’m forced to ask, with great pain, is the idea of an inclusive society Utopian?
Raksha Kumar
Friday, April 07, 2006
Freedom from Shackles
Freedom?
Often what is told to us is not the complete picture. In schools we are taught about the greatness of India’s political and economic freedom. We are taught about the kind of rights we possess and are often made to fell privileged as there are millions who are not half as free as we, Indians, are.
While trying not to be cynical, I’ll try to comment on this concept of “freedom in India.”
‘Who decides what freedom and liberty are?’ Is a clichéd question but a relevant one. If reduction of state control in our lives is the definition of freedom then we are freer in this country since 1991 than we were since 1947! I doubt if that is true. So, what is freedom?
If we earned freedom in 1947 then why is a huge chunk of the population still suffering from deprivation of the essentials? We acquired only political freedom from the British (few dispute this as well). And since 1947 we are being ruled by some men who do not recognize the ground realities or do not want to do anything to change it.
In the light of the above statements can we really say that we are a free nation with equal opportunities? Are these too many confusing questions? Consider this. Every woman in India has the right to live fearlessly, while all of us know that most women are bound to their homes after dark, they are exploited in their own homes and very few raise their voices. Importantly, few are given the freedom to voice their concerns.
Similarly, every child has a right to education. Very few children are aware of this right and fewer have the means to take advantage of this right.
At every step in life we face constraints imposed on us by those who promise freedom. Army’s atrocities in the north east and Kashmir are well documented. Ironically, they who promise free and secure lives resort to crimes.
The notion of freedom, it is said, began in the west –inner freedom- mainly as a revolt to the church. It was later strengthened due to the necessary revolt against colonialism-this was political freedom. The concept of freedom gained strength by the American values of individualism and a free society. This developed into a demand for economic freedom in the 1970s, which was put forth by neo-colonialist struggles.
In India we gave the concept of liberty (our adaptation of its meaning) equal rights as equality, justice and sovereign.
Our preamble reads “We the people of India ……..secure to all its citizens………..liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.”
Deep rooted caste system, religious violence, religious segregation and vote gathering based on religion certainly negates this provision in our constitution.
It is disturbing that India has hid its inability to provide liberty to its people under the garb of democracy and constitutional law. It is questionable whether it is enough to have a written constitution and well laid down laws. The implementation of it in a diverse country becomes the key.
It is an evident contradiction that India tries to champion the cause of democracy all over the world and does not allow suitable conditions for the democratic rights to reach the people of India.
I say this keeping in mind that India houses an independent judiciary and an active press.
But, the questions within these spheres itself are also many. How will I fight for my rights if my case is fought in the courts for 10 years and why will I turn to the press if I know that all it wants is juicy stories and profit?
Forgive my blanket statements. Our democratic institutions are not fundamentally flawed. Certain radical policy decisions have to be taken in order to save us from this web of interconnected problems.
Society has not evolved overnight and hence it will take time to change, but change has to come from accepting the flaw.
Situation in our country, it must be admitted, is not grave.
Our country certainly knows how to accommodate dissenting voices and divergent views. But, time has come –after 58 years- to retain our virtues and tackle drawbacks which have invariably seeped into our polity.
At least questions of freedom, justice and, these days, even sovereignty, must be raised a lot more by the Indian media.
While it is true that man is a social being and cannot frame rules for himself and be completely “free”, we certainly have our constitutional rights on paper and thereby we can demand for it.
Raksha Kumar
Often what is told to us is not the complete picture. In schools we are taught about the greatness of India’s political and economic freedom. We are taught about the kind of rights we possess and are often made to fell privileged as there are millions who are not half as free as we, Indians, are.
While trying not to be cynical, I’ll try to comment on this concept of “freedom in India.”
‘Who decides what freedom and liberty are?’ Is a clichéd question but a relevant one. If reduction of state control in our lives is the definition of freedom then we are freer in this country since 1991 than we were since 1947! I doubt if that is true. So, what is freedom?
If we earned freedom in 1947 then why is a huge chunk of the population still suffering from deprivation of the essentials? We acquired only political freedom from the British (few dispute this as well). And since 1947 we are being ruled by some men who do not recognize the ground realities or do not want to do anything to change it.
In the light of the above statements can we really say that we are a free nation with equal opportunities? Are these too many confusing questions? Consider this. Every woman in India has the right to live fearlessly, while all of us know that most women are bound to their homes after dark, they are exploited in their own homes and very few raise their voices. Importantly, few are given the freedom to voice their concerns.
Similarly, every child has a right to education. Very few children are aware of this right and fewer have the means to take advantage of this right.
At every step in life we face constraints imposed on us by those who promise freedom. Army’s atrocities in the north east and Kashmir are well documented. Ironically, they who promise free and secure lives resort to crimes.
The notion of freedom, it is said, began in the west –inner freedom- mainly as a revolt to the church. It was later strengthened due to the necessary revolt against colonialism-this was political freedom. The concept of freedom gained strength by the American values of individualism and a free society. This developed into a demand for economic freedom in the 1970s, which was put forth by neo-colonialist struggles.
In India we gave the concept of liberty (our adaptation of its meaning) equal rights as equality, justice and sovereign.
Our preamble reads “We the people of India ……..secure to all its citizens………..liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.”
Deep rooted caste system, religious violence, religious segregation and vote gathering based on religion certainly negates this provision in our constitution.
It is disturbing that India has hid its inability to provide liberty to its people under the garb of democracy and constitutional law. It is questionable whether it is enough to have a written constitution and well laid down laws. The implementation of it in a diverse country becomes the key.
It is an evident contradiction that India tries to champion the cause of democracy all over the world and does not allow suitable conditions for the democratic rights to reach the people of India.
I say this keeping in mind that India houses an independent judiciary and an active press.
But, the questions within these spheres itself are also many. How will I fight for my rights if my case is fought in the courts for 10 years and why will I turn to the press if I know that all it wants is juicy stories and profit?
Forgive my blanket statements. Our democratic institutions are not fundamentally flawed. Certain radical policy decisions have to be taken in order to save us from this web of interconnected problems.
Society has not evolved overnight and hence it will take time to change, but change has to come from accepting the flaw.
Situation in our country, it must be admitted, is not grave.
Our country certainly knows how to accommodate dissenting voices and divergent views. But, time has come –after 58 years- to retain our virtues and tackle drawbacks which have invariably seeped into our polity.
At least questions of freedom, justice and, these days, even sovereignty, must be raised a lot more by the Indian media.
While it is true that man is a social being and cannot frame rules for himself and be completely “free”, we certainly have our constitutional rights on paper and thereby we can demand for it.
Raksha Kumar
Cricket for all.
Commercialization of cricket
It’s no longer just the galleries, the stadium, the pitch and the players that are essential for a cricket match. Samsung, Pepsi, TATA Indicom and MRF are equally necessary –almost indispensable.
Some say, this crass commercialization is the reason for the game to be as popular as it is today. It would be no exaggeration if I say that especially in India you’d find sponsors for even a tennis ball match played on the streets.
But a deeper look into it might show different signs. How many players of yester years
endorsed products? Very few. Commercialization of this gentleman’s game is a relatively recent phenomenon. It started mainly because two important developments that took place in the 1980s and 90s in our country- introduction of colour TV and reduction of state control in the corporate sector. This is when big companies decided to take advantage of the situation.
India already had put cricket on a pedestal, thanks to the British legacy. Also, cricket is played at least for a day and is perfect for advertisers who would want to appear regularly on the screen, for better impact. They take extra interest as they want to succeed in a human resource rich country like ours. Thus money running into millions is poured into cricket. This consequently increased the media’s interest.
These days even a Kenya v/s Holland match will gain more coverage than the hockey world cup. However, last year by this time, Indian media announced the (re)emergence of new sports like Tennis and Racing –attributed to the successes of Sania Mirza and Narian Karthikeyan. Now they seem to be retreating and concentrating more on cricket due to the dawn of the new cricket season.
Its effects are many. At the grass root level, many cricket-training camps have sprung up which charge exorbitant sums and promises to make every BOY Sachin Tendulkar. These camps are clearly out of reach for kids whose parents don’t earn six-figure salaries.
Cricket has always been a gentleman’s game but for some time it seemed like women’s cricket did gain some support. Sadly, it didn’t last long. Excessive attention to men’s cricket has stolen focus from women’s cricket. Women’s world cup cricket does not get half the coverage an Irani trophy match would.
It is common knowledge that fans can enjoy seeing Saurav and Rahul on TV even when they are not playing cricket. Is it wrong to say that enormous sums of money the big stars gain out of endorsements, take away the incentive of giving their 100% on field? I don’t know. There have been controversies where players have put money over the game.
India’s failure in sports is usually attributed to substandard conditions our sports persons are provided with, even at the highest levels. Budget allocation towards sports is considered to be a waste by our leaders. Surely, sports that have enough cash inflow can do something. Consider the amount of money flowing in to cricket, the cricketing fraternity could have done a lot to encourage young sports persons (even those who cannot afford expensive camps). The few benefit matches and charity auctions apart, neither the board nor the fraternity are doing much.
Seldom is there a place on the cricket field and on the players where a brand is not advertised. Hence, the game has ceased to be what it was. Whether you can see the teams in the stadium or not the entire team will be present on one or the other cola ads.
Merchandising is another new concept that is gaining ground. This will ensure more money into the sport.
Only if this was spent efficiently….
Raksha kumar
It’s no longer just the galleries, the stadium, the pitch and the players that are essential for a cricket match. Samsung, Pepsi, TATA Indicom and MRF are equally necessary –almost indispensable.
Some say, this crass commercialization is the reason for the game to be as popular as it is today. It would be no exaggeration if I say that especially in India you’d find sponsors for even a tennis ball match played on the streets.
But a deeper look into it might show different signs. How many players of yester years
endorsed products? Very few. Commercialization of this gentleman’s game is a relatively recent phenomenon. It started mainly because two important developments that took place in the 1980s and 90s in our country- introduction of colour TV and reduction of state control in the corporate sector. This is when big companies decided to take advantage of the situation.
India already had put cricket on a pedestal, thanks to the British legacy. Also, cricket is played at least for a day and is perfect for advertisers who would want to appear regularly on the screen, for better impact. They take extra interest as they want to succeed in a human resource rich country like ours. Thus money running into millions is poured into cricket. This consequently increased the media’s interest.
These days even a Kenya v/s Holland match will gain more coverage than the hockey world cup. However, last year by this time, Indian media announced the (re)emergence of new sports like Tennis and Racing –attributed to the successes of Sania Mirza and Narian Karthikeyan. Now they seem to be retreating and concentrating more on cricket due to the dawn of the new cricket season.
Its effects are many. At the grass root level, many cricket-training camps have sprung up which charge exorbitant sums and promises to make every BOY Sachin Tendulkar. These camps are clearly out of reach for kids whose parents don’t earn six-figure salaries.
Cricket has always been a gentleman’s game but for some time it seemed like women’s cricket did gain some support. Sadly, it didn’t last long. Excessive attention to men’s cricket has stolen focus from women’s cricket. Women’s world cup cricket does not get half the coverage an Irani trophy match would.
It is common knowledge that fans can enjoy seeing Saurav and Rahul on TV even when they are not playing cricket. Is it wrong to say that enormous sums of money the big stars gain out of endorsements, take away the incentive of giving their 100% on field? I don’t know. There have been controversies where players have put money over the game.
India’s failure in sports is usually attributed to substandard conditions our sports persons are provided with, even at the highest levels. Budget allocation towards sports is considered to be a waste by our leaders. Surely, sports that have enough cash inflow can do something. Consider the amount of money flowing in to cricket, the cricketing fraternity could have done a lot to encourage young sports persons (even those who cannot afford expensive camps). The few benefit matches and charity auctions apart, neither the board nor the fraternity are doing much.
Seldom is there a place on the cricket field and on the players where a brand is not advertised. Hence, the game has ceased to be what it was. Whether you can see the teams in the stadium or not the entire team will be present on one or the other cola ads.
Merchandising is another new concept that is gaining ground. This will ensure more money into the sport.
Only if this was spent efficiently….
Raksha kumar
Media Matters
Is it time for the media to be a ‘public institution’?
Unlike a few other countries, Indian journalists do not enjoy any special professional rights apart from the rights they enjoy as the citizens of India.
The media, however, is expected to perform many important functions: it is the source of information, it forms a forum of discussion, it brings out ‘truth’ and it entertains. These functions automatically put the media on a pedestal; the media is required to work for the larger public good. While the duties are immense the rights are limited. This is like swimming in deep waters with hands tied.
Many public institutions demand additional rights to discharge their duties efficiently. The notable ones are the Judiciary with Contempt Laws, the Parliament claims certain privileges while it protects itself through the laws of secrecy (RTI will change this, but corruption largely remains). We allow the Police and tax officials to intrude the privacy of individuals on the claims of larger public good.
Why not give the media certain privileges?
A deeper look into the situation will show various complexities: when we say the media should get the rights enjoyed by other “public institutions”, is it because it’s expected of the media to work for the public good? Or is it important for the institution to be owned publicly, to be called a “public institution”?
Currently, the media is largely owned by a few private individuals. Therefore, many feel that if the media get privileges it would be like giving special rights to a few individuals just because they claim to do public good. Thus we should keep in mind the above argument and put certain checks in place and then talk of rights to the journalists.
Especially with the onset of electronic media in the last decade of the previous century, it is time the laws pertaining to the media were changed. Freedom should be coupled with mechanisms to ensure accountability. First of all, the Press Council of India should be brought to life and must be revamped to suit the changing times. It should be made autonomous in practice and its jurisdiction should extend to the electronic media.
Importantly, the audience should consciously reject the sleaze offered by some media in the name of “popular demand”.
If these and more regulations were put in place, it would be easier to ‘trust’ the media. Since journalism is becoming more professional by the day, time has come to reconsider the professional rights for journalists. This becomes twice as important in a world where communication technologies are easily available and accessible by all. The journalists should be given some separate rights from that of other citizens so that it can help in providing accurate and reliable information to counter the messages emanating from any source that may not always be true.
With rights come duties and responsibilities, hence the media should recognize the responsibilities.
Raksha Kumar
Unlike a few other countries, Indian journalists do not enjoy any special professional rights apart from the rights they enjoy as the citizens of India.
The media, however, is expected to perform many important functions: it is the source of information, it forms a forum of discussion, it brings out ‘truth’ and it entertains. These functions automatically put the media on a pedestal; the media is required to work for the larger public good. While the duties are immense the rights are limited. This is like swimming in deep waters with hands tied.
Many public institutions demand additional rights to discharge their duties efficiently. The notable ones are the Judiciary with Contempt Laws, the Parliament claims certain privileges while it protects itself through the laws of secrecy (RTI will change this, but corruption largely remains). We allow the Police and tax officials to intrude the privacy of individuals on the claims of larger public good.
Why not give the media certain privileges?
A deeper look into the situation will show various complexities: when we say the media should get the rights enjoyed by other “public institutions”, is it because it’s expected of the media to work for the public good? Or is it important for the institution to be owned publicly, to be called a “public institution”?
Currently, the media is largely owned by a few private individuals. Therefore, many feel that if the media get privileges it would be like giving special rights to a few individuals just because they claim to do public good. Thus we should keep in mind the above argument and put certain checks in place and then talk of rights to the journalists.
Especially with the onset of electronic media in the last decade of the previous century, it is time the laws pertaining to the media were changed. Freedom should be coupled with mechanisms to ensure accountability. First of all, the Press Council of India should be brought to life and must be revamped to suit the changing times. It should be made autonomous in practice and its jurisdiction should extend to the electronic media.
Importantly, the audience should consciously reject the sleaze offered by some media in the name of “popular demand”.
If these and more regulations were put in place, it would be easier to ‘trust’ the media. Since journalism is becoming more professional by the day, time has come to reconsider the professional rights for journalists. This becomes twice as important in a world where communication technologies are easily available and accessible by all. The journalists should be given some separate rights from that of other citizens so that it can help in providing accurate and reliable information to counter the messages emanating from any source that may not always be true.
With rights come duties and responsibilities, hence the media should recognize the responsibilities.
Raksha Kumar
Is this how it is?
A lifetime experience
Try and picture this: a tattered nine seater, with plastic sheets to cover its top. 23 souls packed into the jeep, travelling at great speeds.
I was one of them!!
As we ended our journey of the magnificent Fatehpur and Sikri we were in for a shock. “there are no more buses back to Agra,” we were told “ you’ll have to take a jeep.”
We were literally invited by the driver of the jeep. Apparently, another jeep wouldn’t be taken unless one is full and has departed.
We were shown a seat fit for a 4 year old and two fully grown adults had to fit into it! Five minutes into the journey and the kid next to me threw up( I presume it was because of the claustrophobic and suffocating set up).
Since I was brought up in a huge metropolitan and I’m currently living in another I’m just not familiar with such situations (which, I was told later, are very common occurrences). This got me wondering about how ignorant city dwellers could be about the daily problems of the rural India.
There were four people to the driver’s left and one to his right. The very sight of a person driving with people pushing him around was scary. The speedometer didn’t work but even a person who’d seen a jeep for the first time would know that the speed was well above 100kmph.
Thankfully, the road was in a reasonably good state, not a common sight in our country.
To add to my fears, it stared drizzling. To my utmost dismay, I realized that our jeep was without wipers!
Oh! God, why was I sitting in a could-be broken down-anytime jeep with almost two dozen people hanging onto all the rods the jeep had, moving fast without wipers and one light?
But a serious thought to the situation would throw up different questions. People there risk their lives every day, both the commuters and the drivers, to make ends meet. Is it fair for us to crib about car break downs or traffic jams?
A middle aged person in front of me was reading a book in that chaos. This is the kind of peace of mind they are able to attain which, I might say, is absent in the cities.
While I agree that the government should provide the basic necessities to all we should also realize that we are a lucky lot.
There are people who are less privileged than we are.
So the next time we don’t have a new dress for a party, lets spare a thought for those who don’t get new clothes for years. The next time we curse when there is a power failure lets think of millions of houses which have never seen electricity. And the next time we talk of larger numbers in the classroom let’s remember the hundreds of children who’ve never seen a school.
If not anything, this will bring us great comfort and satisfaction.
Raksha Kumar
Try and picture this: a tattered nine seater, with plastic sheets to cover its top. 23 souls packed into the jeep, travelling at great speeds.
I was one of them!!
As we ended our journey of the magnificent Fatehpur and Sikri we were in for a shock. “there are no more buses back to Agra,” we were told “ you’ll have to take a jeep.”
We were literally invited by the driver of the jeep. Apparently, another jeep wouldn’t be taken unless one is full and has departed.
We were shown a seat fit for a 4 year old and two fully grown adults had to fit into it! Five minutes into the journey and the kid next to me threw up( I presume it was because of the claustrophobic and suffocating set up).
Since I was brought up in a huge metropolitan and I’m currently living in another I’m just not familiar with such situations (which, I was told later, are very common occurrences). This got me wondering about how ignorant city dwellers could be about the daily problems of the rural India.
There were four people to the driver’s left and one to his right. The very sight of a person driving with people pushing him around was scary. The speedometer didn’t work but even a person who’d seen a jeep for the first time would know that the speed was well above 100kmph.
Thankfully, the road was in a reasonably good state, not a common sight in our country.
To add to my fears, it stared drizzling. To my utmost dismay, I realized that our jeep was without wipers!
Oh! God, why was I sitting in a could-be broken down-anytime jeep with almost two dozen people hanging onto all the rods the jeep had, moving fast without wipers and one light?
But a serious thought to the situation would throw up different questions. People there risk their lives every day, both the commuters and the drivers, to make ends meet. Is it fair for us to crib about car break downs or traffic jams?
A middle aged person in front of me was reading a book in that chaos. This is the kind of peace of mind they are able to attain which, I might say, is absent in the cities.
While I agree that the government should provide the basic necessities to all we should also realize that we are a lucky lot.
There are people who are less privileged than we are.
So the next time we don’t have a new dress for a party, lets spare a thought for those who don’t get new clothes for years. The next time we curse when there is a power failure lets think of millions of houses which have never seen electricity. And the next time we talk of larger numbers in the classroom let’s remember the hundreds of children who’ve never seen a school.
If not anything, this will bring us great comfort and satisfaction.
Raksha Kumar
We have to stop this from happening again.
BHOPAL’ – BEYOND THE APPEARENCE
Would a child born in Delhi or any other part of the country be the same as a child born in Bhopal post1984? The answer is obvious, NO. He/she will face troubles socially, physically, mentally and psychologically. Thus it becomes important for us to look at the ’84 tragedy beyond the gas leak and the number of deaths.
In the wake of thousands of people marching from Bhopal to Delhi in protest, it is time for us to take another look at the issue. It raises questions about the government’s accountability to its people, transparency in government contracts, the social and psychological impacts of the leak on millions of people, at the national level. And the indifference shown by MultiNational Corporations (MNCs) towards the third world countries, the flaws in the environmental laws, and the unquestioned role of developed nations in environment degradation and so on at the international level.
I have tried to address a few of these questions in this write-up. As long as we see the Bhopal tragedy as an aberration, as an incident we lose out the larger picture of why it happened and what were the conditions leading to it. We will only be looking at that fateful night as ‘the gas leaked, engulfing the entire vicinity because water entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of Methyl Isocynate(MIC) was stored. When water and MIC mixed an exothermic chemical reaction started, producing a lot of heat. As a result safety valve of the tank burst because of the increase in pressure.’ But the people of Bhopal are yet to get answers as to why the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) set up an outdated plant in Bhopal when they had already developed an advanced computerized safety system for their West Virginia plant in the US. The refrigeration system was faulty; the valve lines and vent lines in the Bhopal plant were old and worn out. Parts that should have been replaced had not been changed for more than two years.
A similar plant to be set up in the US, for example, would require a lot of formalities and approvals, the company would have to abide by certain laws, safety etc. This is clear indication that in this globalizing world the third world is considered to be a dumping ground for all hazardous industries and toxic manufacturing: a place where MNCs/TNCs can get around with the laws and the political establishment.Since we do not see the world getting any less globalising and since people are out there to create more demand/profits, we can conclude that there are many more ‘Bhopals’ in our backyard.
In India, however, the union and state governments had no knowledge about the hazardous nature of MIC (or there were vested interests) and thus UCC was allowed to store large quantities of lethal chemicals where as the west Virginia plant did not store huge quantities of MIC. At the time of the leak, more than 30000 gallons of MIC had been stored. In contrast, the storage capacity in the West Virginia plant was no more than 5000 gallons. Few would disagree if we blame the callous nature of the government for the disaster and, since we have evidence of the government not having woken up, many more disasters are in the making.Transparency and accountability by the government are the foremost needs of the hour. Also, a lot depends upon the kind of economic decisions the establishments take for the country because that can determine the direction our economy will take. Populist measures of the government should not be encouraged.
In the municipal elections in Bhopal in 2004 there was not even a mention of gas leak by either of the two major political parties. After 20 years, the city has come in to terms with the devastation and so our ‘leaders’ have forgotten about it. This is not the case with Babri Masjid issue, though! On the other hand, the media in our country has also not lived up to the expectations. An American journalist, speaking about the Bhopal disaster, once said “had it been in the US, the media would have spoken about it for months together, mobilizing the people and forcing the government to act.” Despite what the media has done to bring Bhopal to the fore and keep it in focus, I think it should have done more. Two to three days around the second or third of December the media is reminded of Bhopal and there are series of reports on the victims of industrial hazards. But, what about the rest of the year? That the public memory is short, could be a good excuse. Unless the media is persistent, the government will not be on its feet. After all this is the job of the media, apart from, of course, expanding the existing multi-crore media industry. There should be regular reporting and exposes on companies/ factories that violate laws. The regional media should take on more responsibility in this respect.
In a democracy, the role of pressure groups becomes necessary to keep the government alert. Though many groups were founded after the disaster, a hand full of them has been effective. Most Non Government Organizations (NGOs) which get funds from outside the country have their own reservations about raising voices against MNCs. If they do so, raising resources becomes a problem for these organizations. Sub division and fragmentation can also be problems they face. In case a few organizations manage to make inroads or succeed, the government or other powerful groups snub them. Therefore it would not be wrong to say that if we were to see more ‘Bhopals’ tomorrow then media and the (relatively toothless) pressure groups will also have to share some of the responsibility. The magnitude of suffering of the Bhopal victims has alerted us, possibly for the first time in our history to the dangers of chemical pollution.
Yet, if another Bhopal were to happen today we may not respond any differently in spite of considerable information that we have gathered since then. In 2004 alone, there was an explosion in Shar complex of Sriharikota which killed 36 people; a toxic gas leak in a transport company in Delhi; in Eloor a fire at an endosulfan plant broke out; a leak in a chlorine plant near Mettur Dam near Tamil Nadu; a scrap factory exploded in Shahidabad,Uttar Pradesh killing 10. There are ticking bombs in various parts of India: Gujrat’s Valsad-Vapi region is considered to have disastrous environmental impact, the chemical industrial estates in Cuddolore which are regarded as the ‘smelliest parts of Tamil Nadu’, Jharkand’s Roro hills where asbestos wastes are left in the abandoned mines. Thus we urgently need a matrix of environmental governance laws which can internalize environmental considerations in the development strategy, which can provide a responsive legal system, also get industry to seek cleaner and well tested technologies and adopt best practices and also have well knit networks that ensure efficient dissemination of information right down to the last person. The MNCs and TNCs set up industries in the developing countries because of easy accessibility to cheap labour, relatively inefficient implementation of laws and set up costs are low.
Also, if you look beyond what is apparent, you find that there is a vested interest of the developed world to allow a certain amount of development in the third world. If poor countries do not show any signs of development, it will be difficult for the first world to dump its products in our markets. This is their policy of ‘expansion of markets’ and ‘world markets’. Thus if they set up industries they are ensured both short term and long term benefits. As long as it suits them they will set up industries and will show negligent conduct. They will be hence responsible for many more industrial hazards.
Ecological degradation is not a result of just development but a certain kind of development and it is no secret that ecological degradation will have adverse effects on human life. Modern day market dynamics compel us to use heavy technology, advanced machinery. The more man depends on mechanization the more he antagonizes nature. When Bhopal happened the impacts were instant. Millions of people killed, many more injured, 20 years later situation remains unchanged and so on. But, industries (both indigenous and foreign) are also killing people on an every day basis. The dumping of atomic and industrial waste on the coasts of Maharastra ,Gujrat and Orissa; tones of industrial waste being channalised into our rivers, which are our lifelines; ever increasing pollution of air; soil, which is the source of nutrients to our trees, being polluted and global warming. surely, this is slow poison but it has as disastrous effects as the gas leak in Bhopal. Such exploitation should not be tolerated. A few experts say an international law on environment will do a lot of damage control, while there are skeptics who say that the developed countries will find there way around as well. One of the other serious concerns of many is/ was the compensation for the Bhopal victims. Cot between UCC and the Indian government, are the victims who were hoping for rehabilitation twenty years later had to settle with meager compensation. This is blatant injustice. The victims should be rehabilitated and given suitable work that ensures stable income along with monetary compensation. Of the 800000 people living in Bhopal 2000 died immediately, during the gas leak, and 30000injured. 1000 animals killed and 7000 injured. The survivors are suffering from partial or complete blindness, gastrointestinal disorders, weak immune systems, post traumatic stress disorders and menstrual problem in women. A rise in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths and off spring with genetic defects was also noted.
One must remember that our country is not short of resources. Good governance and efficient implementation of rules and laws are lacking. It is very important for us to strengthen our democratic institutions. We can surely prevent another ‘Hiroshima of chemical industry’ from occurring. Calling all responsible institutions in the country and abroad.
Anyone listening?
Raksha Kumar
Would a child born in Delhi or any other part of the country be the same as a child born in Bhopal post1984? The answer is obvious, NO. He/she will face troubles socially, physically, mentally and psychologically. Thus it becomes important for us to look at the ’84 tragedy beyond the gas leak and the number of deaths.
In the wake of thousands of people marching from Bhopal to Delhi in protest, it is time for us to take another look at the issue. It raises questions about the government’s accountability to its people, transparency in government contracts, the social and psychological impacts of the leak on millions of people, at the national level. And the indifference shown by MultiNational Corporations (MNCs) towards the third world countries, the flaws in the environmental laws, and the unquestioned role of developed nations in environment degradation and so on at the international level.
I have tried to address a few of these questions in this write-up. As long as we see the Bhopal tragedy as an aberration, as an incident we lose out the larger picture of why it happened and what were the conditions leading to it. We will only be looking at that fateful night as ‘the gas leaked, engulfing the entire vicinity because water entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of Methyl Isocynate(MIC) was stored. When water and MIC mixed an exothermic chemical reaction started, producing a lot of heat. As a result safety valve of the tank burst because of the increase in pressure.’ But the people of Bhopal are yet to get answers as to why the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) set up an outdated plant in Bhopal when they had already developed an advanced computerized safety system for their West Virginia plant in the US. The refrigeration system was faulty; the valve lines and vent lines in the Bhopal plant were old and worn out. Parts that should have been replaced had not been changed for more than two years.
A similar plant to be set up in the US, for example, would require a lot of formalities and approvals, the company would have to abide by certain laws, safety etc. This is clear indication that in this globalizing world the third world is considered to be a dumping ground for all hazardous industries and toxic manufacturing: a place where MNCs/TNCs can get around with the laws and the political establishment.Since we do not see the world getting any less globalising and since people are out there to create more demand/profits, we can conclude that there are many more ‘Bhopals’ in our backyard.
In India, however, the union and state governments had no knowledge about the hazardous nature of MIC (or there were vested interests) and thus UCC was allowed to store large quantities of lethal chemicals where as the west Virginia plant did not store huge quantities of MIC. At the time of the leak, more than 30000 gallons of MIC had been stored. In contrast, the storage capacity in the West Virginia plant was no more than 5000 gallons. Few would disagree if we blame the callous nature of the government for the disaster and, since we have evidence of the government not having woken up, many more disasters are in the making.Transparency and accountability by the government are the foremost needs of the hour. Also, a lot depends upon the kind of economic decisions the establishments take for the country because that can determine the direction our economy will take. Populist measures of the government should not be encouraged.
In the municipal elections in Bhopal in 2004 there was not even a mention of gas leak by either of the two major political parties. After 20 years, the city has come in to terms with the devastation and so our ‘leaders’ have forgotten about it. This is not the case with Babri Masjid issue, though! On the other hand, the media in our country has also not lived up to the expectations. An American journalist, speaking about the Bhopal disaster, once said “had it been in the US, the media would have spoken about it for months together, mobilizing the people and forcing the government to act.” Despite what the media has done to bring Bhopal to the fore and keep it in focus, I think it should have done more. Two to three days around the second or third of December the media is reminded of Bhopal and there are series of reports on the victims of industrial hazards. But, what about the rest of the year? That the public memory is short, could be a good excuse. Unless the media is persistent, the government will not be on its feet. After all this is the job of the media, apart from, of course, expanding the existing multi-crore media industry. There should be regular reporting and exposes on companies/ factories that violate laws. The regional media should take on more responsibility in this respect.
In a democracy, the role of pressure groups becomes necessary to keep the government alert. Though many groups were founded after the disaster, a hand full of them has been effective. Most Non Government Organizations (NGOs) which get funds from outside the country have their own reservations about raising voices against MNCs. If they do so, raising resources becomes a problem for these organizations. Sub division and fragmentation can also be problems they face. In case a few organizations manage to make inroads or succeed, the government or other powerful groups snub them. Therefore it would not be wrong to say that if we were to see more ‘Bhopals’ tomorrow then media and the (relatively toothless) pressure groups will also have to share some of the responsibility. The magnitude of suffering of the Bhopal victims has alerted us, possibly for the first time in our history to the dangers of chemical pollution.
Yet, if another Bhopal were to happen today we may not respond any differently in spite of considerable information that we have gathered since then. In 2004 alone, there was an explosion in Shar complex of Sriharikota which killed 36 people; a toxic gas leak in a transport company in Delhi; in Eloor a fire at an endosulfan plant broke out; a leak in a chlorine plant near Mettur Dam near Tamil Nadu; a scrap factory exploded in Shahidabad,Uttar Pradesh killing 10. There are ticking bombs in various parts of India: Gujrat’s Valsad-Vapi region is considered to have disastrous environmental impact, the chemical industrial estates in Cuddolore which are regarded as the ‘smelliest parts of Tamil Nadu’, Jharkand’s Roro hills where asbestos wastes are left in the abandoned mines. Thus we urgently need a matrix of environmental governance laws which can internalize environmental considerations in the development strategy, which can provide a responsive legal system, also get industry to seek cleaner and well tested technologies and adopt best practices and also have well knit networks that ensure efficient dissemination of information right down to the last person. The MNCs and TNCs set up industries in the developing countries because of easy accessibility to cheap labour, relatively inefficient implementation of laws and set up costs are low.
Also, if you look beyond what is apparent, you find that there is a vested interest of the developed world to allow a certain amount of development in the third world. If poor countries do not show any signs of development, it will be difficult for the first world to dump its products in our markets. This is their policy of ‘expansion of markets’ and ‘world markets’. Thus if they set up industries they are ensured both short term and long term benefits. As long as it suits them they will set up industries and will show negligent conduct. They will be hence responsible for many more industrial hazards.
Ecological degradation is not a result of just development but a certain kind of development and it is no secret that ecological degradation will have adverse effects on human life. Modern day market dynamics compel us to use heavy technology, advanced machinery. The more man depends on mechanization the more he antagonizes nature. When Bhopal happened the impacts were instant. Millions of people killed, many more injured, 20 years later situation remains unchanged and so on. But, industries (both indigenous and foreign) are also killing people on an every day basis. The dumping of atomic and industrial waste on the coasts of Maharastra ,Gujrat and Orissa; tones of industrial waste being channalised into our rivers, which are our lifelines; ever increasing pollution of air; soil, which is the source of nutrients to our trees, being polluted and global warming. surely, this is slow poison but it has as disastrous effects as the gas leak in Bhopal. Such exploitation should not be tolerated. A few experts say an international law on environment will do a lot of damage control, while there are skeptics who say that the developed countries will find there way around as well. One of the other serious concerns of many is/ was the compensation for the Bhopal victims. Cot between UCC and the Indian government, are the victims who were hoping for rehabilitation twenty years later had to settle with meager compensation. This is blatant injustice. The victims should be rehabilitated and given suitable work that ensures stable income along with monetary compensation. Of the 800000 people living in Bhopal 2000 died immediately, during the gas leak, and 30000injured. 1000 animals killed and 7000 injured. The survivors are suffering from partial or complete blindness, gastrointestinal disorders, weak immune systems, post traumatic stress disorders and menstrual problem in women. A rise in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths and off spring with genetic defects was also noted.
One must remember that our country is not short of resources. Good governance and efficient implementation of rules and laws are lacking. It is very important for us to strengthen our democratic institutions. We can surely prevent another ‘Hiroshima of chemical industry’ from occurring. Calling all responsible institutions in the country and abroad.
Anyone listening?
Raksha Kumar
Ha that train ride!!
On the tracks...
When I had to make a 2000 km long journey alone in a train-which many claim is unsafe- it raised many an eyebrow. But, my experience in the national carrier has always been pleasant.
You get a sense of India’s diversity when on a train-I learnt a lot about the kind of society we live in, more than I’d learnt in any classroom.
My journey began from New Delhi railway station and I was scheduled to reach Bangalore in a matter of less than two days.
I sat quite while the two people next to me struggled to start a conversation.
A gentleman with a strong Punjabi accent asked “aap kahan jaaoge?” to an elderly person next to him. The immediate reply was “kai?” (Marathi word for “what?”)
The TC, I thought, must know at least a hundred languages to converse with all the people he’d encounter. The lady next to me, clad in a traditional sari, was (I later learnt) a Gujarati brought up in Bangalore. The other two men in our compartment were students from DU but originally from Bhopal and Guntakal.
Even for someone like me, who is not unfamiliar with the composite culture, it was astonishing to see the ease with which the six of us got along – we dined together (despite the fact that two of us were vegetarians) and chatted away until late into the night.
The topics of discussion ranged from “Agre ka petha” to Indo-Pak Agra summit, from Sachin Tendulkar to speed breakers. It was evident that if something holds this country together, it is not the institutional structure or common history. It simply is politics, cricket and Bollywood.
However, there were hundreds of disruptions to our dialogue that spanned almost 20 hours - the tea vendors, the pantry staff, and the beggars (also picturing another reality of India). But the talk was too interesting to divert our attention.
There were disagreements on almost every issue, however, it all ended with somebody buying coffee for the rest. Trains provide an excellent platform for expression of one’s opinions. With long distances to travel and nothing to do it is natural for anybody to strike a conversation.
What ever the British did, railways are certainly a gift they gave us. Traveling by train doesn’t have an artificial sophistication. I can say this because at the end of the journey, none of us remembered each others’ names but were more than familiar with everybody’s views on politics, economics and sports.
I haven’t seen many countries to say that ‘it happens only in India’. But such peaceful co-existence despite vast diversity is certainly India’s specialty. It should be preserved.
Raksha Kumar
When I had to make a 2000 km long journey alone in a train-which many claim is unsafe- it raised many an eyebrow. But, my experience in the national carrier has always been pleasant.
You get a sense of India’s diversity when on a train-I learnt a lot about the kind of society we live in, more than I’d learnt in any classroom.
My journey began from New Delhi railway station and I was scheduled to reach Bangalore in a matter of less than two days.
I sat quite while the two people next to me struggled to start a conversation.
A gentleman with a strong Punjabi accent asked “aap kahan jaaoge?” to an elderly person next to him. The immediate reply was “kai?” (Marathi word for “what?”)
The TC, I thought, must know at least a hundred languages to converse with all the people he’d encounter. The lady next to me, clad in a traditional sari, was (I later learnt) a Gujarati brought up in Bangalore. The other two men in our compartment were students from DU but originally from Bhopal and Guntakal.
Even for someone like me, who is not unfamiliar with the composite culture, it was astonishing to see the ease with which the six of us got along – we dined together (despite the fact that two of us were vegetarians) and chatted away until late into the night.
The topics of discussion ranged from “Agre ka petha” to Indo-Pak Agra summit, from Sachin Tendulkar to speed breakers. It was evident that if something holds this country together, it is not the institutional structure or common history. It simply is politics, cricket and Bollywood.
However, there were hundreds of disruptions to our dialogue that spanned almost 20 hours - the tea vendors, the pantry staff, and the beggars (also picturing another reality of India). But the talk was too interesting to divert our attention.
There were disagreements on almost every issue, however, it all ended with somebody buying coffee for the rest. Trains provide an excellent platform for expression of one’s opinions. With long distances to travel and nothing to do it is natural for anybody to strike a conversation.
What ever the British did, railways are certainly a gift they gave us. Traveling by train doesn’t have an artificial sophistication. I can say this because at the end of the journey, none of us remembered each others’ names but were more than familiar with everybody’s views on politics, economics and sports.
I haven’t seen many countries to say that ‘it happens only in India’. But such peaceful co-existence despite vast diversity is certainly India’s specialty. It should be preserved.
Raksha Kumar
My experiments with TV!
To be a Poonam Saxena…
It was a Sunday. Again. If I have to be a Poonam Saxena or a Shailaja Bajpai, the first thing I have to do is watch TV, I thought. Therefore I decided to spend the whole day watching TV! Armed with two bottles of water and some snacks, I positioned myself in front of the TV. Within 10 minutes I’d surfed the entire set of channels and had found nothing interesting. I wouldn’t give up. Not so early.
For the first time I realized that there were more than five full-time sports channels! Except that when I as watching three of them showed cricket. If you don’t like cricket….too bad…well, you could watch the music channels.
However, you need to like Indi-pop or the latest Bollywood music to watch them. The next ten minutes that I spent watching music channels, I found that only five to six songs were being repeated in all the channels. Thus, if you like any other form of music (jazz, classical, old songs) …again, bad luck, you should try out the ‘family’ channels.
They have only two options- either watch soap operas or reality shows. Since these get the highest TRPs, I thought, I should watch them for a while. Question: why are they called reality shows when, clearly, they are staged? I reminded myself to check the dictionary for ‘reality’. I was beginning to realize how difficult the job of the people who review television is.
Then, of course, my remote took me to ‘devotional’ channels. Everything, including the sets, looks the same. Saffron-clad men and women perched on a pedestal, some flowers around them and a few audiences from all ages (very important!). There is no point talking about what they said because I found it incomprehensible.
If religious and spiritual discourse is not your cup of tea…Hmm…try the news channels.
News channels. Now that sounds interesting, I thought. While surfing I lost count of how many there were. At first I wondered if all were owned by the same person or if it is the same channel with different anchors. Not only was the news item same but event the words used by the anchors were also similar (much like the newspapers that use agency copies).
After spending a few minutes expressing disgust over the anchors’ choice of clothes, I moved on. But where to? I’d pretty much exhausted all options on TV.
That Sunday morning I learnt one important lesson. The profile of an average urban TV viewer is of one who likes cricket (no matter how old the match is!), Himesh Reshamya, K-serials (as they are popularly called), staged reality shows and news channels with good looking anchors who have horrible dress sense.
If that is not what the average viewer is like than he’s forced to like it. There is no option.
One thing that was common to all the channels was advertisements. Millions of them.
In mere two hours, I’d come to the conclusion that TV viewing is a different ball game altogether. I would spend my Sundays as always: reading a book and lazing around.
Raksha Kumar.
It was a Sunday. Again. If I have to be a Poonam Saxena or a Shailaja Bajpai, the first thing I have to do is watch TV, I thought. Therefore I decided to spend the whole day watching TV! Armed with two bottles of water and some snacks, I positioned myself in front of the TV. Within 10 minutes I’d surfed the entire set of channels and had found nothing interesting. I wouldn’t give up. Not so early.
For the first time I realized that there were more than five full-time sports channels! Except that when I as watching three of them showed cricket. If you don’t like cricket….too bad…well, you could watch the music channels.
However, you need to like Indi-pop or the latest Bollywood music to watch them. The next ten minutes that I spent watching music channels, I found that only five to six songs were being repeated in all the channels. Thus, if you like any other form of music (jazz, classical, old songs) …again, bad luck, you should try out the ‘family’ channels.
They have only two options- either watch soap operas or reality shows. Since these get the highest TRPs, I thought, I should watch them for a while. Question: why are they called reality shows when, clearly, they are staged? I reminded myself to check the dictionary for ‘reality’. I was beginning to realize how difficult the job of the people who review television is.
Then, of course, my remote took me to ‘devotional’ channels. Everything, including the sets, looks the same. Saffron-clad men and women perched on a pedestal, some flowers around them and a few audiences from all ages (very important!). There is no point talking about what they said because I found it incomprehensible.
If religious and spiritual discourse is not your cup of tea…Hmm…try the news channels.
News channels. Now that sounds interesting, I thought. While surfing I lost count of how many there were. At first I wondered if all were owned by the same person or if it is the same channel with different anchors. Not only was the news item same but event the words used by the anchors were also similar (much like the newspapers that use agency copies).
After spending a few minutes expressing disgust over the anchors’ choice of clothes, I moved on. But where to? I’d pretty much exhausted all options on TV.
That Sunday morning I learnt one important lesson. The profile of an average urban TV viewer is of one who likes cricket (no matter how old the match is!), Himesh Reshamya, K-serials (as they are popularly called), staged reality shows and news channels with good looking anchors who have horrible dress sense.
If that is not what the average viewer is like than he’s forced to like it. There is no option.
One thing that was common to all the channels was advertisements. Millions of them.
In mere two hours, I’d come to the conclusion that TV viewing is a different ball game altogether. I would spend my Sundays as always: reading a book and lazing around.
Raksha Kumar.
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