Of colours, religion and terrorism

Been a long while since I ranted...my fingers have been itching for the pats few weeks. So, here I am ;-)
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Our Honourable Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram always manages to hog the limelight, thanks to his regrettable statements made without giving it a second thought.

The latest, of course, has been his usage of the word 'saffron terrorism'.

Let's not even go into the problem areas in uttering those words publicly. Let's just look at the two words used here-'saffron' and 'terrorism'.

Firstly, as most editorials of prominent newspapers have pointed out, terrorism has no religion, colour, caste, creed, race, et al. It is driven by hatred and hatred alone. The editorial published on August 28, 2010 in The New Indian Express asserts that PC was trying to avoid using the term 'Hindu terrorism' which would have been even more objectionable. What makes PC think that he can get away by simply replacing a religious word (Hindu) with a seemingly neutral and 'colourful' word (saffron)?

Going by the trend of bomb blasts and terrorist attacks in our country over the past couple of years, most were either conducted by Islamic fundamentalists to target the Hindu community or Hindutva fanatics to target the Muslim community. Or simply fanatics and fundamentalists whose religion has no connection with their terrorist activities. Movies like My Name is Khan (which I am yet to watch) apparently deal with a similar theme-that a religion has no connection whatsoever with terrorism.

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I stayed in New Delhi, the capital city of our diverse nation, for three years before coming to Bengaluru for my Masters. Given that it was the national capital and a politically active place, Delhi was always on high alert even if a bomb was suspected to be seen at some remote corner of the country. We were so used to brisking and checking at hotels, restaurants, shopping complexes, malls and metro stations that we suspected that something was fishy when we weren't subjected to brisk checking.

I remember an incident quite vividly. This happened after the Malegaon blasts in Maharashtra in 2008. All major metropolitan cities in the country were on high alert, which, in most cases, is just a fancy term for extra checking and inconvenience caused to fellow citizens for their own safety . Sadly, civilians, in their hurry to reach their respective destinations forget to acknowledge the same.

But anyways...

I was travelling to Connought Place from the University (boy, do I miss that place?) in the metro when this high-alert drama was on in Delhi.

As usual, all passengers were subjected to fairly rigorous checking that day. What surprised me (or maybe I shouldn't have been surprised given its all-too frequent occurence) was when I saw two young Muslim men being subjected to extra frisking, checking, questioning and grilling. That they were Muslims was clear from their attire and Muslim caps that the people of this religious community wear. The security policemen who were conducting the security check suddenly seemed wide awake and alert deciding to frisk these young men in and out, making it very clear that these Muslims were the obvious target of their suspicion.

I would have probably dismissed this casually until I boarded the train.

As soon as these two young men entered the compartment, all the passengers clutched to their belongings with greater firmness. The message was very clear: You are Muslims. The nation is bleeding with bombs planted by people from your community. You will rob me too. I'd better be on the safe side.

The men were subjected to such intense stares that i wouldn't be wrong in stating that they were almost raped to death by those disapproving eyes. One should have seen the faces of these two men. That they were feeling extremely uncomfortable in a compartment full of Muslim-haters must have been a living torture for them.

Muslim alienation isn't anything new and has a whole history that goes behind it dating as long as Partition in 1947. Sadly, it has only grown over the years.

PHOTO GALLERY

Source of the above image

Started initially as a private garden by Hyder Ali, one of the most famous rulers of old Mysore in 1760, the Lalbagh Botanical Garden is currently under the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. It was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in 1856. Since then, it has been an internationally renowned center for scientific study of plants and botanical artwork. Today, the garden is a lush green paradise located in the heart of the city.

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Lalbagh is one of the major tourist attractions in Bangalore. Located in the heart of the city, about 4 km from Vidhana Soudha, the greenery of the place attracts many tourists to visit the garden, which is open to the public everyday from 6 am to 7 pm.
In the picture above: The usual crowd in Lalbagh on a Sunday evening

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Lalbagh also has a large, clean lake with its fair share of resident ducks and/or geese. Fishing is banned in the lake though cases of illegal fishing have been reported before. One end of the lake is covered with multiple wild and pink Lotuses - Nelumbo Nucifera. If you are patient, you are sure to see kingfishers and other pretty and colourful birds at this spot.

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The Glass House, a small replica of the crystal palace of London, was built under the guidance of Prince of Wales. Every year, during the Independence Day, a flower show is held at Glass house, attracting nature lovers, with its range of local and international floral presentations.
In the picture above: A replica of New Delhi’s India Gate, which was made entirely with flowers for this year’s flower show during Independence Day celebrations

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Foreign tourists from all around the globe make it a point to visit this place when visiting Bangalore City. Though the city rickshaw drivers are notorious for harassing them, the tourists insist that their experience in the city has been pleasant and problem-free.
In the picture above: Two tourists enjoying a walk in the park

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However, harassment from auto drivers, who deliberately charge tourists extra, is a common problem faced by foreigners. “Language is not a problem…they [auto drivers] understand English. But their price simply rips us off. I once ended up paying Rs.250/- for a distance of less than 6 km,” said Cedar, a tourist from Nigeria.
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“Lalbagh Botanical Garden is considered to be one of the most diverse botanical garden in South Asia,” says its official website. With its varied and diverse collection of exotic plants, trees and flowers, the Garden still manages to attract tourists from all around the world in large numbers holding its charm on nature and peace lovers.

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Unless otherwise mentioned, all pictures are mine.
Source of information
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And they say this is not a 'story'!
: o

Grapes are sour.

That was the lesson I learnt yesterday after surviving one hell of a day.

And, it all started at IIJNM...
....

Still determined to get a byte of Ms. Revathi (the hijra I was referring to in my previous rant aka post), my friend and I decided (on an impulse) that we’ll leave as early as possible to reach Sangama office, about 2 hours from the “countryside” (as Prof Mark puts it) where we reside in. Excited that finally it was about to happen, we prepared ourselves for what was to follow, brushing up our Tamil skills (Revathi knew only Tamil) and constantly thinking of some intelligent questions to ask. Cell phones and cameras all charged, umbrella and water bottle in hand and with enough extra cash, we set off to our supposed destination after a few minutes of unnecessary delay about which I do not wish to elaborate.

And so we left. Waiting for more than 15 minutes at the bus stop, we finally boarded the bus for the Market, from where we had to take another bus and reach Mekhri, form where we had to take an auto and reach Sangama office.
*yeah, you can call us over-ambitious!!

Knowing that we will have to travel all day long, my friend suggested that we buy bus passes for the day. The pass did come in handy (if not anything else). Unaccustomed to traveling for such long hours, I geared up myself for a long journey to be undertaken. All for a purpose, I told myself. It’s all going to be worth it. Or so I thought.

Lost in my day dreaming world and half-asleep inside the bus, the noise and smell of rain woke me up. Looking out of the window, I witnessed, for the first time, how Namma Bengaluru looks when covered with rain, mud, potholes and people (whose number increases regardless of the amount of rainfall the city receives). The streets were all flooded and muddy water was stagnant here and there. Umbrellas getting broken, people using their bags to shield themselves and kids splashing water at each other—it was a sight to remember.

But, what about our story???
We were getting terribly late.Stuck in the horrible traffic jam, we had no other option but to cancel our plan because there was no way we could reach the destination on time, unless we had a private chopper to our rescue. [And, life is not so easy!]
Cribbing and complaining about the unproductive turn of events so far, as we were chatting over lunch at a shady restaurant, we decided we would watch Peepli [Live], an Aamir Khan production, that was apparently based on farmer suicides and media bashing, in accordance with what I had been told. I was determined to do something fruitful on a day when almost nothing was working out...

I called up one of my local friends who stays in the city to inquire about the show timings. If he wouldn’t have replied in the affirmative, I probably would have killed myself. Or him (would have probably done the latter ;P)
Once he informed me about the timings, we did not waste a second. After our lunch, we boarded a bus back to the place where we started from, hoping that the movie would compensate for the disappointment that we had faced so far. And, for once, we weren’t disappointed :-)

I wouldn’t like to bore my readers with a detailed review of the movie (my usual habit whenever I watch a movie or read a book). But, I would definitely recommend it. The story line is great. The concept isn’t anything ‘new’—farmer suicides has been a very topical issue in our country since years and nothing constructive has been done about it—neither by the government nor by the media. And, this is what Peepli [Live] picks up on. Using laughter and humour as a powerful tool, the movie uses comedy in a constructive manner so as to make the viewer laugh and simultaneously ponder over the reason for the laughter generated. But, it was rather disappointing to see the audience reaction. Firstly, there was hardly an audience for a low-budget movie like this. And, secondly, people were just laughing and giggling about the ridiculousness of the circumstance(s) that was shown. For most of them, it was just a way to kill time, laugh out loud, forget about it and plan the next movie accordingly. If this was the case, I believe the purpose of the director was has not been achieved, sadly.

The movie shows how sensationalizing every other story has become a habit of the media that is portrayed as a voyeuristic vulture ready to attack the next victim who commits the mistake of trusting the media. Making a story out of someone’s death (which is yet to occur)and even someone’s shit (and quite literally so)—this is an art our media seems to have excelled in. It’s a sad reality but it is real and one cannot deny that. Being someone who wishes to excel in this profession, to watch the reality of Indian media was definitely disheartening. But, I hope to bring in some tangible change and am determined not to give up my hopes and faith in the so-called fourth pillar of our democracy.

Raghubir Yadav, as usual, has acted brilliantly. And so have almost all the other characters, the name of whom I fail to remember. The rural atmosphere has been captured well and I was particularly impressed by the folk music that was cleverly incorporated in the movie, wherever required.

Well, I promised I won’t rant about my review. And, that is exactly what I have done! Can’t stop my fingers from typing, it seems...

Of alternative sexualities

A week ago, when I was struggling with story ideas and their relentless stay in my nightmares, I read a book review of The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story by A. Revathi that was published in the Zeitgeist edition of The New Indian Express. That set my contemplative mode in action.

I thought of interviewing Ms. Revathi and perhaps get a story idea. Discussing this with a friend, I got her contact number from the journalist who wrote the book review. I called Ms. Revathi asking for a time slot, so that we could have a chat. However, my hopes were quashed when my faculty members dismissed the story as a feature story rather than a hard news one.

*this seems to be something I realize only after having spent more than enough time on a particular (feature) story idea*

Disappointment is an essential part of this profession (actually...any profession, for that matter. So, let’s not generalize)

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Transgenders and hijras are increasingly in the news, for good reason(s) thankfully. While my enthusiasm was high to do the interview for the first hijra of our country who has penned her autobiography, I did a fair bit of reading about the history of transsexuals, transgenders and the hijra community in India, in general and in Karnataka, in particular.

I found out that Ms. Revathi is a part of Sangama, "a sexuality minority’s human rights organization for individuals oppressed due to their sexual preference," as mentioned in the website. The link to the same is as follows: http://sangama.org

While researching on this sensitive topic called ‘alternative sexualities’, one of the first elementary problem and confusion I faced, was that of the vocabulary. Most of us, I presume, do not know the basic difference between, say, a trans-gender and a transsexual. In fact, most of us might be under the impression that both probably mean the same. The reality is, that while it may sound and seem similar, it is technically not so. So, let’s look into the definition first, in brief:

Transgender (TG): It is a broad term for all people who do not identify with or choose not to conform to the gender roles assigned to them by society based on their biological sex. (A male-to-female transgendered person is referred to as 'transgender woman' and a female-to-male transgendered person is referred to as 'transgender man').

Transsexual (TS) (n, adj): Transsexuals strongly dis-identify with the sex assigned to them at birth and wishes to utilize hormones and/or sex reassignment surgery as a way to align their physical body (hormones, genitals, and other sex characteristics) with their internal gender identity. Transsexuals may or may not have had yet Sex Reassignment Surgery and thus could be ‘pre-operative’ transsexual or ‘post-operative’ transsexual. Others choose not to undergo SRS or cannot for medical or financial reasons, thus being ‘non-operative’ transsexual.

Source: Here

The above link is useful for getting complete information on the queer lingo which includes terms such as gay, homosexuality, hijra, lesbian, kothi, bisexual, et al

EDIT:

Due to confusion and problems that still exist over the above two definitions, I think I need to make the difference between the two words more clear. The information below has been edited and taken from here

1. Transgender is a state which the apparent gender (determined at birth) of a person do not match the subjective gender.
2. A person is identified as a transsexual if that person was born with congenital neurological inter-sex condition.
3. Transsexuals believe that if one has to be a true transsexual then one should have to go for surgery and change sex. Transgender persons do not think it to be necessary.
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As I said, transgenders have been in the news in the past few weeks. Revathi made news when she laid bare her life as a hijra in India, while penning her experience in the form of an autobiography--the first of its kind, in this genre, in our country. The book is already being hailed as a path breaking one that talks about the history and social stigma associated with the hijra community in India. Personally, I haven’t been able to get hold of the book and hence will not be able to provide my review.

Recently, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. B. S. Yeddyurappa has agreed to provide honorarium to transgenders in the State and has also promised to look into other demands which include issuance of BPL cards, job opportunities, pension schemes etc.

Bangalore University has become one of the first universities to have introduced a separate category of 'Transgender' in its admission forms, increasing the option of Sex into three: Male (M)/Female (F)/Tansgender (T)

Tamil Nadu is already being appreciated by liberals for being the first State in India for having issued Ration Cards (or Identity Cards?...I need to check on that) to transgenders in the State.

Oppression and discrimination on the basis of sexuality gradually seems to be changing....

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Talks on alternative sexualities always bring back memories of a very interesting and informative seminar that I attended two years ago in my college Miranda House, New Delhi. I do not exactly remember the topic but the talk was focused on homosexuality pertaining to Section 377 of the Indian penal Code (IPC). It was chaired by Mr. Ashley Tellis, one of the premier gay voices in our country for homosexual rights. He was also a temporary professor in the English Department of our college at that time. He taught us Dickens and Mill, to our disappointment. And he was horribly boring, in my opinion. However, he is a great orator when it comes to issues of gender and sexuality, something I realized that day.

Before beginning the talk, he asked the audience how many of them were heterosexuals? Almost everybody raised their hands (not surprisingly). He then handed out a questionnaire for all these “self-proclaimed heterosexuals”, as he put it, which had some of the most mind boggling questions that could shake the very foundation of one’s staunch belief in one’s sexuality and/or sexual orientation.
The idea behind the whole exercise was to make one think. And think hard enough about societal conventions. Why is there such a clear demarcation between the two? Why is there a social stigma associated only with homosexuals and not heterosexuals? What is the history, fear, insecurity behind it?

It was quite an informatory session, to put it mildly.
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I would like to end this post by a reference to one of the questions I still remember distinctly. I possibly cannot forget it, for reasons you will come to know in a short while.
The question was directed at heterosexuals. So if you are not one, this one is not for you.

The question was as follows:

“If you have not slept with someone of the same sex, how can you be so sure that you will not like it?”

Can you answer this?

EDIT: For those interested, here is a link to the questionnaire that was circulated:

'Independence' and 'Struggle'

First things first.
Before I rant about the above two highly significant and simultaneously vague words, it would make sense to first attribute people who made me think enough in order to come up with this rant/writing/thought/post (however you may look at it...let's be truly democratic for a change)

One is Mr. Prashanth whose post in Kannada, which sadly I could not decipher, had a picture of Mr. Gandhi posted on his blog that began my critical thinking on this issue. You can follow his blog here: http://pacchiee.blogspot.com

Second is my friend Kaustav, a self-proclaimed insane 'Indian' (troubled with the multiple vernacular literature of our country), who updated his Facebook status, on August 15, 2010, as thus:
"Remembers how zealous we were as kids regarding the INDEPENDENCE day...it's saddening how we lose the enthusiasm AND patriotic fervor with age(blame it on the discoveries we make with respect to our beloved nation). But what's even more heartbreaking is, how utterly unappreciative the forthcoming generations are when it comes to the efforts that went into the 'struggle'.

Happy Independence Day to one and all.."

And, thirdly, Ms. Gauri Lankesh, an eminent journalist and editor who came to our college today as a Guest Lecturer to talk about "Democracy and Dissent in India". You can read more about her here:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main17.asp?filename=Cr040106For_the.asp

Simple things lead to deep thinking, which may or may not be conclusive but are most definitely critical (at least in my case)
Few days before August 15, 2010, the newspapers (not surprisingly) were filled with articles that pondered over cynical and pragmatic questions.
"How free are we, as a nation?"
"Is India truly a successful democracy after completion of 63 years since independence?"

While the newspapers and publications I read were inviting more and more readers to join in and give their viewpoint as to what they think is the meaning of the word 'freedom', I was surprised by the preparations that were going on in my own hostel. As part of the program, my fellow hostel mates were planning to organize a flag hoisting ceremony to celebrate ‘Independence’ Day

*Please note that the word Independence throughout this post is in quotes because I find the very idea questionable with respect to the context in which it is being used"*

To revert back to what I was talking about, each student got an e-mail regarding details of the program. While all this seemed appreciable and noteworthy to me, I stumbled upon the section of the mail that read: The dress code for the program is WHITE.

Now, white may symbolize a hell lot of things *pardon my frustrated tone here please*
Whatever it may mean, the idea of adhering to a dress code robs the very essence of the term 'independence' for me. We are here to participate in a dull fact: that India completed yet another year of ‘independence’ with a show of lethargy, complacency and probably a bit of development here and there at the cost of some tangible or intangible loss. So we all get together, be witnesses of this fact and be done with it. Why a dress code? If I wear red, does that mean I am not party to this fact? Or was white chosen because it is a "neutral" colour unlike, say black or red which conventionally denotes mourning or rebellion/revolution respectively.
Whatever be the case, I have no idea how the program went and I have myself to blame for it because I was on a night out at my friends' place because of which I had to give the program a miss.
To the readers (who, I presume, are all representatives of Indian democracy), I should make it clear that I have nothing against celebration of 'Independence' Day. When we have gone to the extent of celebrating Chocolates' Day and Teddy Bear Days, there is simply no harm in acknowledging a day that holds extreme historical importance, if not anything else. But, the real question is: What are we celebrating here? Why are we even celebrating it, in the first place?

They talk of 'independence' and 'struggle'--both very subjective terms.
My history books say that we struggled for our ‘independence’ and finally achieved it in the midnight of August 15, 1947.
Are we not struggling still?
To cope with inequality. Caste-ism. Fanaticism. Fighting corruption, exploitation and patriarchy.
The truth is, we are struggling with the hypocrisy of our society which is choosing to live in denial by 'celebrations' of these kinds. If, on one hand, we revel in the pride of being Indian, we hide our faces or probably choose to conveniently ignore various other forms of discrimination going on in every part of the country either in the name of class, caste, race, gender or simply humanity.

Ms. Lankesh today called Indian democracy as an example of “a functioning anarchy." In my personal opinion, this was probably the best way to put it.
When democracy fails, dissent grows. And when dissent grows, agitation begins. This agitation leads to frustration to such an extent that one is forced to take the law and order in one's own hands. If people are pelting stones at the authorities in the Kashmir Valley, it is because of silently suffering under years of an incompetent, impotent and complacent government that has no interest whatsoever in its social welfare responsibilities.
It's like a dormant volcano. It may be silent for a long while. But, when it explodes, it destroys everything. It is this silence which is seen as a weakness. But to see silence, of any kind and any form as weakness, is simply naive and foolish. If one has been silent for a while, there has to be a reason behind it. Strong enough to defend the need to be silent for such a long time. And, when authorities concerned do not understand the meaning and significance of this silence, you get stones thrown at your face or have an encounter with a group of armed revolutionaries.

In fact, to be very frank, the state of 'independence' and freedom in our country is such that on the basis of whatever I have ranted above, I can easily be categorized as a supporter of violence and hence anti-government, ant-people, anti-democracy, anti-India.... the list just goes on.
But, I do not believe in hypocrisy.
I refuse to 'celebrate' a historic day that has lost significance in today's context.
Maybe I am being cynical and overtly critical of the government. As a citizen or a civilian, that is the easiest stand one can take, my critics may argue.
But as a citizen, I want assurance. Assurance of my safety. Assurance of freedom. To think. To talk. To write. On anything...as long as it doesn't hurt the sentiments of my fellow citizens.
And if I have been denied that in any way, I do not think I can call myself 'independent'. I still have a long way to go. I still need to struggle to achieve that alluring word called ‘in-dependence’

Fever

So everyone's blogging these days, huh?

Everyone in my class has the blog fever on. Partly because of professional reasons but partly also because, they want to express. Talk about stuff that has been interesting them in the past few weeks. About stuff that has disturbed them maybe. Or about things that has made them think. And think really hard.
What I found common in all of them (not that I am a literary critic or something....ignore me if I sound like that) was that they all had something about IIJNM to blog about. I don't know if that's good or bad (I would refrain from doing that sort of generalization) but it is clearly evidence of the fact that if something's been occupying their mind, it has been IIJNM. In some way or the other.
Others are blogging about burning issues---from Maoism to Reddy brothers to Nuclear deals and what not!
All this has put me in a fix. What do I blog about? Something that has been disturbing me? Something that has been bothering me? Something that I have been thinking about over the past few weeks (that's really not a very good idea coz that would result in a never-ending rant!)

The other day, in KK's class, we were discussing about blogging as a....

*pause*

No.
Wait a minute.

I thought I already had enough of IIJNM rants, didn't I?
So, why doesn't it go out of my head?? (not that there is any problem if it continues to stay in my half-sized brain)
Why do somethings occupy our thought process for longer than usual? There has to be a reason for it, right?
May be that's what you've been thinking about....maybe that's what you've been breathing, living, eating, dreaming. And, that's exactly what has been happening here.
The day begins with the hostel as its primary location. Then college. Hostel. Media Lab. Hostel. Media Lab. Mess. Media Lab. Hostel. Sleep. College. Media Lab. Hostel...... *no points for guessing the pattern*



We are living, breathing and sleeping here.
We're being groomed as professionals.
We're expected to grow up.
How tough can that be?
Ever wondered???

The Day I scored a 1 :-))

I scored 1/10 in one of my first assignments at IIJNM :-))

Hmmmmm......

So the title of this post would have probably made you wonder "Why that smiley face for a mere 1?" (if at all you read my blog that carefully. I forgive you if you don't!)
So, let me begin by explaining the context first. How it all began....

We were asked to submit story ideas to the IIJNM faculty. I remember having updated my blog with the first official 'news' report I wrote. After approximately 4 Weeks at IIJNM, I realize how flawed that report was! Not a great lead, problem with quotes, break of paragraphs incorrect and, more importantly, it wasn't 'new' enough. There's so much to learn, as I keep saying. And as and when I come to know of something that always existed and I never bothered to give it a second thought, I feel like an idiotic maniac ranting about almost every other thing under the sun when the point of focus should have been THE SUN.

Anyways, *digression not good*
Coming back to the 3 story ideas, before sending them in, I knew they are going to be questioned because of the very same reasons that my faculty has patiently pointed out. Despite that, I sent it because of strict adherence to the dreaded devil called DEADLINE. Well, it's not an excuse but a an attempt to understand why I sent such dumb ideas.
Well, to be very frank, they were not really dumb. Or so to speak.
One of them was more of a feature story idea than a hard core news story. I knew that and I thought I could work on feature stories too. However, as KK cleverly mentioned, we need to learn how to walk first before learning the art of running.
The problem with the second was that it wasn't 'new'. Now, though what has been pointed out is true, this statement angers me most. Not because its an untrue statement but because it forces me to think how and why did someone came to know about this before I did? Why was it reported before? How could I be so close yet so far? Why can't I think of a new angle in the same old (already reported) story? Is it even possible? Why can't I think beyond the obvious?
But, I guess, it's good I am thinking. And, thinking hard enough. That is one of the first requirements of being a (good) reporter.
Also, I need to put my love for feature stories at the backseat for a while now. Need to learn how to walk first. Or I won't be able to run in the future.

Now, let's revert back to the reason for that smiley face....
To begin with, I loved the way the faculty has taken pains to patiently explain every single student's flaws. To some it may seem mean, probably being a bit too pushy, rude or even downright sadist!
But, isn't it true that we give that extra push only to those whom we think are capable of surviving it? This means that the question is not about the individual talent but the lack of proper utilization of the same. Sometimes that extra push goes a long way to work wonders.
As far as my story ideas were concerned, I probably expected comments on those very lines, which is why, my score didn't surprise me. What surprised me instead was that I actually scored. I thought I'll be disqualified or something!
But that tiny little '1' has given me hopes. Strange coz 1 isn't that great a number, on a scale of 10. But, that 1 has given me the hope to perform. To work hard so that i can bring that 1 into a 2, a 4 or a 6 (maybe...who knows?).
My score has told me that I don't suck; my story ideas do. The problem isn't me but the way I am thinking. Maybe I am not thinking hard enough. Or maybe am just thinking too hard, forgetting to give other crucial things a thought. Whatever it is, I am surprised at myself for not feeling disappointed about my score. More so, coz I feel kind of rejuvenated after it. Feels like I have suddenly been asked to do something I always did-THINK. Just think hard enough. Think beyond the obvious. *rolls eyes*
And,
I think.....*pause
I can do that ;))

Media Hive.

Check this out: Moi article
They put it up on the website.



Cheers!

Edit: Response of my dad when I e-mailed him the link: "Kaamal kar rahee ho. Mere pair zameen par naheen hain..."
LOL

(Personal) Rant

The other day Nikhat Ma'am had said that silence is one of the most powerful weapons of speech.
I agree...
Silence is the best.
And if not silence, the lesser the words, the more profound it is. Of course a lot depends on who says it. But, if one has the ability/talent to say what he/she wants to, in a few words, I think that is something truly commendable. And it ain't easy.

Without being ashamed of being called biased, I would like to give the example of my father.

Response of my dad when my letter to the editor got published in The Hindu today:
"regards very good deepu keep writing so that the hindu management knows you better for future assignment"
Perhaps, it would be difficult for the reader to understand the exact meaning of the above comment, given that he/she is most likely to be unaware of the context and history behind this statement.
Since this rant is personal, I'd like to keep it that way : )
Cheers!! : D

Visit to Shanti Bhavan

We visited Shanti Bhavan School, a world-class institution for children from socially and economically deprived families, run by our college Dean Mr. Abraham George, on Saturday, July 31, 2010. The official website of the school is:
It is interestingly located on the border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu...away from the rest of the world, away from social life. Quite similar to the location of our college (though I do find human habitation in and around my campus!)
It's like a whole new world out there. Something which always existed and yet we were unaware of.

One visit there and I was convinced that I know NOTHING.
There is SO much to learn...from SO many people around you, regardless of their age, sex, colour, caste, creed or race.
The sheer confidence in these kids amazed me so much that I actually developed a serious inferiority complex while interacting with them. Now that we are getting accustomed to the profession that we are in, i.e., reporters (for those who still don't know what I do/where I study), it was a little tricky to get used to answering questions. We are more used to asking people (random) questions than answering some that can put us in a tricky spot. Kesh, a 11th grade student, in the most nonchalant manner, asked me: "So, why did you choose journalism as your profession?" On the face of it, it's a great question. Which is what makes it difficult to answer immediately. It needs thinking. It needs clarity of thought. And it needs to be apt-just what is to be said. And the way the question was shot at me was on the casual assumption (and an absolutely justified casual assumption) that I knew the answer. I probably knew the answer. But as I said I wasn't really prepared to answer it so quickly. The question made me think. Think more about my choice of profession. Why I was here? What was I doing here? What do I plan to achieve here? And once my contemplative mode is set in action, God alone can help me! ;-)

We attended the morning assembly there which brought down memories of school life. The assembly prayer. The school choir. The group song. The news reading. Everything brought in a nostalgic atmosphere among each one of us.
I don't know about others but all that sure made me feel aged. Felt like it was years ago since I actually attended school. It made me feel antique, in a sense. He He : D

We also interacted with the volunteers, who spoke about their experience--both the fun and pressure of being a teacher to these over-enthusiastic kids. The environment there. The high level of job satisfaction. The requirements and eligibility criteria for being a student and/or a volunteer here. It was almost an inspiring interaction.

I don't exactly know how to conclude my experience of having gone there and met these kids.
Do I feel blessed that I have everything I could ask for, in this life, unlike many others who are not as lucky as me?
Or do I feel depressed that I have everything I could ask for...and yet I am not utilizing it to the fullest?



I guess, at the end of the day, it's all a matter of perception! : ))

Rape, Sexual Violence and the Law

RAPE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE LAW

 By Deepa Ranganathan ( deeps_jsr@yahoo.co.in )

"The Union Home Ministry has recently proposed to work on readying a draft Bill on the Laws relating to rape and sexual assault. It is heartening to note that the Ministry is considering to re work on the definition of the word ‘rape’ so as to include many other forms of sexual assault and violence in its ambit. This has finally come after a realization that the word ‘rape’ has often been subjected to multiple definitions and interpretations which have, sadly, in the process, managed to vindicate many assaulter(s) solely on the grounds that the act did not fall under the category of "rape". The old archaic definition, as defined in Section 375 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), defines rape as "non-consensual sexual intercourse". However, the definition clearly does not have any provision for other forms of penetrative acts that are equally brutal and violent, if not more, as rape. Firstly, there are various kinds of sexual assaults, abuse and/or molestation that a person may be subjected to. Most of us are not even aware as to what constitutes a case of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and/or rape. And, secondly, if "penetration" is the key word to classify an act as rape, then the definition falls short of including various other ways by which an individual may be assaulted—physically, emotionally or psychologically. The IPC needs to look at rape beyond just its penetrative value. All forms of non-consensual sexual assaults, abuse and violation are meant to be equally condemnable under the Law.


Last year, a survey was conducted in our college that surveyed young students in and around the campus who were asked some basic questions related to sexual harassment and ways to deal with it. The results were shockingly revealing. While more than 60% of those surveyed admitted that they never reported such cases, as high as 52% did not even know what constitutes a case of sexual harassment. One primary thing that was realized was that, a majority of the people surveyed conveniently assume that only those cases that involve physical touch are to be categorized as a case of sexual harassment. While molestation, abuse and assault do fall under this category, even exhibitionism is a form of sexual harassment. But the victim generally does not report it as it does not involve any physical touch. However, the harassment that a victim may face in such a scenario is clearly sexual in nature too. Thus, the challenge is not only to educate individuals on dealing with sexual harassment but also be educated on its widely inclusive definition. Likewise, rape's definition too, needs to be reformulated and reworked upon, so that it includes all forms of assault, abuse and molestation.


Rape Laws in India are tricky, to use a safe term. As a whole, one could safely say that the process of Law is very convoluted and, in most cases, ends up being biased against the victim. If the victim is a minor, the onus is on the accused to prove his innocence. But if the victim is a major, it is up to her to prove her charge. Therefore, the defense finds it worthwhile to prove that the victim is a major. Also, in all rape cases, unless the woman is examined medically within 24 hours, it becomes increasingly difficult, forensically, to prove that rape has occurred. A problematic situation that arises with respect to the above topic of discussion is the word "eve teasing". The word 'teasing' is open to multiple interpretations, many of which could easily fall under the category of something inviting. Teasing may not necessarily imply a case to be reported and that itself is alarming. For instance, the 2002 Godhra massacre that occurred in Gujarat have had a history of some of the most horrific cases. Back in 2002, there was no category as "sexual violence" under the IPC and a case as brutal and violent as the cutting of a woman's breasts was categorized as "eve teasing".


It should be useful, here, to discuss another form of rape that is increasingly becoming a brutal and inescapable reality in our society—marital rape. To associate the word 'rape' with anything marital is often seen as traditionally troublesome precisely because one finds it difficult to accept that a spouse may forcibly extract sexual labour from the other. When the primary definition of rape involves the word "non-consensual", one has to realize that even a lawfully married individual may be forced for consent; the relationship between the rapist and the victim does not matter in such a context. Currently, marital rape is illegal in 18 American States, 3 Australian States, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Soviet Union, Poland and Czechoslovakia. {Source: Internet}


To once again revert back to the Union Home Ministry’s proposal of amendments in the Laws relating to sexual violence and rape, the legislation has also proposed for making the definition of rape gender neutral. This was something long due. Nevertheless, it is most welcome. It almost comes as a relief that the Law has finally woken up to the fact that gender is not a determining factor in cases of rape. It is not something that only women are subjected to, though one cannot deny that women have had to face it more often than men. But, that does not rule out its existence in the case of men. Several cases of young boys being assaulted and sexually abused are increasingly hogging the limelight and being reported. The Hindu in its editorial (Rape Law and Reform, March 24, 2010) rightly asserted: "It is a mistake to regard gender-neutrality as a dilution of the rape law." The extreme trauma that accompanies psychological and physical assault on an individual has no connection whatsoever with the victim's gender.


Thus, one expects the Union Home Ministry to realize that any new Law on sexual harassment and rape will have to broaden its ambit to cover the entire range of offenses, both for men and women. Otherwise, more and more cases of harassment—physical and psychological, will continue to escape the Law's dragnet. And that would only be another blot in our already notorious Indian Judiciary."
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Honest feedback/criticism expected.
Thanks! :-))