Tribute to a Beautiful Mind

   “Death is a clown having no sense about the scene.” renowned Malayalam writer MT Vasudevan Nair’s character says in one of his novels.The demise of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam reminds me of this words. I am deeply saddened by his death and all I could manage was tears rolling down from my cheeks at the departure of a beautiful mind.I was never felt so sad about anybody’s death, even of my grand parents who were the closest family members of mine who had left the world already. Dr.Kalam  was the brightest star in the horizon of modern India who ignited millions of minds with his child-like curiosity,simplicity and a wealth of knowledge.              

     Death is perhaps the only truth(or ultimate one at that) that none can avoid or outlive despite our glorious scientific advancement, none could find anything closer to defeat death and none will ever. It is a reality and we all are walking towards to that reality in each day of our life. And I am sure death is not the end of a life; it is the disappearance of our physical body and not the soul that would go back to its eternal abode leaving the temporary one here on earth. Still as a human being who is hold in the limitations of physical body, I cannot help but mourn about the demise of loved ones and people of impeccable quality and integrity like Dr.Kalam.

     I do not know Dr. Kalam personally and I never have seen him in person though he is someone I dearly remembers and someone I really would have liked to meet in person. I had deep love and respect for Kalam and in his demise I feel like somebody close to my heart has been gone away and it pains me to think that I would never see or hear him in person, an irreparable loss to humanity and planet earth. I will always miss him like millions of   others around the world.

       What makes him so precious?It is not  his success or achievements that make him a great soul but his values and principles in life, the fact that he remained a simple and honest person despite all his material achievements. And it was not easy for a boy from a humble beginning to become the most inspiring personality of modern India. He was an inspiration to millions of souls and would enlighten the generations to come with his inspiring personality  and actions.

Daughters and Sons

       Indians get very defensive when others point out our problems, perhaps we are not used to criticism, or we do take ourselves very seriously. Whatever it is, ‘India’s Daughter’ diverts the issue of rape to the issue of a foreign lady attacking India though she herself admitted that admiration and respect to India brought her her here.

     Rape is a universal issue, but unlike developed countries, most of the crime related to sexual abuse is not even reported here, let alone pursuing a case due to the social stigma attached to it, there are even cases where women had to compromise by receiving money due to financial and social limitations to engage into a long legal battle, sometimes even fearing a backlash from the accused. Again the ‘re rape’ at police station and court is humiliating and below the dignity of any human being.

       The pervert attitude of the rapist and the defence lawyer in the documentary is a mirror to our society that doesn’t have any respect for women. Even in big cities like Delhi women are tortured for giving birth to girl child, a boy is received with sweets whereas a girl is received with tears in many homes irrespective social/financial status.

     Women are considered suborninate not equal to men and public places are completely occupied by men.In my village whenever I would go to a local library, men would stare at my as if I was an alien and  in restaurants, they would look at you as if women do not have not hunger, so that not supposed to eat out.I recall an incident when my friends in my journalism class and I had gone to Steven Spielberg’s film, we were groped by few men at the theater premise amidst the crowd, when protested, they asked us why we were there on the releasing day of the film?Another time during the show of Mira Nair’s controversial film ‘Kamasutra’, we had been forced to leave the theater midway by unruly men who  targeted us with abuses, vulgour language and gestures as we were the only girls there(the unwritten law is that even if it is girl’s nudity, a descent woman would not watch that). Groping and misbehaving are common in public transports in India, so that women have to be alert all the time while traveling. Many times Indian women live in the fear of getting raped, so that we have to get into the safety of our home if it gets dark.

        I am sure those men never have seen their fathers respecting their mothers, or never have been educated about respecting women. In schools and colleges, we get information, not real education (that is another matter of discussion I do not want to elaborate on that now) besides real education begins at home where many times parents fail their children. I recall the incident where a sub inspector father beats up his adult daughter in Bangalore street for an alleged relationship and her teacher mother too support the father. How can our women live in dignity when such people as protectors of law and engineers of youth are around us?How  our children would learn to respect woman with such ignorant people?

      To root out an illness  one must know the cause, punishing the criminal is important, yet it is like modern medicine treating the symptoms of the illness, it may creep in again. We must go deeper to understand the cause of this disease called rape, and must treat the cause ie try to change the mind- set of the society and educate the men to respect women. There are some rapists who are men of low self esteem, financially and educationally backward and they do believe that they do not have anything to ‘lose’ in the act, but there are other men who are powerful and influential who think they can get away with this crime.Instead of treating children as properties parents must inculcate values in children, schools,universities etc., should continue this value based education  to build a modern and civilized society where women are respected. It may not happen in one day, but at least we must begin now.

Who is Kailash Satyarti

      Who is Kailash Satyarti? I was wondering while reading news about him being awarded the  Nobel  Price for Peace 2014. Most of my compatriots including journalists of national dailies did not have any idea of this man who devoted much of his life for children’s rights even braving bullets.We had to wait for Nobel peace price to know about him.Later I came to know that he was an Engineer who gave up job to work for child’s right and though, born as Brahmin (priestly class), he doesn’t believe in caste system thus, replaced his surname as Satyart ie seeker of truth.His humanitarian activities transcend the limitations of boarders, and reach out to children who have been robbed off their childhood.He begun his child rights  activities as early as 1981 even though UN convention for child rights had been born only  on 1989.

      I felt shame on my ignorance though I am a self confessed news junky (an addiction I am trying to get rid off) I recall an experience former President Mr. Abdul Kalam had in a school few years back, little children were at a loss when he had spoken about Gandhiji, after much explanation they figured out that  Kalam was speaking about ‘that old man having no teeth.’ ; But the kids were aware of each details about Sharukh Khan(Bollywood actor). How do they even know?Satyarti lives in Delhi where most of the national medias are located, but  his human rights activities are neither noticed nor reported.Media devote precious time and space to politicians and celebrities, in the guise of ‘human interest’ stories.Media argues that people get what they want (or deserve?), I find it a silly argument just for the sake of it, if that is the case why it is called pillar of democracy? Why not yellow journalism?

           Thousands of children are trafficked in India to work for pittance in mines,fire work factories  and restaurants/homes. But the plight of those children, or other marginalized people is not ‘news worthy’ for the media, they ignore those who try to improve the lives of those unfortunate kids as well.  Same is the case with environment, developmental news etc, media share a little space for such news.

I might be a minority, and minorities are hardly heard, majority may want to read trivia, at the same time it is natural that, when they are constantly feed on silly stuff, they crave for more of it. Media can have positive influence on society if they want, instead they chase those ‘sexy midriff and cleavage’, to ‘sex up’ eyeing a huge market.

         Authorities are not different either, government give out prestigious civilian awards as Padmasree, Padma vibhushan etc to most of the bollywood actors (certain regional language actors too)--many times I do not know why and for what-but Satyarti  has never been hounoured by any awards. Recently Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna’(Diamond of India)the  highest civilian award in the country, but I think people like Satyarti is the real Bharat Ratna.

Himalayan task of Cleaning India

    Prime minister Narendra Modi’s cleanliness drive is laudable, though he had chosen he cleanest part of Delhi to broom after  littering it for him to ‘clean’, so that I have reason to doubt the sincerity of the same. Had he been serious, he would have chosen the dirtiest part of Delhi(there is no dearth of it in the city)to initiate his cleanliness drive. Having said that, I think this is the first time a Prime minister voiced the need for cleaning our country. But how we are going to make India a filth free country? Indians are of the habit of cleaning their home and throwing the garbage on the street/road or any place that do not belong to “them.” We are used to live in a cocoon of our home among a heap of filth just outside or walk through dirty paths, as if it does not exist at all. I remember a French photo journalist asked me once the reason of our ‘indifference’ to the filth around us, I wish I would know the answer.Perhaps we are  a selfish race,so that nothing(including environment) beyond our immediate family do concern us or we are too passive to do something about it. Anyways, I feel it is not easy to get rid of the ‘culture’ that we are grown up with. We do not educate our kids in home/schools about the importance of cleanliness or hardly have any effort to make them aware the necessity of taking care of environment

  So proper awareness drive with penalty to those litter the public places is important as a baby step towards a clean India. I feel Indians are generally not self- disciplined, we need someone to impose strict measures on us (just to have a look at our railway stations or bus stations would enlighten one about this), so penalty is essential to make cleanliness mission a success.

A Tale of two India

       

     This is the story of two Indian women, one is a diplomat and the other is a domestic help. The former was arrested in USA on the complaint of the later for being under paid. I do not agree with the treatment of US towards this Diplomat, as always US is aggressive and adamant in her approach. US was defensive when someone called David shot two Pakistani’s at point blank few months back citing his diplomatic status, but this is exclusively for her citizens. I do agree that US justice system is comparatively fair, but only for her citizens, for others it can be a menace.

       Anyways, In India, it is still the semi-feudal attitude that guide an average Indian. The diplomat’s arrest was evoked quick reactions and response, but the domestic help remained unheard. I do not want to go into the details of this case, but our attitude as a civilized society is astonishing. The Diplomat represent an elite India having the means and ways to be heard, and the domestic help represent an India that is marginalized and unheard.

    Our casteist and semi feudal society do not consider manuel labour a dignified work and most of the time it is the lower caste people who do the ‘dirty works’ of upper and middle class India. We looked down on our maids,drivers and other labourers. We have thousands of cases where maids and workers are underpaid ill treated  and in a worst inhuman manner. Often they do not even be treated as a fellow human being, it is misfortune that force them to take up this jobs. We do not have a law to protect them, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the only two states that have a law in place to protect the right of domestic help. As a Keralite, I know manuel labourers are decently paid and least exploited. But rest of India is lagging behind.

     Why we as a society fail our unfortunate children who do not have the means to have an education or a dignified life? Why we lack empathy as a society? I do not have an answer, perhaps the thriving materialism, lack of values in our whole system, and so many other trappings of modernity. Whatever it is I feel compassion is an essential quality of a human being, without that we are like a walking machine, so hollow and lifeless. Let us be more compassionate and considerate as a society.

Black is Beautiful

     Actor Nandita Das pioneers a new cause  by batting for the dark skinned girls in a fair-skin obsessed society. Besides a talented actor-director, Nandita is one of the best brains and a gem of a person. She greatly deserves appreciation for taking up this cause. Dark skin is not considered beautiful and women are biased based on their skin colour. Light skinned girls are favoured in the glamour industry and marriage market in India.  My little niece often complains how she is let down by her teachers and other students due to her skin colour despite being an  intelligent and talented girl. As a light skinned south Indian, I am often asked  ‘Keralites are dark skinned, why are you light skinned.' Once a North Indian businessman in Chennai embarrassed me with his  extreme racial prejudice, he has gone to the extend of saying that he avoids being friends with black people there.

      I have been asked few times by western men about our preference of light skinned girls in the film-model industry, but it is the same in Hollywood as well. Despite being an immigrant country, having different ethnic community,most of the Hollywood  actress’ are white European origin girls. Even today white race cannot escape from the superiority complex and brown-black race from inferiority complex.

   Anyways, obsession to fair skin is not exclusively Indian , rest of the world has its contribution too. In Macleodganj, Tibetan girls are the highest consumers of whitening creams (It is strange because they are light skinned people). When  

I had gone to TCV(Tibetan Childrens Village) to meet a Tibetan student,I was surprised to see her mother gifting a 13 year old girl whitening creams.To my advice against whitening creams especially on tender skin , she retorted that many girls use it there. I heard light skinned Chinese origin girls are preferred in Thai glamour industry. Japan,Korea etc also have their share of colour prejudices.

     There must be an attitudinal shift to appreciate black skin and understand it is not colour of skin that decides one’s looks. And in a look-obsessed world, we must go beyond the skin to appreciate real beauty.

A prayer for Malala-the little Angel

Little angel Malala- though the meaning of your name is ‘grief-stricken’, you makes me think of a beautiful unknown and nameless flower that envelop me with a sweet fragrance from your enchanting valley, Swat. My heart reaches out to you little angel, Malala, the amount of courage and wisdom you have shown is beyond your age, you are truly an angel sent by God to hold a light against the darkness of your beautiful valley. Tears roll down on my cheeks whenever I see your innocent angelic face and so astonished about the silence of the otherwise violent protestors in the name of religion, when you are targeted in such a brutal manner. I am so tempted to think like the ‘Little prince’ of author Antoine de saint-exupery, that the ‘grown up are really really odd’, they make a noise for nothing and interested only in triviality that often trivilalises noble causes. There are millions to take sword in the name of religion, but none to question an inhuman and brutal act on a little girl. I hope you would be the sunshine girl and the beacon of hope to millions of suffering girls in your country and around the world. Hope many girls would be inspired by your courage and brilliance. You represent hope and is a precious being, my prayers for you to get well soon, little sweet flower.

America's own Osama

Shakespeare wrote, ¨Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" (Macbeth). Perhaps the sound and fury doesn’t stop at death!Osama bin Laden’s death seems more of a tale than life- we don’t know whether to cry, laugh or forget with all the horrific details of his death unfolds before us.I don’t know how significant is the death of Osama to the world, when he is only a name sake head of Al- Quida. But obviously this is a great news for US president Obama who is seeking re-election in 2012. To an extend, USA is responsible for the making of Osama bin Laden and the fanatic elements in Islam.They prepared a fertile ground for fanatics like Osama to grow and spread their sickening idealogy among ignorant masses. So it was necessary for them to get rid of him as he had grown out of their control!

USA acts unilaterally when it feels its interests must be served-Iraq invasion, Afgan war etc are a case in point. At the same time advice countries like India to keep restraint at the face of terror! We know well that the master mind of Mumbai riot(1992) and the master mind of 26/11 are having a royal life in Pakistan, but India couldn’t do anything about that till date. US always played its game well in this part and managed to isolate India surrounded by ‘enemies’. I think, now, it is too late when the US realized its past mistake of nurturing islamic fanatism in the guise of fighting communism or whatever.

Whenever required, USA used Pakistan like a tool to slow the Indian growth in the region, unfortunately, both this countries devote a major chunk of its economy for purchasing weapons from rich counries! Why? Both presuming a war between themselves! Strangely Pakstan(read its Army and ISI),
considers its very existence is based on anti-India rhetoric and invest their time and energy on propagating hate! While those fanatics do nurture the under privileged to fight their ‘war(jihad)’, they would be enjoying all luxuries of life in the comforts of their home.I am sorry for the ignorance of common men, and how they are being manipulated.

India and Pakistan have lot of people, living in extreme poverty, many of them do not have even basic amenities in their life. Yet both this countries compete to invest in weapons to fight their war to an ‘unknown enemy! I wonder why this Asian neibhours(I am not mentioning about China that invests a huge chunk of its economy for defence purpose) are not wise enough to understand that USA or west is not going to lose anything if they fight, but only stand to gain from it. Atleast in their country, their citizens are not starving, they have a good social support system and are well taken care of.

In this imagined ‘would- be war’, people of both this countries are real losers, this not only deviate us from the real issues, but affect the development of our countries also. So I just wish people of both this countries could wake up from their slumber and fight for their basic right to live as dignified human beings. Or am I just dreaming?