How far can I go?

The role of women in an ever changing world.

“The strength of a woman can carry the weight of the world.”

These famous lines by Sarah Pezdek Smith has helped me believe that every woman has the potent to ignite the candle of enlightenment and prove to the world her insignia of Faith, Honesty, Selflessness and Integrity.

ROLE OF WOMEN: AN HISTORICAL ESTIMATE

A few decades ago the inclusion and participation of women in various fields was under terrible scrutiny. To put an end to this misery, feminist movements were undertaken the world over. They were questioned and met with rigorous opposition. In the last few centuries women around the world have gone on a war footing to empower themselves to match the needs of modern day society.

An old political tactic that many liberals employ when talking of such issues could kindle a very strong debate. However, a debate is not the one stop solution for all problems. In order to understand the need for women’s emancipation it is essential to rewind a few centuries in the past.

The mentality of the people around the world at the time can be described aptly in terms of Early Roman law which described women as children, forever inferior to men.

If I must begin with the past I find it necessary to start with my own homeland India. In the 16^th century India, Gender discrimination was at its peak. Prior to the foreign invasions the worth of women was described in the words of Manu, the great Law- giver who said, 'where women are honored there reside the gods'. No religious rites could be performed without the participation of women. Men were considered incomplete without their better halves accompanying them. Slowly however this phase climaxed and the condition of women took a 360 degree turn when the country was taken over by an alien rule. The Islamic rule began in the country and the status of women was in a ‘see- saw’ state. During this period women were reduced to mere puppets in the hands of men. They were virtually reduced to the position of slaves and compelled to stay within the four walls of their homes. They were deprived of their basic rights. They had no say in their own family matters. Sati, Child marriage, tonsure of widows, female infanticide and forbiddance of widow re- marriage were some of the Social evils existing in the society. As a matter of fact, apart from the women from the higher castes, women were literally forbidden from education. It was considered a waste. Although we cannot blame any 'One' period of history or community for the deplorable condition of women, it is a fact that the women of today enjoy greater liberty as compared to their ancestors.

The arrival of the British in India and the spread of western education among Indian thinkers slowly and steadily tried to reform the scenario. It must be noted that the Empire did not immediately do anything concrete for fear of the wrath and rebellion of the natives. Soon however, a welcome change arrived at India’s doorstep in the form of leaders like Raja Ram Mohun Roy a western educated Indian and scholars like Veershlingam Pantalu, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar etc. Thinkers like Swami Vivekananda, provided for an evolution of thoughts. The rigid mindset of the orthodox Hindus was transformed radically.

We’ve come a long way since then. Today, The Hindu Code Bill which once did not include the daughter, today asserts that a daughter is as much a ‘heir’ as is a son and she is entitled to an equal share of the property and The Marriage Act no longer regards a woman as the property of man. Indian women have made considerable progress in the fields of Arts, Science, Humanities, Law, Sports and Entertainment. Our ‘Famous Firsts’ include Dr Kiran Bedi the first lady to join the Indian Police Services in 1972, Mrs Indira Gandhi, the first lady Prime Minister and Dr Pratibha Patil, currently serving as the First Lady of the country.

Surprisingly, India was not the only country were the women led a constricted life. In fact the country that gave the world the principle of ‘Democracy’ (Greece) did not regard women as a part of society. Women were not allowed to vote nor were they accepted as an equal.

Moving on, in the American Society, women were a significantly oppressed section of the society in the 17th and 18th centuries with no voting rights for them and they were kept out of armed forces and other businesses. Running on lines parallel to the Indian society, American women also were suffering with an inferior social and economic status. During the early history of the United States, a man virtually owned his wife and children as he did his material possessions. The status of the women in the United Kingdom can be described through 'My Last Duchess' a dramatic monologue by Robert Browning. The character of the Duke of Ferrara shows the mentality of the British aristocrats symbolizing dominance and arrogance of the men. However, today the British and American societies have accepted women and their contribution to the society with open arms. Surprisingly although the Muslim world has been accused of promoting the sub- ordination of women, it must not be forgotten that Turkey played an important role in promoting the development of women. In the 1930s, Turkey became one of the first countries in the world to give full political rights to women, including the right to elect and be elected locally (in 1930) and nation wide (in 1934). They were indeed the first to recognize that “The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world!”

WOMEN AND EDUCATION

Today the fairer sex has not only succeeded but in some cases superseded their male counterpart. The role of women has shown phenomenal progress in the field of Education. It is surprising, that the role of women has changed drastically in this field. In a recent study, it was observed that 4,587 of the 17,357 primary schools in England do not have a single male teacher. However at the University level men outnumber the women. It holds true the words of a famous man who once said, ‘Educate a man, educate only a man, Educate a woman and you will educate a family.’

Sadly, much is left to be done in the field of Education.The educational system especially in many middle east countries have not developed fully and are still reluctant to give in to the fact that women can be effective instruments in the field of education.

ROLE OF WOMEN IN POLITICS

Cleopatra may well be branded as a woman who enticed two great rulers, but none can deny the fact that she was a capable ruler, perhaps one of the finest of her time. Her political progeny has only increased down the years in the garb of women who have taken up the political reins in different countries. In a poll conducted Hilary Clinton is said to have outbeaten President Barack Obama at one point. Indian History cannot be complete without the mention of Mrs. Indira Gandhi who was titled (and rightly so) as the ‘Only Man in the Cabinet.’ She once stated, ‘You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.’ She lived up to her words when she took the courageous decision of declaring a National Emergency in the country, a decision not many of her fellow politicians were comfortable with. However, this remark is not meant to demean the consistent efforts of her fellow – members. It is a subtle reminder that a woman’s determination can if need be change the face of the political system. Angela Merkel the Chancellor of Germany proved her mettle in the political field becoming only the second after another important lady politician Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) to chair the G8 summit in 2007. Christine Lagarde too made her mark becoming the first woman to head the IMF. No description of International politics is complete without the mention of one of the longest surviving female rulers the ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth who has effectively ruled her country for the past few decades. COuntless others have left an impression in different fields.

WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Another outstanding contribution from the now ‘stronger’ sex is seen in the world of business. Women Entrepreneurs are fast picking up pace. Although women face a lot of constraints in terms of lack of family support or at times battling the male ego, a sense of awareness has led them to make the right decisions. A lot of women today are taking over the businesses of their families in India especially. Roshni Nadar, the daughter of the leading business tycoon and the current director of HCL Corporation in India is probably the best example of young women taking over the business world. Many have begun small scale industries. Being the more fashionable of the sexes, the leading ladies today find it easier to attract a lot of potential customers with their knowledge of style thus benefiting the World of Fashion. In fact it is even said that introduction of more women in the world of business could lead to a rapid growth in the economic health of the country. V. Cheryl Womack heads ‘Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World’ a non profit organization established to identify and encourage talented women entrepreneurs in the world. Till now they have successfully aided many such entrepreneurs to start their individual businesses.

SOCIAL STATUS: CHANGING TIMES

The social domain can never be complete without the presence of the fairer sex. Diane Mariechild described a woman’s presence in just one sentence, ‘A woman is the full circle, within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.’

Society has agonized women and healed injured hearts. Society has been responsible for the downfall and the upliftment of women. The reason is, that this Society is made of people who have been oppressed and people who bear this oppression. In the past women were toyed around with. Their status was designated as one of child bearing and child rearing. It was quite effectively forgotten that the same woman who nurtured the child was ultimately reduced to a footstool. What is shocking is that, inspite of being the first teachers to their children the very same mothers were treated as mere unpaid baby- sitters. Women were considered too dumb to write and were forced to assume pen- names that were pre-dominantly male; George Eliot being the most famous of them all. Although these harsh realities may seem unpleasant to the readers, truth is always a bitter pill. Does a woman do nothing but submit, then?

We must be grateful that despite the grievous errors committed, it was this very society which gave a chance for women to get a fair chance to prove their mettle.

From the sorry and pathetic lives of unpaid house- maids, society now recognized these women for the talent that they exhibited. Society gave those willing to challenge this male- dominated world the opportunity to assert their individuality. This is the basic and most pre- dominant reason that Feminist movements sprung up in various parts of the world. Be it Literature or arts, women fiercely propagated their need to rise out of the ashes of sub- ordinance and inferiority. All those passionate about this cause began to stand up for their right forcing philosophers, thinkers, scholars and above all the common man to reason out for themselves if it was in fact the right thing to do. Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ was one of the plays that showcased a woman’s need to be independent. A woman was not to be thought of as a co- dependent but an active participant in all life’s struggles. A literary awakening not only enlightened the rich upper class but also dismissed the wanton fears regarding a woman’s integrity being at stake. The upcoming bourgeoise or the neo- rich class thought it right for their daughters and wives to share in their burdens equally. Today, we have stable families where both spouses are bread- earners and the family is running smoothly.

SHOULD WOMEN WORK?

A common cause for concern that has always arisen is regarding working mothers. Many orthodox countries around the world believe that the essence of a woman is reflected in the upbringing of the children. The question posed is that if a lady spends the most of her day working, when will she get the time to even have a relaxed conversation with her children or for that matter will her children ever grow up to be responsible individuals? Whom then should a woman choose?

Choices are but limitations. It is not mandatory that in life we can only choose to fulfill certain tasks and in the bargain lose your identity. It does take a little soul- searching on one’s part to make the right decisions. For this purpose it is important that a woman must understand her own priorities in life before stepping out to work. Many women today take a break from work till their children attain an age of understanding. Similarly there are women today who also operate from their homes. Some mothers schedule their lives so wonderfully that their children do not feel aloof or left out. Family dinners and lunches help in family bonding. Vacations from time to time allow the parent- child relationship to further develop thus giving the entire family to understand each other and develop. Virginia Satir inspires all mothers to carry their burden with a smile with the words, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival, we need 8 hugs a day for maintenance and we need 12 hugs a day for growth!”

How wonderful to be a mother and feel complete as an individual.

WOMEN TODAY

If you read the book ‘Let Me Be a Woman’ by Elisabeth Eliot, one can understand exactly what it is to be a woman, to think like a sensible woman and to execute decisions in life as a smart woman. A few days ago, we were discussing about employing a young girl who is suffering with cerebral palsy at my new workplace. Despite her handicap she has successfully completed her graduation. Though her feat is commendable the fact remains that she is bright but jobless. My employer decided that she would give her the job and make her feel that her education and her hardwork are paying her. The benevolence that my boss showed while deciding to employ the girl indeed touched me and I feel proud of working at the institute.

Women have reached the zenith of success today in the fields of Science, Medicine, Space Research, Law, Defense and Civil Services and so on. Women are even given free primary education and financial aid in terms of scholarships, fellowships and easy access loans are also being provided to them.

ORGANISATIONS AIDING WOMEN

Various institutions like the National women’s Business Council, the International Alliance for women and Centre for Women and Information technology have been set up in the United States of America for promoting business women. Self- employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is an important organization in India for the same. The motto of these institutions is, ‘Empowering women in an insecure world.’

Other institutions that champion women’s rights to be liberated from domestic violence include Stree Mukti Sanghatna, Association for women’s right in development, the MADRE, etc. These organizations have freed thousands of women from mental harassment, physical and domestic violence and have also ensured that the affected are recuperating so that they are fit for turning a new leaf in their lives. The United Nations formed its Commission on the Status of Women in 1946 in order to monitor the treatment of women and promote women’s rights on a global level.

CONCLUSION

Ensuring women’s empowerment is today a global issue. It must not be taken lightly. Gender inequality or gender bias must be actively discouraged. There are no superiors or inferiors in this world of ours. It must be considered a privilege to be able to work with different people from different caste, creed, race or sex. We must accept the fact that in many areas of life men will remain ahead , but there exist domains where women have proved that they can withstand the test of time equally well.

As I started with a quote, so will I end in the words of Washington Irving the famous American writer: “There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.”

REFERENCES:

Indian Society and Social Institutions by H.R. Mukhi

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Eliot

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/women

http://www.enterweb.org/women.htm

HOW FREE ARE YOU?

Reflections of a young adult on the susceptible position of a subverted concept

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high….…Into ever-widening thought and action, Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”

- Rabindranath Tagore

I belong to a country that is currently sixty-three years young, but, when I look around me, the thoughts that are ricocheted seem centuries old. This paradox called India is a paradigm of ancient dogmas intermittently arrayed with a sense of an artificial modernity. Maybe, this is the reason we still revel in dynastic politics while wriggling simultaneously in despair to free ourselves from the clutches of poverty and indifference.

The question that arises in my mind is, ‘How free am I?’

Keeping the facts in mind, my attempt in this essay is to emphasise on the need to wipe out the diffidence of the youth towards the country and encourage them to assume responsibility as ‘Architects of the Future.’

This essay will serve as an exposé on the issue at hand ‘How Free are you?’ by highlighting four important themes:

Part one focuses on ‘Civil Society as a primeval need of Modern Man.’ The following section, will deal with the ‘Idea called Freedom’. The third part elucidates the Role of Freedom in a Democratic society and its gross manipulation in various fields under ‘Freedom: A Democratic Sham.’ The final section, ‘I can be Free: The Audacity of Hope’ will counter these problems with a simple seven- step workable youth program supplemented by comments by Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai.

Civil Society: The Primeval need of Modern Man

As we deliberate on the various periods of history, we study the progress of Man from being an absolute nomad to a social animal that cannot thrive in isolation. It is from this need for social contact that the first civilisation emanated and today continues to flourish. ^[2]

The case, however, seems to have changed drastically over the years. Given the current deplorable scenario on the political front and the dismal display of the hunger for power and money, I am forced to recall and re- think if Lao Tzu was right when he stated,

“Exterminate the sage [the ruler] and discard the wisdom [of rule], and the people will benefit a hundredfold”^[3]

As I contemplate on the issue at hand, reality strikes hard and I am faced with the quintessential question: ‘What have I done to secure my freedom?’ The issue at hand today is one that we all as responsible citizens should be vigilant about. As a young adult, I am faced with innumerable questions on the economic, political and social health of the Motherland I love.

A major determinant is the perception of man that works on two levels: individual and social. Man primarily seeks to serve an individual purpose first, fulfil his self- interest and then if he finds it in his interest he looks to the benefit of mankind.^[4] This gives rise to the involvement of the common man or colloquially the ‘Aam Admi’ who must rise above all and perform his civic duties as pre- determined by the supreme law of the land, The Constitution of India. The law bestows a certain amount of authority to elected representatives of the people. Here, it is imperative to note what an Indian strategic analyst pointed out regarding the difference between ‘power’ and ‘influence.’ He said that a country may earn its title as a superpower but if its influence is on the wane it is in need for active coalition-building.^[5] We are forced to ask ourselves, ‘To whom do we owe our solidarity? Is it to the country, a political party comprising of flawed human beings much like ourselves or something greater?’

Freedom: An Idea or a Practice?

If we are to study the question posed in the previous section, we must first deal with the idea called ‘Freedom.’ This concept may be best defined in the words of Bertrand Russell who said, “Freedom in general may be defined as the absence of obstacles to the realization of desires.” This means that there is no scope for any sporadic hurdles if we want to consider ourselves free. Now, a concept remains so until it is put in practice but, here it is that we confront the naked truth. Although, India won her Independence at the stroke of the midnight hour on the night of 15^th August, 1947, she attained a limited ‘paper- freedom.’ This is because the lust for power was overwhelming to the sons of the soil. The fact that pristine politicians like Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel and others existed cannot undermine the reality that corruption exhibited its ugly countenance through the lower rungs.

Today, India features in the ‘Top 100’ list in terms of Corruption. On reading this statement you and I are now forced to cogitate on the more important point, ‘When we talk of realisation of desires, whose desires are we talking about?’ The ancient Latin Proverb, ‘Optima corrupta pessima’[6] comes to mind.

Freedom: A Democratic Sham!

We have already seen the role that Freedom should play in the logical sense. Now, we will deal with the Reflections of Freedom in the modern day scenario. The Commonwealth Games scandal and the 2G Spectrum Scam will go down in History as the darkest period of Indian Democracy. All our achievements of this period have been overshadowed by the incessant need for supremacy. It is now a distant dream for anyone to wake up one morning and read a newspaper headline that is free from the scar of another politician’s wayward ways. The immediate effect of this permanent blot on the political circle has evidently affected the economic sphere as well. Foreign investors are questioning the credibility of the country. Research shows that India is to take a severe hit financially in 2011-2012 as a result of the dent on the country’s reputation.^[7] Stagnation on the economic front will further widen the Great Economic Divide that is prevalent in India.

We call ourselves a Pluralist democracy that has transcended the most important barriers of religion and language. The point however is that it is not enough to only show unanimity on the outset and not make the best use of the opportunities that society has to offer in the service of the country.

It is rightly stated, “Poverty and prosperity are not matters of land. Poverty or riches or personal satisfaction depend on man, on his culture and on his political arrangements. Understand that and you will understand the most important cause of wealth deprivation.”^[8] It is shameful to note that in a country with 1.21 billion people we are struggling with a whopping 41.6% below the International poverty line.^[9] Sauvik Chakravarti summed up the entire situation in a simple statement encumbered in Truth. He said, “We as a nation have been woefully ignorant for far too long.”^[10]

In the political and economic spheres of our country we need to focus on the issue of collective planning that needs to be complemented by political consciousness for it to work in favour of the Aam Admi. Ultimately, the members of the Government are very much answerable for their actions to the people who elected them. The recent 2G Spectrum Scam brought to the forefront the issue of corruption at the highest levels of the political hierarchy. No one man can be held responsible for what happened. It was the callousness on the part of all those concerned to maintain a check on the working of the Telecom industry. As if that wasn’t enough, the Commonwealth Games Scandal took the cherry, the icing and the whole cake! In fact, a popular comment doing the rounds these days is that the oncoming monsoon session of the Parliament may just have to shift to Tihar! It is when I read statements like these from the naïve youth who call themselves the ‘Future of India,’ I realise we need to work our way out of this disgraceful situation. The Youth of today are slowly losing their faith in the workability of a Democracy in the country. Before we can concentrate our attention towards finding plausible solutions for this problem, we need to focus on other difficulties that are leading to social dispiritedness.

The Government of India recently passed a bill in favour of a thirty- three per cent reservation for women. However, this has failed to make a compelling impact on the majority. The reason I do not support any form of Reservation is because it gives rise to a hackneyed society. We all would prefer to have a healthy competition, rather than show unwelcome pity to a deserving female candidate whose potential may never be recognised because she falls under a category called ‘Reserved.’ The age- old myth of Reservation becoming some sort of status symbol is definitely a farce. The lesser we believe in it the better will be our future. A similar problem is faced by deserving students who lose their seats because of reservation.

A glaring issue when we talk of Freedom is the issue of Economic Growth. As I peruse the newspapers each day, I am apprehensive about the catharsis of the Economic Crisis. Edward Wilson once stated, “We are the first species in the history of life to go out of control on a global scale.” Although the statement may seem astounding, the truth in it cannot be undermined.

The major pillar of a glowing Democracy is its Free Media. In fact one of the first propagators of a Free Press, John Milton has given the essence of Truth in media in his essay Areopagitica, “Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter.”

Today, the media it seems has succumbed to the indomitable power of money. The integrity of the media is at stake especially because it has now engrossed in the trivial. This is a matter of serious concern and so it is essential that both the Print and Broadcast forms of communication must be scrutinised. I do not believe in ‘Media- gagging’ but I am in favour of a positive restraint. Given the corruption that is rife even in the Media today, Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai shared his views on the Responsibility of a Free Media and Student Participation. He wrote,

“I think the quality of the news will improve when we invest greater time and effort in content generation. News can be fast food only up to a point. The prime responsibility of the media is to report the news as they see it without any personal agendas influencing it. I wish the student community would get more passionate about public life, and their attention span should not be fleeting. There is more to news than a 140 character tweet! Explore the complexities of news, look for shades of grey, and not black and white descriptions. [11]”

I can be Free: The Audacity of Hope

Since we have studied the major issues that affect the Indian political system we realise the reasons that young people are soaked in political indifference. The need of the hour is to find a solution to the impending problems rather than fall prey to worthless Criticism.

Lord Byron once remarked, “Nothing is as difficult as the beginning.” So, keeping in mind the various problems that our country faces, here is a simple Seven- Step Program recommended in order to have a substantial increase in the percentage of youth participation in the country.

1. Introduce Day Training programs, workshops for the Youth to broaden their views about Politics.

2. Political Counseling and setting up of Political Engages at regular intervals throughout the year and not only at the time of elections. Make the Youth believe in their leaders!

3. Induction of young Turks in the Indian Parliament.

4. The use of various media like Twitter and Facebook to connect with the people. Excellent examples include, Mr. Kevin Rudd, former Australian PM, Omar Abdullah CM of Kashmir and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Former Under- Secretary General to the UN and currently a prominent Member of Parliament in India. All these popular international personalities have created a virtual platform for Political Accountability apart from connecting remarkably well with the young minds!

5. Establishing schools that work for an overall development of the student and imparts not only secular and cultural values but also a greater degree of civil consciousness.

6. Each political party must include Youth Participation compulsorily in their Party Manifesto and recruit committed young people in the cadre.

7. Finally, establishment of schools specializing solely in the field of Politics and Governance like the MIT- School of Governance in Pune would be a welcome relief.

With the hope that this essay has fulfilled its task of elucidating upon the current trends of Political Apathy in the Youth in the context of a free society, I conclude in the optimistic words of Dr. Shashi Tharoor,

“The only answer is to get involved! Young people must know they should not be indifferent to politics because it determines their opportunities in so many ways. We all get the political leaders we deserve, so if we stay apathetic we allow others to decide for us who makes the policies that shape our futures...”^[12]

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Being Democratic

A youth member’s take on Corruption and the Current Political scenario.

The current political scenario has finally got me to a vantage point. Years ago, during the Emergency my dad as a youngster wrote an article entitled, ‘The Rape of Judiciary’ sensing the urgency of the situation. Today as I watch the Parliament proceedings and the current political scenario I feel a sense of Emergency and hence this blog...

I am a member of the Youth Community who is silently witnessing a Protest that is being termed as a ‘Second- Freedom Struggle.’ This Struggle is against Corruption. Now, before any of you readers get the wrong impression that I am supporting any one faction, I am not. What I am doing is adding a little Reason to both sides. A humble request to all those who read this blog: Please keep your mind free from any clout or bias to understand what I have written. I respect your point of view, I hope you do too.

To begin with…..

Who are Members of Parliament?

Constitutionally, a Member of Parliament is an elected representative of the people representing the hopes and aspirations as well as the miseries and the problems of the people.

What have I witnessed in the last few days and months?

All that has happened in the last few weeks is that Members of Parliament are being Insulted, Abused and De- graded and for what? For ‘Representing’ us! I agree, you are frustrated and at a near breaking point but, abusing the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Finance Minister on public forums is not the solution. I have heard the nastiest things being talked about these distinguished members of society. They are international figures who have been applauded for their efforts at National and International levels. Just for starters, apart from many other things, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Salman Khurshid, Mr. Praful Patel, Mr.P.Chidambaram, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Mr. Manish Tewary or for that matter the Opposition leaders like Arun Jaitley are in this Parliament not as opportunists but they are there to get a substantial amount of work done. They have a passion to serve society.Now, this may bring out the cynic in you and you may now come up with a list of names of corrupt politicians, but do we sacrifice every pristine politician at the same altar as those who are tainted? Each of them and many others (It would take couple of pages just naming all of them) is trying to make your voice heard too. You and I can sit in the luxury of our homes and tweet and rave and rant about the ‘Corruption’ in society or we can show our solidarity by firstly respecting the Members of Parliament who are trying to make sure we don’t face problems and not allowing these corrupt elements to thrive in society.

So, what is the Lokpal?

It was decided by the Members of Parliament that in the greater interest of the Society certain measures were needed to be taken to curb the corruption and it was to ensure that common man would be able to report the malfunctioning of various government bodies and various government officials so that this wanton bribery and corruption could be curbed effectively. The problems arose when the Lokpal was branded as ineffective and incompetent to serve the aforesaid purpose.

The Lokpal Debate:

When the Parliament decided to table the Lokpal bill, there was a huge uproar. A slim petite figure, a former war veteran realised that he had to stop this supposedly 'weak' bill. Backed by a few other prominent members of society and a belligerent media, a parallel bill was instituted to serve the purpose. Differences arose in both factions and this soul called Mr. Anna Hazare is on a fast unto death that has today entered its second week. This group of early risers against corruption christened itself as the ‘Civil Society’. They represented the aspirations of the people. The question then arose, “Why do we elect Members of Parliament?”

What I Support:

Like you, I believe that we DEFINITELY require a strong Anti- Corruption law that will address all aspects of this growing cancer. It is necessary that we all come together and have a good law. No one appreciates a well drafted law more than a student of Law. The intention of Mr. Hazare is much appreciated and so are the Government’s efforts towards the same.

What I am against:

I am against those who are ‘Losing faith’ in the Supreme Legislating body. Most of the people I had this discussion with said, “No, the Parliament is taking too long to pass the Bill, stringent action must be taken.” If you think rationally, every aspect and every clause of a Bill in the Parliament needs to be carefully deliberated upon before it becomes a law. After all even Jefferson said, Delay is preferable to error. I still recall the golden words of an eminent legal personality of our country Mr. Ram Jethmalani who said, “Justice hurried, is Justice buried.” If the law is made in haste, we are sure to pick out more lacunas once this bill is passed. Time is of the essence, but sometimes we need cynicism to take a backseat and allow the Parliament to make decisions for us. After all it’s a simple analogy; you elected the Member of Parliament, now show some faith! If you trusted them all this while why not a few more weeks? One person can be wrong two, even three but a Parliament of 552 Lok Sabha members + 250 members of the Rajya Sabha cannot be corrupt, wrong and unworthy of office! At the same time, this does not discount the fact that like you, I am also against the Parliament being adjourned three times a day with no substantive work getting done.

There’s always room at the top if we all put our minds together rather than obstinately stand against each other, because of foolish pride.

Protests by screaming slogans that are against the Government are never going to do any good.

But, I am a student, Protest is the best I can do:

Wrong! You can do a lot more than shout out in the middle of the square that you are against Corruption. You are up in arms against the unknown devil. You need to treat your country with dignity. Will sacrificing a day at college bring corruption to an end? No! If you feel so passionately about this problem, do what the country expects of you today. Study hard, get into the services and ensure that you do not encourage bribery or any other form of corruption. You will have done your bit for your nation. Stop paying that extra buck, start becoming an aware citizen, spread the awareness and make sure you get heard. If your still unhappy make sure you chose rightly the next time around. Hurting yourself or hurting another fellow Indian’s reputation and dignity is no answer to this grave issue.

I appreciate every citizen’s need for a Corruption- free society but lets’ not have Opportunists blowing things out of proportion. Each one of us has faced and is facing various effects of an unethical part of society. Let’s not delve into the minor and trivialise such an important issue. Let us all stand against corruption without holding our Democracy at ransom. Let us show some faith in those whom we elected to make the right decision. Let us all be a little more Reasonable.

Having said that, I rest my case!

*Views and Opinions expressed by the writer are personal.

CAN I BECOME A POLITICIAN?

Dispelling political myths for young Political Aspirants!

I belong to a country that is 65 years young and in a month’s time ‘She’ will celebrate her 66th birthday. But, something saddens me deeply. My country is home to one-sixth of the entire world’s population, but is still struggling to get her young sons and daughters to work for her.

Politics in India is said to be confined to a few influential families; but, what happens when when we do not want to contribute to our country for fear of being branded. Can we then blame those who are willing to take up responsibility for us? Politics is known to have taken people to the zenith of a successful career while others have unwillingly become scapegoats. With this background the quintessential question remains, “Should I consider taking Politics as a profession?”

The aim of this blogpost is only to dispel the myths that most youngsters face and erase the cynicism leading to indecision and finally political apathy. With a hope that I can make a slight Attitudinal difference, I have addressed a few questions on the scope of aspiring young Indians willing to take the lead in re- defining India, a country, richly blessed with a rich history, heritage and culture!

Do I really need to be the daughter/son of a politician to be a successful politician?

This is perhaps the first question that most of the sons and daughters of young India ask. The answer is NO! You do not need to hail from a politically affluent family to be a politico. In fact there are very many politicians from our own Indian Political system who do not belong to influential political families. Prominent names include, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Mamata Banerjee, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyyar, Arun Jaitley and many others.

Prominent Political families rule the country. Do I stand a chance?

We do not want a family to rule the country, but what happens when we willingly abdicate our responsibility from contributing to the social welfare of the country. Why do we aspire to stay away from politics and then question the policies that are made by like-minded thinking individuals? So am I an idealist? No, far from it! I’d rather be a pragmatist and review both sides of the coin. My belief takes refuge in Arnold Glasgow’s famous lines, “An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.” If the son or daughter of a prominent politician is willing to make a difference to lives and in doing so positively influence young minds, why shouldn’t he/she do so? That does not mean that children of non- political families will never get the support of the masses. The people want a politician they can connect with, one who sympathises and empathises with them, not one with influence, power or money!

I am considering taking up politics, does my Age count?

Age can never be an impediment for anyone genuinely wanting to serve his motherland. Your morals, your goals are probably what will define who you are. Implementation of your promises to the masses is the key to being a good Politician!

But what about getting branded as ‘corrupt’ and a ‘cheat’?

For all those who ask this question, I would like you to re- consider other professions. As examples, I have just added a few prominent ones. You may find these argots attributed to the following professions. At least these are some I have heard of.

Lawyers are liars!

Diplomats, smooth liars!

Doctors are butchers!

And the much hallowed Teaching profession too has borne the brunt of similar jargon. Is there any truth to these statements? NO! So does that stop one from taking up these professions? Again, No! Because the simple fact remains that despite all odds our country has the distinction of producing the finest lawyers, doctors and diplomats that the world looks up to! A few rotten apples in the Political System cannot and should not over- shadow or undermine the virtues of the rest.

Christy Romano once wrote, “And after I make a lot of money, I'll be able to afford running for office” Times have changed though and the youth wings of most parties are considering the induction of newbies who are interested in the welfare of the country and are willing to devote their quality time in the service of the nation. Many a time the political parties too help you out to stand for elections.

But, India is a multi- party State. Whom should I represent?

This is a question that every new entrant should give a careful thought before entering the political foray. Floor- crossing never holds good with the masses. With the mushrooming of political parties in every State and city, it tends to become a little confusing for any political aspirant to choose his path. A simple step one, is to read up on the Party policy and see which ideologies bear similarities to your own.

Finally, the most interesting and perhaps the most defining question of them all;

Am I eligible to be a Politician?

Yes, if you have a willingness to work for your country, principles that you ‘Believe’ in and the support of your electorate, you may not become a very rich politician but you will most definitely be a Loved Respected and admired Politician. The Choice is Yours!

This Blogpost is dedicated to the Indian Politician who changed my view towards Politics for the better:

Dr. Shashi Tharoor : An Inspiration to Youngsters across the Globe!

Telephone to Glory!

Faith Re-visited

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…

Are you in the depths of despair or having a List of Unanswered Prayers? Then this little piece is for you. The reason you’ve just experienced all these emotions is because you forgot the most important and perhaps the most beautiful gift that God has endowed you, “The Power of Prayer.”

The Bible says, “Ask and ye shall receive.” The life of Jesus was crowded with labor and responsibility; yet how often He was found in prayer. If you compare all the other Scriptures you will find this thought resonant in other religions as well.

Prayer is an affirmation that you have done your best and you need to trust God to help you. How many times do we ‘Thank’ God for keeping us safe through the night? How many times do we thank Him for the people who share our joys and sorrows; our loved ones? Remember, your trial is a gentle reminder that God is waiting to get in touch with you, He’s waiting for you to invoke His guidance. If you need God, you have to call on Him. You cannot expect a miracle if you do not have the faith. I have heard people young and old alike confess that they do not want to pray because they do not feel connected. What they fail to realise is that the discord is the direct result of their unwillingness to share their trouble with God the Father. God never turns down a prayer. He may not always say, ‘Yes!’ But whatever he does for you is always for the ‘Best!’

Prayer is a manifestation of your compassion, your faith. No matter how high an ambition you achieve or how low you may fall, God is with you both at the zenith and at the nadir. Faith is the only thing constant in your life. You may have the power, the money the control today, not always. Prayer is the cheapest mode of communication but unfortunately the least used in today’s fast paced world.

We have all the time to surf the internet, tweet from our cell-phones, chat with friends, study, and work and hang out. Minimal time is spent in talking to God. Prayer is nothing but a form of self- expression. It teaches us, comforts us and grants us the much needed peace of mind.

Prayer is letting go of all the emotions pent up for so long within us. Most of us remember to pray when we are desperate for something to work out in our favour, but the more important point is why do we fail to Thank Him once we received it? Why is He the last person on our mind then? The most fascinating thing about our Maker is that He is willing to welcome you with open arms despite our ungrateful hearts.

Since we shy away from God, isn’t it logical to deduce He should turn away from us too? But, that is exactly one situation none of us will ever face. God never turns away. His eyes are ever- watchful!

Someone is watching over you because someone is praying for you. I hope that you never forget that. Don’t wait for an invitation to pray, talk to Him as a Friend. You will be pleasantly surprised how all the complexities in your life untangle without your aid.

If you have been praying for something too hard and it just isn’t happening, check again. Are your expectations and your prayer likely to cause harm or are your aims not in sync with God’s expectations.

Finally, never be time- bound to pray. Use your time, even if it’s a few minutes you can grab on your way to work, college, school to just share with God your hopes, desires, problems and disparities.

So, Stop Complaining, Start Praying! The answer is right at your door!

You can find Peace in the midst of the Storm!

For my Mentor on the occasion of Guru Poornima!

Dear Mentor

On the occasion of Guru Poornima here’s a short and simple message to tell you why you are admired,

Your countenance reflects Optimism

Your pleasant demeanour, Hopefulness

Your Attitude teaches us how to fight the good fight,

Your Determination is your gift,

Your efforts, Inspire us to be better than we are

Your Humility defines you……

So,

It is time for us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.

All in all, you are a Blessing because you touch lives of others in more ways than one

With a hope that God abounds you with infinite grace that you continue to touch more young lives,

Warm Regards and Best Wishes

Katie

THE NEED TO RE-STRUCTURE THE INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM!

As the daughter of an educationist, I find it hard to believe that the Education system that we follow today is hardly making the impact that it should. In fact when I talk to my dad, I realise that a lot of what is being taught in the colleges, he studied in school.

So, are the students today slower than the earlier generations or is it something more? Why are we, the largest democracy of the world in need of re-vamping the system? Why do we face a brain drain in our country?

Mrs.Ellen.G.White in her book Counsels to Teachers has written, “It is when the intellectual and spiritual power are combined that the highest standard of manhood is attained.

The aim of every educational institution is to re-in force a child’s skills, sharpen his mind and boost the student’s morale. However, education today has lost its meaning. It is now confined to late night projects, tiresome assignments.

History teaches us that in the past students stayed with their teacher in what was called a ‘GURUKUL’. Here a student developed a love for learning, picked up good activity and academic skills and learned the dignity of labour, thus making him an all-rounder.

Today most people are qualified, not educated because knowledge is not measured in terms of marks on the mark sheets at the end of the year, it is the understanding that we earn for a lifetime that matters as it is rightly said Experience is the Mother of wisdom.

Most people blame the poor qualification of the higher ups at the State level for ruining the system. But, that isn't the whole truth because when Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Mr. Alan Johnson a school drop out as the higher education minister he fulfilled his task with a lot of efforts. Why then is it so difficult for us to have a refined education system especially when we have some of the finest Teachers and Educationists? What is the Missing Link?

Lord Byron remarked, “Nothing is so difficult as the beginning!” It is thus necessary to address the root cause of this issue. Any educational system comprises of 3 essential components:

1. Students without whom the need for teaching would not have arisen

2. Teachers who are the our guiding light on the path of knowledge

.3 Parents without whose support and encouragement a child’s growth is stunted.

As students ourselves have we ever stopped to think why today most of us are buried in books while others are indulged in sports and extra-curricular activities? Why are we unable to procure a balance between the two?

One of the reasons for a student’s lack of interest may lie in the overuse of assignments. Assignments aim at cultivating creative writing and thinking because what matters is the process of thinking and not just getting the right answers. Hence care must be taken that assignments must be given to a certain limit. Textbooks also must aim at giving an insight into a particular topic so it becomes easy for child to focus on the subject.

Apart from the flaws in the technicalities of the learning process, we must not forget that ‘The hand that rocks the Cradle rules the world’, so Parental involvement is crucial in the development of a child and teachers must not be expected to fulfill this duty. At the same time it is not to be forgotten that teachers who are blessed with a pleasant well balanced disposition will prove a great benefit to the students. If teachers aim at simplicity and effectiveness the explanations would be far more plain and clear. It is necessary to inculcate in the students a need to learn to search for knowledge, rather than spoon- feed them with ready notes and guides.

If we really wish to see our youth educated and knowledgeable intellects, the need of the hour is to make the students to love their books rather than detest them! For this, rote learning must be actively discouraged.

Last, but definitely not the least we cannot undermine the fact that students too must contribute to the system by active participation not only in the classroom but debating activities, extra-curricular and cultural activities!

If these simple steps are followed by each institute, we can hope to host an institute better than an 'Oxford' in our country in the near future!