Why is being a Dalit a curse?
Why they don't deserve the right to lead their
lives with dignity? Why are they humiliated even after sixty years of independence? Why are we not ashamed of ourselves for denying our fellow Indians the right to equality?
A Dalit woman and her daughter were stripped and beaten up by the upper caste people in Ajmer. What was the crime for which the two women had to suffer such
gross humiliation in front of the entire village? The only mistake that was on their part was the mother resented some upper caste people from taking away her sixteen year old daughter forcibly. A resentment which infuriated the upper caste people to the infinite extent of stripping the two helpless women in front of the entire public.
The question that arises in my mind is that does belonging to a higher caste grant you the right to perpetrate such ghastly acts against the lower castes.
If you are born as a Dalit then what is your fault? When God considers every human to be equal who are we to create boundaries based on caste. What is this kind of dharma that rips off the humanity present in us and makes us ill treat our fellow beings and creates a monster out of us.
I don't understand this caste system. I don't understand
why this system should get the right to create inequalities, sufferings and miseries.
Laws are there in the constitution to protect the Dalits. But it is only for namesake. Dalits are always ill treated, sometimes it gets noticed and sometimes it doesn't. Politicians derive political mileage out of the incidents, convince the Dalits that they will get justice, gain votes
and then forget the promises made.
This malaise of caste system is so deeply rooted in our psyche that we refuse to come out of it. But one thing we forget is that India will never be completely free until every individual in this country is free, equal and secure.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
American president George Bush's remark that India is responsible for the existing food crisis proves that how ill-informed is America about the situation in India and how easy it is for them to blame us for the price rise.
Bush commented that the Indian middle class has started to gain wealth and when you gain wealth you start demanding better food and better nutrition and when demand is higher the prices go up and as Indian middle class population is about 350 million which is larger than the American population India is responsible for the ongoing global food crisis.
Some may term this as a good observation statistically, but one doubt persists in my mind. Why is America getting worried when Indians are demanding for better nutrition. Statistically a large portion of India's population is suffering from malnutrition. People do not get enough two square meal per day to feed themselves. The middle class is feeling the pain of price rise as financially they are not that prepared to handle daily rises in the basic commodities. India's major portion lies in the rural belt where people do not have enough money to feed themselves. Farmers are committing suicides. According to United Nations India is among the countries where a majority of the children are suffering from the problem of malnutrition. Poverty is a problem that has been lurking as a bug in India for the past decades.
So now when India is slowly making progress and people have started to gain wealth obviously they will demand food of better nutrition value. What do people work for? For money and what is money required for? To ensure that the family gets food and is not starving. When people in America do that Indian president never questions them but when people in India do that an American president feels that he has the very right to question us.
Being the super power does not give a country the right to interfere in every country's matter. The under developed and developing nations are trying to overcome the problems of poverty and malnutrition. What is the harm if the people of these countries are trying to earn and become financially stable. It is not that only developed nations have that right to do.
Regarding the price rise it is a global issue. Why blame the countries like India and China?
In many countries the production of grains has decreased due to droughts leading to price rises. The African and Asian countries are the ones who are feeling most of the heat of price rise. What is expected of the developed countries at this stage is to stop blaming the other countries and extend help in counter attacking this global crisis of inflation.
Bush commented that the Indian middle class has started to gain wealth and when you gain wealth you start demanding better food and better nutrition and when demand is higher the prices go up and as Indian middle class population is about 350 million which is larger than the American population India is responsible for the ongoing global food crisis.
Some may term this as a good observation statistically, but one doubt persists in my mind. Why is America getting worried when Indians are demanding for better nutrition. Statistically a large portion of India's population is suffering from malnutrition. People do not get enough two square meal per day to feed themselves. The middle class is feeling the pain of price rise as financially they are not that prepared to handle daily rises in the basic commodities. India's major portion lies in the rural belt where people do not have enough money to feed themselves. Farmers are committing suicides. According to United Nations India is among the countries where a majority of the children are suffering from the problem of malnutrition. Poverty is a problem that has been lurking as a bug in India for the past decades.
So now when India is slowly making progress and people have started to gain wealth obviously they will demand food of better nutrition value. What do people work for? For money and what is money required for? To ensure that the family gets food and is not starving. When people in America do that Indian president never questions them but when people in India do that an American president feels that he has the very right to question us.
Being the super power does not give a country the right to interfere in every country's matter. The under developed and developing nations are trying to overcome the problems of poverty and malnutrition. What is the harm if the people of these countries are trying to earn and become financially stable. It is not that only developed nations have that right to do.
Regarding the price rise it is a global issue. Why blame the countries like India and China?
In many countries the production of grains has decreased due to droughts leading to price rises. The African and Asian countries are the ones who are feeling most of the heat of price rise. What is expected of the developed countries at this stage is to stop blaming the other countries and extend help in counter attacking this global crisis of inflation.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sometimes words are not enough to express what we want, but at the same time a single picture
depicts what we desire. Observe this picture and tell what you think. Seeing this image the single thought that hits my mind is the desire to succeed. The wish to be on the top, to be the best, to win over all the odds, prove oneself in the worst situation is what the heart wants.
To rise over the failures, to climb the rocky terrains and finally reach the zenith and shout at the top of your volume telling the world "look i have done it" is the challenge that the mind is ready to accept. So what are we waiting for,lets get started for this Everest like journey called life which is all set to rock us.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
What to celebrate about?
Today we celebrate the 60th independence day of our country. A glorious day scripted in the history of our nation where we attained freedom from the subjugation of the British rule. We celebrate this day by remembering the people who made great sacrifices to see this nation free so that we the present generation can live breathing the air of freedom with full of self respect and dignity.
Their dream was to see India as a nation which is independent, democratic, secular, where no boundaries of caste, religion, rich or poor exist. A nation which is high on priniciples, moral values and ethics, a society free of corrupt practices, where the leaders selflessly work for the people was what they had envisioned. This vision sparkled in their eyes till their last breath.
But think have we done enough justice in converting this dream into a reality. What tribute are we paying to the people who sacrificed their lives just for the sake of our freedom. Today as a nation how proud do we feel about it? Well it is true that India is progressing. It is making a lot of name in the various sectors like IT, Telecommunications, Retail. It's economy is booming. Lifestyles are improving, spending power of the people is increasing. But does this logic extend to all the sections of our society. Answer is a definite no.
Development means not buliding big structures and starting to have a great lifestyle. Just look at our villages. They comprise about 70 percent of our country. How much attention do we give to them? How much efforts are invested in the
agriculture sector? We have a food and agriculture minister who is more concerned about a rival cricket association rather than the increasing number of suicides among the farmers. In the land of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan the son of the soil dies and no one is at all bothered. It is just read as another piece of news. Haan many people die and this is just another death, why bother about it. This is the typical thinking of we Indians. And this is what we must be proud of, isn't it?
In the name of development poor people are displaced from their homes, beaten by the police and if they oppose we label them as anti to the development process. Instead of giving them alternative option of equivalent compensation in terms of land or employment the government sends the police who like the terrorists without any hesitation don't even spare the women and children and what we educated people do. Just be blind to this situation, for development few people should be displaced, so why take it so seriously. So simple theory is it really? An outsider comes to your house, beats you up and tells that you cannot live in your home, appears very simple, so will we really apply the above theory and give up our house?
Women are progressing a lot. They are becoming presidents, ruling India, becoming CEOs. But are we really respecting them and giving them equal respect.
What respect for women why, this is what most of us think. They are still subjected to the horrific crimes of domestic violence, dowry, rape. Recently only a fashion designer was doused with acid and set to fire.Women get beaten up in their in-laws household just for dowry. What women now even the children are sexually assaulted just for fun and pleasure. Before a girl has come to the world the very right of birth is snatched away from her. And this is all happening in the land where people worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Even the Goddess will be ashamed to see such kind of people in our nation who are more worse than devils.
Satymave Jayate, are you saying this to me to follow, no way is what we Indians are. Right from the watchman to the minister we all are corrupt and as black as
the tar. It is urgent, it is necessary, please do it according to the rules are all listened from one ear and thrown out from the other. We are so and so's son, take the money and do the work, oh sure definitely sir is the instant reply you get. Students are getting late for exams, people are unable go to office, work has come to standstill, but for what. Oh a political party is taking out a dharna, traffic jam is obvious. Destruction of public property, burning of buses and law and order is out of hand. What is the police doing? They cannot take action after all they are servants of the political party and not the public. Then who will pay for the heavy
losses, oh don't worry, we the people will. After all our hard earned tax money is for what use. Fill up the losses, invest it in the birthday parties of the politicians. After all it is public's money, so what to worry about?
See what great people are we, aren't we? Oh no we have even more great persons in the list Who are they, oh the great villians of our country our politicians. They are supposed to be the servants of the people. What are you saying, they and servants, forget it? In planes and helicopters they will ride and
according to their wish they will land anywhere they want. They will take huge amount of money in terms of corruption, and say later it is because of the
funds of our party workers. They will play with people's religious beliefs and caste for vote bank politics. And we people blindly fall into their trap and fight among ourselves and result communal riots and caste fights,death of innocent people, blood everywhere. The terrorist who attacked the parliament and must be hanged, will be given a VIP treatment and the widows and families of the soldiers who without any
fear selflessly gave up their lives to save the motherland will be forgetten. This is the India we have invented and for that we must be given a nobel prize.
So on the eve of Independence day I am supposed to rejoice over these facts. What a waste was the sacrifice of the millions of brave people for heartless people like us. But still at the end it is we who can change it, well we have hope and lets hope that the situation changes. The least we can is to remember our freedom fighters and try to follow on their foot steps to build a better nation where there exists no evil and where everyone can really live without any fear.
Jai Hind.
Today we celebrate the 60th independence day of our country. A glorious day scripted in the history of our nation where we attained freedom from the subjugation of the British rule. We celebrate this day by remembering the people who made great sacrifices to see this nation free so that we the present generation can live breathing the air of freedom with full of self respect and dignity.
Their dream was to see India as a nation which is independent, democratic, secular, where no boundaries of caste, religion, rich or poor exist. A nation which is high on priniciples, moral values and ethics, a society free of corrupt practices, where the leaders selflessly work for the people was what they had envisioned. This vision sparkled in their eyes till their last breath.
But think have we done enough justice in converting this dream into a reality. What tribute are we paying to the people who sacrificed their lives just for the sake of our freedom. Today as a nation how proud do we feel about it? Well it is true that India is progressing. It is making a lot of name in the various sectors like IT, Telecommunications, Retail. It's economy is booming. Lifestyles are improving, spending power of the people is increasing. But does this logic extend to all the sections of our society. Answer is a definite no.
Development means not buliding big structures and starting to have a great lifestyle. Just look at our villages. They comprise about 70 percent of our country. How much attention do we give to them? How much efforts are invested in the
agriculture sector? We have a food and agriculture minister who is more concerned about a rival cricket association rather than the increasing number of suicides among the farmers. In the land of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan the son of the soil dies and no one is at all bothered. It is just read as another piece of news. Haan many people die and this is just another death, why bother about it. This is the typical thinking of we Indians. And this is what we must be proud of, isn't it?
In the name of development poor people are displaced from their homes, beaten by the police and if they oppose we label them as anti to the development process. Instead of giving them alternative option of equivalent compensation in terms of land or employment the government sends the police who like the terrorists without any hesitation don't even spare the women and children and what we educated people do. Just be blind to this situation, for development few people should be displaced, so why take it so seriously. So simple theory is it really? An outsider comes to your house, beats you up and tells that you cannot live in your home, appears very simple, so will we really apply the above theory and give up our house?
Women are progressing a lot. They are becoming presidents, ruling India, becoming CEOs. But are we really respecting them and giving them equal respect.
What respect for women why, this is what most of us think. They are still subjected to the horrific crimes of domestic violence, dowry, rape. Recently only a fashion designer was doused with acid and set to fire.Women get beaten up in their in-laws household just for dowry. What women now even the children are sexually assaulted just for fun and pleasure. Before a girl has come to the world the very right of birth is snatched away from her. And this is all happening in the land where people worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Even the Goddess will be ashamed to see such kind of people in our nation who are more worse than devils.
Satymave Jayate, are you saying this to me to follow, no way is what we Indians are. Right from the watchman to the minister we all are corrupt and as black as
the tar. It is urgent, it is necessary, please do it according to the rules are all listened from one ear and thrown out from the other. We are so and so's son, take the money and do the work, oh sure definitely sir is the instant reply you get. Students are getting late for exams, people are unable go to office, work has come to standstill, but for what. Oh a political party is taking out a dharna, traffic jam is obvious. Destruction of public property, burning of buses and law and order is out of hand. What is the police doing? They cannot take action after all they are servants of the political party and not the public. Then who will pay for the heavy
losses, oh don't worry, we the people will. After all our hard earned tax money is for what use. Fill up the losses, invest it in the birthday parties of the politicians. After all it is public's money, so what to worry about?
See what great people are we, aren't we? Oh no we have even more great persons in the list Who are they, oh the great villians of our country our politicians. They are supposed to be the servants of the people. What are you saying, they and servants, forget it? In planes and helicopters they will ride and
according to their wish they will land anywhere they want. They will take huge amount of money in terms of corruption, and say later it is because of the
funds of our party workers. They will play with people's religious beliefs and caste for vote bank politics. And we people blindly fall into their trap and fight among ourselves and result communal riots and caste fights,death of innocent people, blood everywhere. The terrorist who attacked the parliament and must be hanged, will be given a VIP treatment and the widows and families of the soldiers who without any
fear selflessly gave up their lives to save the motherland will be forgetten. This is the India we have invented and for that we must be given a nobel prize.
So on the eve of Independence day I am supposed to rejoice over these facts. What a waste was the sacrifice of the millions of brave people for heartless people like us. But still at the end it is we who can change it, well we have hope and lets hope that the situation changes. The least we can is to remember our freedom fighters and try to follow on their foot steps to build a better nation where there exists no evil and where everyone can really live without any fear.
Jai Hind.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Everyone Wants Reservation
A time was there when people were eager to climb up the so called higher levels of the society.
But as times change, things change. Now a time has come where every strata of the society want themselves to be labelled as a backward class for achieving that golden goose named reservation.
What happened recently in Rajasthan is a perfect example of this changing wind blowing across our nation. It presented us the ugly side of caste politics that threatens the very basic fabric of India's unity. This time the burning issue of caste has spilled over into violence, destruction of public property and loss of life. The demand of the Gurjars to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) has brought the Gurjars and Meenas into a dangerous conflict.
The Gurjars in Rajasthan, traditionally a shepard community are already listed in Backward class, but noticing the employment advantages and political power that ST like Meenas possess in Rajasthan, they have demanded ST status for their caste. The Meenas have opposed this fearing that their ST benefits have to be shared with the Gurjars. Then finally what's the result? The result is, the country witnessed one of the worst violent situations over the caste issue.
Now who is to blamed for this situation. Of course it is we the narrow minded people who go on giving caste prior importance in our lives. Well how can we forget our politicians who are the main trouble makers. The Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje while campaigning during the elections promised ST status to the Gurjar community as a political tactic to garner more votes and once in power forgot all about it. It is a well known fact that the state's role in giving ST status to a community is limited. It is a long process which requires center's participation as it involves a parliamentary amendment in the existing list. The Gurjars agitation must serve as a remainder to the greedy politicians that they must restrain themselves from making false promises to the people which they themselves cannot fulfill and above all that it is the people's responsibilty not to fall into this dirty trap of vote bank politics. We must make a sincere attempt in breaking the walls of caste and work together for the making of a united nation where a word like caste does not exist.
A time was there when people were eager to climb up the so called higher levels of the society.
But as times change, things change. Now a time has come where every strata of the society want themselves to be labelled as a backward class for achieving that golden goose named reservation.
What happened recently in Rajasthan is a perfect example of this changing wind blowing across our nation. It presented us the ugly side of caste politics that threatens the very basic fabric of India's unity. This time the burning issue of caste has spilled over into violence, destruction of public property and loss of life. The demand of the Gurjars to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) has brought the Gurjars and Meenas into a dangerous conflict.
The Gurjars in Rajasthan, traditionally a shepard community are already listed in Backward class, but noticing the employment advantages and political power that ST like Meenas possess in Rajasthan, they have demanded ST status for their caste. The Meenas have opposed this fearing that their ST benefits have to be shared with the Gurjars. Then finally what's the result? The result is, the country witnessed one of the worst violent situations over the caste issue.
Now who is to blamed for this situation. Of course it is we the narrow minded people who go on giving caste prior importance in our lives. Well how can we forget our politicians who are the main trouble makers. The Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje while campaigning during the elections promised ST status to the Gurjar community as a political tactic to garner more votes and once in power forgot all about it. It is a well known fact that the state's role in giving ST status to a community is limited. It is a long process which requires center's participation as it involves a parliamentary amendment in the existing list. The Gurjars agitation must serve as a remainder to the greedy politicians that they must restrain themselves from making false promises to the people which they themselves cannot fulfill and above all that it is the people's responsibilty not to fall into this dirty trap of vote bank politics. We must make a sincere attempt in breaking the walls of caste and work together for the making of a united nation where a word like caste does not exist.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Thoughts for the Mind
To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step - Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
They can because they think they can - Virgil.
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not - George Bernard shaw.
To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step - Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
They can because they think they can - Virgil.
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not - George Bernard shaw.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
The Invincible OnesCan you imagine a team claiming cricket world cup title three times in a row?Well the Aussies have made this imagination a reality.Here comes a team which challenges the rest of the world by a simple saying "Stop us if you can".Like a hungry tiger which is ready to pounce on its prey this team always manages to get the best out of themselves.With their brilliant strategy they succeed in making the opposition team look like a bunch of weak mortals.
To defeat such a team which symbolizes the fact that "The world is not enough for us" you will definitely require another team of equivalent caliber and team spirit. Only future can tell us whether any such team will be able to stop the Aussie Juggernaut and as far as the present is concerned it is the Aussies who are the Czars of the cricket world.
Monday, April 16, 2007
This weekend i happened to watch the movie Parzania a movie by Rahul Dholakia. The central theme of the movie was about a Parsi family who lost their seven year old son in the Gujarat riots.The movie depicts the human emotions at the best. The actors Nasseurdin Shah and Sarika are simply brilliant, one can say a lifetime performance.
This movie is a direct attack on the exisiting system which is decaying like a rotten tomato. This movie made me cry, make me think about the society in which we are living in. Is this the India our freedom fighters had dreamt of? Is this the India for whose independence millions of people had fought and laid down their lives?
What kind of nation is this where people place religion above their country? What kind of religion is this where humanity and peace do'nt find a place? Who gave us the authority to kill people in the name of God? Have we ever thought of the sufferings that the victims of communalism have underwent? How can someone in the name of religion kill someone, rape someone? Even God will be terrified at that thought.
What kind of system is this where common man is devoid of a protection over his head? What is this goverment and police which instead of protecting the innocent citizens like to watch the riots as if some tamasha is going on?
What kind of people are we who are willing to act as puppets in the hands of the communal forces? What kind of nation is this which refuses to learn the lesson from its past that is "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"?
These questions continue to revolve in my mind. But the answer to it lies in our soul, in our consciousness. Finally the onus is on us whether we want to be the child of Love or the child of Hatred.
This movie is a direct attack on the exisiting system which is decaying like a rotten tomato. This movie made me cry, make me think about the society in which we are living in. Is this the India our freedom fighters had dreamt of? Is this the India for whose independence millions of people had fought and laid down their lives?
What kind of nation is this where people place religion above their country? What kind of religion is this where humanity and peace do'nt find a place? Who gave us the authority to kill people in the name of God? Have we ever thought of the sufferings that the victims of communalism have underwent? How can someone in the name of religion kill someone, rape someone? Even God will be terrified at that thought.
What kind of system is this where common man is devoid of a protection over his head? What is this goverment and police which instead of protecting the innocent citizens like to watch the riots as if some tamasha is going on?
What kind of people are we who are willing to act as puppets in the hands of the communal forces? What kind of nation is this which refuses to learn the lesson from its past that is "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"?
These questions continue to revolve in my mind. But the answer to it lies in our soul, in our consciousness. Finally the onus is on us whether we want to be the child of Love or the child of Hatred.
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