Every Bite Counts!

It all started with the day I chose the topic of ‘Malnutrition’ for my newsletter as a part of my college curriculum. I started with finding out case studies and then, realised that this isn’t tough because almost every child living in the slums of Delhi is malnourished.

Delhi, being the capital of India, has seen many migrants from other states. These migrants seldom have roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Their children suffer the most because the crucial years of their lives are being ruined, because of negligible nutrition. These children lose the energy to play and run around, something which is very important in their formative years.

The children I met surely had the spark in their eyes. They were innocent and carefree, but what they lacked was the physical energy to live a child’s life. For no fault of theirs, they are born into families who are unable to fend for themselves. They grow up with poverty as their companion. With no outside intervention, they become individuals left with a tough life to look forward to.

The fact that every second child in India is malnourished, made me go for this topic as I wished to spread awareness among the urban folk. Innumerable schemes by the government have not helped reduce malnutrition.  Efforts by NGOs have not helped fully curb it. I recently saw this post on a social networking site which says, “The world’s hunger is getting ridiculous. There is more fruit in a rich man’s shampoo than in a poor man’s plate.” Well, this made me realise how irresponsible our society has become. When majority of our population is malnourished, we are nowhere to be seen as their caretakers. The society’s attitude has to change. It is not only the duty of the government or NGOs to take care of the malnourished population. We can do our duty by feeding at least one child every day.  Our pockets are not going to become empty. However, we can ensure our part in helping the nation. Because every bite counts.

For the newsletter, please check the following link:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/193271388/Lives-Ahead-Final

The Journey from December 16th!

I switched on the television on 17^th December, 2012, and saw that a girl was gangraped brutally inside a moving bus, in Delhi. She was earlier mentioned as a Delhi University student. As time went on, more brutal details were divulged and the nation was shocked and angered. The accused were caught, the rape survivor was given the best treatment (however, even the best doctors could not save her), her friend and family were given support, and people were out on the streets.

People of Delhi, wrongly known for their callousness, braved the harsh winter and ice-cold water from the hoses used by policemen, being fed up with politicians. The demand for justice for Nirbhaya turned into a larger debate. It brought out into the public forum the issue of safety of women. It brought into public discourse patriarchy, labels forced upon women and most importantly, their empowerment. These issues were not only discussed on news channels or seminars held in prestigious universities, but in each and every home.

This month marks a year since the gruesome incident and people ask if anything has changed at all. Yes, if not everything, something has surely changed. There is more awareness regarding safety of women among common people. Taboos are broken and you will find families using the word ‘rape’, ‘molestation’ in their living rooms. This is because of the reasoning that it is not the woman’s fault, in case of a sexual crime. Women have come out on the streets and made it clear that their dressing is not the reason for men to behave like perverts; it’s the mindset that has to change. A rape victim is no more called a victim, but a rape survivor. A strong law was brought into action. More and more women have had the courage to report cases of sexual crime against them and cops have been forced to roll up their sleeves. True, there have been protests even before the December 16 incident, for safety of women, because Delhi has never been a safe city. However, the unfortunate incident shook the conscience of Delhiites and even the whole nation.

Looking at the year behind, what have we achieved? The answer is well in front of us. The fact that many of us have come out publicly to demand safety for women and that we are not ready to take the insensitivity of the government lying down, shows the change! The fact that many of us have the guts to react to a man when he passes comments at us, shows the change! It has surely been a journey upwards, towards change, however a shaky one. A lot more has to be achieved. 

WHAT IS HER FUTURE?

Seema (the girl in pink) has tied a swing onto a tree. She plays on this stretch of the road everyday with her brothers. When asked why she plays on the road, which is dangerous, she says there is no other place for them.

She doesn’t go to school and eats roti, just twice a day. She helps her parents who are rag pickers. With no roof on her head, she stays with her family near a garbage dumping site, on a road which leads to some of the poshest localities of the city. Like scores of children who are among the poorest of the poor, Seema is in tattered clothes and uncombed hair.

Is her family counted in the government’s data of BPL (Below Poverty Line) families? Is the government’s promise of food security ever going to reach her family? Is her dream going to become the dream of Rahul Gandhi? Does Narendra Modi have any development model for children like her? Isn’t she going to end up as another rag picker?

Her parents do not have any hope for the future. But, when one looks into her eyes, one can realize that she’s got hope, all in her innocence.

CHANGE - WE BADLY NEED!

Image Courtesy

Khushi was glad when she got to know that she got through the entrance exam and interview of one of the most famous colleges of Delhi University. Hailing from Lucknow, it was her dream to study in Delhi - the city of monuments, high profile events, politicians, food and fashion.

Like every girl's parents, Khushi's parents were concerned about her safety as she was set to study and live in a hostel in one of the most unsafe cities for women in India. She asked her parents not to worry about her and assured them that she would take care of herself.

On shifting to Delhi, she made new friends in her hostel and college. She enjoyed her newfound independence to the fullest. Delhi's infamous winter approached and she enjoyed all that one could enjoy in the harsh winter.

On December 16th, 2012, she was out with her friends. They had a great dinner from their friend's house and went out for a stroll. After walking a few minutes, they saw a crowd - a kind of crowd which would gather around something they would find amusing. They walked past the crowd, eager to know what was in store. They were surprised to find a boy in his late 20s, begging for help, while a girl lay naked on the ground - her body fully bruised and battered. No one from the crowd came forward to help them and no PCR van was in sight.

When the temperature was below 3 degrees, the boy and the girl had no clothes on, let alone warm ones. Khushi could not bear this sight and decided to help the girl with her jacket. Her friends and a few others in the crowd asked her to refrain from doing so, as the deed may backlash at her, in the guise of legal hassles and police questionings.

Feeling sorry for them, she was helpless as her friends wouldn't let her do  anything. She was amazed at the bizarre thinking of the crowd as no one came forward to help the girl and the boy. Khushi's friends dragged her from the site and told her that being a Good Samaritan in Delhi will only prove to be worse for her.

Next day, she read in the newspapers about a girl who was gangraped in a moving bus and her friend being beaten up by a few men. In the following days, she was horrified to know the details of the gruesome gangrape and was angry at herself for not helping the girl. And moreover, she felt amused at the protests for women's safety, which died down after a few days. She felt that no one had any right to protest until and unless they come forward to help a girl in need.

Helping a girl in distress is the first step to bringing about a change - a change we badly need in our society. The attitude matters when most of the Delhiites will say, 'yaar, problem ho jaayegi!' This is applicable not only to Delhiites, but to people from each and every city, town and village. If we step forward to help someone in need, maybe a person who has met with an accident, maybe someone who was badly beaten up, the society will change gradually. But, if we refuse to help somebody, we then have no right to ask for reforms.

Had Nirbhaya (December 16th gangrape survivor) been helped and rushed to the hospital by onlookers without any delay, she would have lived today, to see this new year bring new hope for her and her family, to see herself getting married and to see her parents settled and brothers studying well.

That’s What They Say!

Women invite rape and sexual assault on themselves. They are the ones to be blamed. Can’t they stop wearing skirts and jeans? Can’t they stop going out at night or at any time of the day? Can’t they stop going to pubs, malls, colleges, offices? And in some cases, when the ‘offender’ is in the extended family, can’t they just stop talking or mingling with their relatives?

They should get married at a younger age, instead of the legal age i.e. 18, so as to avoid being raped. Khap panchayats make this statement with a lot of analysis and logical understanding. After marriage, they should look after their household chores and satisfy their husbands, or else, as RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, their husbands will be forced to disown them. And if the husbands cannot disown them, they admit that wives lose charm with time, according to Union Coal minister SriPrakash Jaiswal.

If a woman does not follow these ‘precautions’, she is bound to be raped or sexually assaulted. See, she didn’t obey these tips which could have saved her life and dignity. While being raped or sexually assaulted, the girl or woman should plead to the offenders, treating them as her brothers. And in the case of the Delhi brave heart, the victim should have chanted mantras. This is one of the ways suggested by self-proclaimed god man Asaram Bapu to ways to avoid being raped.

In case a woman is raped, the girls who protest should not come dented and painted, as suggested by our President Pranab Mukherjee’s son Mr Abhijeet Mukherjee. And the media should stop barking like dogs when a politician or someone influential makes a statement. Because Asaram Bapu feels that he is an elephant who shouldn’t follow these dogs.  

And last but not the least, MNS Chief Mr Raj Thackeray says that the root cause of all rapes and sexual assaults are the Bihari migrants. Even though this issue had lost its sheen over the years, Mr Thackeray is trying to revive it. He has made a good effort.

So, being a woman, if you have not followed these ‘precautions’, you are on the wrong track. Coz THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY!

Revolution in Kerala Cinema

Like all other regional film industries, the Kerala film industry is also booming like never before. The Malayalam film industry, known for its classic actors like Prem Nazeer, Sheela, Satyan to name a few, had always been was always overshadowed by the Tamil film industry because it has actors like Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth, MGR who have a popular fan following not only in the region but all over India and across borders too.

However, young actors and filmmakers have come to the forefront to rescue the crisis-ridden Malayalam film industry. Pick up any two random movies one which was directed a couple of years back and other one which is a recent direction and you will see a huge difference. The revolution that has come over in the past two years is beyond words. Unlike ever before today, the marketing of films through social media along with other out-of-the box ways, the use of cuss words and the bold portrayal of events are some prominent elements which define a Malayalam movie.

Once upon a time, Keralites were known as conservatives. But, today’s film scenario definitely doesn’t go in sync with this age old perception. Young film makers seem to have used the influence of Bollywood and Hollywood to create their own styles.  With the kind of cinema that is being made, the Malayalam film industry has shed the image of a backward industry and is shining at its best.

Recently, a self-acclaimed all-rounder, Santosh Pandit produced a movie in which he was the director, actor, lyricist, playback singer and script writer. He marketed his movie with the help of social media. The same platform was used by the public to criticise the movie. Even though this man received hordes of criticism and insult, this would not have been possible, had it been two to three years ago. Music videos of newly released or unreleased movies are now being released on YouTube, which was not the same case maybe two to three years back.

The use of social media and the passionate film makers and artists have played a significant role in the promotion of the Malayalam film industry. And with this progress, we can be sure Kerala cinema has a long way to go.

A Letter from the Girls of Delhi

Firstly, to the men from the crime capital, we demand a big apology, an apology for staring at us and making us feel uncomfortable, an apology for passing comments at us, an apology for whistling and hooting at us.

P.S. Only to those men who stare at girls as if they are creatures from some other planet.

Secondly, to those politicians and policemen who think girls are at fault for the rising crimes against women, we have the right to freedom. When our forefathers fought for independence, they achieved freedom for all the citizens. And this independence includes the freedom for women and girls to venture out of their homes at any time of the day, in any dress and visit any place they wish to. It’s not the women or the girls who are responsible for such crimes. Most of the men and their mindsets are to be blamed. Do not say that Bollywood and the ad world are influencing men, through their commodification of women. Then, why don’t the men learn from good movies which impart good values?

We are fed up of empty promises and want action – action that will leave an impact forever.

Thirdly, to the media, help us – the women of Delhi – to continue our fight against this kind of shame. We have to fight a solid battle against an age-old mindset which has treated women cruelly, which has been exposed time and again.

And lastly, to everyone out there, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO – NO TO THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST US.