Burka Avenger has decided to merge into the group of cape and coif, midst the Dark Knight and the amazing Spiderman. Burka Avenger is a story of a young teacher named Jiya living in a small town in Pakistan. She has a secret to hide. An identity of a masked vigilante who aims to educate her female students and save her village mates from the rising enemy attacks. The super-heroine character of Jiya isn’t blessed with many supernatural powers, but is a master in Takht Karate. She uses this martial art to fight against all odds.

I recently viewed the trailer of this Pakistani TV serial, which seemed quite interesting and gripping. The storyline brings out both excitement and curiosity. A teacher by profession, Jiya takes the meaning of a pen being mightier than sword little too seriously. She believes a pen has a major role to play to win over her enemies. Even being trained in karate, her pen gives her the efficiency to perform all the odd jobs as the secret master. Her students encourage her to stand up against the wrong ones.

The magic comes in when she dons on her cape, the Burka. Oh! Don’t look puzzled, it doesn’t get stuck in between her legs; rather it makes her a free like a bird. The Burka Avenger can’t fly, but her modified burka helps her to swing from trees and glide over the mud huts of her small town. While the action sequences are quite hilarious, this funky portrayal of burka is a good reply to all those who question its need. This Pakistani animated series has raised serious apprehensions: is this clothing actually a state of oppression or does it help in creating a vigilante?

Many critics have questioned the need of burka in the show. But the answer is quite simple. The use of burka is as important as the mask of Batman or of Spiderman, who believe it will help them in safeguarding their secret identity. The Niqab or the Burka has strong opinions around the world. Some call it a clear mode of female oppression; while some have made it a feminist issue. Thoughts around the world about this clothing are changing, both in a negative as well as in a positive manner. Some regard it as a rule against feminist values and some call it a necessity. The major question: is it really an anti-feminist stay?

Not everyone discards it; many women take pride in following this culture. They feel their burka secures them, not just physically but also emotionally. Women deal with burka in a manner to rejuvenate their soul. They strictly take it as a matter of an offense, if people infuse it with feminism. In few matters, this burka doesn’t include a state of oppression. There a situations where women are compelled to follow these norms under the name of religion. Few extremists, which let the patriarchal ideas play the upper hand, have this belief in beating down appraisal of a woman and her emotions.

Have we ever tried reasoning with a woman who covers herself? A woman belonging to a backward class, who doesn’t have the strength to face its surroundings with an open face, regards burka as a good friend. She generates it as a mode of power and to challenge the society. A housekeeper, a less educated one, prefers burka to communicate. Where one degrades its use, many take it as a way to freedom. All of these women have situations, and all enjoy their burka to all possible extent.

Being born in a Muslim family, I and my sisters were always asked to cover our heads. It wasn’t an unpleasant doubt, but a continuous one. I have few cousins who do cover, like a full burka, which to some extent also tempted my father in requesting me don this avatar. Let me be clear, it was a request, which I did accept. But later due to medical reasons and due to Chennai weather, I was asked to remove it. My family never commented or forced me to follow it. My paternal grandmother, a woman we all look up to as an idol has believed in giving girls the upper hand, and made us believe that we are the stronger one.

The situations dealing with burka have different viewpoints. It is a piece of cloth for few, but for few it is a moment of glorifying. One cannot pass a verdict just by listening one side of a story. The creative head of the Burka Avenger show, Haroon Rashid mentioned that there is a message at the end of each episode. The show focuses majorly on the importance of education, especially to girls. Burka’s usage comes with the reference to the cultural background where even young children wear it.

We can easily take Malala Yousafzai as our role model of woman empowerment, but is it feasible to transplant her empowering ideas into the tiny brains of 5 and 6-year olds. The medium of animation has helped the show gain popularity, not just on a market level but also in breaking off the stereotypes of clothing. It is inspiring to observe a cartoon film, making people understand the larger idea, which initially seemed an impossible act.
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Image sources –
comicsbeat.com
burkaavenger.com

Often in the hustle bustle of the city life, we take for granted a few people who are an integral part of our survival system. We cannot do without our domestic help, the public transport drivers, the dhobi, the postman and yet, we don’t probably spare a thought for their lives. This article is dedicated to those known yet unknown persons who makes our lives easier, quietly serving their purpose and whose need we feel greatly only in their absence.

The Guard At The Lighthouse

Calmly, he stood there, the wind blowing his shirt against his body. A 12-hour shift it was, from dusk to dawn. Inside, there was only a cot, few magazines, a television, a laptop, a tiny fridge and a table lamp. He often remembers the first night he had to spend on his duty, manning the lighthouse. The waves lashing against the structure had kept him awake all night. The sea that looked so beautiful during the day, scared him out of his wits as he guarded the place with no fellow human for miles together. That was the hardest night.

Once he overcame his fears, he spent the nights enjoying the thunder, the lights from the ships, his cigar, the periodic glow from the lighthouse, the soulful music from his music player. He learnt to enjoy his own company and that of his guitar. He took back pictures for his children and his friends, pictures he could only take. While he showed them the photographs and relived his adventures, he quietly smiled to himself knowing the beautiful peacefulness he discovered. Ironically, the most beautiful moment of the lonely adventure would be the five minute exchange during the change of lighthouse guard, when they tipped their hats, acknowledging the secret experience of a rare solitude.

The Local Motorman

He checked the time. They were arriving one minute earlier. At the end of the minute, 5,000 commuters would start crawling out like tiny ants and go to earn their livelihoods. He was the motorman of the morning local train in Mumbai that prided in never halting. Did they spare a thought for him? He never expected them to, not in a city where a local would arrive every minute. But he sure did know how to get their attention. The ladies compartment is the one closest to the engine. He would bring the train at superfast speed only to bring it to a grinding halt right outside the last station. Commuters would poke their heads out, wrapped in scarves and stoles, impatient as ever waiting for the signal to turn green.

He would laugh to himself privately as he imagined their daily routine: Rushing the kids with breakfast, managing to catch his train just in time, fighting for an autorickshaw, finishing their make up at office, getting the vegetables just before the shops shut, elbowing their way into the local again, cooking, feeding, wrapping up, collapsing to wake up to a new day and to an old routine! He felt like it was his duty to give them that minute’s rest, to do nothing, to not rush, to just reflect, and most importantly to not get so consumed with themselves that they begin to think they are indispensable. The light turns green, and he does his duty. It was okay now to complete a mundane job.

The Base Camp Guardian

He was 70 years old. He had lived in the mountains all his life at an altitude where there were almost no inhabitants. Trainees would regularly come to the nearby mountaineering training institute every alternate month until the winter conditions became so severe that the place would be cut-off for about five months. They would go to his cosy hut and he’d serve them soupy noodles around the fire with a twinkle in his eyes. Over the noodles, they’d inquire about him and they’d find out that he was the caretaker of the base camp; that he lived with his son, all 12 months, manning the place. This would shock most visitors, as they knew that there was no electricity and the nearest motor able road was a three day steep trek away.

During the winters, the road would be blocked and so ration would have to be procured in the summers. As he gave them another round of noodles, the visitors realized it wasn’t he who was to be pitied but them. The old man needed no TV, no Whatsapp, just his son, his animals, his wildlife, and the glacier, which was the source of fresh water. He had no trappings of the modern man that made his children wonder how he survived without them. Ignorance is bliss. Minimising your needs is happiness, he knew!

The Liftman

The building had 18 storeys and four lifts. He had been working there for over a decade now. He had seen the young man get married, the cute little girl turn beautiful, the grandma pass away, the maid servant lose her job, and the courier guy return with an undelivered parcel yet again. He was the liftman for the closest lift from the entrance and hence found his elevator move up and down far more than the others. He had seen the other liftmen reprimand kids when they would enter after playing Holi and mess up their lifts. But he never complained and often held the lift open while they refilled their buckets. He’d hold the lift for the garbage collector, while the other liftmen refused to allow her bags of stench. He’d put out his stool to accommodate the wheel chair, he’d delivery a house-key from husband to wife, a notebook between two friends, homemade goodies between two housewives.

The other liftmen thought of him as a disgrace to their reputation. They always had a haggard look on their faces. They thought it was insane to be able to enjoy this mundane job. However, he had made a bag full of stories. He’d go home to his children and tell them of his adventures, his observations, his conversations, so full of life just like himself. And when he passed away one day, the entire building came down to pay their respects. That was the ultimate elevation for the liftman.

– by Sakshi Rai

_{Blind… by PixieCold}

They say that – ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’
But what of the Blind, the un-knighted soldiers?
Their vision restricted to a perpetual black that never ends,
No scattering of light, the ray never bends
They who fight colourless battles and slay all monsters in the dark
Where daily existence is difficult, they strive to leave a mark
What if we were to interchange places with them for a while?
To observe the unseen world at a slower place, to appreciate its wondrous style?
Would we miss watching rainbows break out in the sky?
Or the sun sinking low, until it was time to bid goodbye?
Or just looking up at the night sky, A ceiling of stars,
And dreaming of the unknown or identifying constellations for hours
Would love at first sight be an area unexplored?
And watching water gush through trees, not be an option when bored?
Would we never able to witness a tired stranger’s grateful smile?
And the look of joy that spreads across a searching mother’s eyes?
Or would we perhaps have a hidden world of our own

_{The Blind Beggar – Jules Bastien-Lepage}

Where happiness isn’t stolen, instead it is sown
Where it isn’t the light of the flame, but the warmth that is shared
Where the language is love, and people don’t stare
Where nobody is judged on how they look
Where paradise is felt, not taught in a book
Where emotions are expressed deeper than just slow soundtracks in the rain
Where true knowledge exists, without the use of a cane
Where all people are equal, not divided by colour
A monochromatic world, with no outlines or covers
A simpler world with lesser despair, is all that we desire
No misunderstandings, no judgments, no unwanted fires
So step back and think again, which world is better?
After all happiness doesn’t come with instructions,
You just reach out and get her!

(This is our first attempt to publish poems. Please do provide us feedback on it so that we can make it a regular feature)

Image sources –
Image – Wikimedia
Blind… by PixieCold

Author – Likhitha Krishnan

Ayurveda has been in the news for both the right and the wrong reasons. While the right-wing NDA government has been eager to promote an Indian stream of medicine by setting up the Ministry of Ayush – Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy, the Indian Medical Association has been loggerheads with such alternative medical practitioners, barring them from practicing modern medicine even after training.

Ayurveda in Sanskrit means ‘science of longevity’, where ‘ayur’ stands for life and ‘veda’ means knowledge. Ayurveda is defined as “the traditional Hindu system of medicine that is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing (incorporated in Atharva Veda, the last of the four Vedas).”

This traditional practice dates back to 3,000 years, where the treatment works on principles based on the interaction of five basic elements (water, earth, fire, air and ether) with the human body. The Ayurvedic philosophy contends that body, mind and soul are connected to the outer world, and health problems arise when this relationship tips off the balance.

Despite Ayurveda being inherently intertwined with the Indian culture, various misconceptions have deprived its extensive outreach in the country. Numerous possibilities of deploying the Ayurveda in modern day aspects have not been explored properly. Further, the rapid modernization occurring in all aspects of Indian culture has challenged the traditional portraiture of Ayurveda. While the western world has rediscovered this ancient and holistic system of medicine, why is Ayurveda losing its credibility in India?

“Not exactly,” says Dr. T.Uday Kiran, infertility and Ksharasutra specialist, the chief consultant in Vijayadurga Multispecialty Ayurveda Hospital. “Although the number of patients opting for Ayurvedic treatment is reducing, people have not lost the belief in this holistic treatment which has acquired its own uniqueness” he explains. But then, why are the numbers not equating to modern day treatment?
Dr. T.Uday Kiran states the answer lies in the myths and delusions that are entrenched deeply within the Indian psyche. Working towards correcting these preconceived notions serves as a fillip for its large scale adoption. Here are the typical misconceptions that dissuade people from taking Ayurvedic treatment:

Ayurveda is just another treatment

People believe that Ayurveda is the last option, which is considered only after facing a series of failures in trying out other forms of medicine. Since it gets to the root level to cure a disease or bring balance, it must be approached at the very onset of a disease. Further, Ayurveda isn’t analogous to Allopathy or Homeopathy, but is purely a lifestyle. Ayurveda supports positive health through a blend of healthy food choices, ample exercise, adequate sleep and medicine.

Ayurveda is a slow cure process

Another prominent notion is that Ayurveda cures quite slowly. The slow cure concept surfaces due to the principle of Ayurveda being fundamentally different from modern medicine’s concept and approach. Present day treatments usually work by palliating symptoms. On the other hand, Ayurveda diagnoses the root cause of a disease and takes time to uproots it entirely, which make the process time consuming.

Ayurveda is not a scientific system of medicine

“Ayurvedic medicines are self-prescribable and harmless was my first thought until my consultant explained that their improper use can be hazardous resulting in side effects like acidity, aches, faintness, etc.,” elaborates Aisha Agarwal, who is undergoing leech therapy treatment for skin diseases.
The erroneous thought that Ayurveda involves homemade practices and not clinically tested medicines leads to such conceptions. In fact, Ayurveda is in par with the latest medical research theories and is scientifically proven and backed by medical stream. Due to the individuality, two people with same disease but different dosha patterns require to be treated differently. So, prescription of a qualified practitioner is highly important to address the cure of the disease and its ailments.

Ayurveda is difficult to comprehend

Acharya Venkata Subramanya Charulu, who has been working in the field of Ayurveda since decades, states that “There is absolutely nothing that is more simpler, easier and natural than Ayurveda. The fundamental concept of Ayurveda is not about Sanskrit jargon… it is about understanding the basic concepts like what is wet, what is dry, what is hot, what is cold, what is heavy, what is light and so on and so forth. But what is forgotten is the fact that the science of Ayurveda starts from our own kitchen. There are several home remedies to cure almost all ailments. If we learn how to effectively use common herbs like turmeric, ginger, cumin and mustard, then we can prevent dreadful diseases at an early stage.”

Ayurveda is a herbal therapy

Ayurveda is perceived to be a herbal-centric treatment, but in truth it uses various ingredients such as milk, ghee, butter, honey, molasses, sesame oil, rock salts, minerals, ashes, etc. However, natural ingredients do play a predominant role in the treatment and manufacturing of medicines. As one imagines, Ayurveda is not a vegan therapy either, for this involves usage of animal products such as milk, gallstones and bones in treatments.

Some Ayurvedic drugs contain heavy metals that cause toxic effects. It is true that heavy metals such as mercury, lead etc are added to certain Ayurvedic medicine. If the medicines are correctly prepared as laid down in the texts, these metals will not cause any harm. According to Charaka Samhita, the original scripture written by Ayurveda’s founding guru, “Even a strong poison can become an excellent medicine if administrated properly; on the other hand, even the most useful medicine can act like a poison if handled incorrectly.” Ayurvedic gurus were well aware of the toxic effects of heavy metals. Allopathic drugs such as high potency antibiotics and steroids have similar harmful side effects, but are prescribed to save lives because the advantages are better than the disadvantages.

Other prominent myths about Ayurveda

• “Ayurveda means body massage” is another misconception. In fact, massage is not written in the original scriptures as a treatment method. Only few ailments could be cured with proper oil massages and requires specialized practitioners.
• Neem hakeem katra ye jaan – quacks offering Ayurvedic medicine. Yes, this myth has its origin in the bitter truth that many traditional doctors turned out to be fraudulent quacks offering placebo kind of medicine. However, these incidents are rare these days, since specialized medical practitioners need to hold a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) degree from a qualified institution.
• Another perception is that Ayurveda is not practical and involves too many restrictions in the curing process such as ‘Pathya’ which stipulates a strict diet for patients. Actually, Ayurveda demands persistence and systematic approach to re-establish balance in the degenerating body system, which makes it difficult to pursue.
• Although Ayurveda seems to be expensive, it is only when the disease aggravates, since some treatment procedures involves gold, silver particles. However, most Ayurvedic medicines are not so expensive that they are unaffordable. Costly treatment procedures are generally prescribed for patients suffering from chronic diseases.
• Ayurvedic medicine is offensive in taste and odour. There is no denying of the fact that some medicines like the blood purifiers tend to be bitter. The bitter or pungent taste is from the herbal ingredients that perform the cleansing act effectively. Even if the patient is unable to take a particular product, the doctor would definitely suggest a combination medium like honey. Today, most of the classical Ayurvedic drugs are available in the form of powders, tablets, syrups and decoctions etc.

Nevertheless, my own tryst with Ayurveda has not been positive. However, its principles have yielded amazing results for complete believers. Supporting the healing power of Ayurveda, Rajesh Sharma claims “I witnessed drastic change in my health after a prolonged Panchakarma therapy. This multi-step detoxification regimen includes massage, steam treatment, vamana (induced vomiting), virechana (herbal and oil-based laxatives) and basti (medicated enema), bloodletting, and nasya (a nasal treatment) along with a strict dietary regimen, a rejuvenating therapy, and recommendations for daily routine.”

The Indian government needs to take initiatives for promoting Ayurveda and preventing piracy of country’s traditional medical knowledge is the need of the hour. The usage of modern techniques to impart the Ayurvedic treatment along with sensitizing people on the facts and benefits of Ayurveda invariably helps in replenishing the lost harmony with India’s cultural holistic wellness icon. Building awareness among people regarding these myths will acts as a stimulus for persuading them to take up Ayurveda medication and in turn strengthens the Ayurveda’s stand in India.

Image sources –
Amila Tennakoon
keralatourism
Factfile –
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.prokerala.com
http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu
http://www.ayurved-wagholi.org
http://www.anandaspa.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com