Unseen World – Poem

February 20, 2015

– 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

Art Cinema in India: The Sidelined Stream?

Hrishikesh Somani

February 18, 2015

Pather-Panchali — A still from Pather Panchali

The debate for the acceptance of art films into Bollywood is an old one and is slowly becoming a hackneyed topic to discuss. The same things like consideration about the budget and choice of the masses will go on and ultimately, art films will stay away from silver screen cinema for some more time, till the next debate enthusiast pops up.

Decades ago, a new line of cinema that went by the name ‘New Indian Wave’ emerged in our country. Popular today as the ‘Art Cinema’ or the ‘Parallel Cinema’, this film-making style is veritably a particular movement in Indian Cinema that focused on the themes of realism, naturalism, society and politics.

Galvanized by the ‘Italian Neorealism’, the dawn broke for this style of the cinema during the first half of 20th century. Evidently dominated by Bengali cinema, the earliest examples of ‘Realism’ reflected in the films of eminent personalities like Satyajit Ray, Bimal Roy, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, Mrinal Sen, Guru Dutt and V. Shantaram.

Among these, Satyajit Ray’s ‘The Apu Trilogy’ (Pather Panchali, Aparajito and The World of Apu) and Bimal Roy’s ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ (two acres of land) are known as the prototypes of this cinematic style, addressing societal issues of the era. However, keeping up in pace with the mainstream cinema over the decades became the biggest challenge to these parallel filmmakers.

By the early 1990s, the spiraling costs of film production and the commercialisation had an adverse effect on art films. Further, Parallel Cinema was marginalised by underworld financing to mainstream movies, political and economic turmoil due to liberalisation, rising influence of television and piracy. Soon, it was confined to distinguished performances, critical appraisals, studies and textbooks of the art of film making.

However, since 2000, new age Indian directors like Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee have created a fresh genre that combines mainstream cinema (Bollywood) with art films. It is an amalgamation of the two, giving people a subtle taste of what an art film might be like; but at the same time, not losing its pace and theatrical effects to entertain people.

Recent films like the Gangs of Wasseypur, Shanghai, etc. have become major successes. They are not directly mainstream Bollywood cinema, but have made their way to the silver screen. Wasseypur was a big commercial hit too; probably because of the blunt Bihari gangster storyline, as opposed to the political drama shown beautifully by Banerjee in Shanghai, which didn’t gain as much popularity among the masses.

Critics have remarked that bringing such art films into India might slowly “mature” the taste of the common man today, or at least serves as a good effort marching towards the same. Either way, it is possible that art film enthusiasts, who are currently confined to multiplexes in cities, will steadily grow in number.

If pondered upon, it seems logical to keep art films limited to a selected class of audience. Stuck in a hectic 9-6 job, I do not think people have the energy to invest in a serious and thought provoking movie. Most people might prefer something on a lighter note for their tired minds. Screening Rituparno Ghosh or Shyam Benegal films in the popular talkies instead of Salman Khan’s films might frustrate the common masses, ultimately developing widespread negative opinions about art. It will gather more negative publicity than making them aware of the art industry.

According to Sudeep Dwivedi, who has recently acquired a taste in this field, “Art cannot be thrust upon anyone. Those who genuinely seek it, will find ways to get it. If a person wants to watch an art film, there are many ways to get their hands on one. Getting it into the multiplexes will only make the public angry at the ‘lack of entertainment’. Art cinema has its own audience. I do not believe any filmmaker who attempts at making such a film keeps in mind the entertainment of masses. These films are made to achieve a goal, strike a chord and satisfy the artistic needs of filmmakers (artists).”

So, the debate about getting sponsors and producers for art films stands nullified by this argument. These films have created their niche and therefore, must remain that way. It’s in the interest of the filmmakers and the common public to remain niche, both the parties!

Image sources –
http://www.muskurahat.us

Factfile –
Wiki Parallel Cinema

Is Ayurvedic Medicine Losing Credibility in India?

Likhitha krishnan

February 16, 2015

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

Behind the Sweat of a NCC Cadet

Sreesvarna B

February 13, 2015

The recent Republic day saw the impeccably dressed NCC cadets marching together at the grand parade in Vijaypath in New Delhi. After the parade, the Indian prime minister participated in the Republic Day NCC Rally, and praised the organisation since he himself was an NCC cadet in his school. The value of the “RD camp” was elevated further when the PM said he was never selected for the much vaunted camp and the boy who got selected, had become a celebrity at his school!

The word ‘NCC’ brings a strange sense of courage, discipline and pride among many of us. We look up to those students who are a part of NCC and admire them, whose motto is ‘Unity and Discipline’. For every NCC student, there would be a long story to tell which would become travelogue of their success.

‘NCC’ stands for the ‘National Cadet Corps’ that was established way back in 1948. NCC cadets are split into two levels the school level provides A level certificate and the college level where you get the B and C level certificates. The organisation aims to develop disciplined cadets under its Army Wing, Naval Wing and Airforce Wing for motivating the youth to take up a career in the armed forces.

The typical NCC students’ story would generally start from the selection camp where they are tested for their determination and interest, and not merely for their physical fitness (unlike the common myth!). That camp would last for a week where at the beginning about 100 students will participate and by the end only about 25-30 of them will remain. While no one will be chased away, but those without the determination to last will leave on their own. The camp would normally begin with a small prep talk by seniors. And then would be a small part where everyone would be made to run maybe 10 rounds around the parade ground (each day would see a steady increase in rounds!), which will determine the few who have the determination to complete the rounds.

Some schools have different NCC wings and depending upon their height and weight, students would be put under those wings – the Army Wing (requires a lot of discipline), the Airforce Wing (importance given to the physical stamina) and the Naval Wing (can’t do without knowledge and discipline). Over a period of time of three years, NCC cadets would learn different values and skills.

However, for a student to reach the RD camp level and be a part of the spectacular marching parade, it would take an arduous cycle of 15 camps. Behind these students would be their parents’ trust, motivation and prayers along with their teachers support and encouragement for the camps, which also means missing of classes too, and hence extra hours of academics to cope up.

The NCC girls contingent whom you saw marching with a glow in their faces will always be the pride of our country. Every girl is trained on par with a NCC boy cadet and would get to do as many push-ups as a guy there does. Those girls will always show their face as they are and the glow in them would be because of their determination and hard work but not because of creams or sunscreens! Their hairs would not even fall on their shoulders and hence physical appearance would always take a back stage while serving for their country.

The fuel that lights the fire of continuing in this organization would be the adventure activities of shooting, rock-climbing, trekking, horse-riding, etc, along with a huge diversity of friends who would later be there to tell your stories in every part of our country and of course the final destination of being the country’s backbone in the army or the air-force or the navy!

The next time we see them in parade, remember that every student there would have sweated it out to keep their fitness well throughout the year, while keeping their mind disciplined and keeping their hands united when necessary. However, there are a few who join the NCC only to get the A, B and C level certificates. They work for it to an extent where the way they make cannot even be taken by other who doesn’t have a will…

Image sources –
Photos by Boopalan Vasuki Mohanasundaram

90% of Indians are Idiots!

Caleidoscope

February 11, 2015

Author – Samarth Goel

“90% of Indians are idiots!” – This statement may shock you, but it was actually said by the ex-Chairperson of Press Council of India, Justice Markandey Katju, in a seminar in 2012. He went on to say that a riot could be instigated in India for a measly sum of Rs. 2,000. All one had to do was to go to a place of worship from any religion and show some disrespect. I agree. It is futile to deny these allegations. I have seen it myself. Everyone is ready to fight and die in the name of religion.

Let us take the example of a recent incident: The Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh in 2013. It all started with a few Muslim boys eve-teasing a Hindu girl on the roads of a small village named, Kawal. The girl’s family members went in search of those boys and killed one of them. In turn, Muslim neighbours caught hold on the family members and lynched them. News of these killings spread and soon the members of both communities began attacking each other.

Adding fuel to fire, some political leaders gave inflammatory speeches. End result? Hundreds of lives lost across the Muzaffarnagar district. Hundreds of people lost their homes. There was widespread civil unrest in the region. What good did it bring? Did it avenge the girl that had been harassed? Did it avenge the death of those Muslim boys? While we call ourselves the people of an emerging superpower, are we actually so naïve that we still believe in implementing the system of ‘might is right’?

The British ruled the Indian subcontinent for over 200 years. British soldiers were few and we were many. Frankly speaking, the British didn’t stand a chance against us. But we remained exploited since we were divided. It was as if we served the country on a platter to the British Empire. If only social evils like our caste system and the hatred of religion didn’t exist, maybe we would have stood a chance against them. Maybe we wouldn’t have had to trouble Gandhiji to abandon his career as a lawyer and help our country. But no, Hindu princely rulers feared that their provinces might be taken over by rulers of other sects. So everyone ended up handing over their provinces to the British Empire rather than keeping faith in their countrymen.

Courtesy: Naidunia — Courtesy: Outlook India

It is this religious fanaticism that has broken our country apart and ever since, the same cancer continues to ravage us. The only difference being, the British were outsiders; but today, our own politicians instigate us to kill each other. We need to open our eyes and realize that there is a political agenda behind all this.

Let’s have a look at some older riots, starting with the Babri Masjid riots in early 1990s. Many of the current BJP government members have been allegedly involved in the demolition of the Masjid. Later we witnessed the Godhra riots in 2002. Our very own Prime Minister was allegedly accused of being involved in it. Although, he has been given a clean chit by the judicial enquiry investigating the case, many of his associates are still being investigated. Then the Muzaffarnagar riots. Prominent rural leaders prominent nationwide parties were arrested after a video recording of the Mahapanchayat came up, where Hindu leaders gave inflammatory speeches.

While these are all ghosts of the past, let’s focus on something very recent. The PK movie issue. Many religious organizations are pressuring to ban the movie show in theatres, because they believe it hurts their religious sentiments. What they do not realize was the purpose was exactly the opposite. The movie actually wanted to highlight the blind faith we put in religion. Instead, the religious organizations chose to interpret it as a blow on religion as a while. We deliberately choose to be idiots and then act offended if someone makes fun of our orthodoxy and blind faith. We really need to move past these petty issues and try to understand the real message that piece of art is trying to convey us.

Before taking an action, let’s ask ourselves: is it worth taking a life over this? There is a branch of law called ‘Torts’. If we want to take any action against people disrespecting a religion, why not sue them under Torts? Why kill? Why take an innocent life? We need to wake up and see the bigger picture. Most importantly, we need to stop and repent on our actions. May the One God that we all believe in, be with the families of all those souls, innocent or not, lost in communal riots. May that One God never forgive of people who incite such actions among us!

Image sources –
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org

Chick Lit, Lad Lit & Kid Lit – Defining Literary Genres

Harika Bantupalli

February 9, 2015

Author – Harika Bantupalli

The world of literature is swayed by mainstream genres like classics, mystery, thrillers and romance; however, there has always been a craving for new literary styles. The end of 20th and the early 21st Centuries have witnessed the emergence of new literary genres that catered to different sections of book raeaders.

While the mainstream genres focus on the grandeur of literature and transport their readers to a new world, these new genres emphasized on issues, problems and lifestyle of a contemporary being. They’re known for their lighthearted banter and a non-serious way of storytelling. These literary genres are singularly written for groups of people and are hence named accordingly: Chick Lit, Lad Lit and Kid Lit, some of the modern literary genres that garnered importance in the recent years.

Chick Lit

This literary genre, known to be created by two renowned women’s book authors Jane Green and Meg Cabot, has been on the rise since the late 1990s. It is made up of two words – ‘Chick’, an American lingo for Woman and ‘Lit’, a word short for literature. Chick-Lit focuses on the various issues of contemporary womanhood often in a comic and airy manner. The plot often revolves around one or a couple of female protagonists and their issues that may include anything from the struggle of finding oneself or creating an identity.

Romance is often the sub-plot of this genre, which along with the themes of dating and relationships, is considered one of the traditional themes of Chick Lit. Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones Diary”, Candace Bushnell’s “Sex and the City” and Sophie Kinsella’s “Shopaholic” series are generally considered as the classic prototypes of Chick Lit. The genre made its way into Indian Literature with acclaimed novels like “Trust Me” by Rajashree and “The Zoya Factor” by Anuja Chauhan. However, Chick Lit has a long way to go in our country. Although this genre is particularly written by women for women, there have been a few books authored by men like Zack Love and Matt Dunn, who give men’s take on the women-centric plots.

Lad Lit

Derived from the words ‘lad’ (British for boy) and ‘Lit’, this literary genre is the male-counterpart of Chick Lit. It is also known as “Dick Lit” in America, which in other words, it is literature for men, written by men. This genre goes along the lines of Chick Lit, involving humorous narrations and depictions of various themes that focus on the lives of men. The plotlines typically revolve around issues of manhood like career, friendships, family, love, relationships and sex.

Lad Lit became popular with themes connected to Chick Lit written through a man’s perspective. Nick Hornby became the uncrowned king of Lad Lit with best-selling books such as “About a Boy”, “High Fidelity” and “Pitch Fever”, while Danny Wallace, Tony Parsons, Nick Spalding and Mike Gayle are the other important authors in the Lad-Lit club. In India, the literary world is swayed by books like “Five Point Someone”, “The 3 Mistakes of My Life”, “Revolution 2020” and other works of Chetan Bhagat. These are the best examples for the Lad Lit category.

Kid Lit

Kid Lit, also known as juvenile literature is more like a literary category that pertains to the writings that interest children. These may include board books, picture books and chapter books depicting stories or novels that are easy for kids to understand. This genre targets those children who can read and comprehend little stories to the ones in their adolescence.

The number of chapters and word count of the books in these genres may vary according to the age groups. For example, “Flower Fairies Friends” by Cicely Mary Barker, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney and “Shadow Children” series by Margaret Peterson Haddix may vary in the levels of comprehensions and the number of words due to their target audience, even when they all qualify as Kid Lit.

In a world where there is a constant thirst for something new, even in literature; genres like Chick lit, Lad lit and Kid lit come in as a breath of fresh air portraying the problems of the present age and enabling their readers to relate to the characters.

Image sources –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopaholic_%28novels%29
http://www.rupapublications.co.in/books/revolution-2020
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid

Main Aam Aadmi nahi hoon, kyunki…

Caleidoscope

February 6, 2015

Author – Geetha

Few years ago, many of us participated in the Lokpal Bill agitation. Anna Hazare’s fast until death, the spontaneous eruption of public anger against corruption, massive protests across the country, candle light marches, intense debate on primetime TV, mud-slinging matches, oh! All that frenzied action seems a fading memory now!

When the Team Anna split over the issue of participation in mainstream politics, many of us were sad. But we thought what Anna couldn’t achieve being outside the rotten political system, Arvind Kejriwal might somehow achieve being inside. When Aam Aadmi Party miraculously won the Delhi state elections for the first time in 2013, we were elated. However, his 49-day disaster disillusioned us.

Lokpal YFS — Candle light march for Lokpal Bill in 2011 – YFS Hyderabad

The proverbial final nail in the coffin came for me when AK-49 declared that AAP will contest in 434 Loksabha seats across the nation, 7 more than the BJP! Even more bewildering act was the Muffler Man’s daredevilry to stand against the formidable Narendra Modi in Varanasi. His final comments after losing in Varanasi is still fresh in my memory… “Yaha pe sab kuch paise pe chalta hain!”

After hearing that wonderful revelation, I wrote down these points to declare why I am no more a common man, a.k.a. Aam Aadmi –

I don’t believe that the government is the root cause of all corruption and the rot in our society. When we common men and women are so eager to offer bribes to get our things done, why blame the receiver?
I don’t believe that the government has any control over imported goods like petroleum and medicine. If their prices fluctuate, rather than blaming the government, I would prefer using alternatives such as Biodiesel, Solar power, Ayurvedic medicine etc.
I don’t want the taxpayer’s money to be spent on subsidies for petrol, electricity, fertilizers, etc. Rather I want my government’s money to be used for infrastructure, healthcare and education, etc.
I still cannot believe Aam Aadmi Party went ahead with an alliance with Congress(I) in Delhi last time and expected it to agree to their terms on Jan Lokpal Bill! Instead of utilising people’s mandate to govern the nation’s capital and prove a “Delhi model of governance”, why did the people’s power government quit in 49 days?
What happened to the enormous evidence piled up against the Gandhi Dynasty’s crony capitalist son in law? I don’t want Aam Aadmi to forget who looted our country over last decade!

A powerless Aam Aadmi Party issues a report card for its MLAs. How is this MLA still working on 50 projects from the outside, when the entire system is rotten? — Aam Aadmi Party issues a report card for its MLAs, who are still working on 50 projects from the outside?!

AAP had created a unique democratic process of choosing its Delhi election candidates by getting 100 signatures from Aam Aadmi in their constituencies. Why that process was abandoned for a Khas Aadmi process of selecting candidates behind closed doors this time?
I have no faith in a party leader who thinks he is bigger than the party. Instead of fighting Modi in Varanasi, if Arvind Kejriwal had stood in Delhi, that would have warmed the hearts of his beloved auto rickshaw drivers.
Today, electric auto rickshaw drivers are struggling to get their vehicles back and get a license to ply on Delhi roads. Why is the Aam Aadmi Party not fighting their cause?

Wow! Aam Aadmi Party launches minority cell to connect with minority groups based on “issues” and not merely to serve as “votebanks”! — Wow! Aam Aadmi Party launches minority wing to connect with minority groups based on “issues”!

I am baffled how did the referendum in Kashmir become an issue for Aam Aadmi when it was supposed to be corruption and crony capitalism?
Suddenly after losing in the general elections, the great man realises that money power is supreme in India. Wow! Thanks for enlightening a nation, which always knew this harsh reality since centuries!
I believe the Supreme Court is correct in revoking the rights of homosexuality. Bringing any change in law and adding amendments is the responsibility of the legislature. Mango people have no right to question the Supreme Court, which is the upholder of our constitution.
Finally, I do not need a political party to start an agitation or take a stand. There are courageous individuals like Satyendra Dubey and Sanjiv Chaturvedi who blow the whistle against injustice; we just have to stand by them. Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousufzai have clearly shown the power of one!

Factfile –
Image source –
http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/

Photo Feature – A Day with Channapatna Toy Makers

Sandip Bose

February 4, 2015

I happened to know about a small town named Channapatna in Karnataka, which is known as the land of toys. Situated on the Bengaluru-Mysooru Road, this small town produces unique handcrafted wooden lacquer toys that have become quite famous across India. Small factories manufacture wooden Channapatna toys and other utility products like candle stands, bangles etc. Wood is carved into an intricately designed item, using a handheld lathe and then it is coloured with lac. This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) tag under the World Trade Organization.

I spent a day with the Channapatna handicraft artisans, observing their work and their daily life along with my friend. This is my humble attempt to capture a little part of what we experienced with these wonderful people – A photo essay on one the most famous traditional toys of India to help put forward their daily life.

Offbeat-travel-in-Karnataka Channapatna — Image – Sandip Bose

Images-
Sandip Bose
facebook.com/sandip.bose

My Cherished Memories of National Adventure Festival

Caleidoscope

February 2, 2015

Author – Ishita Gupta

We all have fond memories of our college days. Particularly we remember the long trips along with all our college friends. But if the trip is an adventurous trek and competition as well, then the joy is doubled. I happened to participate in such a trek last year, whose memories are vividly stored in my mind.

Every year since 1995, the National Adventure Club in Chandigarh organizes the National Adventure Festival, an all India festival to promote adventure sports among the youth. As part of this event, my educational institution, Gautam Buddha University conducted a trial and selected 20 students to participate in the adventure festival. My friend, Gauri and I secured top positions, and hence were guaranteed a spot among those 20 students. After months of persuading, our parents finally allowed us to participate in the festival and we along with two of our college professors set off on our expedition.

Day 1, Chandigarh

From Greater Noida, it took us about 6 hours to arrive at the base camp in Sector 18 in Chandigarh, where the festival was being held. Despite the tiring bus journey, our group was eager to explore Chandigarh, which is a uniquely planned city that is divided into various sectors. We proceeded to the main market of Chandigarh located in Sector 17, which was beautifully lit up. We came across a wonderful bakery store that had some exceptionally delicious yet inexpensive items. After shopping for an hour, we returned to our base camp, where 5 students were asked to share one room. Gauri and I had to sleep on the floor, but we fell asleep soon enough, reminding ourselves that this is all an adventure!

Day 2, Kasauli Hills

We began our journey toward Kasauli Hills, from where our trekking expedition began. All the participants in the festival had to trek nearly 3 kilometres up the rocky Kasauli Hills and it was much more exhausting than we had assumed. It was a sight worth watching with over 300 people from all over India strenuously climbing up the hill. Initially our college team, Gauri, Satyendra and I were ahead of the others, but gradually we fell behind.

In order to make this adventure less exhausting, the three of us sat down after every 20 minutes and took tons of photographs. We were relieved to see street food stalls set up after two and half hours of trekking, and all three of us collapsed to devour some burgers, samosa and gulab-jamun. Our journey ended soon as we exhaustedly got into our respective buses and set off back to the base camp.

Day 3, Manali

The next day, our college team were allotted package number 4, which covered Kullu and Manali. We set on a 10-hour journey to reach Manali, crossing the beautiful valleys of Kullu. We reached Manali late at night in the midst of chilling cold. We dragged our suitcases through the dimly lit snowy roads to the place we would be staying at: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports. This is a reputed institute for mountaineering training in the Himalayas, but it had basic facilities, where we had to spend the night in a cold dormitory with our fellow participants.

Day 4, Solang Valley

Early morning, we set off for Solang Valley from Manali. The journey was difficult due to the immense snow everywhere; the SUV we were travelling in kept slipping off track and scaring us to death! Solang Valley is literally a winter wonderland, offering all sorts of adventure activities including skiing, trekking, and parasailing. The beauty of the valley mesmerized us. While we were eager to explore, the sun set quite early at 5pm, forcing us to retire in the sole accommodation nearby, a dark and dingy co-ed hostel.

Day 5, Skiing

It was quite exhausting to carry the heavy skiing equipment up the hill, while wearing ski boots. Once on top of the hill, we were instructed on how to ski down a simple slope and brake. It took some time for us, but eventually everyone began skiing slowly downhill with great glee. It was an exhilarating sensation to ski downhill letting the cold breeze brush against your face, and then to slowly stop and fall into the dense snow. The hardest part was carrying the skis back up the hill, but the ecstatic moment of skiing made it all worth-while.

Day 6, Snowed-in

Today, we were scheduled to return to Manali, however due to incessant snowfall, there was no way to depart from Solang. The stay was becoming tiresome. We hadn’t bathed in the last 4 days, the power was out and it was too bone-chilling cold. Suddenly, too much adventure was becoming sickening. We decided to go out exploring at night and trekked downhill in the dark to small shelters, which were apparently small restaurants, lit up by just a single bulb. We ate the local cuisine of Solang: Thupka, a type of soupy noodles. It tasted OK, but we slurped it in as it was warm, and we were hungry!

Day 7, Walk to Manali

It was a 17-kilometre trek from Solang to Manali, which we trekked in socks covered with polythene bags to protect our feet from dampness. It was an amazing feeling, to walk so far in a single file with snow reaching up to our waist. Gauri didn’t have proper trekking shoes and kept slipping on the snow. But eventually, after a long and bumpy journey, we reached Manali.

Day 8, Back to College

Finally, after the prize distribution ceremony, all of us 20 students returned back to our college with cherished memories of our exhilarating trip of the National Adventure Festival, which was truly an amazing adventure filled trip for all.
Image – Skiing in Narkanda | Courtesy: yoyowall.com
Factfile –
http://nacindia.in/?page_id=24
http://www.adventurehimalaya.org/

Can Gandhigiri Ensure Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?

Caleidoscope

January 30, 2015

Author – Anuja Nair

It was the last day of our exams. We were a group of four from diverse professional backgrounds at our regular haunt to celebrate our yet another feat – conquering our law exams! To add to our revelry, we gorged on various street food items leaving us with no option to dispose of the waste. What struck me as odd was the unequivocal opinion of the three of my highly qualified friends in their mid-forties to dispose off the left overs in a nearby self-proclaimed dumping space. The thought to leave it in the car for later disposal in a garbage bin, never crossed their minds.

I realised that this is the mentality of 90% of us, Indians, and my friends were no different. However, as a responsible citizen, I decided to carry the trash till I locate a well maintained and nearby dustbin. To my horror, I found none and ended up being the butt of all their jokes. Carrying the waste, I had also driven home a point that “ Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ” is the need of the hour. I made up my mind to support it wholeheartedly and took part in the initiative, symbolically started by our new PM, Narendra Modi.

However, during the goings-on, what I saw was not something unexpected; Aam Aadmi’s fascination for the brand new brooms, albeit not an election logo this time! The ultimate result being a hoard of selfies and pics making their way into the cyberspace. Celebrities posing for paparazzi along with their brooms and cleaning the most cleaned areas made the picture clear to me. Nevertheless, I am still maintaining my strong support for this positive campaign. Yes, I can explain that!

I believe, India is a land where people by and large get inspired by their role models. Even if, 10% fans emulate their revered personalities, it would make a difference, even though it would mean blindly imitating them without getting the message across. Supposing the only intention of these celebrities is just to surpass their contemporaries and be seen in social circles or to create the much needed publicity before the release of their upcoming movie, they would do their bit unknowingly.

My point is, the key underlying issue is not really about cleaning India but rather in holding yourself back from defiling your country nonchalantly with filth. Places said to be cleansed are back to their status quo ante bellum the very next day. Should we have such an apathetic attitude towards our country or rather are we supposed to practice Gandhigiri by quietly cleaning up places time and again and see them defiled?

I remember volunteers of Saahas cleaning up trash in Lalbagh park in Bengaluru, while people around them continued throwing garbage everywhere without the slightest guilt! I have seen many voluntary organisations who do yeoman service to clean up garbage and build a hygienic society –

Swach in Pune convinces citizens to segregate waste and organises ragpickers
Saahas in Bengaluru creates awareness by cleaning up parks during holidays
The Ugly Indian completely beautifies the street cleaned by them

I would say, ‘ Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ’, would be realised only if it is pooled with an equally effective ‘Swachh Soch Abhiyan’! That is let our mindsets first go through a cleaning process!

Image Courtesy –
The Ugly Indian Facebook Page.

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