Parzania
Director: Rahul Dholakia
Starring: Naseeruddin Shah, Sarika, Parzun Dastur
Music: Zakir Hussain.
Language: English (partly Gujarati).
Parzania is a traumatic journey of an event that shook the Nation with its ever haunting act of communal violence during Gujarat riots. It deals with the true story of a single Parsi family, but questions the whole community, every religion, every human and the whole Nation. It depicts with intelligence how religion can be a cause and search for solution of the same problem.
The story draws much of its power from the wisely modulated interpretation of the character of Cyrus- Naseeruddin Shah, being the father of the child lost in riots. Apart from him, Rahul superbly extracts the character of an emotional but strong mother from Sarika as well as innocence and sweetness from the two children. It tells a true story about a family, mother, father, and two kids living in Ahmedadbad. One of the kids is named Parzan, who has a dream of having his own world, own country, full of chocolates, ice creams, and happiness, called Parzania. After the Godhra incident, communal riot happens in Ahmedabad in which Parzan is lost. The movie deals with the search of their parents for their little child, and what all they face during this, the behavior of the police, government officials, their neighbors, Muslim friends. It tells how Gandhi values are in danger due to our new age politicians, in the world of Gandhi.
Its bold and gutsy cinematic showing fire all around, people running in curious, dead bodies all over, gangrene, not only adds up to its merits but gives Goosebumps and tears in eyes. The screenplay is good with strong dialogues being the main focus in many scenes, especially during the climax. The background score by Zakir Hussein is well gelled with the scenes.
Despite its strong subject, it becomes a bit slower at many points taking back the attained attention. Editing is at fault in some of the scene; especially sound editing, where the background score takes over the dialogues. Dialogues in such scenes are hardly heard. There are scenes where omni directional mikes are used, the environmental noise gets mixed up and becomes an obstruction against dialogues, either unidirectional mics should’ve been used or it should have been dubbed.
Some will definitely term it as a “one sided depiction of Hindu fundamentalism” although it does not particularly deals with Hindu or Muslim but revolves around a single family and tells how riots become a horrid, when the state keeps itself away from its very own responsibility of protecting its own people.
Rahul Dholakia exploits the actors to the fullest, and extracts the characters from inside them. He takes you on a ride to an eye widening journey with hard hitting dialogues and strong screenplay. Despite of some faults at editing and slow pace at some points, it scores as a director’s film, which succeeds in provoking strong reactions. It’s a film for the masses. It leaves you thinking at the end- why religion has taken over humanity?
- by Moina Khan
MCRC, Jamia Milia Islamia
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
RESERVATIONS
RESERVATIONS, has become the most controversial term in recent times. It is one of the factors bound to change the life of millions through its impact on their lives. Does reservation mean providing special rights to one group or excluding the others from it? Well, the controversy depends on your position vis-a –vis the debate.
.Firstly, if we analyse the debate from the point of view of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and "other backward classes" we realise that they have been marginalized over the years. They feel that the time has now come when the government must make amendments and review itself in course of its past mistakes. The hour has now come to provide them with special rights in order to equalize their position with respect to the other sections of society.
On the other hand, if we view the controversy from another perspective, we realise that by accepting reservation these people are actually accepting a certain marginalisation from society.The general category on the other hand feels that they are being excluded from their rights.Does the government have the right to take away the rights of one category to compensate for the other?
The government needs to realise that reservation is not the solution to its problems . it needs to create a society based on equality. By introducing reservations based on caste the government is creating a larger social divide.We need to question the genesis of this divide. Are we ready to be divided again on the basis of caste?We need to be joined by forces of community, peace and brotherhood than to be divided by dirty party politics!
By: Nidhi Anjmani
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
.Firstly, if we analyse the debate from the point of view of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and "other backward classes" we realise that they have been marginalized over the years. They feel that the time has now come when the government must make amendments and review itself in course of its past mistakes. The hour has now come to provide them with special rights in order to equalize their position with respect to the other sections of society.
On the other hand, if we view the controversy from another perspective, we realise that by accepting reservation these people are actually accepting a certain marginalisation from society.The general category on the other hand feels that they are being excluded from their rights.Does the government have the right to take away the rights of one category to compensate for the other?
The government needs to realise that reservation is not the solution to its problems . it needs to create a society based on equality. By introducing reservations based on caste the government is creating a larger social divide.We need to question the genesis of this divide. Are we ready to be divided again on the basis of caste?We need to be joined by forces of community, peace and brotherhood than to be divided by dirty party politics!
By: Nidhi Anjmani
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The White Tiger
“White Tiger – This rare and magnificent cat has been saved from extinction by rearing it successfully in capacity” This is what you get to read when on reaches the white tiger enclosure in the National Zoological Gardens, New Delhi.
The myth of the rare Bengal Tiger was an illusion meant to deceive the general public into thinking these cats were endangered and being preserved for future generations. The truth here is that they are not a separate sub – species of tigers, as they are promoted to be, but a result of severe genetic defects associating with the inbreeding necessary to cause the white coat.
The inbreeding results in many defects, early deaths, still births, which is a total antithesis of conservation.
Consider this – Only one in four tiger cubs from a white tiger bred to an orange one carrying the white gene are born white and 80% of those die from birth defects associated with the inbreeding necessary to cause a white coat, of those surviving, most of them have profound birth defects such as immune deficiency, scoliosis of spine (distorted spine), mental impairments and grossly crossed eyes that bulge out of their skull. Worse still are those who are born the “wrong colour” or golden. Mostly in such cases the cubs are either abandoned or “ put to sleep “. Only a small percentage of the surviving cubs are suitable for display.
According to some trainers, only one out of 30 white cats will perform consistently. The number of tigers produced and disposed off in order to fulfill the public’s desire of seeing white tigers on display is staggering.
And to think of it, even the most coveted zoological parks like the famous Nandanhanan (Orissa) and the National Zoological Gardens (New Delhi) are infamous for mortality rates as high as 58% and 76% respectively.
Acc. To Dr. Ron Tilson, Conservation director of the Minnesota Zoo and manager of the world renowned “Tiger Species Survival Plan”. The white tiger controversy among zoos is a small part ethics and a long part economics. They serve no conservation purpose. Owners of white tigers claim that they are popular exhibit animals and increase zoo attendance as well.
This is an unspoken issue that shames the very integrity of zoos. Their alleged conservation programs and their message to the visiting public, zoos are meant to serve as conservation ground for species in distress.
As we all know, tigers hunt by distress and not by speed. Once it has chosen its prey the tiger creeps towards it perfectly camouflaged by its surroundings. With mathematically precise movements, the advancing hind foot meeting exactly the spot covered by the forefoot. Moving close enough to make a kill, it springs forward at great speed, performing a series of impressive leaps, covering distances up to 13 feet in a bound. Tigers do not approach directly, but circles around the animal. The tigers are not much of runners but are primarily stealthy. I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the fact that in a tropical country like ours it is not possible for a white tiger to survive. In order to survive it is the basic necessity of an organism to feed to its basic requirements. How can a tiger do that if the prey runs away from the mere sight of it?
The only convincible and legitimate reason for exhibiting a white tiger would be for educational purposes to clearly and unequivocally illustrate to the public the process of natural selection and how, when a deleterious recessive genetic mutation randomly occurs that is disadvantageous for the survival of the animal, such as white colour in a tropical jungle environment, the animal does not survive to pass on that genetic mutation or that disadvantageous characteristic to its offspring.
This was the normal course of natural selection and evolution of the tiger until the framed Mohan, believed to be the father of all existing white tigers was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh. The chronology of the white Bengal tiger up until the death of Mohan is as follows:
1820: A white tiger was displayed at Exter Change.
1915: White tiger cub captured by Maharajah Gulab Singh of Reva. Upon its death it was gifted to King George 5 as a sign of India’s Loyalty to the crown.
25th May 1951: A forest laborer reported sighting a white tiger cub.
26th May 1951: The cub’s mother and two of its three siblings were shot and killed.
27th May 1951:Maharajah Martand Singh captured Mohan.
30th May 1951: The cub escapes and a large party goes out to recapture it.
26th Feb 1952: A normal coloured tigress called begum captured.
10th April 1955: Begum produced a litter of a male and two female cubs. They were christened Raja, Rani, Sukeshi and Mohini.
December 1957: Mohan is mated with Radha, his four year old daughter from the second litter with Begum.
20th October 1958: Radha produced an all – white litter of a male and three female cubs. They were christened Raja, Rani, Sukeshi and Mohini.
Sukeshi was kept for mating with Mohan and remained with him until he was withdrawn from breeding. Her son showed no interest in mating with her and after six years without success, she too was transferred to the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, where she died on 2nd Feb 1975.
May 1964: Raja and Rani were mated. Rani gave birth to white cubs, a male and a female. The female died and the male “ Tippu” lost his tail and was hand raised with great difficulty.
August 1965: Two white cubs born to Rani and both die due to neglect.
19th December 1965: Three white cubs born to Rani, they were left in her care for just over a month after which she lost interest and the cubs were hand raised.
Breeding of Rani continues until she produced a total of 20 cubs, all white.
19th December 1969: Mohan dies at an age of 19 years 7 months. All captive white tigers descend from Mohan.
At the moment, Swaraj and Kaveri are parents to all the tigers at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
Like us even tigers prefer choosing their own mates. They are usually in heat all year round, but tigers have been reported to show a lack of interest in mating during captivity and it is very rare that they might produce a new litter every year. Apart from this the period of gestation is approximately 105 days after which the tigress gives birth to a litter of 2 – 4 cubs. That means in zoos, where tigers mate hardly 2 times in a year, producing a litter of 6 – 8 cubs in all of which only two have a chance of survival. An average tiger consumes around 10 – 12 kg of meat in one sitting.
Acc. To statistics released in 2004, there are 1576 tigers left in the wild in 27 wildlife reserves of all 11 states in India and their population over the world have plunged from 100,ooo at the beginning of the 20th century to 5000 – 7000 today.
In the conservation scenario, tigers are no longer “burning bright” in the world’s most famous tiger preserves. Thus anyone involved in breeding or exhibiting white tigers is doing a great disservice to honest conservation and preservation efforts to save the five remaining and endangered sub – species barely clinging to survival in their diminishing natural habitats. The time, money and energy spent in rearing one white coloured tiger cub is almost twice the cost of rearing a normal coloured one because of the unsurity of its survival.
Therefore, exhibiting and breeding white tigers is the very antithesis of conservation, catering to the public’s desire to see genetic aberrations rather than educating the public how the unbelievable diversity of life has evolved on our planet throughout the past 50 million years and the crucial need for us to preserve our global eco – system if we desire to save any threatened or endangered species from extinction.
By : Swathi Soren
Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University
The myth of the rare Bengal Tiger was an illusion meant to deceive the general public into thinking these cats were endangered and being preserved for future generations. The truth here is that they are not a separate sub – species of tigers, as they are promoted to be, but a result of severe genetic defects associating with the inbreeding necessary to cause the white coat.
The inbreeding results in many defects, early deaths, still births, which is a total antithesis of conservation.
Consider this – Only one in four tiger cubs from a white tiger bred to an orange one carrying the white gene are born white and 80% of those die from birth defects associated with the inbreeding necessary to cause a white coat, of those surviving, most of them have profound birth defects such as immune deficiency, scoliosis of spine (distorted spine), mental impairments and grossly crossed eyes that bulge out of their skull. Worse still are those who are born the “wrong colour” or golden. Mostly in such cases the cubs are either abandoned or “ put to sleep “. Only a small percentage of the surviving cubs are suitable for display.
According to some trainers, only one out of 30 white cats will perform consistently. The number of tigers produced and disposed off in order to fulfill the public’s desire of seeing white tigers on display is staggering.
And to think of it, even the most coveted zoological parks like the famous Nandanhanan (Orissa) and the National Zoological Gardens (New Delhi) are infamous for mortality rates as high as 58% and 76% respectively.
Acc. To Dr. Ron Tilson, Conservation director of the Minnesota Zoo and manager of the world renowned “Tiger Species Survival Plan”. The white tiger controversy among zoos is a small part ethics and a long part economics. They serve no conservation purpose. Owners of white tigers claim that they are popular exhibit animals and increase zoo attendance as well.
This is an unspoken issue that shames the very integrity of zoos. Their alleged conservation programs and their message to the visiting public, zoos are meant to serve as conservation ground for species in distress.
As we all know, tigers hunt by distress and not by speed. Once it has chosen its prey the tiger creeps towards it perfectly camouflaged by its surroundings. With mathematically precise movements, the advancing hind foot meeting exactly the spot covered by the forefoot. Moving close enough to make a kill, it springs forward at great speed, performing a series of impressive leaps, covering distances up to 13 feet in a bound. Tigers do not approach directly, but circles around the animal. The tigers are not much of runners but are primarily stealthy. I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the fact that in a tropical country like ours it is not possible for a white tiger to survive. In order to survive it is the basic necessity of an organism to feed to its basic requirements. How can a tiger do that if the prey runs away from the mere sight of it?
The only convincible and legitimate reason for exhibiting a white tiger would be for educational purposes to clearly and unequivocally illustrate to the public the process of natural selection and how, when a deleterious recessive genetic mutation randomly occurs that is disadvantageous for the survival of the animal, such as white colour in a tropical jungle environment, the animal does not survive to pass on that genetic mutation or that disadvantageous characteristic to its offspring.
This was the normal course of natural selection and evolution of the tiger until the framed Mohan, believed to be the father of all existing white tigers was captured by Maharajah Martand Singh. The chronology of the white Bengal tiger up until the death of Mohan is as follows:
1820: A white tiger was displayed at Exter Change.
1915: White tiger cub captured by Maharajah Gulab Singh of Reva. Upon its death it was gifted to King George 5 as a sign of India’s Loyalty to the crown.
25th May 1951: A forest laborer reported sighting a white tiger cub.
26th May 1951: The cub’s mother and two of its three siblings were shot and killed.
27th May 1951:Maharajah Martand Singh captured Mohan.
30th May 1951: The cub escapes and a large party goes out to recapture it.
26th Feb 1952: A normal coloured tigress called begum captured.
10th April 1955: Begum produced a litter of a male and two female cubs. They were christened Raja, Rani, Sukeshi and Mohini.
December 1957: Mohan is mated with Radha, his four year old daughter from the second litter with Begum.
20th October 1958: Radha produced an all – white litter of a male and three female cubs. They were christened Raja, Rani, Sukeshi and Mohini.
Sukeshi was kept for mating with Mohan and remained with him until he was withdrawn from breeding. Her son showed no interest in mating with her and after six years without success, she too was transferred to the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, where she died on 2nd Feb 1975.
May 1964: Raja and Rani were mated. Rani gave birth to white cubs, a male and a female. The female died and the male “ Tippu” lost his tail and was hand raised with great difficulty.
August 1965: Two white cubs born to Rani and both die due to neglect.
19th December 1965: Three white cubs born to Rani, they were left in her care for just over a month after which she lost interest and the cubs were hand raised.
Breeding of Rani continues until she produced a total of 20 cubs, all white.
19th December 1969: Mohan dies at an age of 19 years 7 months. All captive white tigers descend from Mohan.
At the moment, Swaraj and Kaveri are parents to all the tigers at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
Like us even tigers prefer choosing their own mates. They are usually in heat all year round, but tigers have been reported to show a lack of interest in mating during captivity and it is very rare that they might produce a new litter every year. Apart from this the period of gestation is approximately 105 days after which the tigress gives birth to a litter of 2 – 4 cubs. That means in zoos, where tigers mate hardly 2 times in a year, producing a litter of 6 – 8 cubs in all of which only two have a chance of survival. An average tiger consumes around 10 – 12 kg of meat in one sitting.
Acc. To statistics released in 2004, there are 1576 tigers left in the wild in 27 wildlife reserves of all 11 states in India and their population over the world have plunged from 100,ooo at the beginning of the 20th century to 5000 – 7000 today.
In the conservation scenario, tigers are no longer “burning bright” in the world’s most famous tiger preserves. Thus anyone involved in breeding or exhibiting white tigers is doing a great disservice to honest conservation and preservation efforts to save the five remaining and endangered sub – species barely clinging to survival in their diminishing natural habitats. The time, money and energy spent in rearing one white coloured tiger cub is almost twice the cost of rearing a normal coloured one because of the unsurity of its survival.
Therefore, exhibiting and breeding white tigers is the very antithesis of conservation, catering to the public’s desire to see genetic aberrations rather than educating the public how the unbelievable diversity of life has evolved on our planet throughout the past 50 million years and the crucial need for us to preserve our global eco – system if we desire to save any threatened or endangered species from extinction.
By : Swathi Soren
Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University
Thursday, March 22, 2007
City walk with SBT
Imagining the life of homeless children and actually knowing it, are entirely different things and to make us understand this difference we, a group of nine students, were invited to New Delhi Railway Station on the 17th of March by The Tehelka Foundation. They had actually planned a ‘CITY WALK’ and the orientation of an NGO named SALAM BALAK TRUST.
We reached the station at about ten in the morning as were instructed. There we saw John, the social worker from England, & Gauri maam waiting for us along with reporters from CNN IBN and three boys who were later going to be our tour guides. Our meeting started with an introduction. They introduced themselves as Javed, Shekhar and Satnam but it took me in a bit of surprise as the introduction came to me in perfect English.
And then the much awaited city walk started about which none of us had much idea. Actually the city walk was a tour through the station making us familiar with the life of children living on the station. These are the children who run away from their homes in small towns and villages and eventually land up leading there life on the station. The reasons for their running away from home are varied from family problems, to the search of the glamourous city life or to simply fulfill their dreams.
Salaam Baalak Trust protects these children from the life which they live on the railway station and helps them to lead a settled life. They provide these children with basic amenities like food, shelter, clothing and education and also work towards the developmentb of their overall personality. Our tour guides were similar children who were rescued and brought to Salaam Baalak Trust's shelter homes.
We were first taken to the area where trains were parked. We were told that children often come and spend nights in the stationery trains. A little walk on that platform we were shown people from Salaam Baalak Trust training street children to take care of themselves i.e. eat clean food, bathe and follow a hygienic life. This shelter based at the station's platform called "Prerna Centre".
We then moved on to platform no. 1, where all the luxury trains arrived. We were told that this platform was supposed to be kept ‘extra’ clean by the railway authorities.This is where all the VIP trains arrived, hence it had to be free from any of these street kids. Often the Railway Police authorities would use physical force to keep these kids off the platform.
We then made way onto a foot over bridge to change platforms from where we were showed the area where the trains were washed. We were informed that children living on the station often took bath there and went to watch films wearing cheap new clothes. On getting onto the platform Shekhar showed us sheds above the platform and told us that children climb up these sheds and play card games. Just then Satnam interrupted to share the unfortunate event where a kid had fallen onto the train tracks form one of the sheds.
Moving on, javed told us how a lot of these children join gangs with gang leaders and specified there gang areas. These gangs, in there gang areas, are involved in thefts, pick pocketing and collecting empty bottles and cans from trains to sell it to shopkeepers. He also shared a bitter experience of him being stabbed by a boy of a gang because he entered their gang area.
After this, we proceeded to a shelter just outside the station and above the railway police office. Here we met newly rescued children being taught by volunteers. We introduced ourselves to some of those children and played a lido game with them and made some friends.
After spending some time with them, we bid them bye. Later all of us hired ‘rickshaws’ and went to Salaam Baalak Trusts main shelter home called "Apna Ghar".
There were some children studying, some playing and some using a computer. All of us introduced ourselves to the children there. We played with them and learnt about their daily routine. Later in the day, some of the children performed a skit for us before we called the day off.
I happy to tell you all, that day i made many friends namely: javed, shekhar, satnam, sudhir, prince and sachin. I also realized that these children had a very strong determination abut what they are going to do in life.
Our day was full of excitement and adventure which showed the various lights of life to us, thanks to THE TEHELKA FOUNDATION
- By Rohit Gupta
New Era Public School, New Delhi
We reached the station at about ten in the morning as were instructed. There we saw John, the social worker from England, & Gauri maam waiting for us along with reporters from CNN IBN and three boys who were later going to be our tour guides. Our meeting started with an introduction. They introduced themselves as Javed, Shekhar and Satnam but it took me in a bit of surprise as the introduction came to me in perfect English.
And then the much awaited city walk started about which none of us had much idea. Actually the city walk was a tour through the station making us familiar with the life of children living on the station. These are the children who run away from their homes in small towns and villages and eventually land up leading there life on the station. The reasons for their running away from home are varied from family problems, to the search of the glamourous city life or to simply fulfill their dreams.
Salaam Baalak Trust protects these children from the life which they live on the railway station and helps them to lead a settled life. They provide these children with basic amenities like food, shelter, clothing and education and also work towards the developmentb of their overall personality. Our tour guides were similar children who were rescued and brought to Salaam Baalak Trust's shelter homes.
We were first taken to the area where trains were parked. We were told that children often come and spend nights in the stationery trains. A little walk on that platform we were shown people from Salaam Baalak Trust training street children to take care of themselves i.e. eat clean food, bathe and follow a hygienic life. This shelter based at the station's platform called "Prerna Centre".
We then moved on to platform no. 1, where all the luxury trains arrived. We were told that this platform was supposed to be kept ‘extra’ clean by the railway authorities.This is where all the VIP trains arrived, hence it had to be free from any of these street kids. Often the Railway Police authorities would use physical force to keep these kids off the platform.
We then made way onto a foot over bridge to change platforms from where we were showed the area where the trains were washed. We were informed that children living on the station often took bath there and went to watch films wearing cheap new clothes. On getting onto the platform Shekhar showed us sheds above the platform and told us that children climb up these sheds and play card games. Just then Satnam interrupted to share the unfortunate event where a kid had fallen onto the train tracks form one of the sheds.
Moving on, javed told us how a lot of these children join gangs with gang leaders and specified there gang areas. These gangs, in there gang areas, are involved in thefts, pick pocketing and collecting empty bottles and cans from trains to sell it to shopkeepers. He also shared a bitter experience of him being stabbed by a boy of a gang because he entered their gang area.
After this, we proceeded to a shelter just outside the station and above the railway police office. Here we met newly rescued children being taught by volunteers. We introduced ourselves to some of those children and played a lido game with them and made some friends.
After spending some time with them, we bid them bye. Later all of us hired ‘rickshaws’ and went to Salaam Baalak Trusts main shelter home called "Apna Ghar".
There were some children studying, some playing and some using a computer. All of us introduced ourselves to the children there. We played with them and learnt about their daily routine. Later in the day, some of the children performed a skit for us before we called the day off.
I happy to tell you all, that day i made many friends namely: javed, shekhar, satnam, sudhir, prince and sachin. I also realized that these children had a very strong determination abut what they are going to do in life.
Our day was full of excitement and adventure which showed the various lights of life to us, thanks to THE TEHELKA FOUNDATION
- By Rohit Gupta
New Era Public School, New Delhi
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Cerebral Palsy: The End Or A Beginning?
Cerebral Palsy – The dictionary describes it as “a paralysis due to brain damage before or at birth.” But these few words of formal English can not describe the plight of those innocent faces whose dreams and desires are destroyed by a lot of innocence.
A paralytic body due to the brain is more or less like a chariot whose charioteers injured badly. When the words like ‘handicapped’, ‘disabled’, ’abnormal’ ring in ones ears, even the poor eyes refuse to shed tears on their ruined destiny. The bitterness of the society kills their confidence completely. For them, life is gloomy with darkness and solitude.
But I believe, a small spark is enough to turn into fire and here their SOLITUDE is the spark by which they enlighten their lives. With their stupendous confidence and incredible courage, they rise like a phoenix from its ashes. The charioteer was injured not dead. Leaving all the criticisms and grievances they strive for a new and colorful morning in their life.
So it is high time in making their ‘end’ a ‘new beginning’. A time to be a part of their ultimate glory, a time to listen to their heart’s voice.
‘We don’t want your pity, we want your understanding.’
- by Sapna Sharma
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Vikaspuri
New Delhi
A paralytic body due to the brain is more or less like a chariot whose charioteers injured badly. When the words like ‘handicapped’, ‘disabled’, ’abnormal’ ring in ones ears, even the poor eyes refuse to shed tears on their ruined destiny. The bitterness of the society kills their confidence completely. For them, life is gloomy with darkness and solitude.
But I believe, a small spark is enough to turn into fire and here their SOLITUDE is the spark by which they enlighten their lives. With their stupendous confidence and incredible courage, they rise like a phoenix from its ashes. The charioteer was injured not dead. Leaving all the criticisms and grievances they strive for a new and colorful morning in their life.
So it is high time in making their ‘end’ a ‘new beginning’. A time to be a part of their ultimate glory, a time to listen to their heart’s voice.
‘We don’t want your pity, we want your understanding.’
- by Sapna Sharma
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Vikaspuri
New Delhi
India Shining
A little homeless girl was standing
On a mound of pebbles and sand
Wishing for a fairy with a helping hand
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining.
'Happy Birthday' everybody was singing
As a knife went through a ten kilo cake
While a mother was searching for food for her baby awake
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining.
Innocence was flowingfrom his eyes
As that littke boy watched the car rushed by
Till one of them hit him and made him die
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining
The grey clouds are gathering upon us
It is for us to find the silver outline
And step up with efforts to make India really shine
And then say India Shining, India Shining
- Asiya Islam
Aligarh Muslim University
On a mound of pebbles and sand
Wishing for a fairy with a helping hand
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining.
'Happy Birthday' everybody was singing
As a knife went through a ten kilo cake
While a mother was searching for food for her baby awake
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining.
Innocence was flowingfrom his eyes
As that littke boy watched the car rushed by
Till one of them hit him and made him die
And yet we say India Shining, India Shining
The grey clouds are gathering upon us
It is for us to find the silver outline
And step up with efforts to make India really shine
And then say India Shining, India Shining
- Asiya Islam
Aligarh Muslim University
The Rights of One
There’s an old saying that states if one person’s rights and freedoms are trampled with impunity, then no one’s rights are safe. If we, as a society,stand idly by and let freedoms be desecrated, then we’re all just standing in line to have our rights revoked next. In such a land, no man is truly free, instead, we're all just living off of borrowed time.
The idea is that we’re supposed to stand up for the rights of others,including those we don’t know and don’t agree with, to protect our own liberties in the face of oppression. Though it's definitely a significant and noble concept that has an importance which can not be understated, the notion has a flip side that’s seldom explored and, sadly, often ignored.
For, if we have an obligation to stand up for the rights of others, it is equally important that we stand up for our own. After all, how can we ever hope to effectively stand up for strangers if we refuse to do so for ourselves. Worse still, how can we ever hope to enjoy our rights when we refuse to play an active role in protecting them.
Yet how many times have we taken a wrongdoing simply because we don’t want to deal with it, we don’t feel like fighting or it’s just plain easier to let it go? Even though we all have to pick our battles, it never ceases to amaze me how many people refuse to stand up for themselves, even though their rights are directly tied to the freedoms of everyone around them.
A lot of this is because we’re in a society that values selflessness and frowns upon anything perceived as being selfish. We want people to keep their heads down, be quiet and roll with the punches. We look at society as a machine and we don’t want anything to interfere with its workings. However, we quickly forget that injustice rarely stops at one person and that by protecting our rights, we can protect the rights of others as well.
After all, if we don’t stop the infringement, it will just continue to roll on through to the next person and the next, until someone stands up to it. Sometimes the more selfless thing to do is to stand up for ourselves, to put forth the effort in protecting ourselves from an injustice to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Sometimes the effort we spend fighting for our own rights can save countless others from a similar fate.
So yes, we must stand up for others whenever possible, we must defend the rights of those we’ve never met and never will see. However, we must also protect ourselves. Security, in every respect of the word, starts at home and looking at it solely in terms of the big picture makes it far too daunting a challenge to tackle.
The real battle is going on right now and the time to take a stand is upon us all. Whether we choose to fight or roll over will not only determine our future as a person, but our destiny as a people. And that destiny, good or bad, is what our children and our children’s children will inherit. If we can’t do it for ourselves, we have to do it for them.
There simply is no alternative.
- by Ipshita Thakur
The idea is that we’re supposed to stand up for the rights of others,including those we don’t know and don’t agree with, to protect our own liberties in the face of oppression. Though it's definitely a significant and noble concept that has an importance which can not be understated, the notion has a flip side that’s seldom explored and, sadly, often ignored.
For, if we have an obligation to stand up for the rights of others, it is equally important that we stand up for our own. After all, how can we ever hope to effectively stand up for strangers if we refuse to do so for ourselves. Worse still, how can we ever hope to enjoy our rights when we refuse to play an active role in protecting them.
Yet how many times have we taken a wrongdoing simply because we don’t want to deal with it, we don’t feel like fighting or it’s just plain easier to let it go? Even though we all have to pick our battles, it never ceases to amaze me how many people refuse to stand up for themselves, even though their rights are directly tied to the freedoms of everyone around them.
A lot of this is because we’re in a society that values selflessness and frowns upon anything perceived as being selfish. We want people to keep their heads down, be quiet and roll with the punches. We look at society as a machine and we don’t want anything to interfere with its workings. However, we quickly forget that injustice rarely stops at one person and that by protecting our rights, we can protect the rights of others as well.
After all, if we don’t stop the infringement, it will just continue to roll on through to the next person and the next, until someone stands up to it. Sometimes the more selfless thing to do is to stand up for ourselves, to put forth the effort in protecting ourselves from an injustice to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Sometimes the effort we spend fighting for our own rights can save countless others from a similar fate.
So yes, we must stand up for others whenever possible, we must defend the rights of those we’ve never met and never will see. However, we must also protect ourselves. Security, in every respect of the word, starts at home and looking at it solely in terms of the big picture makes it far too daunting a challenge to tackle.
The real battle is going on right now and the time to take a stand is upon us all. Whether we choose to fight or roll over will not only determine our future as a person, but our destiny as a people. And that destiny, good or bad, is what our children and our children’s children will inherit. If we can’t do it for ourselves, we have to do it for them.
There simply is no alternative.
- by Ipshita Thakur
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