NIRBHAYA- The spirit of India!!!

16th December 2012, started off as a normal day for most of the Indians but ended up shaking everyone

That night a rape case was reported in New Delhi, the (rape) capital of India. In the year 2012, about 600 rape cases were recorded in New Delhi alone but the brutal case of a 23 yr old physiotherapist served as an eye-opener. 

The girl , 'Nirbhaya', as the world recognizes her, boarded a private bus with her male friend on 16th night. What happened in the bus to her and her friend is known to all. She was mercilessly raped by 5 men , beaten up with iron rods and thrown out of a moving bus with her friend and left to die. 

 The young girl who otherwise had a bright and budding future, lay bleeding on a deserted street in the middle of the night.

       She was hospitalized but eventually after a 13 day ordeal she succumbed to her injuries on 29th December.

        This case brought the whole nation together

Even while battling against death, she triggered a national movement and her death has shaken the "People of India".

She has become an icon, a national hero as the barbarism meted out to her has catalyzed a national debate about atrocity against women and also the mindset of seeing women as an object of pleasure. Today the entire country is debating about the same mindset and people are asking themselves as to why we can't see all women with the same eye that we have for our own daughters, sisters and other women family members.

 Several hundred people from various religions, castes and age.groups unitedly prayed for Nirbhaya and held protests to bring her justice. The public was lathi-charged and tear-gassed but this act of the police rather fueled the public than deterring them. All new channels and papers gave a full coverage of this case.

         Out of the thousands of rape cases that occurred in 2012 in India, why was this the one which served as an eye-opener?

 Why was this the one Which became so famous? It may have been because Nirbhaya came forward. Because Nirbhaya wanted to live. Wanted to fight.

Nirbhaya, of no choice of her own, has become the inspiring leader of this new India’s movement against this horrendous crime. She must not be treated as a symbol, but her spirit should live on in all of us and keep inspiring us to be brave- which does not mean ‘not fearing’, but rather acting bravely and with integrity despite feeling fearful. I would have rather christened her ‘veera’ or ‘rani laxmi bai’ as they had both fought bravely for their honor and despite first appearances, their efforts did not go in vain – as they kept inspiring whole generations

 

          Who is to blame for such incidents? The police? Government? The law? Or the public? 

It is actually all of us.

 Agreed that we need a stronger law and a stronger police force. But what we also need is to be brave. We , the common man. We many times do see an accident victim bleeding on a highway or a woman being publicly molested but we turn a blind eye just to escape all the "jhamela". 

 but as the famous quote says, 'When you see a mistake occuring and you dont fix it, it is your mistake'.

       Let us all decide to adopt zero tolerance. Nirbhaya, like Jessica Lall, has provided us another opportunity to both look within, and reform as a society, and to enforce strictly the laws of the land and get speedy justice for the victims and their families. With Mother India itself having adopted Nirbhaya as her daughter, the entire nation waits for justice and retribution

Let us all pray for Nirbhaya and all those crores of women worldwide who have been subjected to such cruelty. And let us all demand a stronger law in whose eyes rape and cruelty to women is not a mere offence but a serious crime!

  

                Niraja

                  BPT(1)

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY, STING LIKE A BEE

Confused?! 

Wondering what the title is referring to?! Well... I guess (hope) few might have understood... many still wondering, and before anybody gets involved in a weird chain of thoughts, let me break the thinking-cloud!

I am referring to “The Greatest’’. This man is a man of words and without doubt, a man of smooth and flawless action. He is that sensational figure who changed the concept of boxing... and is idolized for his unorthodox fighting style and his unique techniques. Sharp in the ring with his quick hands and captivating in society with his vivid prose, he fashioned boxing by his unique style. The title is an epitome of ‘who he is and how he is’. As many of you have guessed by now, I am clearly referring to ‘the boxing legend-Muhammad Ali’. 

On the occasion of his 71^st birthday which falls on the 17^th of January,on behalf of the Ed-board I wish to pay tribute to this ‘living legendary figure’.

Muhammad Ali, a resident at Louisville, was born on January 17^th 1942. He is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and a social activist. Considered a cultural icon, Ali has both been idolized and vilified. He started his boxing training right at the age of 12 years and within a matter of six years, that is, by the age of 18 years (1960) he won all the possible titles of an amateur. His boxing career lasted for 21 years. He also won the gold Olympic medal for boxing in the 1960 Olympic Games. Despite the downfalls in his life, where his boxing career and champion title was stripped down, he returned to the boxing ring with a remarkable performance earning him ‘the only first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion.’

Muhammad Ali, needless to say, in every aspect of boxing; was electrifying. It is just not his unique boxing styles that has captured the attention of millions, his confident personality, daring attitude, his sense of humor,  has attracted many fan followers idolizing him to be ‘the greatest’.

“If you sign to fight me, increase your insurance.

Ali's got a left, Ali's got a right.

If he hits you once, you're asleep for the night."

-Muhammad Ali (before his first match)

Following being diagnosed with Parkinsonism in 1984, Ali was still involved with Boxing. 

He participated as a guest referee in many of the boxing matches.

 He was also involved with many of the good-will missions which took him to Kabul as the“UN Messenger Of peace’’. 

He also has his auto biography titled “The Greatest: My Own Story” written and published.

“Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

― Muhammad Ali

There is this interesting fact that I came across while reading about him. It is called ‘The Muhammad Ali Effect’ a term used in psychology that was named after him when he stated, "I only said I was the greatest, not the smartest" in his autobiography. According to this effect, when people are asked to rate their intelligence and moral behavior in comparison to others, people will rate themselves as more moral, but not more intelligent than others.

‘Ali is the Renaissance of boxing!’

So wishing this Ultimate Legend a Happy Birthday!
                                                                
                                                                                 JUMANA 
                                                                                   BOT (3)

Makar Sankranti...

Sky seems to be a colored chart with the vibrant colored kites flying everywhere.
 Exactly it is the Makar Sankranti. The only festival which falls on the same day every year celebrated on 14 th of January! 

Makar literally means Capricon and Sankranti is the day when sun passes from one zodiac sign to other. Although geographically on this day sun passes from tropic of Cancer to tropic of Capricon i.e the sun enters the constellation of Makar(crocodile) and begins to move towards the north. Also this day has a special significance as the day and night of Makar Sankranti are of equal hours!! 

Usually this day is celebrated in India with a lot cheerfulness.
 A dish called " khichadi" is prepared by mixing rice and dal.
 A famous saying " TIL GUD KHAO MEETHA MEETHA BOLO" is said on this day while distributing til laddoos. These laddoos are specially prepared from til and jaggery due to their nutritive values. Reason behind this sweet is til n jaggery keep body warm. A common ritual of Haldi Kumkum is followed in women of hindu communities. 

Then comes the most awaiting and interesting part of this day the kite flying. From small children to old age people enjoy flying kites during evening  breeze. Cutting each others kites n shouting " Kai Po Che" makes the kite flying more live and fun filled. Terraces of all the buildings on this day are fully crowded with people and loud music which charges their energy for kite flying. In the evening lanterns with diyas lit in them are left in the sky. This is the moment of true joy n pleasure as the sky is fully lit up with the brightness of the diyas.



This fest is an enjoyment for us but many birds and insects are harmed due to the manja thread tied to kites. As manja is made up of glass it leads to their death. It may also injure us in some way. 
A simpler way of celebrating it could be by writing wishes on balloons and leaving them into the sky.
 A way of enjoying and protecting our diversity too. 

                                            ARYA SALGAONKAR
                                                BPT (1)