Talk of real diseases Mr Health Minister and not of people's sexualtiy

The India health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad says homosexuality is a disease and it is unnatural.

Also, Chapter XVI, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalises homosexual activity.

More - a few years back, the government of India - fighting a case against toning down of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code to help prevent spread of HIV/AIDS among the homosexuals - filed an affidavit in the court. The affidavit read - ``Homosexuality is a social vice. Descriminalisation of homosexuality may cause breach of peace. If it is allowed, evils of AIDS and HIV would further spread and harm people leading to big health hazards. It would degrade moral values of the society.''

The case had been filed by a group of some human rights activists - who had pleaded the court that ``homosexual act among consenting adults should not be treated as a criminal activity''.

Even the then Director General of NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) Sujatha Rao had stated in one of the international conferences - "Section 377 places a huge constraint on Government's HIV/AIDS programme. By criminalising any behaviour, we increase the chances of it going underground.''

Her statement was buttressed by famous Indian writer Vikram Seth and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

A senior advocate in the Supreme Court, Anil Divan, too, in one of his articles, had quoted the American Psychological Association - ``Despite historical views of homosexuality, it is no longer viewed by mental health professionals as a `disease' or `disorder'. But obviously, neither it is simply a matter of deliberate personal selection. Homosexual orientation may well form part of the very fibre of an individual's personality.

And then Even the Delhi High Court in 2009 had observed -- "Moral indignation, howsoever strong, is not a valid basis for overriding individuals' fundamental rights of dignity and privacy. In our scheme of things Constitutional morality must outweigh the argument of public morality, even if it be the majoritarian view." Going even further, the court had found that Section 377 went against the Indian tradition and guiding political principle of inclusiveness.

"The big question is : Shouldn't we be allowed to pursue our sexual preferences in our own way rather than being dictated by the government or being governed by the law???

In matters of sex, the stress should be on ``consenting adults''. Any sexual act becomes a criminal activity if it takes place without the consent of the both involved - irrespective whether these two are men or women or man woman both.

Besides, more important point is - should or should not a country --

which despite all developments and scientific achievements still tops in maternal mortality, infant mortality, where women delivering their babies on the footsteps or in the corridors of hospitals is common (it does not become a matter of national concern as no minister discusses that), where immunisation of children to save them from deadly diseases is considerably low and many children die of common preventable diseases, whichis still fighting to eradicate polio, where majority of growing girl and expecting mothers suffer from acute anaemia, where a person dies of diabetes every ten second, where the number of people suffering from mental problems is remarkably high, where the number of Alzheimer disease is increasing --

should such a country concentrate on such a trivial and personal matter as its people's sexuality rather than making all our efforts to improve the pathetic health scenario of the nation ???

Bangladesh unfolded.....

There were so many firsts in my life during my recent visit to Bangladesh - a nation where people know how to welcome their guests and make them feel at home.

Starting from immigration and crossing the border, to our stay in Jessore district - each incident left some memory to cherish for life.

This was the first time I crossed the border and entered a foreign country, walking.

We arrived at Benapole - the border - in our car from Kolkata (84km) where an agent, who was supposed to ease the immigration formalities - received us. Whilst we sipped tea at his shop, our passports got stamped and we crossed the borders without any hassle.

On the other side of the border (in Bangladesh) a Toyota mini bus was waiting for us with its engine and air conditioner on. We didn't even realise when our passports got the immigration stamps done.

The journey started....

We were taken to the government guest house for lunch. A neat and clean place, including the washrooms (unlike government guest houses, at least in Uttar Pradesh).

As we entered the dining hall, we found irresistible culinary temptations waiting for us - the dining table was laid with a good number of mouthwatering dishes.

This was my close encounter with the Bengali cuisine and it turned into love at first sight. I binged for a change and longed for more. But this was only the beginning as afterwards each meal out-passed the previous. For me it was difficult to decide which dish I liked more or which meal I enjoyed more.

After the day-long work we were driven to our hotel Park Palace in Jessore. The hotel appeared shady from outside but as I entered the room, I had to change my opinion. Big clean rooms with all facilities and swanky lifts ensured that better times were ahead.

Bangladesh seemed to be strongly influenced by China. The roads are full of smart Chinese auto rickshaws. The shops are full of variety of stuff from China. The height - Channel V was in Chinese and all English movie channels gave subtitles in Chinese. What topped everything else was their cold drink called Mojo!

Small place yet all imported cars from Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volvo etc could be seen on the road. However, the trucks or lorries are either the old English Bedford or our very own Tata, which get modified immediately after they enter the country.

A country so green and so full of water reservoirs is full of fruit trees - such as Jackfruit (Kathal), Taad (a variety of palm), Batabi Lembu (a huge lemon), Jamrule (never seen that fruit before), Date Palm (Khajoor), Coconut Palm and many others. Strange is that all these fruit are taken as fruit even Jackfruit, Taad and Batabi Lembu.

During our visit we also met a few government officers and strangely enough we found them quite forthright. They neither tried to dissuade us by saying they don't have time nor they tried to paint a rosy picture of the problems around them.

It was a short visit and soon it was time for us to say good bye to our hosts.

We took a local airline United Airways to fly from Jessore to Dhaka - the capital of Bangladesh. We were supposed to walk up to the aircraft - identify our luggage on way before boarding the aircraft. A small aircraft - sitting inside I could see its wheels going in and out at the time of take off and landing - again a first!

We arrived at Dhaka - quite neat airport but probably one of the very few airports anywhere in the world, to have Azaan on loud speakers inside the airport.

Over all it was an enthralling experience, which inspired me to visit the country at least once again with the eye of a tourist and find out more ways, which make it an interesting and unique nation.

Human Rights?

Human Rights!

Every time a terrorist is killed anywhere in the world a debate starts in India on ``violation of Human Rights''.

The debate is sure to start after the Navy SEALs of the US succeeded in killing Osama Bin Laden - the man who changed the skyline of America.

The Times of India sparked the debate by raising the Human Rights issue. The paper wrote - ``American Commandos are now vulnerable to the allegation that they overreacted and cannot claim that they killed in self-defense. This is thanks to universally accepted principle that whenever there is scope to capture somebody alive, the first priority of the security personal should be to bring him to justice. The prospects of interrogating the Al Qaida chief and putting him on trial would have arguably served the cause of justice.''

Now, I am dreading the Human Rights activists to start the debate on the issue.

But the question is : which cause of justice they are talking about!

And what would anybody achieve by bringing the killers of millions of people to justice!!

India presents explicit examples of capturing terrorists and then bringing them to justice.

There are Afzal Gurus, Abu Salems and Abdul Kasabs locked in jails undergoing trial after trial.

They dared to attack the Indian parliament, killed thousands of innocent people, including children and women - of all religion and caste and all social and economical backgrounds.

Their never-ending trials are going on forever. We have grown old watching and listening about them. We also watched our politicians fighting over questions whether Afzal Guru should be given the death sentence or should he be pardoned. We have seen Kasab laughing at our lenient judiciary and political system. We have seen Abu Salem aspiring to reach the parliament eventually.

All courtesy - Human Rights!!!

No one talks of Human Rights when these barbaric people kill millions of innocent people in the name of Jihad.

Ask the families, which lost their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, spouses in terrorist attacks, about Human Rights. For them the justice is when the man who caused a genocide, gets killed.

I, too, feel that the justice is when such barbaric and mentally deranged men are eliminated from this planet.

I salute to the US - the country which could wipe the tears of millions of people who lost their near and dear ones in the terrorist attack, in the real sense.

Such killings should not be seen as revenge - because they are not revenge in any senses.

If a tiger starts eating humans who are entering the forests he is declared man-eater and the more than often such tigers are killed to save human lives.

In the same way, people like Osama who are killing humans should be declared harmful for the human race and their elimination should be the only answer.

The news of Osama's killing made me also happy as I have been feeling frustrated with never ending trials of terrorists in India.

The reason behind my frustration and the frustration of many more alike is that we all know where these trials will lead to....

Obviously to nowhere!!!

In lighter vein....

The mention of word surgery - be it minor or major - is enough to give anyone jitters - especially if a person is a weak hearted one. The unfortunate part is that more than often surgery is unavoidable, if advised by an expert. So, whether courageous or chicken, one has to undergo the long ordeal and the linked trauma, post operative pain, precautions and so on.

However, now I feel that a person can cope with all the mental agony, anxiousness and physical pain or discomfort. What is most difficult to cope with is the later part when one is recovering.

It is alright if the surgery was of head or limbs or any such important but non-interesting part of the body. But what if the surgery is of a woman's breast? Then it becomes a real trouble!!!

People ask with genuine concern, ``Oh, what had happened?'' and she simply explains that she got a surgery done on her breast for fibroids. Suddenly the expression changes. Curiosity takes over concern. The gaze shifts a meter below the eye level. It seems as if the person is trying to examine the operated organ through his x-ray vision. The inquirer starts measuring the difference this surgery must have made to poor woman's assets.

Now what a woman is supposed to do? Should she coyly avoid the question? Or should she mention a general health problem? Or should she boldly and casually tell the friends and acquaintances about the surgery, if asked?

A suggestion came from someone that the woman should frankly satiate the query and then depending on the gaze of the inquirer, she can also explain that the surgery was a simple process of removing a malignant or benign tumour known as fibroids and it does not cause any cosmetic harm to her breasts. The only difference this surgery has made to her is to lessen her mental stress and improved her chances of living a healthier life.

will someone please check what TV is serving our children

Facebook is an easy way to stay connected with friends. It also sometimes inform us about things which normally we are unaware of.

I am talking of a post by one of my friends which did not enlighten me though, but it did open my eyes to a new era and new generation of Indians, which I am not aware of.

The post introduced me to a different league of Indian youth, which I was totally unaware of. I had no idea that such a generation exists in this nation that talks so high of its culture and heritage.

The post was about a Rodies show on MTV, in which the channel tests the endurance of boys and girls and the one with true grit wins the contest.

I am not fond of such reality shows as I feel they spoil the innocence of children. I prefer not to waste my time watching such programmes, which according to me, are made for TV addicts with non-functional thinking faculties.

However, the comment of my friend on the post forced me to go through it.

And it left me aghast!!!

Although it did not affect the anchors of the show, who appeared cool and calm throughout.

I have no guts to repeat what I heard there - atrocious and objectionable language, obscene gestures and all that by two girls in their early twenties!!!

What I wonder is - Is there any censor board for television in India?

If there is, what are its members doing? Where are they? Don't they check what is being served to the audience?

The censor board for Hindi movies is so strict that they do not allow a love making scene in any movie, even today.

But here the words these girls used and the gestures they made, were not only obscene and shameful but was also a blot to Indian culture.

The sad part is that the target audience for these programmes is our future generation, which will grow watching and learning this crude and filthy way of talking.

The post said ``uncensored part of rodies' show''.

Fine, the MTV producers can say that it was the unedited version. But then they should know that in today's technologically advanced world everything comes on the internet - edited and unedited versions, both.

I again ask the MTV producers to answer as to why their anchors did not they ask the girls to leave the show immediately when they started using that foul language? Why did the anchors wait and let the girls continue belching filth out of their mouths?

It is an unpardonable decision by the anchors of the MTV Rodies show as well as the programme producers of MTV, to let that obscenity and vulgarity.

Just wonder is there anyone who would have taken notice of such a degradation of our culture and would stand up and take an action in this regard???

Right to Education - a long wait in Uttar Pradesh

When in Hazratganj - the posh shopping area of Lucknow city - people gathered in support of Right to Education Act, I spotted a kid (6-7 years old). His clothes were tattered and face was full of dust and grime. He was unaware of the event and its importance. He was there only because he saw a crowd there, which he found useful for him.

The kid was begging - lost in the crowd of grown ups.

He came to me also and I fired my curiosity at him, `hey, do you know what is happening here?' the kid looked at me with blank eyes and shook his head in negative. My curiosity was now reached its boiling stage. I asked another question, `do you have any idea about Right to Education?' The kid gave me a strange look and apparently taking me as a waste of time, he walked into the crowd - may be to a better client.

I stood there for a while shell-shocked - thinking.

The congregation was to gather support in favour of the Right to Education Act.

In 2002 the Indian government declared education a constitutional right after making an amendment in the constitution. This amendment was followed by Right to Education Act which was brought in 2010 and which made education compulsory for children between the age of 6-14.

The Indian government also made budgetary provisions for the implementation of the Act. Each state was asked to make its rules as per its requirements, so that the law could be enacted. The states were also asked to share a small portion of the financial burden only to make them committed to the cause.

A year has passed since then but the government in Uttar Pradesh is yet to formulate the rules to implement the law. Presently the state is basking in the glory of current census which has established the fact that the literacy rate in the state has gone up from 56 percent in 2001 census to almost 70 percent in the 2011 census.

Lost in my thoughts, I spotted the young boy again. Standing in the middle of the crowd scratching his unkempt hair with one hand while holding the begging bowl in the other.

I started wondering -- if this is the attitude of our governments, what would happen to children like him.

His presence in the elite crowd, demanding the government to implement the Right to Education law, was conspicuous. I wondered at the apathy of this government in Uttar Pradesh, which can easily spend billions of rupees in erecting monuments and statues but feels so tightfisted when it comes to investing on education of our children - the future of this nation.

just nine more years.....

"Lucknow aspires to be amongst the best cities in India, to live in, which provides universal access to sanitation facilities, especially to under privileged."

However, the ground reality in the city is.....

* Over 5-7 percent urban dwellers and 12 to 15 percent people living in slum dwellers defecate in the open.

* Over 6-9 percent urban and 19-22 percent population do not have access to individual toilets.

* Around 55 percent of the total sewage is not treated.

* Waste from septic tanks is disposed off without any treatment, along with solid waste.

* There is no provision for reuse of treated water.

* Around 50 percent of households throw solid waste in the open areas.

* Majority of small hospitals and clinics mix the biomedical waste with the household solid waste.

* Solid waste is transported in open vehicles.

* Waste water is not able to pass through open drains which are generally choked with solid waste.

This is a broad picture of the city as far as sanitation is concerned. Yet we aspire to become one of the best livable cities of India giving universal access to sanitation facilities to all, with a special mention of under privileged.

Nonetheless, an effort has been initiated jointly by the government agencies, non-government agencies, private partners and a group of common citizens to improve the present scenario and convert the city into a "Clean Lucknow - Green Lucknow''.

Lucknow is the capital of north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The fast growing city boasts of a few reputed educational and science research institutions of India. It has got India's one of the best management institute. The rich cultural heritage of Lucknow reflects in its Mughal and Colonial monuments.

However, the city urgently requires the infrastructure for basic civic amenities to bring it at par with all the metropolitan cities of the country.

The government has appointed a private company CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory to prepare a sanitation plan for the city. Before preparing the plan the company conducted a study to know the present status and found that interventions are required in building up infrastructure, governance and institutional coordination besides financial and social interventions.

The company with the help of international non government agencies like Oxfam and WaterAid is now holding consultations with voluntary organisations which are working on the issue with the communities at the grass root level and also with citizens who are interested in development of the city.

All the stakeholders have now started working together with a sole objective to make Lucknow 100 percent open defecation free besides ensuring 100 percent collection and scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste by 2020.

With SP around, UPA should not worry

At last the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has categorically stated that with his party around, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) does not have to worry about its existence.

Although he conveniently ignores the question if he has received any offer from the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to this regard, he admits that "the UPA has no crisis of numbers in the Parliament (which means the UPA has ever ready support from the Samajwadi Party in case of any need)."

After a long while Mulayam Singh, who is known as a grass root level politician, appeared in his usual aggressive "do or die" mode.

He sounded more concerned about his party's onward movement in Uttar Pradesh, which is its karmabhumi, than about the crisis in the UPA.

The biggest Opposition for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)- led government in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party has planned a mass movement in the state against the ruling party.

According to Mulayam, the state government has arrested over 15,000 youth supporting his party, in last three days. "This has already underlined the success of the party's movement scheduled to start from March 7.

Samajwadi Party is known for its strategic moves to make its agitations success. In the past also the party leaders on several occasions, have fooled the government's restrictions and have succeeded in their movements.

Working on the same pattern, Mulayam advised his party men to go underground for a day to make the agitation a success again.

"Now substantial arrests have already been made, hence the party youth, which is enthused, should hide for the day and come out with more energy tomorrow to make the people's agitation a success." These were the wise words of Mulayam for his party men.

"The Chief Minister Mayawati seems to be so scared that she is leaving no stone unturned to obstruct the Samajwadi movement, which is, in fact, a people's movement.'' He said the party had common man in its support.

Mulayam minced no words while drawing parallels between the Emergency period and the governance of Mayawati. But at the same time he also did not forget to remind Mayawati that people never forgive the leaders, who have ever tried to snub their voices.

"If people can show the consequences of atrocities of a leader to a person like former Prime Minister of India, late Indira Gandhi, who was such a popular leader, what is the capacity of Mayawati in front of her. She cannot be compared even with the dust at Ms. Gandhi's feet."

He concludes with a statement that any government that has snubbed the voices of youth, media and judiciary, that government has no chance of survival. "And Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party is snubbing all the three, so it is clear that she will have to bear the consequences in the next assembly election (slated early next year).

Law for bureaucrats! Huh.......

The bureaucrat (Indian Administrative Services or Indian Police Services) posted in a state like Uttar Pradesh are above all the laws.

At least my observation so far makes me believe this.

They don't need to worry about parking as their vehicles are parked everywhere and anywhere on the roads, they don't bother to queue up for anything as their escorts (policemen) will do the needful for them, they can conveniently use their office cars for taking their families for shopping and not only that, there too they will be escorted by a fleet of at least 20 policemen.

My recent visit to Agra and to Taj Mahal gave a fresh insight to this belief of mine.

It was December 25th. Christmas Day. Obviously, the Taj Mahal was buzzing with people who had come from far away places to see this 17th century wonder of the world. It must be over 500 people (men, women and children from different parts of the globe) who had lined up in two neat rows waiting for their turn to enter the monument.

And mind you, all of them with their official admission tickets (Indians : 20 Rupees and Foreign nationals : 750 Rupees). No one was fretting, no one was pushing, everyone happily making friends with their neighbours in the queue.

Whilst we had been waiting for our turn, I spotted a battery operated vehicle stopping bang in front of the Taj Mahal gate. (These vehicles leave the lesser mortals - people like you and me at least 100 metres before the gate.)

Jumped out of that vehicle a family of 7 or 8. No tickets, no queue, they enter from the passage which serves as exit for the commoners (who have bought tickets to see the monument).

The security people, who had so far been throwing their weight at people standing in the queues, started bowing their heads and were saluting the officer. It was a bureaucrat - an Indian Administrative Officer and his family.

I happened to recognise the officer so went ahead to say hello to him. This officer carries an image of being good and efficient.

Keeping his image in mind I conveyed to him the feeling of injustice that so many people paying and waiting to enter whereas he, without any ticket, gets the privilege to enter without any wait. I expected him to feel at least sheepish of the fact.

But to my surprise, he with a smirk on his face, asked me, `Do you want me to feel guilty of the fact?'' and without waiting for my response, added, ``Don't worry, I will not.''

I was aghast and speechless. The security guards, reading my expressions said, ``Oh, he is on duty.''

On duty, with a family!!! Indeed....

At least he should have bought the ticket for the family and at least the family should have behaved like common responsible citizens.

Anyways...

Next day, we stopped at a shopping mall near Taj Mahal to get some food. Whilst coming out of the Mall I started talking to a few policemen standing outside. In fact, I wanted to ask them if there was any short cut to reach the highway to Lucknow. Suddenly I saw some kind of flurry - all policemen had started running towards the gate.

What I saw now was a fleet of cars with blue beacon on top. It was the senior-most police officer who had come to the shopping mall. The policeman who was talking to me, left his sentence in the middle and ran to salute the boss.

The officer was accompanied by his family.

The boot of the car was carrying his files. A policeman opened the boot and took out a few files which needed urgent attention of the big boss and carried them inside the Mall.

I stood there gaping at the whole drama.

I wondered - these are the people who are running our country. They are the one who are suppose to implement all the laws. They are expected to help the citizens and that is why they are known or referred as public servants.

Once again I was dumbstruck...

I didn't know whether to blame these officers for making a mockery of the system or blame us citizens for letting these officers get away with such irresponsible behaviour.

I stood there motionless for a while... when my daughter pulled me away and said ``let's not spoil our holiday. In fact, you are expecting too much from these officers.''

``Was expecting the officials to behave as decent, responsible, law abiding citizen was actually too much to ask!!!'' I think it is........

lock the girls !!

After honour killings (when a family kills their daughter for the only reason that she has fallen in love or have gotten married to a boy of different caste), now the Khap Panchayat (rural courts) in the western part of north India state of Uttar Pradesh, have issued their verdict against cell phone usage by young unmarried girls. The girls have also been asked not to wear clothes, which pamper their bodies and make them look sexy.

These local village level self-proclaimed legal authorities strongly believe that the cell phones are responsible for girls running away with their lovers and also for girls marrying out of their castes. In this region it is not the family alone, whose sanction a girl needs to get married, the whole community has to approve it.

It is ironic... These rural courts stay quiet, if a boy from a community rapes a girl from the other community. In one of the rape cases, recently, even a proper Indian court pronounced only six months imprisonment to the accused, whereas even the Indian Penal Code has fixed seven year term for a rape accused.

It's a male world !!!

Atrocities on girls are going on for past many years in this area of the nation. What is surprising, is that everyone (including the government, the judiciary and the police) is aware of these obsolete and fossilised practices, which are rampant even in the 21st century but no one dares speak against the same.

If the girls have to live their lives as per the whims and fancies of their families and respective communities, why treat them like humans? Treat them like material possessions - lock them in cupboards and give the keys to the communities. Take them out only when the men need them for either their work or for their entertainment. Ask them to perform either in the kitchens or fields or in beds and again lock them back.

Start treating the girls like objects and they will forget to live like humans. Their brains will not think and their hearts will not wish, they will have no dreams and no aspirations. The men can use them and abuse them in whatever way they fancy.

Even the government, which does not intervene in such barbaric diktats, should close down all girls schools and should stop talking about women empowerment.

I wonder what stops the government from taking an action against such inhuman and uncivilised rural courts which always come up with weirdest of verdicts - mostly against women!!!

Where are we going and where will it lead us? I think people who do not think on the lines of these rural courts, need to ponder over the matter and try evolving a solution to stop such a barbaric system, where girls are neither considered humans nor treated humanely.