Some memories to share...

Amidst the hustle bustle of daily life, professional and personal commitments, and a few mundane tidbits, I suddenly realised that I have been away from all those friends and well wishers, who boost my morale by reading, appreciating and sometimes criticising my writing.

I still am not getting time from my schedule, so thoughh of sharing some photo memories with all of you.

I hope you enjoy them and share your views here ....

Keep smiling
Until we meet again !

PS: all photos were taken at Alibagh, about 150 km from Mumbai, at one of my friends' farm house.

Bullet train or no train !

Bullet train or no train!

Malkangiri is quite a big district of Odisha state. It houses one of the biggest dams – Balimela on the river Sellar (I hope the selling is correct as I could see everything written only in Odia language, which I can understand a little bit but cannot read), in Chitrakonda area.

The sad part is that the district has no railway line and therefore obviously there is no railway station. Anyone coming to Malkangiri has to travel at least 3-6 hour by road (depending which route you are coming from). If you are coming from Hyderabad, the nearest railway station is Bhadrachalam Road (300 km south of Malkangiri), which makes it at least a six-hour drive. If you are coming from Bhubaneshwar direction, the closest railway station is Jypore (about 110 km north of Malkangiri), which makes it a road journey of minimum three-hours. 

Since I was going to Malkangiri via Hyderabad, I had to travel 300 km by road.

The travel underlined yet another paradox in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the moment he was seated on the coveted chair, started talking about high-speed bullet train. His declaration sounded more like a blabber, when I recently visited Malkangiri for a training programme.

I was surprised to find that there is no train connection to this district.

Why is it so that all politicians – the moment they reach a high position – start making such absurd announcements?

In a country where even after six decades of independence, there are places which have no railway links, such as Malkangiri or the whole area in North East, talking of bullet train sounds so rattling.

Take this sample Mr Prime Minister : 

The Indian train system comes to a halt during winters when there is fog. We have not been able to evolve and use devices which can help trains carry on with their regular schedule in thick fog.

Even when there is no fog, Indian trains do not run on time, ever!

Our air system too goes topsy-turvy in poor visibility. We have not been able to install devices to enable landing of aircrafts in fog.

Notwithstanding, we have sent the spaceship to Mars and are getting accolades from the world; and now we are talking of introducing a bullet train.

What surprises me is the fact that Modi comes from a humble background, so why does he not think of first streamlining the existing system and infrastructure before introducing the ‘world-class’ facilities?

First make our trains run on time, irrespective whether there is fog or not.

First make proper arrangements for flights to take off and land in fog.

First introduce trains to places like Malkangiri!

It was heartening to hear Modi announcing rail connection to North East during his recent visit. However, let's see if this announcement converts into a concrete plan or remains restricted to yet another populist announcement!    

Good news for girls!!!

Finally, there is good news for girls and women!

There had been efforts at various levels for saving girl children and for women empowerment.
Nonetheless, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child) programme has formalised the movement.

It was heartening to know that suddenly there were more plans and schemes on their way to help women, even in Uttar Pradesh where the male female ratio is as low as 1000:918.

Although Uttar Pradesh had a Women Powerline but a phone line helping women who are being harassed on phone is not enough in a state which is notoriously tops the list of those states where crime against women is rampant and high.

However, now even the Uttar Pradesh government, thinking beyond Women Powerline, is taking a step ahead.  Giving 'Shakti' (Power) to women, the government has planned to organise Shakti Diwas (Power Days) at all police stations, across the state.

This special day will be devoted to problems of women. The government is also making arrangements so that these complainant women can be brought to the police stations without any problem.

Harassment of a complainant woman in approaching the police is common in small towns. To avoid such situation, the government vehicles will be used to bring such women to police stations and later the same vehicles will also drop these women back to their homes.

Normally village chiefs are aware if there is any woman in their village who is facing any kind of crime or atrocities - be it harassment for dowry, domestic violence, property issues or any other issue.

The police will coordinate with village chiefs to find out such women and bring them to the police station on Shakti Diwas so that their complaints can be registered.
      
The idea is that the complainant will not face further harassment or threats once the village people see that the woman has the support and backing of the government and police.

This is a move by the government, which is worth appreciation. Now how far this will get implemented in its true letter and spirit, that only time will tell. For the time being it should give a sense of empowerment to all women, who are not in a position to reach the police or authorities if they are being harassed!



  

Cycle Track, So Off Track!

In the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, its Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is promoting cycling for the sake of health and environment. Now this is another story that cycle is also the symbol of his party, Samajwadi Party (SP).

Yadav sent a delegation to Netherland also to study how cycle tracks work there. On his insistence, the officials, under the direction of some experts from Netherland, got constructed two cycle tracks in Lucknow, the capital of the state.

Yadav believes that these tracks will help the people of Lucknow in improving their health as they will use these tracks for cycling. Besides, it will help the environment as more people will use cycles instead of cars or motorbikes. He has also urged people to use cycles for commuting.

However, the interesting aspect of these cycle tracks is that both of them are built on the VVIP (Very Very Important Person) roads - Kalidas Marg (having the official residence of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) and Vikramaditya Marg (the personal residence of the current Chief Minister as well as his party's office).

One road Kalidas Marg is out of reach of anyone - forget about the commoners. There are barriers with a full force at the start of the road and no ordinary mortal (read Lucknow resident) can enter that road. The other road also has all VIP residences intimidating the commoners to go there for cycling.

This is not all!

There are two quite impertinent questions:

1. How many people in the city own cycles and ride them as a mean of transport?
2. How are people supposed to manage cycling from their homes to Kalidas Marg and Vikramaditya Marg?

People who own cycles and also use them as a means of transport are either school going children or the class four employees in government and non-government offices. They are using cycle even today albeit at their own risk.

The roads of Lucknow are not at all cycle friendly for either. The courtesy for cyclists by the driver of a four-wheeler is a thing that is unheard of in the city.

Now, for a minute if we suppose that these new cycle tracks is only a beginning; people can start using them for leisure to gradually convert this into habit, it does not seem viable. The question is: How are people supposed to cycle from their homes to these tracks without being hit by a zooming SUV?

After much deliberation in my brain, I realised that the tracks will end up being limited to catering to the children of VVIPs living at these privileged addresses. On the other hand, genuine cyclists (students and class four employees) will still have to face the wrath of junglee (unruly) traffic of Lucknow city.




  

SP Govt's traffic drive - A complete farce

The Samajwadi Party-run government in Uttar Pradesh is running a traffic drive these days. Working on the orders of the State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, police are checking vehicles for black filming, use of seat belts and helmets, speed etc.

However, like any other scheme or announcement by this government, the traffic drive too is a simple eye wash for poor public. In the name of traffic rules it is only the law abiding citizens who are being harassed whereas the high and mighty are having the last laugh.

I have a personal incident or rather frustration to share -

It was Sunday evening (21 December) and the area was the front of VVIP (very very important person) Guest House which happens to fall within the limits of a sensitive zone as it houses the Chief Minister's official and personal residences within a kilometer.

A Maruti Alto car rams into my car from the back as I had stopped at the traffic light. I got out of the car, talked to the driver meanwhile two ladies sitting at the back said sorry and accepting their apology, I came to my car.

As I started moving getting the green signal, the same car rammed into my car again. This time I lost my cool and stopped the car and called the dozens of cops standing at the corner watching the whole incident, while sipping tea.

I demanded action. Suddenly a politician looking guy appeared from somewhere and started intervening, taking the side of the Alto driver. He introduced himself as the former president of Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha (SP Youth Wing).

The cops asked me to pull over to the side and while, like a law abiding citizen, I pulled over, the cops and the politician helped the Alto drive run away from the accident site.

This is the ugly face of the Samajwadi Party government - lawlessness or jungle raj!!!

A citizen cannot expect safety from either the government or from the police which, it seems, is on the payrolls of politicians. One of the cops said, "we are here for the Chief Minister's security".

His statement explained the situation to a certain extent - in a state where the Chief Minister does not find himself safe, how can anyone be safe!

Anyway, I did as much as I could - I took away the driving licence of the Alto driver, according to which his details are:

Name: Ashish Shukla
S/O: Susheel Shukla.
Driving Licence No: UP32 20130011513    
Address: 570/S-150 Sainik Colony, Azad Nagar, Alambagh, Lucknow

I know that he will easily acquire a fresh licence as getting a driving licence in this state is not a big deal, especially if you are friends with politicians and cops!

Yet, I am trying to share this incident hoping there will be at least one honest and law abiding politician or police officer, who will react to it and will make sure that this Alto driver gets some kind of punishment and his licence is not renewed, because obviously he doesn't properly know how to drive!

Amen!!!
   

Trashing Gods!

Generally, Hindus are genetically religious people. A small corner for worshipping is common in most of the Hindu households. Idol worshipping is part of their religious practices.

There are occasions and festivals when Hindus worship these idols for a set period of time, after which they are immersed in water - mainly a river or ocean.

It is said that keeping the idols after those auspicious days, and not immersing them in water may bring bad luck.

Being a Hindu, I also observe a few of the above mentioned practices. Earlier, I never did this immersion practice but recently I started, just out of sheer enjoyment and fun. 

However, a recent experience opened my eyes and I decided that the idols which are sitting in my car for over a month waiting to be immersed, will not go anywhere.

(I had thought I would immerse the idols in water or put them at some place where they are not disrespected, but due to my over busy schedule I could not do so and the idols remained in my car)..

During a recent visit to Kanpur, I happen to notice this ugly sight (see the photos)..

These idols were just lying like a heap of rubbish near the river Ganges. People were walking by those poor idols wearing shoes albeit at home, I am sure, the owners of those idols took off their footwear before worshiping them.

Some people wee throwing their wastes on the same heap taking it for rubbish.

The neglect and disrespect of those hapless idols, which we take pain to choose with care when buying and which we worship during the festival, presented a sorry and ugly picture of religious rituals. I decided that the idols which are sitting in my car will not be discarded this way.

They can stay in one of my flower pots and decay into soil. I am no more bothered about bad luck!

The picture of that heap of broken and maligned idols also made me think that it is time we should innovate better ways for their immersion.

No religion tells us to pollute our environment and no religion recommends insult to deities in any form.

It's not only idols but we also need to find better environment friendly ways for disposing off the material used for worshipping - be it idols or garlands or coconuts or any other thing.

After seeing these pictures my mind changed. And if even one more mind changes after reading this (the piece of my mind), I will feel I have done a bit of my duty towards society and my country.

In India, laws exist, their execution doesn't!

This young British couple James (27) and Alexandra (24) chose India for committing a suicide. Not because they were charmed by the Indian heritage and culture or were awed by Hinduism in anyway. But for the simple reason that committing suicide is easiest in the country. people cooperate if one wants to end his/her life.

The couple bought some sleeping pills, easily available over the counter (OTC) at any chemist and druggist shop. They popped the pills and topped them with some cough syrup, which too can be bought anywhere without any prescription.

Before executing their plan to end their lives, the couple also tweeted "One prescription in India (after you have told the doctor what to write), will take you far".

The event has raised serious questions over our whole system of medical and health.

Very few chemists in India ask for the prescription and show the strictness to not favour the buyer with medicines which are not allowed to be sold over the counter. Moreover, acquiring a prescription is also not a big deal. A small tip and there are so many doctors who are ready to earn an extra fast buck, who will oblige one.

On top of these (chemists and doctors), there is a whole system of medical and health which has laws for all sorts of cross and checks, which unfortunately never gets implemented.

It's rare to see any chemists being blacklisted and sent to jail for selling drugs which should legally be sold only if they are prescribed. It's even rarer to see any doctor being locked behind bars for writing a prescription, which, he/she also knows, is not required for the patient.

Same is the case with advertising in relation to medical and health products. Every day, there are advertisements of medicines for gaining height, gaining weight, losing weight, increasing hair growth, lightening skin tone, enlarging breasts, enhancing sexual pleasures etc etc.

The companies selling these 'miraculous treatments' are blatantly flouting the Indian law which says a company cannot assure such results which have not been proved scientifically.

But then,who cares!

Law in India is only for books and not for execution - be it for drugs or for any other crime, it may be murder.

           

Part of Nobel Peace Prize

Who deserves Nobel prize and who doesn't that's an issue for debate. Here, I don't want to dwell on that. At this moment, I just want to recall an incident, which the recent announcement of Nobel Peace Prize has brought back to my memory.

It was 2004 and I was the Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express newspaper, in Lucknow. Bachpan Bachao Andolan had planned to raid the Grand Circus which was running in district Gonda, Uttar Pradesh state. The circus was keeping about 12 adolescent girls from Nepal. Apart from making them work in the circus, the owners (two brothers from Meerut) were sexually exploiting these girls as well.

As planned we reached the circus pretending to be just a group of journalists willing to understand the circus life. All was well for initial hour or so before 3-4 of us women journalists tried to probe and locate the girls. The circus owners had shoved the girls in a corner and asked them to not come out till the guests were there.

However, the journalists' probing eyes found them. But before we could talk to the girls and get an idea about their plight what they are going through, we heard some ruckus at the front. Before we could realise what was happening, one of the owners came running towards us flashing a pistol.

We saw that everyone was running helter skelter. The owner shouted, "close the gates, don't let anyone go out". We started running towards the gate and what we saw was horrifying. Some journalists could make it and escaped out but some of them were trying to quickly go out of gates and save their lives.            

Their effort resulted in their trashing. I still remember a foreign journalist who was beaten and her camera was smashed! It was a shocking incident!

So those who were left inside (including me) decided to stay in and face the situation. A colleague of Kailash Satyarthi, Rama Kant Rai was with us and he also stayed back.

Although a bit scared I was also enjoying the situation as for a journalists such situations are good stories! We had no idea if we would be able to go out in the free world or not!

A few of us who were left inside the circus were trying to have a talk with the owner who was not ready to listen to anyone but stressing on killing everyone then and there.

Suddenly we realised there was police force outside, led by the Superintendent of Police (SP) Gonda, Amitabh Thakur. The gates were opened and the first thing Amitabh Thakur asked was, "Where is Alka Pande". I came forward surprised as this was my first meeting with him. He specially asked me, "Are you alright madame?" Perplexed, I said, "Now, yes, since you are here".

The police then got the girls from the circus released and all of us were also freed. The circus owner brothers stayed in jail for quite some time.

How the police reached the place, I came to know later on. My photographer Vishal Srivastav had managed to go out before the situation had become tense inside the circus. He had made an intelligent move and had called the then editor of The Indian Express, Mr Raman Kirpal, in Lucknow, who had immediately contacted the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh and had informed him about what was going on in Gonda. He had also told the DGP about me - the Indian Express correspondent and that explained why Amitabh Thakur was asking for my welfare.

That incident was one of those several ones which people who supported Kailash Satyarthi, were involved in and therefore we all must feel as part of the Nobel Peace Prize!!!

 
  

Road Safety - direct from New Zealand to Uttar Pradesh

Road Safety Policy Released

Uttar Pradesh has become the first state of India to introduce a Road Safety Policy. The policy talks of strict penalties the moment someone breaks road safety laws. The government has also constituted a Highway Police for the execution of the policy.

The move by the government is worth appreciation. We also hope that the policy will be implemented in its true spirit, sparing no one - be it a bureaucrat or a politician or a common man/woman.

Nonetheless, if policies and laws were able to tame the human behaviour and put everything or anything in order in society, there would not have been any dowry deaths, sex selective abortions, road rage deaths, child labour, harassment of women, domestic violence and the rest. The list of such crimes is exhaustive! Ironically, there is either a policy or a law against all such criminal acts but how many people face the legal action! 

In Uttar Pradesh, at least 30,000 people die in road accidents, every year. This means at least 80-85 people are becoming prey to untimely and tragic death every day. Unfortunately, the people involved in these casualties are mostly those who are young! The government aims to curtail the situation by launching this Road Safety Policy.   

The New Zealand police force is training the Uttar Pradesh police the tactics of taming the traffic. Acording to Grahame Morton, the New Zealand Ambassador to India, their force is teaching the Uttar Pradesh police about their three-pronged strategy - road design, vehicle safety and driving ethics.

These three points make it mandatory to take a stock of the situation on the roads of Uttar Pradesh.  

A few of the following points emerge instantly:

**  People in Uttar Pradesh do not wear seat belts in their four wheelers and similarly those riding two wheelers are averse to wearing helmets. According to them, these are just another decorative features in their vehicles and the associated law is useless. Therefore, they just hold the seat belt across their bodies or put the helmet on their heads when approaching any crossing with cops around.

**  People in Uttar Pradesh think that 'speed limit' is just another fancy of traffic police. They love speed and therefore never  follow the speed limit signs. They zoom fast, be in a shopping area or on a congested road or even if there are school children crossing the road.

**  People in Uttar Pradesh have a special liking for horns in their vehicles and they honk even in 'silent zones'. The more shrill and ear deafening the horn is the better for them. The first thing they do after starting the ignition is to put their hands on the horn and toot even if the road is empty or even if they are passing next to a hospital.

**  People in Uttar Pradesh enjoy overtaking and for that they cross even the straight double lines in the middle of the road which denote 'no overtaking'. Most of the times these 'speedy people' can be seen driving on the other side of the road blocking the way for people coming from the other side and also making it dangerous for other commuters.  

**  People of Uttar Pradesh do not believe in 'one way' signs. You cannot find even a single one way in the state which does not have vehicles coming from both sides. 

**  People in Uttar Pradesh feel that the roads are meant only for big SUVs and MUVs and the small cars should find their way at the sides of the road. Also, these small cars must allow the big vehicles to overtake them, irrespective of traffic conditions. In a case otherwise, the owners of small cars are sneered at or sometime beaten as well, if the big vehicle owner is a powerful one and in most cases he is. 

**  People in Uttar Pradesh prefer to drive their vehicles on high beam - that too the brighter the better. Either they are not aware of the low beam facility in their vehicles or they just do not care that their glaring light blinds people and is dangerous even for them.   

**  People in Uttar Pradesh do not like to go around a roundabout (too cumbersome for them), no matter if it causes traffic snarls or puts the lives of other people in danger.  

**  In Uttar Pradesh all laws relating to traffic are meant for the common mortals, and the category does not include politicians, their goons and henchmen, as well as bureaucrats. They are never taken in the purview of traffic rules. They can park their vehicles anywhere with no fear of it being towed away. Traffic police confront these government drivers at their own peril, knowing well that they can be abused, manhandled or beaten up by these 'all mighty' drivers! 

These are just a few observations regarding 'road design, vehicle safety and road ethics, which anyone who has ever walked on any of the roads in Uttar Pradesh, would have noticed. 

Now, going back to the original topic of road safety policy, it is pertinent to quote here that the people who cause fatal accidents are mostly the drivers of some influential person. 

The reasons why they are undeterred and arrogant on the road is because no one dares to penalise them when they break any traffic law or do not follow road safety measure or forgo their road ethics! 

In such circumstances how much will this Road Safety Policy help, its an issue of concern. There is only one way the government can underline its seriousness and sincerity to the issue is by ensuring that the new policy covers all and sundry and its implementation does not spare anyone, irrespective how big and influential the law breaker is!

Lets make our own Malalas!

A young woman Ramlali, from a Lucknow village, works in a local school where she cooks Mid-Day Meal for children. In the same school her two daughters study. Her relatives who are against sending daughters to school attacked Ramlali and beat her badly fracturing her hand. In the past also, they had beaten the mother and daughters only because they did not want Ramlali to work and send her daughters to school. Last attacks were also so violent that Ramlali had to be admitted in a Trauma Centre. The anti-education brigade had tore the school books and had also beaten the girls. 

Ramlali had lodged complaints with the police, twice but to no avail. The third time was so distressing and demoralising that the woman had to fled from the village along with her daughters. Now, she cannot continue with her work because of threats as well as her physical condition. The family has come to the city seeking some help and justice. The daughters cannot resume their studies till the issue is sorted.

The story of this woman appeared in one of the Hindi newspapers today and it made me think how Malala Yousafzais are made. Just like Malala of Pakistan, Ramlali was also adamant to educate her daughters and make them capable enough to make their own decisions in life. The daughters too are good in studies and were doing their mother proud. 

However, when Malala Yousafzai was attacked for promoting girls' education, the world acknowledged her efforts and since then she has been globe trotting as an ambassador for girls education. She is spreading the message and inspiring others to push the issue of girls' education. 

Ramlali is only a humble version of Malala in the making!

  

Incidentally, when Ramlali was facing the wrath of male chauvinists who opposed her determination to educate her daughters, there was a high level meeting, headed by the Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government, was being held. 

The Chief Secretary, holding the highest office of bureaucracy in any state government) was reviewing the status of literacy campaign in the state capital. The meeting had the representation of all the who's who working in the field of education in government as well as private sector.

I hope anyone of those stalwarts attending the meeting has read the story and is already contemplating to act for Ramlali and  her daughters. It is time for them to convert their words and commitments into action. It is the most opportune time to create our own Malalas, who are emerging from the remote rural corners of the nation, and advocate for girls education through them.