Over time, forms of exploitation of women and harassment have changed and to some extent they have reduced too. Thus our understanding of feminism and the needs for women empowerment have also changed. Besides challenging the rigid norms of a prejudiced society, we need that constant flame of self-confidence, belief and optimism to overcome all the existing impediments that stop us from being ourselves. Be it body shaming, undermining one's worth, being excessively conscious or putting ourselves on the pedestals of 'righteousness' that an age-old patriarchal society has set; we need to fight it all, and fight it we will.

Celebrating valour, spirit of the dauntless female, undying patriotism and remembering the most celebrated fearless Queen of all times, Manikarnika Tambe on her 188th birth anniversary.

Economy trumped for good?

To all those who believe the US is doomed with Trump as the President.
People all over the world are aghast with Trump's victory. Fears of increasing racism, discrimination against women, oppression of minorities, xenophobia, etc loom large in their minds. Many fear he'll bring about fundamental changes in economy, market functioning and politics that will affect the present scenario negatively. Some even fear he'll nuke the Middle East.

Somewhere down the line, all of us have given legitimacy to the idea of US hegemony. We are so dependent on US of all developed nations for intervention especially in anti-terrorism programmes, world trade and climate change control that we forget it has issues of its own to deal with.
People in US are highly dissatisfied in spite of the prosperous 'global image' of the country. It is in a heavy debt of $17.8 trillion, markets are virtually eaten up by foreign goods; why can't the US be entitled to some protectionism? Trump's policy is essentially of non-intervention and putting the nation first. The whooping majority with which Republicans swept the polls is a clear indication of the sentiment in the US. The Head of State is a directly elected representative who ought to represent the nation in true sense. 

Trump is a businessman. He's neither conservative nor liberal; he's pragmatic. US currently needs a fast economic recovery in terms of international debt repayment and job creations; which Trump has enough experience in. His business career is marked with a few failures but on the whole, he has had huge successes which can be reflected in his economic policies. He's suggested Corporate Tax cuts and deductions in business loopholes and tax exemptions leading to increased state revenue. As per an article in the Economic Times, "Trump understands quite a bit about the way business and economy works, he definitely understands a lot about construction and buildings. So, when the US government embarks on its stimulus and infrastructure build out, he is going to hold his people accountable and they will actually build stuff that will be very useful. One of the things that Larry Summers, former Treasure Secretary, has advocated for a long time is massive stimulus spending on infrastructure in the US given their low interest rate environment and that is exactly what president Trump intends to do. So, it is the best possible medicine for the US economy. It is good news for the global economy."

His intentions of building a 'wall' at the US- Mexican Border received bitter criticism. However, his statement on involvement of a majority of Mexicans in increasing crimes in the US isn't wrong. According to FBI data, Mexicans are responsible for 80% of the crimes, especially in southern states of the US. They are bringing drugs, murderers, rapists, etc. Worse, they are influencing the American population leading to perpetration of crimes. A stricter immigration policy or a 'wall' will ensure only talented and deserving citizens find their way in the US territory.

Why Clinton would not have been a good choice

For all those people who are anguished because of Trump's victory and who are feeling deeply sorry for a 'deserving' Clinton, here's why Clinton wouldn't have been a good choice:

Her filliping stance
Trump has been accused of flip-flopping but Clinton's no different.
- She voted in favour of the War on Iraq and later she said she was against it.
- She was pro-Israel, then anti-Israel and now she's pro-Israel again
- She supported the Second Amendment rights of private gun holders and has also praised Australia's gun confiscation program.

NOTE:
- In 2008, she lied about being under a sniper fire with her daughter in Bosnia.
- "At this time, what difference does it make?" This is exactly what she, in the capacity of a government official, had said after a public blaming of the attack on the American Consulate where four Americans, including the Ambassador to Libya were killed in Benghazi.

The Controversial email scam
Setting up a private server and leaking confidential information and later taking responsibility, claiming in her defense that 'all other secretaries of state have done the same.' Responsible much?

Stance on Terrorism
So you think Trump is a threat to peace?
- Like mentioned before, she was in favour of the war on Iraq.
- In 2011, she claimed in an interview that Assad was a 'reformer'.
- Governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar that have been keeping the ISIL alive, actually funded her campaign. What could the reason possibly be?

A 'deserving' first female president ?
All the self-proclaimed feminists out there, she is no ideal feminist.
- You accuse Trump for disrespecting women? Well, she defended a child rapist and 'laughed about it'.
- She rubbished all claims of sexual harassment , misogyny, etc against her dear husband and called all the victims 'trailer trash'. She even went so far as to threaten one of the victims in person.

Hillary Clinton has been sincerely involved in some very noble causes as well and her decades of experience in politics is commendable too but this doesn't mean we overlook her wrong side. It is indeed disappointing that the most developed democracy has still not got its first woman president and we were tis close.
But we do not want to compromise, right? Someday, we will have a lady standing for this post, hopefully Michelle Obama in 2020, and we will be proud of her.

(repost due to technical errors in the same post dated 10.11.2016)

Keeping the real festive spirit alive

All homes were embellished with scores of lamps. Every corner, every street was illuminated. From somewhere atop a hill, the entire city seemed to have donned a garb of glitter and light. The air resounded with the sound of crackers and fireworks. Within the homes, people engaged in elaborate rituals to pray to the Goddess of Wealth for prosperity. Fancy, many of them were consciously burning it up in flames outdoors. Perhaps people take symbolism literally and too seriously.
A festival to celebrate righteousness and goodness ends up being limited to a couple of days of splendor and gala. The prayers and rituals are just for the sake of following custom and tradition. How many do really understand the message or the lessons this occasion is trying to convey?
Again, in a few days, everyone will be back to one's doings with no change in conscience whatsoever. The fireworks, that gave immense pleasure to some eyes and ears; pleasure that I fail to understand, will only make the air around less fit for inhaling for weeks to come. Oh, and boycott Chinese goods they say. What a brilliant idea to disrupt the Chinese economy by bringing a 40% dip in cracker sales for one day! Kudos to our rationale!

Is this festivity? Or a colourful farce? All the sparkle and shimmer is absolutely fine and in fact must for celebration but it's wasteful and meaningless if we fail to celebrate the very spirit this festival is for. Diwali, is a happy celebration, a chance, a day that helps us make a good beginning by inspiring us to ablute our souls of negativity. To lighten the dark and ignorant minds of ours. To spread light in lives of those who have been living in a darkness of deprivation, discrimination, injustice and perennial gloom.

This diwali, celebrate the good in you and burn the evil that misguided you. It's never too late to repent or make changes. Any other day is just as good but this festive and positive energy could just make it easier.