Let's KHAAPitulate......

The debate on khaaps is a burning topic, and with more and more allegations and criticisms these days, it has gained more momentum...

Local panchayats, where some oldies sit on khats under a banyan tree, smoke hukka leisurely and enjoy the scene as some people beat up an innocent woman, just for having married outside her caste, are a common feature in most villages in India.These khaps have since long, been violators of human rights. These rigid panchayats are a big reason for the so-called 'honour killings' , persistence of untouchability, male chauvinism in rural areas, suppression of women, religious superstitions, and many other social evils, that prevail in our rural society.These kangaroo courts can go to the extent of even ordering a woman to be gang-raped as a punishment, getting the so-called 'low caste' people beaten for apparently no reason at all or expelling some members out of the society due to some foolish superstitions.

People in villages have not been able to progress or develop because of their ridiculous diktats. The traditional mentality of people has stayed which makes them unwilling to accept changes, and the fear of these people has prevented them from being able to take independent decisions.

If khaps are such a burden on the locals themselves, why do we have them?

In the older times, such communities existed because conflicts, land disputes, resource distribution matters,etc. had to be solved and the elders of the society were considered to be the wisest for this purpose.

In today's time, even with the presence of a decentralized polity and a strong judicial system, people approach khaaps because:

They can't  go to courts due to lack of time, means and money.

They feel land disputes, matrimonial affairs,etc. are best solved at the hands of this local judiciary.

Orthodox cultural families who don't like state interference in their culture, have strong faith in traditional panchayats and prefer to get their personal matters solved through khaaps.

Approaching the police in backward rural areas is practically useless since they are either not available       most of the time or are too lazy and unwilling to work. They are also often corrupt and work under the       influence of the powerful.

Thus, with such great power and age-old legitimacy, these khaaps have very smoothly exploited people for their own selfish needs.

Why can't the government ban khaps?

Firstly, it is unconstitutional. All of us have a Fundamental Right to Association under the Right to Freedom, Article 19 (c).

Secondly, it is not a registered institution. Rightly put by Arvind Kejriwal, if we put a ban on khaaps, they will come out with some other name. How many communities can we ban?

How do we get rid of this problem?

Each khaap should register itself with the government. Until khaps are not institutionalized legally, it will be   difficult to take action against them.

Increase the efficiency of police to ensure law and order in villages.

They should be allowed to take decisions on certain specified subjects only.  A government body should be constituted that keeps a check on the working of khaaps.

ENTERTAINMENT EXTRAVAGANZA.....

Lately, I've been atttending a number of weddings. With this 'big fat Indian wedding season' on, the town is painted red and festivity is in the air...

I've always relished the splendour of Indian weddings. We have always enjoyed marriage as a festival, not like some formal function. Unlike the quiet, solemn weddings of the west, our weddings are full of chaos, noise, pomp and show. Whilst the ceremonies in west are a matter of few hours, our festivities are weeks long with the maximum rituals and customs.
And how can we forget the 'baarat'?? The happiest people on earth, dancing to let the crowded streets and the impatient traffic know of their immense pleasure. The band leads the gang, with the most unimaginable bollywood songs on the trumpet....

At the venue, it is interesting to look at the sparkling girly dresses and  the beautiful decoration.
It is amusing to see toddlers and a little older ones, enjoying the music thoroughly and running to and fro, with their angry moms desparately persauding them to stay in place.
Then there's exchanging greetings and wishes with the bride's or the groom's parents, who after a lot of protest,accept your gifts ...
The most essential feature of the weddings are the diverse and delicious delicacies... interesting salads, chaats, noodles, paneer and ice-creams, and lots more. Being a big foody, I am honestly more concerned with the food than anything else. It's something in the air at wedding eves which makes even a simple dish taste so different...

The bride and the groom, supposed to be the most important and happy people of the eve, are planted on the stage and are trapped in the series of 'clicks' and 'pics' , having to pose for a photograph every time guests come up to them...

Many people though, criticize the grand expenditure in the weddings as they feel a large amount of the food goes waste, fresh flowers and leaves used in decorations are perishable and hence not worth the price, and money spent here could be used for the needy. But with time, we need to change our perception..

Wedding ceremonies employ a large number of people. The event managers, the decoration agency, the photographers,the printers, the drivers,the beauticians, the caterers, the dancers and the cleaners,etc. are paid handsomely.
In place of charity, this seems to be a better way of spending money since it provides employment and ensures circulation of money....

TIME FOR INTROSPECTION....

On 26 January, we celebrated 65 glorious years of being the world's largest Republic. It was an enchanting moment when the Tiranga unfurled and it was equally breathtaking to watch our proud forces march on the Rajpath. The colourful tableaux (jhanki) of the states and ministries are a great symbol of our culture. The awesome tanks, magnificent missiles, amazing aircraft , etc. are symbols of our strength and power...
But are we really so colourful, strong and bold??

Even after almost six decades, our nation still suffers from many horrendous malpractices. What binds us today is not our culture, but our plight.Suppression of women, discrimination, dominance of kangaroo courts, honour killings and illiteracy are just some evils which this largest democracy has still not been able to do away with. The shackles of poverty and corruption are still preventing us from moving towards growth and development.....

But India is a tiger for sure. A weak and old tiger, which has no teeth,no claws and no roar. A peace loving nation that we are, when someone comes and starts building roads on our land, we keep cool. Worse, someone comes and beheads our brave men, we ''talk and negotiate'' at some flag meetings and that's it..!! Our shameful cowardice is hidden in the veil of our ''non-aggression policy''....
Although our 'non-violence' principles are commendable for maintaining international peace, we mustn't appear 'unable' or 'scared'.  

Staging our glory is a must, for it inculcates a feeling of patriotism. But at the same time, we must remember that quality groundwork is more important. We can show our worth to the world by working harder on our weaknesses and eradicating social evils. We are blessed with such an un-matched diverse culture, a rich history and heritage, such intelligent minds, et al. We do have the potential to turn into a global giant....let's make the best use of our resources....
                         
                                                   JAI  HIND..!!!

AAPlaud the change.....

It was indeed a very Happy New Year this time as we celebrated the glorious triumph of the common man in the capital. Starting from an anti-corruption Satyagraha, AAP has brought a positive energy in the country. Honesty, dedication and sincerity have finally found some place in the Indian polity....

With promising leaders , AAP has given our democracy a new dimension. They have worked hard along with the activists till late at night, moved without security, tolerated all absurd criticism and have tried to walk their talk... 

Frustrated ministers of BJP, Congress and others have been making weird comments on AAP, which only proves their helplessness and weakness. The carping behaviour of their party members is equally malicious. The voters, who have been behind the monumental victory of AAP, unrealistically expect an overnight change....

What needs to be appreciated is the honest intention and hardwork of the party. People should understand that the decades long corruption and poor governance cannot vanish in a jiffy. We need to be patient and give them some time to fulfill their promises. Till then what would suffice is the pledge taken by the common men (voters) on 28th December on the Ramleela grounds...

A week in God's Own Country.....

With surreal  beauty and culture so immensely great, Kerala indeed stands out with divine perfection. From hills carpeted with green tea leaves to the sparkling backwaters, its each terrain is carved with care...
The success of high and widespread literacy is reflected in the lifestyle. The administration is relatively more efficient, the surroundings cleaner and the people better disciplined as compared to several other states.

Munnar ( hill station)

Through narrow winding roads , passing magnificent waterfalls, we reached the beautiful hill station Munnar. When the soft rays of the rising sun from between the clouds fell upon the green hills yet covered in mist, the sound of the Church Bell amidst the profound serenity of the valley felt like heavenly blithe...

Every bit of land here is home to some spice or plant. The extensive cultivation of world famous coffee plants, cardamom, pepper, cloves, etc. undoubtedly makes the state the 'spice house' of the nation.

Major Attractions:

• Kanan Devan Tea Factory
• Flower Gardens
• Idukki Dam 
• Eravikulam National park

                                  Thekaddy ( Periyar Tiger Reserve)

Famous for its Periyar Tiger Reserve, thekaddy is also  the heaven for spices like black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

Home to elephants, monkeys and of course tigers, the Periyar reserve is enriched with the 

river Periyar and Pamba. A cruise in the sparkling 

waters was a pleasant means to appreciate the thick 

forest cover and watch stags, wild boars and water birds.

A tortoise shaped snack bar

Kumarkom , Allepey ( The backwaters)

The waters of the Venice of the East, Allepey , are a treat to the eyes. The lagoons, estuaries and sangam of 44 rivers, carrying the water of Arabian Sea are beautified by several coconut trees.

Kerala would be incomplete without its backwaters. An overnight stay in the houseboat is highly recommended.Watching the sunset from a houseboat  in the backdrop of coconut trees with authentic Malyali cuisine , is a tourist's delight....

Kochi

The commercial capital of Kerala, Kochi, is a well-planned city and a shopper's delight.The city has the oldest synagogue and the Dutch palace. It is fun to watch Chinese fishing nets and the ships cruising by. The icing on the cake is the Lulu Mall, which is the second largest in the continent.

Spices

Lulu Mall

The synagogue

From a rich cultural heritage to glossy cosmopolitan leisure, Kerala offers every kind of pleasure.With the highest literacy rate, life expectancy and sex ratio, it is the least corrupt and an ideal state......

Why we need to debate....

Recently, I took part in the inter- class debate organised in my school for classes 11th and 12th. There were 30 speakers in all who presented their views on the proposition "Our Biggest Problem: Caste system or Ill-treatment of women”. The 2-hour event was a great success and we witnessed some very fine speeches.

The revitalizing environment created by a debate is an experience in itself to be enjoyed. The air is filled with motivational speeches, seriousness of issues, nervousness of participants and also excitement. As speakers put forward their views, it appears as if the bunch of people is actually going to bring about a rapid metamorphosis in the present situation. We come across good orators who exhibit natural speaking skills, a few engineered ones, while some who tend to become melodramatic.

The situation behind the scene is all the more interesting. Hours are spent in front of the mirror, rehearsing over and over again. The students who express grave intensity of emotions on the day, are the ones who were perspiring and struggling with words just the other day.

During the process, it is not just the issues we learn about. We improve oration, overcome stage fear, develop self-confidence, get inspired by impressive speakers and also learn to be good listeners. Apart from our own hard work, each other's mistakes too, teach us a lot.

Debating, as the primary step, is also the most essential tool for solving problems or drafting welfare schemes. Dissension  in itself is the soul of democracy, which is reflected through debate. By sharing views and criticizing, we exercise our fundamental right to the freedom of speech and expression. The country too, follows this principle of deliberation in some form or the other, be it framing laws, accommodating difference of opinions or deriving a consensus.

Often, we are already aware of the arguments and counter-arguments. Yet, we enjoy the debate. Why?  Because it is essential to bring things of great importance in the limelight when they take a backseat. The scrutiny never goes waste as it helps spread awareness and tell people what they are missing. Everyone knows that caste system and ill-treatment of women are big blots on our society, but it is necessary to repeatedly remind and inspire the people to raise a voice against them.

Awareness, ideas, thoughts, etc can be spread through speeches as well but through debates, the difference of opinions that is created, teaches us how a thing can be viewed with different perceptions. We learn to think in totality and not just stick to our point of view.

So…. let us, discuss, debate and deliberate!!!

After a stressful week that went in giving exams, making projects, finishing assignments and running from place to place to complete tasks, 'break to banta hai yaar'...

Having reached a considerable level of exasperation and exhaustion, everyone would love to go to a place where everything is placid and quiet. Surrounded by the most beautiful natural landscapes, where every life form breathes calmness. Where there is soft sunshine, a soothing chirruping of birds, sparkling dew drops on freshly bathed leaves, a fragrant air, soft grass beneath the feet, a cool breeze lifting the hair......

Wonderful! Isn't it? This dream place is what they call 'Peace'.

Unlike the picturesque description it is usually subject to, Peace does not necessarily mean a morning walk in fresh air. It needs to be viewed with a broader perspective. Peace is closely associated with stability. One who has achieved real satisfaction in life will never be desperate for peace.

When we aim at excellence and do not indulge ourselves into momentary success, shrewdness and greed, we are also excavating our real happiness. Our capability, our self-confidence and our strong character give us inner happiness, the happiness from the heart. That is what makes Peace divine. It is like God, it is present in us while we search the world for it. We just need to sweep the impurities in us to make more room for it.

Usually it is the financially successful and diplomatic people who are in search of blithe. They work in a place which is surrounded by hostility, corruption and other evils. The fame fever has risen so much that people are ready to do or get anything by hook or crook (probably only crook works...). I chanced upon a very true saying, '' Wealth is not measured by the things we have, but by the things we have, for which we would not take money.'' The wealth of happiness one obtains by making others happy cannot be measured in words. By lending a share of joy in this world to the unfortunate, one can obtain a rich treasury of blessings, praise, bliss and ultimately, peace.

Also, we can find peace even in small instances like chatting with friends, listening to music, enjoying parties or even while eating pani-puri with cousins in the mela..!!. It is because it gives us a feeling of joy, togetherness and a reason to live, not merely exist. In order to succeed in life, many people sacrifice these little occasions of joy. This is the time to be alarmed. When somebody involves oneself into achieving worldly pleasures at the cost of this happiness, they are more likely to fail. And because of regular failure, many tend to opt for wrong means and unhappiness and pessimism creep in. Negativity leads to nowhere. Even if someone manages to walk on with inkiness, one is likely to shatter soon.

What we need is a pure soul which is the very abode of peace……

The world is hungry for a taste of Peace. Let us not waste our resources in international disputes, wars, conflicts etc. Let us give the wings of peace to the needy millions so that we can fly towards development.