Shillong: a destination you should not miss

Come to the former capital of Assam and the current capital of Meghalaya and experience a cold morning, a cool day, and a foggy evening in Shillong. The city is 1496 meters above sea level and has a population of around 270,000.

Shillong is predominantly occupied by the Khasis who belongs to the Mon-Khmer family. They follow a matrilineal system in Society where the daughter takes care of the ancestral property while the eldest son is the head of the clan. A majority of the population are Christians.  There are significant Assamese, Bengali, and Nepali minorities. Shillong also holds the first University in the North Eastern Region known as The North Eastern Hill University, well know colleges like St Edmund's College, St Anthony's College, St Mary's College, Lady Kean College, Seng Khasi College, and others which invite students from different parts of Northeast. Shillong is therefore, a hub of many cultures where the Khasis meet the Nagas, Mizos, Manipuris, Tripuris, Assamese, Arunachalis and Sikkimese.

Shillong is a magnificent hill station known as 'Scotland of the East' and house several natural lakes, waterfalls, and other tourist spots. Some of the tourist spots that a traveller can enjoy in Shillong include Umiam (Barapani Lake), Don Bosco Centre on Indigenous Cultures, Nan Polok (Wards Lake), Lady Hydari Park, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Golf course and others. Brief look into some of these attractive tourist spots

Umiam Lake: Umiam which is also known as Barapani lake is one of the major lakes situated towards the north of Shillong. This lake resembles the 'Lochs', or lakes of Scotland and it is the main lake used for hydel power project that generated electricity for the state of Megalaya. People can enjoy boat ride, fishing and the scenic beauty of this place. There is a water sports complex. There is a garden (Lum Nehru park) by the side water sports complex.

Don Bosco Centre on Indigenous Cultures: Don Bosco Centre on Indigenous Cultures is a must visit tourist centre. This largest cultural museum in the whole Asia is the house of the eight North Eastern States of India. The museum is under the care of the Salesian order of the Catholic Church. It is the visual library of the entire North Eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Tripura. It is located within the precincts of the Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai.

 Wards Lake: Wards Lake which is also known as Nan Polok or Lover’s Park is an artificial lake surrounded by a fairly large garden. The wooden bridge at the middle of the late attracts visitors the most because they could feed the numerous varieties of fish. Boating is another attraction of this place. Lotus in the lake and the flower gardens add beauty to the Lake.

Lady Hydari Park: Lady Hydari Park could also be termed as eco-eriendly Park in Shillong. It has variety of local flowering plants and orchids. The small zoo inside the park attracts more people to visits since there are no major zoos in Shillong. Swings, sea-saws and comfortable seating places add joy to visitors especially to children. This Park which spread around a kilometre is name after Lady Hydari, the first lady of the state, wife of the Governor of Assam.

Shillong Peak: Visiting Shillong without visiting Shillong peak is incomplete. Shillong peak gives a birds-eye-view of the entire city. Visiting Shillong peak in the evening makes you feel as if you are seeing heaven on earth. Shillong peak is 1965 meters above sea level. Shillong peak hosts to a radar station for Indian Air force.

Elephant Falls: The rock which resembled an elephant at the side of the falls made the British to name the fall as Elephant falls. On the way to the falls there are shops that sell traditional handicrafts and various local and non-local food items that attract and refresh tourists. The falls is located in Upper Shillong area which also houses the Eastern Air Command of Indian Airforce.

To visit Shillong, a traveller can take an aeroplane, helicopter, or choose to travel by road. Meghalaya is known as the ‘abode of clouds’ so at times aeroplane or helicopter services are cancelled. People need to carry warm clothes and be prepared to enjoy the winding roads to Shillong. Visit Shillong and enjoy the tourist spots, music, food, fresh air and meet the always welcoming Khasi people. Visiting Shillong will give you an idea about the entire North Eastern states in India.http://ocdcorner.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/shillong-a-destination-you-shouldnt-miss/ 

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por ban long kum U Krist ba im

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por ba ia u Krist la kha. Ka pynkynmaw ruh iangi ba, ‘U Krist u la shah iap, U Krist U la mihpat bad U Krist un sa wan pat’. U Jisu u la wan sha kane ka pyrthei 2014 snem mynshuwa bad u la iai shong iai sah bad ngi naduh kita ki por bad un sa bteng ban wan ha ka jingim jongngi man ka sngi. Ki briew ba duwai, ba puson shaphang U Jisu, ki briew ba iamap, ba iasuk, iaieid, kiba iarap ia ki parabriew, bad ki briew ba len lade ban pynbha ia ka imlang sahlang kin sa shem ia U Jisu ha ka jingim jongki. Ka Kristmas ka dei ka tlong ba wanrah jingim ha ka jingiadei jongngi bad U Blei bad ki parabriew bad ka mei mariang jongngi. Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por ba U Blei u pynpaw ia ka jingieid bapura, ka jingieid khlem jingthew iangi ki khun bynriew. Ban puson kham janai ia ka jingmut kane ka por jongka jingkyrkhu kine ki symboh pyrkhat harum ki lah ban iarap iangi.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por jong ka jingpynbna.

U Angel Gabriel u la pynbna ba yn sa kha ia U Jisu (Lk 1:26-32). U la pynbna ha ki nongap langbrot ba la kha ia U nongpynim ka pyrthei (Lk 2: 8-20).  Ka por Kristmas ka dei ka por jongka jingpynbna ba wanrah jingbha. U Blei u pynbna ba u ieid ianga ngi haduh katta katta bad u la phah ia U Jisu ban wan siewspah iangi. U Blei u la phah ia ki angel ban pynbna ia ka khubor jong ka jingkmen. Ngi kum ki khun kyntang jong U Blei ngi dei ban long ki nongpynbna ne ki nongpynphriang ia ka khubor babha U Blei bad pynkynmaw ba U Blei u ieid eh iangi. Ngi dei ban long ki briew ba kiwei kin lah ban iohi ia U Jisu baim ha ngi.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por jong ka jinglen lade.

Ka por Kristmas ka dei ka por jong ka jinglen lade. Ka Maria ka la len ialade da ka ba ong ‘Hakhmieh nga long ka shakri jong U Trai, ai kan urlong ha nga katkum ba phi ong’ (Lk 1: 38). Ka por Kristmas ka dei ka por ba ngin bret lut ia ka jinglong shimet ne ka jingkhwan bad ngi dei ban pyrkhat ia ka jingbha jong baroh. Ka Maria ka la aiti kylluid mynsiem ialade ha ba U Blei u wan long briew hangne ha sla pyrthei ym ialade shimet hynrei ban siewsphah ia ka pyrthei baroh kawei. Lada ngi aiti kylluid mynsiem ialade na ka bynta ki kam U Blei bad ki kam lehbha ia ki parabriew ngin sa ioh ki jingkyrkhu na U Blei.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por jong ka jingkmen.

Haba ka Maria ka la leit jngoh ia ka Elizabeth, Ka Elizabeth ka la ong, ‘U khunlung ha kpoh jongnga u la ryngkoh da ka jingkmen’ (Lk 1:44). Ki Angel ki la rwai ‘Burom h’U Blei sha jrong’ (Lk 2: 14) bad ka Anna ka la iaroh ia U Blei tang shu iohi ia U Jisu (Lk 2:38). Ka por Kristmas ka dei ka por ba U Blei u wan ban pynkmen ia ngi. Ka dei ka por ba ngi kmen namar U Blei u la kyrkhu iangi lyngba ki briew bad ka mariang. Ngi ruh ha kane ka aiom Kristmas ngi dei ban long ki atiar ban wanrah jingkmen ha ka jingim ki parabriew. Ka jingiaieid, jingiamap, ka jingleit jngoh ia ki ba duk ba toi, ki briew ha ki iing sah tymmen ne leit kynduh ia ki khynnah ba khunswet khun rangli bad kine ki jingleh bha jongngi kin sa wanrah jingkmen iangi. Ka jingpynkmen jongngi ia kiwei ka long ka jingpynkmen jongngi ia U Jisu bad ialade hi.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por jong ka jingkyrmen.

Ka jingkha ia U Jisu ka wanrah jingkyrmen ia baroh ki briew khamtam lei lei ia ki jait bynriew Ju ba ap khmieh ia ka jingwan U Messaiah. Ki riewstad na ri mihngi ki la kylli da ka jingkyrmen na U Herod, ‘Hango la kha ia i khyllung i ban long U Syiem ki Ju? (Mt 2: 2). U angel u la ong ha ki nongap langbrot, ‘wat sheptieng namar nga wanrah ka khubor ba bha’ (Lk 2: 10). Ka por Kristmas ka ai mynsiem ia ngi ba ngim dei ban duh jingkyrmen ha ka jingim jongngi. Ngi dei ban long ki briew ba trei shitom bad ba shaniah tylli tyllan ha U Blei bad U Blei un sa btin lynti iangi. Ngi ruh kum U Jisu u ba wanrah jingkyrmen ngi dei ban long ki ba ai jingkyrmen ia kiwei. Ki briew ba dap jingkyrmen ha lade ki lah ban ai jingkyrmen ia kiwei.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por ba ka kam ka kren khamjam ban ia ka ktien.

U Ignatius bakhuid na Loyola u la long, ‘ka jingieid ka dei ban kham pynpaw ialade da ki kam ba ym tang da ki ktien’. Ka por Kristmas ka dei ka por ba U Blei u pynpaw ia ka jignieid jong U iangi ym tang da ka ktien hynrei da kaba phah iala U jong U Khun U Jisu Krist. Ngi ki briew ngi dei ba bud ia ki nuksa U Blei. Ngi dei ban  kloi ban iarap ia ki ba lanot bad ngi dei ban long ki briew kiba kylluid mynsiem ban noh shynniang na ka bynta ka jingbha ka imlang sah lang jongngi. Ki briew ba kylluid mynsiem ia kiwei kin sa ioh jingkyrkhu shiphew shah na U Blei.

Ka Kristmas ka dei ka por jongka jingpynbna, jinglen lade, jingkmen, jingkyrmen bad ka por jong ka jingieid da ki kam. Lada ngi kwah ban ba U Jisu yn wan shong ha ngi shimet shimet ne ha ka iing ka sem jongngi ngi dei ban long ki ba la khreh. Ngi dei ban ban im ka jingim ba kiwei ki lah ban iohi ia U Jisu ba im ha ka jingim jongngi. Lada ngi im kum U Jisu kane ka pyrthei kan sa long ka pyrthei ba dap jingkmen, jingkyrmen, jingieid bad jingiamap. Ai ba U Jisu yn pyrsad ia ka jingim jong U ha ngi khnang ba ngi lah ban im bha ha kane ka pyrthei. Kristmas Basuk bad snem Thymmai Bakmen iaphi baroh.

Published in Mawphor on 24/12/2014

Link: http://mawphor.com/more?category=articles&id=727

How to make a Film?

1.       Working Title- (Film Name)

2.       Production Team (Names and roles)

3.       Focus/subject (The focus of the video will be)

a.       Audience (The target audience for the video is)

b.      Genre (The video will be in the style of)

c.       Final length (The finished movie will last for)

d.      Objective (The finished movie will last for)

e.      Outline (Mini Synopsis)

Gratitude- Mother Theresa

Ka Jingsngewnguh (Gratitude)

Shisien ka Mother Theresa ka la shah khot ban long chief guest ha ka skul Loreto ha Kolkata ha ka sngi Children’s day. Ha ka por ba la ailad ia ki khynnah ban kylli jingkylli i wei na ki khynnah i la kylli, “Mother kaei ka jingsneng kaba phi kwah ban ai ia ngi ki khynnah?” Ka Mother Theresa da ka jingphuhsamrkhie ka la ong “Ko hep barit, ngam don jingsneng hynrei ka kyntien jingieid ba nga kwah ban pashad ym tang iaphi hynrei ia ki kmie ki kpa bad baroh ki ba don hangne ka long, ‘Gratitude’ (Ka jingsngewnguh). Ka jingngewsnguh ia U Blei, ka jingsngewnguh ia ki parabriew bad ka jingsngewnguh ia ka Mariang’.  Ka jingsngewnguh ka wanrah jingkmen, jingieid, jingiamap, jingiatylli bad ka pynlaitluid iangi.” Paralok nga ieng hangne da katta ka mynsiem sngewnguh. 

Development Journalism and New Media

Development Journalism and New Media

1.      Introduction

Media has immense powers, primarily it is a watch dog. They shoulder the responsibility of spreading awareness among people and thereby developing the nation. Political leaders like M.K Gandhi have used media extensively to promote development. Gandhi has been termed as the most influential writer and journalist that India has produced, Gandhi knew the power of the word, spoken and written, in inspiring people to action.[1] Gandhi realized that he can bring development only when people are informed about a particular issue or event. Development journalism and New Media play vital role in creating, moulding and reflecting the public opinion. They contribute to shaping political, economic and social development in the country.

2.      Understanding the concepts

2.1   Development

The systematic process of economic, social, political, environmental and scientific transformation due to the continuing or constant working on a particular issue or event is known as development. It is the process of adding improvements to land, village, town, health sectors, transport and others. The process of developing, progress or growth of or in particular thing or area is known as development. The word ‘development’ is derived from the old French word ‘desveloper’, which means ‘unroll, unfold, unwrap, unfurl, unveil or reveal’, in 1590s.

2.2  Journalism

Journalism is the process of collecting, analysing, interpreting and disseminating of information to public through medium like print, broadcast, internet or new media. Journalism refers to the news or feature stories (light, entertainment stories) that are expressed either in a descriptive way or concise pattern through different types of media.[2] Journalism comes from Acta diurna, which appeared in the Roman era, where news and announcements affixed to or installed in the city centre at a time when it was called the Forum Romanum. The origin of the word Journalism is ‘Journal’ or ‘du jour’ which means day, where all the day’s news or the news contained in the printed sheet.[3]

2.3  Development Journalism

Jo Ellen Fair, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, conceptualises ‘development journalism’ as reporting that relates to the primary, secondary and tertiary needs of a country’s population. She describes it as news that satisfies the needs of a country’s population and enhances self-reliance, i.e. news that relates to development or to social, economic or political problems.[4] It concentrates on giving voice or courage to under privileged individuals, family, or groups of people and helps them to have dignity and status in society. The main characteristics of development journalism are the deliberate and active role in pressing for change. It is geared towards mobilising the people for national development. The notion of development journalism was introduced in 1960s at the Press Foundation of Asia and it became popular in the Third World countries.

Development Journalism is synonymous with a ‘grass roots approach’[5] or ‘local journalism[6],’ that is, it is decentralised and participatory. It does not restrict itself to mass media alone but also use the traditional communication media. Development Journalists travel to under developed areas, collect information through interaction with citizens and report it in different media. The work of travel journalists invites government officials or authority concern to take active role or steps to improve the living conditions of those people in remote places.

The most important component of development journalism is credibility, which most readily won by the media’s adequately advocating the interests of the affected people, which means interalia articulating criticism of the government. Probably only a free media system is able to contribute to rooting out corruption, this fundamental evil in developing countries, by revealing and pillorying it. The most important task of development journalism can be seen in removing the acquiescent basic attitude towards one’s own destiny which is so closely tied up with poverty.

2.4  New Media

New media refers to on-demand access to content anytime, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, and creative participation through  CD-ROM, HTML, streaming media, DV editing, web applications and DVD-video, chat rooms, e-mail, online communities, Web advertising, virtual reality environments, Internet telephony, digital cameras, mobile computing. Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, is an example, combining Internet accessible digital text, images and video with web-links, creative participation of contributors, interactive feedback of users and formation of a participant community of editors and donors for the benefit of non-community readers. Facebook is an example of the social media model, in which most users are also participants.[7]

3.      Goals of Development Journalism

Development journalism identifies under developed places and exposes them to government and public through medium like print, broadcast, internet or new media. It aims to reach rural areas with timely, relevant, and clear information. It addresses the negative news and spot news bias and try to report more news concerning the development process and get people involved to act on information people received. “The goals of development journalism are promoting grassroots, non-violent, socially responsible, ecologically sensitive, personally empowering, democratic, dialogical and humanistic forms of communication”. Development journalism emphasis on stability, partnership, harmony, and consensus therefore, there is no distinction between ordinary people and officials. Developmental journalism promotes mass rights over those of the individual. It is rooted in the notion of doing what is right for the common good.

4.      How new media brings development?

New media helps in better education facilities, facilitates interactive learning and make learning less boring.  It makes people to think creatively at very early age. Digital media technologies and their so-called killer apps, and the popular adoption and acceptance of these computer applications, are revolutionising our sensory perceptions and cognitive experiences of being in the world.[8] New media brings attention to issues that are overlooked or under-represented by other media and by the international political community. As investigative reporters, they uncover the stories within the stories, revealing the multi-faceted nature of poverty. Neuman argues that new media will alter the meaning of geographic distance, allow for a huge increase in the volume of communication, provide the possibility of increasing the speed of communication, provide opportunities for interactive communication, allow forms of communication that were previously separate to overlap and interconnect.

New media educates the people on social problems like Aids, dowry, sati, female foeticide, polio and other areas. New media bring attention to issues that are overlooked or under-represented by other media and by the international political community. As investigative reporters, they uncover the stories within the stories, revealing the multi-faceted nature of poverty.[9] Digital media also known as new media have revolutionised the exchange of information. News travels at a very high speed to public. Websites, mobile applications, blogs, and social media have become standard additions to the way people stay connected to and interact with news and events, and today’s media professionals require a robust skill set in order to stay current in their field.

5.      How new media journalist use media for development?

One definition of the duty of a journalist reporting on development is to: “critically examine, evaluate and report the relevance of a development project to national and local needs, the difference between a planned scheme and its actual implementation, and the difference between its impact on people as claimed by government officials, and as it actually is.”[10]  New media journalists can provide interactive discussions about various political, social and economic issues and try to form a solution. For example Video Volunteers provide a platform for people to raise questions about corruption, infrastructure, education, health, gender, forced evictions, caste and identity, art and culture, environment, development, conflict and technology and make government to take actions.

6.      Impact of Media in Development

6.1  Print

Print is the oldest media forms that include books, newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, and other printed material. Print media can address the issues like economic development, agriculture and food security, health, sanitation and medicine, employment, education and literacy, informational technologies development, housing conditions, environmental sustainability, urban and rural development, gender equality and many other areas.

6.2  Radio

Radio is the wireless transmission of signals through free space by electromagnetic radiation of a frequency. It is a powerful mass medium used in education for disseminating information, imparting instruction and giving entertainment. To reach the unreached areas, radio has immense power. Its waves can reach remote corners of the country. It is a fast, inexpensive and sows the seeds for development through communicating development messages. Different programmes pertaining agriculture, environment, health, women safety, child welfare, science & technology, national spirit and others are being aired so that people learn and are informed.

6.3  Television

Television can be a powerful tool for development. Initially television programmes were kept tight under control of the government, which embarked on a self conscious effort to construct and propagate a cultural idea of the Indian nation. A radical transformation of television in Indian has brought in 1990s. Doordarshan and other private own television channels began to focus on socially relevant problems such as AIDS, alcoholism, cancer, child abuse, drugs addiction and rape. Some public television programs stimulate visits to the zoo, libraries, bookstores, museums and other active recreational settings, and educational videos can certainly serve as powerful development devices.

6.4  Internet

The impact of Internet on education can be felt in homes, schools, colleges, universities, with information available at lightning speed. Today a vast amount of information is available at just a click of the mouse. Sharing of information or ideas through internet will foster development. For example when a person wants to learn how to edit a movie, photo, song etc they can just visit YouTube and they will get the tutorials. People who want to do research on various topics cannot but depend on internet.

6.5  Mobile

The advent of mobile devices like smart-phones, games consoles, digital cameras, media players, net books and handheld computers have been rapid and the impact on development is becoming an area of significant research interest. Mobile devices are the best friends of people. For example engineers, doctors, builders, architects, mechanics and other people irrespective of their professions need mobile to communicate with their colleague or clients. Farmers needs mobile so that they get information about the different types of seeds, fertilizers and schemes available for them. 

7.      Advantages of Developmental Journalism

Development journalism has a lot of attraction for developing countries. First, in countries where poverty is the norm, the government of the day wants and needs as much support as it can get. A press that reports government inefficiencies is therefore not welcome. The government will probably have to take decisions which are based on the common good but which harm individual liberties. These decisions may be highly unpopular but they have to be taken, and a hostile press can hold back government’s progress while a supportive press can help the government push these policies ahead.

8.      Disadvantages of Development Journalism

The press becomes far less critical and eventually is forced to give up its ‘watchdog’ role in society. Developmental press has come to be equated with one in which the government exercises tight control and prevents freedom of expression, all in the name of noble ends.

9.      Conclusion

Media has a very significant role in the development of a nation. Development journalism and new media have impact on different sectors like agricultural, education, science, economic, political, cultural, religious, medical, and other sectors that affect humanity. They can transform the thinking pattern, behaviour and action of a person or of society.  Creative and proper use of development journalism and new media will enhance faster growth in society and in a country.

10.  Bibliography

Books

1.      Everett, Anna and Caldwell, John T. (2003) New Media: Theories and practices of Digitextuality. New York. Routledge.

2.      Sharma, Seema (2005) Development of Journalism. New Delhi Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Pg 32-33.

Internet

1.      http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-journalism.html accessed on 14/8/2014.

2.      http://fjrbudiman.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-origin-of-journalism-in-the-world/ accessed on 21/8/2014.

3.        http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/05/03/fea01.asp accessed on 17/8/2014.

4.      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media accessed on 21/8/2014.

5.      http://www.east4south.eu/index.php/media_and_development/2._development_journalism/ accessed on 21/8/2014.

6.        http://mecs.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/311/Lecture_Notes_-_Development_Journalism.sflb.ashx accessed on 21/8/2014.

Footnotes

---

[1] The works of Gandhi could be seen in The Indian Opinion, Navjivan, Young India, Vegetarian and others. Seema, Sharma (2005) Development of Journalism. New Delhi Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Pg 32-33.

[2] A journalist reports news, which can be through print, television, radio, or even the Internet. The main purpose of a journalist is to report news with accurate facts in an unbiased manner. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-journalism.html accessed on 14/8/2014.

[3] http://fjrbudiman.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-origin-of-journalism-in-the-world/ accessed on 21/8/2014.

[4] http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/05/03/fea01.asp accessed on 17/8/2014.

[5] Grass roots approach is an approach which deals with basic issues, basic fact, basic ingredient, basic public opinion that might affect people at large.

[6] Local journalism deals with news or information from local areas or rural areas and brings effect or changes in that particular area. Journalists are rooted in the local culture concerned. Example of local journalism could be town hall meetings, fire side chats and so forth.

[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media accessed on 21/8/2014.

[8] Anna Everett and John T. Caldwell (2003) New Media: Theories and practices of Digitextuality. New York. Routledge. Pg. Xi.

[9] http://www.east4south.eu/index.php/media_and_development/2._development_journalism/ accessed on 21/8/2014.

[10] http://mecs.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/311/Lecture_Notes_-_Development_Journalism.sflb.ashx accessed on 21/8/2014.

Include mother in the Identity of a child

Include mother in the Identity of a child

Every human person is a unique person. Physiologically, psychologically, or intellectually we might be different but ultimately we are a child to our parent; brother and sister to our siblings; nephews and nieces to our parents’ brothers and sisters; grandchildren to our grandparents and relatives to whom we have blood relation. In one way or the other we are all interconnected being in this universe.

Practically every day we read in news report about the ill fate of mothers. We hear that mothers committed suicide, raped, strangled to death, beaten up by husband because of dowry, forced to do abortion and prostitution. The Times of India on July 9, 2014 reported that One Stop Crisis Centre ‘Gauravi’, a centre in Bhopal where women victims can seek help by directly walking in or by calling a toll free number, has witnessed more than 500 calls and 41 walk-ins in just three weeks. India is a place where there are many female goddesses being worshipped, is this supposed to be the status of our mothers in India?

The question asked by the Supreme Court as to ‘why are mothers ignored?’ should not be just a question but should evoke immediate action from government and people. Government need to recognize that mothers are part and parcel of a child. The Hindu reported on July 17, 2014 that mothers hardly match the authority a father commands in official documents necessary to prove a person’s identity. Indeed mother’s connection with a child is much deeper and stronger than what patriarchal society sees it. From womb to tomb we always find that there is always a mother.

The mother figure is the most centric figure in a child’s life. From infancy to adulthood, a mother’s role in influencing and shaping her child’s life does not cease. She is seen to take on various roles in her lifetime for the sake of her children and her family. She adopts roles of a playmate, a teacher, a friend, a companion and support system to her family.

The mother is the one who accompanies during childhood-playing with them and teaching them various things, schooling days- teaching them how to read and write, youth days- how to cope up with peer pressures and other teenage problems, while searching job they would accompany the child to office or pray for them, and while working they would prepare food for the child.

Mothers have done so much for the growth of a child. Is it not her fundamental right to be part of the identity of the child just like the father? In agreement to Mr Madhav Kant Mishra from Allahabad, who filed the petition in court that ignoring the parenthood of the mother in government documents is in gross violation of the Fundamental Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution, mothers should be acknowledged and given equal importance as the paternal figures.

Is Politics just a blame-game?

Is Politics just a blame-game?

Politics is an opportunity for politicians to lead, guide and bring development for people. Politics is to enhance democracy which is a government ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’. Politics and democracy aim at uniting people, transforming society, respecting people and provide equal rights and opportunities for citizens of a country. Politics and Indian democracy is in a pathetic stage in this present era because politicians instead of encouraging each other, working together for betterment of society are not fighting against one another and degrading the dignity of one another. Politicians are now intruding into private lives of individuals.

Narendra Modi is regarded as the ‘tea boy’, Rahul Gandhi as a ‘fraud Gandhi’ and Arvind Kejriwal ‘Mango man’. The election campaign of political parties for the General Election 2014 has become a campaign to degrade one another. BJP goes after Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress goes after BJP and AAP accuses Congress and BJP. Power, prestige and wealth have taken control over politics. Politicians no longer respect one another. Congress President Sonia Gandhi accused BJP of indulging in divisive politics by “sowing seeds of poison” (zeher ki kheti) and instigating violence. Mulayam Singh Yadav said that Narendra Modi presides over ‘mass murder’ of Muslims. Mr. Modi accused the Congress of being “high-class elitists with a feudal mindset,” and said that the Samajwadi Party, is a “Samaj-Virodhi (anti-social) Party”. Mr. Kejriwal accused that “Mukesh Ambani has Modi in one pocket and Rahul Gandhi in the other... He can allow Modi to have a five-year term and also give Rahul Gandhi five years to rule”. Gadkari claimed that Kejriwal had levelled “false, baseless, scandalous and defamatory statements” when   he was listed as one of the most corrupt politicians by Kerjriwal. Narendra Modi was remarked as “maut ka saudagar” (merchant of death) while Kejriwal is called as an “Anarchist” who is now a ‘Maoist without weapon’.   This cycle of blame - game has continued since the launch of the campaigns and doesn’t seem to stop. Is this kind of campaigning truly the best way to win the general public over? Where is the ethical responsibility and respect of human dignity in our so called political leaders?

Politicians need to realize that they are people’s representatives and need to set good example in words and deeds. Political parties need to campaign for election in order to win but they should not let power and position control their values as human beings. Politicians need to take political campaigns or rallies as an opportunity to spread values among people and not to degrade one another.