SAVE OUR TIGER

Are we doing enough? Our tigers are in danger. They are falling prey to poaching and man-tiger conflict. Inviolate spaces for tigers are shrinking. Villagers living near core and buffer areas of tiger reserves poison them in revenge for killing their cattle. The government agencies have failed miserably in relocating the reluctant villagers; as in the last 40 years they have been able to relocate only 105 villages out of 1700 in protected tiger reserves. [...]

Now, Noida MMS Sex Scandal

A 23-year old MBA student of Noida is another victim of MMS sex scandal. She was filmed by her boyfriend when she was stripping off her clothes on music. Her boyfriend circulated the MMS because she refused to marry him. This is not the first case of that kind. It is happening in the country from the last few years. [...]

Pyaar Ka Punchnama

Love is about sacrifice. Is it? I have seen in the Bollywood movies of the late 60s and 70s actors profess that love is all about giving and not gaining. Their dialogues are only appropriate for reel life and not practical in real life[...]

If you are going [...]

Share your thoughts, in short

Micro-blogging is all about posting small digital contents—text, pictures, video and links—on the Internet. In short, it is a combination of blogging and instant messaging. Micro-blogging websites allow users to share a message of 140 or less character, a video of 12 seconds or less duration, short links or individual images with online followers[...]

Express your love, but is it that simple?

No. It’s not. The three-word expression I Love You is perhaps the most difficult one to express. People may be headstrong but go weak at the knees when it comes to proposing to someone special. For one and all, the expression of love requires perfect timing, ideal setting and right approach[...]

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Media closes its eyes to ‘5/7*’ Sex trade (Part2)

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 19:10:00 in , ,

By Abhishek Pandey

Media are
hell-bent to attract the larger number of readers to their publication or maximum audience for their TV or radio channel and maximum eyeballs for their Internet sites. Sex trade, which is thriving under the nose of nation’s capital - media capital- has not attracted any media attention as yet. My last article ‘Sex for sale on Internet’ tried to explain the business operation of these ‘escort/ massage service providers’ in the national capital and other metro cities in India, these groups are operating in metro cities with apparent impunity.

Sex workers in many parts of the country have raised their voice against the exploitation. The operation of these groups could make another section of exploited girls. These ‘sex traders’ are showing a short cut way of being rich to college going and other over ambitious girls. The old bollywood movies’ cliché` ‘Koi bhi ladki apni marji se is dhande me nahi utarti’ (none of the girls enter in prostitution with her consent) is likely to appear false in this scenario. The high rates, which varies from Rs. 10k per couple of hours to 1 lakh rupees for a night or more for additional services, does not show their economical compulsion. This trend shows lust for money. Someone’s lust is being fulfilled for another’s lust and media prefers to be silent..

Many girls are victims also of this malpractice, because if once they enter there is no exit door. Few months ago, a foreigner revealed that she was lured in the profession by some agent, who promised her job in fashion industry. She was told that she would be given modeling contracts in India and when, she came then after few days her passport was taken away and she was forced in to prostitution.

The advertisements of these escort services/massage parlors are ‘shamelessly’ displayed in the prominent English dailies of capital. Few newspapers, keep them aside from this malpractice of generating revenue. Newspapers, which are considered the watchdog of society, don’t give a damn to check these types of advertisements.

Three Ss, Sachin (cricket), Shahrukh (Bollywood movies) and Sex sell like a hot cake in India. The huge income of BCCI and cricket players, success of the film industry on the basis of Shahrukh khan’s acting and sexy masaala in the movies verifies it. Newspapers get the news from London that ‘Losing virginity on cam can fetch $20,000’ or ‘Mom seeks a sex mate for her son’. But unfortunately, they close their eyes to ‘sex trade for elites’ with in the city. The main reason is unidentifiable. The reason could be the revenue generated by these ‘service providers’ through their ads in the newspapers, one can see these classified ads in Delhi’s few english dailies. They would not like to lose the revenue because all game is about get maximum advertisers.

Indian Trafficking (prevention) act does not allow the public advertisements given by the prostitutes. An ad containing ‘Dream girls for all India services’ with contact details and claim to provide educated, hi-profile models of Indian, Russian and Afghan origin, for escort services, in the newspapers. But when they were contacted, reality was different altogether.

This is not ethical also for newspapers to publish these ads. I hope, Press council of India and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), and Indian Newspaper Society would look in to the matter. I expect, they should stop these ads with immediate effect. They can not afford to sweep the issue under the carpet for long. A change is needed

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SEX for sale on Internet

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 08:44:00 in , , ,
By Abhishek Pandey

The million dollar question, technology is a boon or curse, has been asked umpteen times. Technology has made our life easier and more comfortable in many aspects. But it has other sides also. Technology has created threat among parents because of its misuse. YouTube, Social Networking sites, Internet porn sites have been existing and worrying parents because of misuse of these sites by children. Though, these sites are available on net without any control and any one can access them by just clicking ‘I am 18’ tab. There are thousands of uncontrolled porn websites. Pornography is available in different forms like explicit pictures, short animated movies, stories to online videos. This is not limited to porn sites but sex trade and online brothel are also emerging on the net with huge network across the globe.

In India, Escort services are cover for the online sex trade. These websites claim that they would arrange top Indian models for $330 or Rs.15,000 per two hour per session or per ‘shot’. The full night service demands Rs. 25000 to Rs. 1, 00,000. These websites claim to make available working models, aspiring actresses, and Asian, Russian, European girls. They claim to provide blonde, brunettes and redheads to their customers in exchange of handsome amount. Few websites also display the explicit pictures of the girls.

Few facilities provided them are not appropriate to be mentioned here. All the fees charged by them are in USD. Some websites provide girls outside the country also. A total of approx 2000 websites of same kind are in operation in India and figures would go up to several thousands, if foreign sites are included. These websites are trying to cover themselves behind the massage services providers. Many girls on their own websites have shared that they have provided their ‘services’ to top bureaucrats, politicians and business entrepreneurs. These ‘service providers’ claim to provide their ‘service’ in any city of the country and even, abroad on the customers’ demand. Many websites on the net invite the girls to join them in escort service, which is a dangerous sign.

When one of the service providers were contacted to find out the functioning of these groups, a fluent English speaking women picked up the phone. She asked for the details like the Hotel name and room no, requirement of girls, for an individual or for couple of guys and other similar details. She explained the rate is Rs. 10,000 per person for couple of hours. And, she suggested to contact few hours before the actual; appointment. These are some staggering facts of ‘flesh market’ in a differently neo conservative culture like India.

Some countries have gone to another extreme like online brothel. ‘Big Sister’, a voyeuristic video porn site cum online brothel, is one of the pioneers of this ill trend. The brothel is situated in Prague, Czech Republic. Man can get the free service provided by female prostitutes but they have to allow Big Sister to record their intimate moments. Entry for females and couples is free on the same condition that they would be on camera during their sexual activities. Websites sell these videos to their customers on the basis of monthly registration of $30online per month or for the payment of few dollars at once. This website has also one link for girls to join the profession.

India has stringent laws against the obscenity, trafficking and pornography. Information Technology act 2000, section 67, prohibits the publication or transmission of any material, ‘which is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest or if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it’. The punishment of this crime in first conviction is imprisonment of five years with fine up to one lakh rupees and in the case of second conviction person may be imprisoned for ten years with fine up to two lakh rupees. Section 292 and 293 of Indian penal code has the provision of punishment in the case of distribution and selling of obscene materials. Though, we have some stringent laws but all of them unlikely to be effective on Internet.

Prostitution is prohibited to thrive in public places under The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) in India. Sex workers can be punished for seducing clients in public places and customers can be punished for a sexual activity near to public place. India had religious prostitutes called ‘Devdasi’ (servant of gods) who are likely to turn in to ‘tech-dasi’ (servant of technology) for few rupees. Indian government has to take some stern steps to avoid making Sonagachi (Kolkata), GB road (Delhi), Kamathipura (Mumbai), Budhwar Peth (Pune), Dalmandi (Varanasi), Reshampura (Gwalior) or similar red light areas in online space.

Ministry of Child and Women welfare have given the details that a total of 2.8 millions sex workers are working in India. And more than 35% of them entered in the profession before the age of 18 years. The addition of these tech-savvy sex workers’ groups can swell up the numbers. The technology can be dangerous for the spreading of trafficking and prostitution in the country. It is the dangerous trend and the Indian government must look in to it in the time when government, United Nation (UN) and many NGOs are working together to fight HIV and other fatal diseases.

India has seen lot of moral policing on couples holding hands or sitting in the park. It has also seen vandalised restaurants and greeting cards shops during Valentines Day and Friendship Day. These both are two extremes and India lives in between. Indian government and social activist must raise the issue of online obscenity and indecency to save the young breed. Our politicians seem to have problem of hard of hearing but their ears started working well during election period. This is the best time to raise the issue and demand a ban on such pornographic websites so that no Noida or DPS MMS scandal is repeated or no children go stray in its early age. They could be from any one’s family. The best move can be: ‘Come forward and raise your voice’.

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Young voters, old politicians

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 12:18:00 in , , ,

By Abhishek Pandey

Poll dates
for 15th Lok Sabha elections have been announced. World would watch the election of largest democracy of the world in five faces from April 16 to May 23. The 15 Lok Sabha elections would decide the fate of six national and 224 regional parties. A total of 740 millions voters would decide the next ruling government of India.

Election commission has given the details of the young voters which amounts 24% of electorate this time. The contradiction is that India has more than 40% MP aged between 50 to 90 years of age. All the parties are planning to woo the young voters to get the maximum number of seats in the next parliamentary elections. We can only hope that parties would also increase the seat share for the young politicians. But it does not seem to happen. All the parties want votes of youngsters but for oldies only.

Congress has Rahul Gandhi as the young face of party. Rahul has been seen visiting slums and villages of the different states for elevating himself as a ‘real’ politician. BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani has also showed that he is a tech-savvy with a vision of a youngster by lifting dumbbells at the age of 78. Advani has taken the support of online advertising to attract the young Internet users. Advani is also planning to visit college campus across the country to propagate his ideology ahead of LS polls. He is asked for volunteers to support in his college campaign and many have come ahead to support him.

India has some young turks in both houses of parliament. Rajesh Pilot’s son Sachin Pilot, Madhav Rao Scindhias’s son Jyotiraditya Scindhia, Indian National Congress also have Former MP Jitendra Prasad’s son Jatin Prasad, Union minister Murli Deora’s son Milind Deora, Actor cum politician late Sunil Dutt’s daughter Priya Dutt, Former Andhra Pradesh CM NT Ramarao’s daughter D Purandeshwari and few more.

Other parties also have young faces like Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma’s daughter Agatha Sangma, Former CM of Tamilnadu M Karunanidhi’s daughter Konimozhi and NCP president Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule are few examples of the leaders who are carrying forward their political lineage. Samajwadi party has Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav. Kalyan Singh’s son Rajbir Singh, Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldip Vishnoi, Prakash Singh Badal’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal and few others have put their feet in their parents’ shoes.

It seems that we are having many young leaders in Indian politics. But another side of this coin is not as bright as it should be. All the aforementioned young leaders have not come from grass root level. Most of them are won just because of their political background. They have not gone to the process of making a politician. Despite of this fact, their capabilities can not be questioned. But the dependence of all these leaders to the senior politicians in the party for almost all the important decisions show that they are memo-queen of their political party.

This is not a good sign that young politicians have not been accepted unless they have any political background. We need young politicians those can understand the need of youngsters which amount 24% of registered voters or approx 180 million youths. Indian youth need the good professional institutes, good educational and health policies, good job opportunities, better life style, good roads, availability of all the brands in his/her city, corruption less society, proper security in public places, comfortable transport facilities and many more. Youths are more demanding than other ‘aam aadmi’. They are looking for an ‘Obama’ to happen in India. Their demands are not too much. They know the capacity India and ready to extend their hand for the incredible change in India’s future. But who is ready to hold their hand.

If they can prosper the Silicon Valley in USA then why cant they do the same magic in Bangalore. If most of the well trained Indian doctors and engineers are working for western countries to make sure the proper running of research institutes and health centers. Why can’t they do this in India? They can do it but they need something in return.

After watching complicated political strategies, young generation of India wants to know about the reality in the promises of the politicians, young or old. The need the government which don’t play the political tantrums by raising caste, religion, regional and other trivial issues in their manifesto. The young voters would definitely look for the government which would be able to solve the problem of economic slump. They would vote for the government which would create jobs for them in the time of crisis.

We can only hope that next government would listen to these issues and surely, they would not ignore this voice and if they would do, it would be at their own peril. Is any one listening?

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Religion, reason for gender bias

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 17:24:00 in , ,

By Abhishek Pandey

There were three news reports in the newspaper last week which troubled my conscience. First, The editor Ravindra Kumar and publisher Anand Sinha of ‘The Statesmen’, a Kolkata based old English Indian newspaper, were punished for reproducing an article because it hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. The original article was written by a Journalist, Johann Hari in ‘The Independent’. Second, Pakistan accepted the ‘Shariat’ law in the swat valley and declared cease fire with Tehrik-e-Nifaz Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM), a militant group of ‘Taliban’ nature. Third, an autobiography of a nun ‘Amen’ was released recently which revealed many hidden facts of mal-practices in Kerala catholic churches. All of these stories are very much connected with the religion and gender bias.

I browsed through a few pages of history of some major religions and tried to find out the state of women in different religions. I found that women are apparently subsided in most of the religions. Every religion talks about the highest place of women in the scriptures but contrary to it, women’s conditions are pathetic and palpable in practice.

Islam, which is considered the most unfavorable religion for women. The pages of history speak this in details. Johann Hari writes in his article that it exists from the days of Prophet Mohammad, who married a nine-year old girl 'Aisha' and raped her. It is said that she was not abused child but ‘blessed’ child, if you ask some mullah for clarification. One must read the book ‘Jewel of Medina’ written by famous journalist Sherry Jones for details. In a recent case in Saudi Arabia a ten year old girl was married to a 58 year old man. When the mother of a girl reached to the court then court discarded the plea and said that her mother could not file the case and even, child could not file the case until she reaches puberty.

Have you heard that a rape victim was punished and convicts were left free? Yes, it happened. A gang rape victim in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail because she was moving around in a car with the man who was not her relative, Guardian reported this news on November 2007. Mukhtaran Mai was punished to be gang raped in a southern Punjab village in Pakistan by village council called jirga; BBC reported the news in 2004.

What kinds of religion suggest these atrocious acts? Women are thrashed, abducted, molested, raped, beaten, murdered in Taliban ruled states and some parts of the Middle East countries. The reason was as ‘simple’ as that because they started moving freely, joined jobs for their livelihood, started studying or they were not wearing hijab. Mrs. Shirin Ebadi, noble peace prize winner, also expressed concern about the fact that certain Islamic countries still did not officially recognize women’s rights, particularly those of wives.

Now, I would like to come to my own religion, Hinduism. Here also, women are suffering from the male chauvinism from mythological age to the 21st century. Sita went through Agnipariksha in Satyug and women were burnt for centuries because of Sati pratha. In 1987, Roop Kunwar, a young bride from Rajasthan immolated herself on her husband’s pyre following the religious practice of Sati pratha. Her brother justified her act by saying that she would become the goddess then. Hindu widows were alienated from the Hindu society from centuries and when, Deepa Mehta tried to show that in her film ‘Water’ then Hindu extremists came on the streets, protested and shooting has to be stopped in Varanasi in 2000. She had to complete the shooting in Sri Lanka. For many years, female feticides and infanticide were practiced in India. And the reason was as stupid as that ‘who will perform the last rites of the elderly people’ or ‘how the family lineage would enhance’.

In a recent case of Mangalore, Women were beaten by Hindu male chauvinists because Indian culture does not allow women to go pubs but the same time ‘does it allow molesting and beating of women in public place’. The answer by these idiots possibly would be: No. They did that because it was necessary for saving the culture of the land or saving the religion. As, they are the only people left on earth to do the same.

Another major religion in the world is Christianity. It is considered the most advanced and liberal religion. Yes, it in true in many aspects. The silver lining in dark clouds is that hardcore malpractices are not in this religion. Child marriage, Sati Pratha, forceful gentle mutilation or female circumcision, atrocities for having relation with opposite sex, and honor killing do not exist. But, gender bias exists in some other forms. Women priests are not appreciated, they can work as nun and serve the male priest but they can not be elevated usually as bishop or pope in religious hierarchy.

Sister Jesmi, who was a nun from Congregation of Mother Carmelite (CMC) until August 2008, writes in her book ‘Amen’, ''At a retreat for novices, I noticed girls in my batch were unsettled about going to the confession chamber. I found that the priest there asked each girl if he could kiss them. I gathered courage and went in. He repeated the question. When I opposed, he quoted from the Bible which spoke of divine kisses,'' she writes. Sister Jesme revealed that another time; a nun forced her to have sex with her.

I know that religious issues are always surrounded by electric fence and if any one would try to pass it then s/he will surely get the shock. Salman Rushdie, Deepa Mehta, MF Husain and Tasleema Nasreen are few victims. But these issues must be raise and challenged for the sake of reformation in the ideas and ideologies for our future generations. All the above mentioned malpractices in different religion are like fungal diseases and from the ages, these are the reason of deep scourge on existence of ‘womanhood’. I don’t have disrespect in my mind and heart for Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity or for that matter, for any religion. But we need to look in to reform it for the better development of all, not only for one section of society.

None of the religion is made to oppress any one. It is made for better functioning of society and to make people god-fearing so they don’t commit crimes. Ironically, misinterpreted religions are used for oppressing the people in the name of god and religion. All the religion in the world deserves respect and I do respect all of them. Religion and religious guru, mullah, and priests should accept the rational questions and it will elevate the stature of religion in the eyes of the common people.

!!!Amen!!!

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Technology empowers everyone, REALLY?

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 19:10:00 in , , ,

By Abhishek Pandey

Lal Krishna Advani would advertise his poll campaign on 2000 website, according to one of the news agency report. The poll campaigning on the net is a new trend in India. Advani is likely to become the pioneer of this trend.

BJP is having five official websites. Advanis’s website is the most popular among its all other websites these days. Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh Chauhan also have their own website. BJP stalwart Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi also started his website and blog recently to address the issue of global warming and other environmental issues, though political issues are there. BJP has its own official website and also own one more website which is called friends of BJP’s website. BJP is also present on Orkut and Facebook; both are well-known and very popular social networking sites among netizens. Internet has been chosen as one of the best medium for campaigning in next LS elections by the India’s most ‘traditional’ party.

Narendra Modi has 4966 supporters on FaceBook group far more than 297 of LK Advani. He is first among all the Indian in largest supporter base on FB. Manmohan Singh is on second position with 2590 members in his FB group. Rahul Gandhi is on third with 1982 supporters followed by his mother Ms Sonia Gandhi, who is having 988 supporters. Atal Bihari is also there only with 158 net supporters. There are some other leaders of different parties with nominal supporter base.

Social Networking sites are there. Online forums are there. There are not less than 1000 online groups, forums on Indian political parties and their leaders. Most of the national and regional parties have their online presence with poor layout and design of their websites, except few of them are designed well.

Internet poll advertising and fund raising was one of the innovations of US President Obama in the US elections this time. There are ample numbers of ways today to advertise on the Internet. There are websites like Adsense/Adword, Netclix, Bidvertiser and lots more to provide facility to advertise anything on the net. YouTube is there to upload the election speeches online. Congress is also trying to follow the trend and have started uploading the speeches of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders on YouTube.

Internet penetration has increased in India and this has become the best place to attract the audience which has no time to go to attend the public meetings or gatherings of the political parties. It will surely attract the software engineers, NRIs, industrialist and other elite class people, who can get the access of leaders’ speeches inside their air conditioned office cabins or in their bed rooms by the click of a mouse.

Internet has changed the lives of millions. This Lok Sabha poll will tell us, how it can affect the political career of the Indian leaders in the country, where 60% population still lives in village and most of our people are not having access to Internet. Forget about Internet and computers, they are not even having proper electricity supply for irrigation or lighten their house with CFL. Proper roads are not in many villages for daily commuters. Students are dropping out after primary classes. Farmers are committing suicide. Migrants are beaten up in other states because they are going away from their home to get jobs.

In such kinds of unpleasant situation, Internet is best medium to keep your eyes closed from all these problems. Because in the virtual world of web, Politicians need not to go and listen the problems of the people on the ground. They need not to feel the plight of the people by standing beside them; those are not having even basic facilities. In India, Internet will not be as success as it was in US because we are India not US. Most of the US citizens have easy access to computer and internet but every Indian does not have even access to two meals a day. My dear Politicians of the great nation called India; choose the technology to empower the vote bank but empower the people first, so they can get access of it.


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Now, Noida MMS Sex Scandal

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 18:58:00 in , ,

By Abhishek Pandey

A 23-year old MBA student of Noida is another victim of MMS sex scandal. She was filmed by her boyfriend when she was stripping off her clothes on music. Her boyfriend circulated the MMS because she refused to marry him. This is not the first case of that kind. It is happening in the country from the last few years. In 2004, a boy of class 12 of DPS shot his intimate sex relations with his girl friend and circulated among his friends. Both students were expelled from the school. The girl was sent abroad by her family and the boy got admission in another school after getting bail in the case. The staggering fact of this case was that both were minors. In 2006, a girl student in Aurangabad College returned her home in Shilong, when her MMS oral sex clip became the topic of discussion in college campus.

MMS Sex scandals are not limited to love-birds’ adventurous game. There are some cases in the country where Hotel or mall’s employees were involved in putting hidden pinhole cameras in the hotel rooms and changing rooms of the girls. Sometimes, it is found that hidden cameras were put in public toilets also. There are also few news items on internet, if it is to believed, that one gentle man from Pune put the spy camera in the room of the girls, who were living on rent in his building and used to watch them on his TV.

In 2005, three hotel staffers in Ludhiana were caught red handed when they were filming the couple. These incidents are not limited to our country. In 2005, a student of Singapore took the inappropriate pictures of his teacher and circulated them on payment to his colleagues. According to a Asian electronic publication, explicit photographs of a 13-year old Melbourne girl were put on a social networking site, MySpace, by a cyber bully. The girl told that she sent those pictures to his boyfriend.

The fantasy of voyeurism among the youths is one of the important factors in such type of scandals. Modernisation has given the easy access to these gadgets. Technology has pros and cons but how you use it, it depends. Internet or modern gadgets can feed you the news from any part of the world or you may use it for chatting with your friends sitting thousands of miles away. It can be used for other anti social purposes also like to defame any one or for other malicious motives. These MMS were not limited in the Delhi only, but could be seen in the mobile phones, computers or Laptops of the youngsters in other parts of the country. This issue was raised in parliament also but nothing happened to tackle these issues effectively.

Many girls are defamed or become the victims of these scandals because their obscene MMS were put on the Internet or circulated among the friends just for the sake of enjoyment, adventure or for quick popularity. Most of the cases are the result of the blind faith of the girl on his partner. And the girls are cheated again and again and again. But I don’t want to put the blame only on boys, girls also must relook their attitude.

I am not the right person to preach the girls or boys, ‘how should they behave in their personal relation’? They have all the rights to decide what they should do and what they should not. But they must not forget the line of decency or the ‘Laxman Rekha’. Crossing the limit may harm the dignity of the relation as a whole and the family’s reputation in the society. No one would come and dictate the norms for them to follow but they have to make their own rules and their own limits.

Government is also lacking the stringent acts against these techno- voyeurs. The best thing that the girls and the couples in public places must be aware and must inform the police if they found any thing suspicious in the hotel room, changing room or for that matter, any where. This is the best way to be away from the unwanted fuss. I think the self-proclaimed ‘moral police’ should come here and show their guts to prevent these activities. But I doubt, they will take any initiative.

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Wood, really good in Suraj Kund

Posted by Abhishek Pandey on 15:52:00 in , ,


By Abhishek Pandey

Haryana tourism ministry annually organizes a two week International Handy craft Fair at Suraj Kund, Haryana. This year fair was scheduled from Feb 1 to Feb 15. Suraj Kund is located in the outskirts of Delhi and it is 30 minutes far from the Delhi-Haryana Badarpur border.

Tourism Ministry provides a free space to display handicraft works to several artists from many parts of the country. Several handicraft items including textile, glass, leather, handloom, paper and other different kinds of attractive handicraft works were showcased in the Mela. Wooden art works’ stalls are one of the most eye-catching spot in the Mela. Wooden handicraft items, wooden paintings, wood decoratives, walnut cravings, wooden interiors, book shelf, frame, panels, racks, sofa, bamboo garden furniture and jewelry, cane furniture and lot more wooden items were available in annual International handicraft Fair. The price of these products was as low as 50 rupees for a decorative to the four lakh rupees for a painting of Lord Krishna engraved on rose wood. These items are put here for the display and as well as for sale. Any one can buy or order the art work which s/he may not get in his/her vicinity.

Different artisans came from different parts of the country, ranging from far southern states like Andhra, Tamilnadu to far eastern states like Tripura, Assam including northern states. Every state is known for its distinctive wooden handicrafts. One could see the famous wooden paintings from Mysore, Karnataka. Jagat Pal, an artist, told that they come hear every year to showcase their art to the public. He added that it is very good initiative by Haryana government to encourage Indian handicrafts and artists.

Raheem from Saharanpur shared his view and said that most of the emporiums in cities purchase their products and sale those in the different metro cities and also export these products abroad through sea route. An artist from Guwahati said that Bamboo furniture is in great demand and they are coming there from last 20 years to show case their art. The artist told that he was selling the items of approx 25 to 30 thousand rupees daily and also got good orders in the Mela.

Mela also gives a feel of rural India through different cultural and musical programs at ‘Natyashala’ in the center of the craft fair. Different cultural and regional groups perform their cultural programs which is also one of the attractions of this Mela. One must not miss the food court which is situated at a quite higher place in the center of the ground. One can get the good Indian food of different states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and South Indian states, including Chinese dishes. A typical rural styled Domino’s is also situated for the Pizza lovers.

Haryana government initiated the craft fair in 1981. The Suraj Kunda, which means 'pool of the sun', is also has historical significance. Surajpal was the king here and he made a lake in this place. And that’s why this place is known as Suraj Kunda. Suraja Kunda is a worth place to visit for art lovers. But this year it is over, wait for a year.


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