Dear friends

The year 2011 has been a busy year for me. I did many things unplanned. I was not regular in updating the blog—Newsy Take. I don’t want to go this year dry so I am updating a story written by me on the change youngsters seek in our society. This year I started writing a column Net Connect on happening in the virtual world.  I will update a few of them. I am assertive that you will find the articles interesting and informative.

This following article has been published in Yuva Sambad.

This New Year—when everyone is busy making New Year resolutions and planning to live their life anew—we tried to find out what youngsters think on issues concerning them and what changes they want in the education system, in their city and in the attitudes of people around them. Are we listening to what they want?

We tried—in this news report—to find out what irks them and what solutions they can offer to correct the system.

We also spoke to a few children in primary classes to know what they want in their dream school. Ideas flooded in from children all over Bhubaneswar. Some wanted to replace bells with music, a few demanded colourful classrooms, some asked for pin-up idea boards in each and every classroom, some came up with the idea to provide digital recorders to students so that if they go to the toilet, when they come back they can catch up on what they have missed and so on. 

A report by Abhishek Pandey on their dreams, aspirations and their new ways of living their academic, social and personal lives.

Every child aims high in life. Following the well-trod paths, many want to be doctors; some students want to go for engineering or for the civil services. Many a time their parents force them to choose careers they think are good and sometimes students do not want to risk choosing a non-traditional career option.

But nowadays the situation is changing and there is no dearth of students who dare to think out of the box and do things differently. They are setting trends for others to follow. Vikas Mohapatra is one of them.

Vikas, an MBA student, says, “I love travelling and clicking photographs. Unlike other parents, my father never forced me to become an engineer, a doctor or an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer. I wanted to become a photographer and my father always encouraged me. He is liberal and believes that everyone has his or her own forte.” Vikas says, “This year, I want other parents to take a cue from my father and allow their children to follow their heart because I believe if your heart is not in your profession you cannot excel.”

Sonali Priyadarshini, an undergraduate, wants something else. Sonali said that she is fed up with eve-teasers. “Girls face eve-teasing and molestation. I want Odisha Police to deploy adequate personnel near colleges and coaching institutions to put a stop to such instances,” she adds.

“Girls should also take some preventive steps such as carrying a pepper spray and pop-up knives for self-defence. They should join self-defence training classes too,” she suggests. “I regularly go to karate classes and no boy can dare tease me, she says.

Jitendra Moharana, a student of Masters in Social Work (MSW), is aiming to do his bit for society this year. “Chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes are injurious to health. Though there are laws against smoking at public places many people flout the rules with apparent impunity.  I have seen students smoking inside college premises and near schools or colleges. Professors and disciplinary bodies in school should take cognisance of these important issues and must take action. Shopkeepers cannot sell cigarettes and tobacco near schools or colleges as it is against the law,” Moharana says. This year, he wants to run a special awareness campaign in all colleges and schools across Bhubaneswar.

Youngsters live their life with a true sense of belonging with their friends in schools and the neighbourhood and even in the virtual world. However, many of them believe that elders have lost the sense of belonging. Raman Agarwal, a 17-year-old student, says, “People fight with each other in society on trivial matters. I suggest that elders should learn a few lessons in social behaviour from children who forget their fights with their neighbours or school friends the next day.”

He said that people today do not have time for their friends and family and sometimes even do not talk to their family for days because of the hectic lifestyle they follow. At home, they spend time seeing television or browsing Internet. Parents should spend quality time with their children.

These youngsters seek a change in the behavioural pattern of people in the virtual world too. “I am fed up with seeing boneheaded sentences as updates and tweets in the virtual world. Internet has grown up and we should too. People update useless status—sometimes about their personal affairs and many a time they intrude into others’ lives. It is high time everyone should learn online etiquette. People should not update anything that they do not want their parents or boss to read. One should also avoid texting while in office or in a group,” suggests Radhika Chaterjee, a management trainee.

There are other students who want to bring about a change in the educational system and make it interactive. “Every student should be given an opportunity to express their ideas. I suggest every school should have a mechanism by which students can convey their ideas to the school management and teachers; be it pin-up idea boards in every classroom or through student parliament or any kind of open forum. Their ideas should be taken into consideration,” suggests Jyotirupa Mohanty, a student of class XII.

Niranjan Sahoo, a student of class IV, wants drastic changes in the way schools function. He wants that there should be no compulsory subjects and there should be more periods for sports and co-curricular activities. He wants colourful classrooms and looks for bells to be replaced with music. Students can be given digital recorders so that they do not miss important lessons while they are not in the class room. He said that these are the possible and easiest ways of making learning interesting and fun.

Other children of his age group in government schools want that the government should build infrastructure in their schools to provide facilities as good as those available in private schools. A student from a government school on condition of anonymity said, “We do not have football or basket ball grounds in our school. There are many students who can perform better than their counterparts in private schools provided that they are given proper training and facilities.” He urged that this New Year the government must come up with some schemes for providing similar facilities to government school students.

Wishing You All a Happy New Year in Advance

|

Police officials came down heavily on media persons for their extensive reporting on an eleven-year old school girl Divya, who was sodomised in a school premises and died of profuse bleeding from her private parts.

Investigation officer (IO) and Station Officer, Anil Kumar, has summoned over 21 journalists under section 160 of CrPC and have demanded proof of their media reports.

Not only that, police officials are allegedly making threatening calls in newspaper offices and warning reporters to not file stories on the issue or face consequences. Even, several vehicles meant for transporting newspapers were halted by the police officials and did not allow passing for so called flouting the norms.

The draconian act of police in absolving the culprits in rape cum murder case was exposed by the print and electronic news channels.

Police officials have arrested as many as four people in the case but have failed to prove who the real culprit is? Even, they could not conclusively prove that which is the place of crime? Police theory has numerous loopholes and Justice for Divya has become a people’s movement that is gathering momentum after leaders cuttinmg across party lines, social activists, students, youths have come forward for demanding the arrest of real culprit?

It is important to mention that police officials even did not spare the victim’s family members and resorted cane charge on them while they were staging silent protest in front of the school where the little girl died.

Does the right to speech and expression exist in real means in Kanpur?

Can police force the media persons to reveal its news sources, though even court gives them freedom for not telling their news source?

Media advocacy in several cases has brought justice for the victim’s family. Is this an attempt to put a stop on advocacy or missionary journalism?

Many more questions are being raised in media foray and these questions remain unanswered ......And, until these questions are answered. People of India could be hapless in seeing in near future cases like Priyadarshini Matoo, Jesica Lal, Nitish Katara, Nithari getting solved .....

- Busy bee

|

A nine-year old girl Divya Bhadauria was raped brutally inside a school premises in Kanpur. Divya died of profuse bleeding of around 4.5 litres blood from her private parts.

Words have to be censored harshly, if I choose to explain her sufferings and pain before her death.

It’s gory. It’s horrific. It’s unexplainable.

Her mother Sonu is still in utter shock and six year old younger sister Deeksha is waiting for Divya to come and play hide and seek with her, unaware of the fact that her sister is no more in this world.

I might have been completely driven by my intense emotions while covering the issue for HT. I might not report objectively. I might not be fair with the accused Piyush Verma or whosoever it is.

But, I am sure about one thing, a girl had been raped inhumanly and a mother has lost her nine-year old daughter. And, there is someone bloody out there who is responsible for all this mess. The girl deserves justice and the pervert deserved to be hanged till death.

But, police is insensitive and irresponsible for what reasons ? The insensitivity shown by police is sprinkling salt on the festering wounds of the deceased’s family. Police beaten up the guys, who took the girl to the hospital after school-maids literally threw the girl at her house after her condition deteriorated. Police also managed to implicate a middle-aged man for the crime and made him confess that he has committed the crime six days ago.

Autopsy reports, circumstantial evidences and statements of key people contradict police theory. The weak case will collapse in court of law. But, they hardly care. They are real dabang – fearless - in Mayawati’s fearless society.

Justice for Divya needs mobilisation of people, a people’s movement to ensure that no Divya becomes victim next door or inside your house in future.Its your movement. Come on, come out. In real world, in virtual world. Everywhere.

******

One more thing for parents, please do trust your children and take their complaints of any kind of sexual assault seriously, as more than 80 percent children in India are victims of sexual assault. And, the close relatives, teachers, uncles, neighbours are culprits in 60 percents of cases.

So, there is no good reason in not trusting your own kid.

At last, please do pray for the girl Divya so justice served without much delay.

Busy bee

|

Don’t misinterpret me by the headline and start thinking that I want to go gaga about the unexpected and spectacular opening of CWG in Delhi.

Media, both print and electronic, has reported extensively on the issue explaining -crores of rupees were siphoned off during preparations. The construction of stadia was not qualitative. Black sheep were involved for carrying out construction work. Even, AR Rehman composed a sub-standard anthem.

and, Blah… blah…. blah......blah….

Media has over-stuffed the minds of the people with the information about CWG mess. Media had already put millions of question marks on India's capabilities of holding a grand event like this and made whole country ashamed off these wrong-doings.

I don’t want to depress our Indians friends further more with some more facts and figures about corruption in preparedness of CWG games.

I am sensing, CWG has changed something in the country. And, that is attitude towards ‘less important’ sports. This attitudinal change was brought in the psyche of people in 1984 also, when country organised Asiad successfully.

Common men are more interested in knowing who bagged medals from India in wrestling or shooting than getting information about Tendulkar’s performance in test match against Australia.

CWG fever has gripped India much fiercely than dengue, Chikangunia and other variants of viral fever.

This is a good sign of change in the country, where cricket is religion.

###

One thing more, Sports ministry must ponder over fewer turnouts of visitors inside stadia in CWG matches.

Government could think of providing concession on tickets to the school children in and around Delhi for watching CWG games. It will kill two birds from one stone:

First, Stadiums would be full to encourage players.

Second, Students would get the chance to see playing international players and they would be encouraged for playing unconventional sports.

- Busy bee

|

What has gone wrong with our TV channels? They are showing almost everything without giving a thought. Don’t they have any social responsibility?

Big Boss-4 is the perfect example of the mad race of TV channels for increasing number of eyeballs glued to their channels on prime time. The show has been always in controversy over happenings inside the house in all its three seasons. Sometimes, guys inside the house abuse each other or girls run skin show in and around the pool.

It kicked off with dust storm of controversy today. The makers have gone one step further, this time. Dacoit, super-thieve, and persons allegedly shown in mms sex clips are being portrayed heroes and they are privileged to live in Big Boss’ house.

The show is aired on prime time and families watch the show with children. Don’t you think, our children could think of becoming a ‘super-thieve’ or could indulge in making sex mms clips for becoming famous all over.

What is the way-out? Come on the roads to protest or use the remote in our hands to switch the channels. That, I leave to intellectuals to decide. But why they, you decide your matters.

- Busy bee

|

Abhishek Pandey

Spreading hatred has not benefited any but many institutions in our country do not seem to understand this. They are promoting it in the name of cultural traditions and cultural purity. The best example of present times is Khap which has wage a war against the people wants to spread love in the society.

It seems these panchayats are above the law, as Khap Panchayats can allow killing of the lovebirds, if any one dare to marry the partner of the same gotra. What is Gotra and why there is much hue and cry about it? Perhaps, many gen-Y Hindus may not be aware of. It looks like the Khap Pancayat has been given responsibility for its public relation and they have done their job well.

Now, the concept of gotra is very much clear in the minds of this present generation after the panchayats call for killing of many couples in the name of gotra followed by detailed media coverage.

Many opine, if the panchayats consider the marriages in same gotra immoral, they should also declare that any Indian would be punished if he or she marries an Indian by justifying their decision with the old cultural saying – All Indians are my brothers and sisters.

And, they can also call upon Sania Mirza from Dubai and must load her with lots of prizes for marrying a Pakistatni cricketer Shoaib Malik. They can also propose her name for the Bharat Ratna award.

They are planning to shut down Delhi on June 20, if the central government doesn’t agree to amend the Hindu Marriage Act. No one knows the government will succumb to that pressure or would nip them in the bud.

Political parties have not came forward against this faction of the society, as no one want to annoy the huge vote bank in Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP. Shamelessly, several ‘intellectual’ young leaders like Jatin Prasad have supported them with many senior leaders like Ajit Singh, Mahendra Singh Tikait and several others.

Rashtriya Swayam Sewak (RSS) has also called the issue a social issue and does not show any interest in commenting on the issue.

It is irony of the state. On one hand, the government is encouraging inter-caste marriages for promoting harmony in the society. On another, the loose canons of political parties, including congress party, are aggressively waging war against the lovebirds.

Khap panchayats are continuously giving decisions for social seclusion of the couples those have tied knot with the partner of same gotras. It is the high time that the government must crack the whip on these panchayats and the person responsible for causing death to any couple must be punished.

It seems, the time is not too far when such institutions, if allowed to flourish, would demand for the separate colleges, schools and hospitals in the country for members of different gotras, caste and communities.

|

Indian Premiere League proved to be Indian Profit League but many don’t like its prosperity.

Lalit Modi, the person behind the idea of IPL and who turned the cricket into ‘Cricketainment, ’is in problem. The reason is simple; he dared to mess with a politician, ‘Union minister of state for external affairs’ Shashi Tharoor.

Though, the squabble backfired Tharoor who allegedly tried to help his girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar in the whole deal of IPL Kochi team. The probe is ordered, Tharoor has been fired and Sunanda Pushkar resigned from her role in the Kochi team.

The case has opened the Pandora box of the problems for many in Board for Cricket Control of India (BCCI). People including several politicians have started raising fingers over the involvement of hundred of crore rupees ‘black money’ in the IPL business.

Sport has become a business and so has politics. There is no difference between both the fields as there are great chances of earning huge money in both the genres.

No political party is exception in making their ‘persistent’ efforts to improve the condition of sports. Please don’t overlook, I mean cricket for sports here.

It is the tragedy of the nation that the politicians poke their nose in sports, apparently for their vested interests.

Though, all the sports are not great earner of the money and so you would not find many politicians in other sports. Say, Badminton or for that matter any other sports ranging from Kabbaddi, Kho-Kho, High jump, Long jump, wrestling and so on and so forth – not many politicians are interested in it.

Leaders like Sharad Pawar, Rajeev Shukla, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Arun Jaitely, Narendra Modi and several others are interested in alleviating the standard of cricket. It seems they damn care of improving standards of other sports. It is the love for cricket or lust for money, only god knows.

I believe, the politicians must keep themselves involved in the politics and they should leave sports for the sportspersons. Not only me, many believe in the country that the sportspersons would better take care of the sports.

|