Why Jallikattu needs to be stopped?

For the past many days newspapers are full of the news related to Jallikattu, which has been declared Tamil culture. The mass support for the sport is really sad. The state government has already kneeled down in front of the demonstrations. But still Jallikattu supporters are not happy as they demand a law allowing the rural sport.

The state government is trying to bring Jallikattu out of the purview of the Prevention of animal cruelty Act, 1960. The judicial ban on this bull taming game should stay. The central government has also sadly supported the ordinance in favour of Jallikattu issued by the state governor. Even the Supreme Court has called the game cruel to animals.  The game is cruel also for humans, as two persons died and 120 injured in Jallikattu on Sunday in Pudukottai. People declaring the opposition to the game as anti- Tamil, need to realize that this mindless game of pain and death can never be real Tamil culture. It is weird to see personalities like Kamal Hassan coming in support of the agnostic game.

In this game poor bulls are made to run madly, while the animals are under severe trauma, their humps and tails are twisted and pulled. If any disturbing act has been going on for years, that does not mean that it should not be stopped. We live in the 21^st century India on one hand we are aiming to send humans on moon on the other hand we are still grounded in these rituals which cause death to animals and humans too. Before the bulls run they are lashed with sharp sticks. The game also involves extreme bending of the tail which fractures the vertebrae and biting of the bull's tail. It is so painful that the bulls are forced to drink alcohol to disorient them. During the game they are stabbed by various things such as knives or sticks, punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground. Many bulls end with broken bones and even death.

It is the high time that people who are supporting this game, they try to see the other side of the picture as well. The Supreme Court should not budge in front of the pressure. The only hope for these poor animals is the judiciary of India that can still try to stop this madness. Noting barbaric can be supported in the name of culture. India also has the culture of non violence, why not support that? 

http://www.merinews.com/article/handlers-of-pathankot-attack-terrorists-were-pakistan-based-mobile-numbers-prove-it/15912595.shtml# 

Why Jallikattu should not happen in 21st century India ?

Recently there has been a lot of controversy about the animal sport Jallikattu. Earlier it was banned and now the ban has been lifted. Defying the Supreme Court ban on conducting Jallikattu, a bull taming sport, organisers in some interior villages went ahead with the event on Sunday challenging the district administration and police to take action. Many villages conducted bull races. 

In Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu villagers allegedly pelted the police with stones for preventing them from conducting jallikattu. Officials of the Animal Welfare Board of India said the inaction of authorities in dealing with those who openly defied the court order was shameful.

On Saturday morning the game was played with 65 bulls and 40 tamers in Trichy district. The nearest police station was 10 km away. But police turned a blind eye as villagers gathered for the sport. The event is said to have started at 10am and went on until noon. In the name of keeping the traditional sport alive atrocities are done against animals. Bull taming, bull chase and bull fights are the main actions against animals. Now the question is should such medieval sports be carried out in 21st century India? These are cruel games that need to be banned – strictly banned. 

The supporters do not think of the animals what they undergo? Terrified bulls are deliberately disoriented, have their tails twisted and bitten and are stabbed, punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground. In bullfights, the fight ends when one of the bulls is either killed or manages to flee. Now, the Supreme Court has made clear that the ban must be upheld. It also struck down the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act No 27 of 2009, a state law that permitted jallikattu. Nobody is bothering about animal rights. How can cruel games like these bring happiness to someone in the name of tradition. If we have to follow our traditions, then we should recall that even Sati and child marriage were our traditions. There is a need to end these medieval sports so that poor animals can be saved from cruelty.

India, Namibia may jointly explore Uranium

India may consider joint exploration with the Namibian government for uranium. India has not received even an ounce of uranium under a deal signed with Namibia six years ago.

No government-to-government trade is currently possible because the mines are privately owned in Namibia. The government can not impose any decision on the mines. Uranium in Namibia can be acquired through licences. In such a scenario there is a positive side. India can negotiate with existing companies that are mining uranium in Namibia. India and Namibia can also collaborate via a joint exploration project. Indian government has the aim of promoting clean energy and due to this aim India needs uranium.

Namibia and India signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in 2009. Uranium being sent to India is not subject to the embargo on international nuclear trade. Both the governments are working hard for starting this supply as soon as possible.

There are two uranium-rich nations in Africa — Namibia and Niger. Both have offered to supply the nuclear fuel to India. India’s negotiations are on with two of the largest producers of uranium —Canada and Australia. India's domestic uranium is inadequate to fully feed the indigenous small and mid-size reactors. That is why India is forced to woo these uranium producing nations.

The forgotten widows of Vrindavan by Rohini Verma

Vrindavan is one of the holy places for Hindus. People come here in large numbers to seek blessings of Lord Krishna. Thousands of people in India are members of ISKCON. They come in large numbers to the temple. Tourists also come to see the holy place. The city is always over-crowded with people. Here is a different side of Vrindavan, which is not known by majority of the people. This sad side is the condition of Hindu widows who live here.

In the male- dominated Indian society, there is no value of life of a widow. People who come in large numbers for pilgrimage; they fail to notice life of these living dead souls. Thousands of widows live a miserable life in dharamshalas. There widows who can afford staying in any dharamshala. But there is a large number of street widows, who do not have money to get a shelter. These are the street widows who live in streets and sleep wherever they find place in the city.

In the conservative families, widows are considered out cast. They are considered a burden. Even the sons of these women discard them. Once the father dies, all property is divided among sons, then the widow mother is considered a burden, so they are dumped in holy cities like Vridavan. Most of the widows come from West Bengal, a state ruled by a lady. The government of the state does not take any initiative to provide shelter to widows. There is nothing that is done to stop widows from moving to Vrindavan.

The life of these women is miserable. They have to sing bhajans for long hours and they get petty Rs. 2 to Rs. 10 by end of the day. That is the reason that these women stay outside main temples so that they can beg money. The worst victims are the old ladies who can not sing any more or suffer from some disease. They are left to die alone in their misery. The U.P. government has provided shelters which are not sufficient to give place to all the women. The number of these widows is increasing every year. According to an estimate, there are 6000 widows in Vrindavan alone. The state government claims that they are giving widow pensions and old age pensions to such women. But they get meagre 150 Rs per month. In Indian society, wife of a man is considered property of her in laws. If the husband dies then the family decides how to treat her and what to give her. This is the sad story of poor women forced to live in a hell like condition. Most of the women do not even remember when they were dumped here.

The worst thing is that the government intervention is negligible. The U.P. government and West Bengal government need to take actions to protect these widows from all forms of exploitation.

More important is change in the mind set of people in general. Widows should not be declared outcast. Widow remarriage needs to be encouraged. The mind set of the society needs to be changed so that widows can lead a dignified life. Most of the women are treated so badly by their sons or in laws families that they prefer staying in these holy cities than going back to their families. This is the tragedy that there is no place for the widows. They are not allowed by the society to lead a dignified life, so on both sides these women have no escape from exploitation. The state governments, central government and organisations like ISKCON can do a lot to help these destitute women, only problem is lack of conviction.   

“Hey its Diwali but I don’t know pooja and all....”

This article is for those people especially women who are busy in office till late. Theyhardly find time for shopping. Amid the frequent fights of husbands and wives, theyreach the market and husband tells “am sitting in the car, you go and come asap”.

Hmmm so half the spirit is down by this time. But this article is for women who face the same situation. Forget everything ladies, cheer up and think about the pooja that has to done at home. There too husband will not be of any use, alas but he has to sit in pooja.

Working girls and ladies don’t know much about pooja. So lets increase our religious knowledge. Some basic knowledge is given that will not take much time.

First come to the pooja timings:

Lakshmi Puja Muhurta - 17:40 to 19:35

 Auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Diwali Lakshmi Puja:

-         Morning Muhurta (Labh, Amrit) = 06:49 - 09:28

-         Morning Muhurta (Shubh) = 10:47 - 12:07

-         Afternoon Muhurta (Char, Labh) = 14:45 - 17:24

-         Evening Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 19:05 - 23:16

How is Pooja done?

Decorate your home with marigold flowers and Ashoka, mango and banana leaves on the day of Lakshmi Puja. You can use silk clothes for gods’ idols. Generally, Lakshmi Puja is done during the time which starts after sunset and approximately lasts for 2 hours. Buy a new photo of goddess Lakshmi and Ganesh ji. In front of this photo or idol meditate of Bhagawati Lakshmi.

After Shri Lakshmi has been invoked, take five flowers in Anjali (by joining palm of both hands) and leave them in front of the Murti.  Then wash feet of all idols.  Then offer water to Shri Lakshmi for head Abhishekam. Offer scent bath to Shri Lakshmi. Then comes the turn of moli. Offer Moli (मोली)  to Shri Lakshmi. Offer honey and milk to all idols. Put on the jewellery on idols. Red sandalwood is also offered to Devi. Then  offer vermilion to Shri Lakshmi for Tilak. The unbroken rice are offered to Devi. Then offer chandan, dhoop and flowers to all idols.

 Offer symbolic Pradakshina (circumambulate from left to right of Shri Lakshmi) with flowers. Then one should seek pardon from Shri Lakshmi for any known-unknown mistakes done during Pooja.

Ufff... a long process, but dear friends I have made it short. Otherwise there are so many long processes and mantras. With the above given info one can perform the pooja oneself. Give a leave to Pandit ji. It is more loveable and when husband and wife perform the pooja together. In this way one can forget the past mistakes of each other. Diwali is a festival of happiness so all guys cheer up its Diwali. Enjoy Diwali. Please don’t use fireworks that make noise. The poor stray dogs, cows are scared with the bang noise. Even the birds can also loose their hearing ability. So guys enjoy Diwali, stay safe and let other stay safe too. Happy Diwali  

Women – to whom they belong???

This is a cold winter evening and depressing fog is every where. Though, a lot of said and written about women’s emancipation. I don’t want to get in to that plethora of laws and books. This is an article inspired from most of the women’s life in India.

On one hand there are successful women CEOs like Indra Nooyi, Neeta Ambani, etc. their success stories are published in all papers and magazines. “Sonia Gandhi – among the list of most powerful people in the world.” We come across many such tag lines. But who cares for millions of girls/women who are not having luck as blessing as for someone else like Gauri Khan or Twinkle Khanna?

Tragedy of using a new name:

This is the time when my mind boggled about what is happening in lives of women after marriage. The first attack on your identity is done by changing your name. And when you tell some one your pre marriage name, an old witch in your in laws will say, “oh you forgot your name?” on the other hand this lady might be using her pre marrigae  name every where. Husbands will also complain “see my bhabhi, she uses our family name”. The male ego is so shallow that it gets insecurity even if the girl is using her original name given by her parents. And of course the husband is “husband” why would he change his name?

Dowry Tradition:

The next evil is Dowry Tradition. No matters if your father in law is an IAS officer, your high headed mother in law will surely expect some “gifts” from girl’s side. The bride's family gives the groom's family money and/or gifts. The model used to calculate the dowry takes the bridegroom's education and future earning potential into account while the bride's education and earning potential are only relevant to her societal role of being a better wife and mother.

Men are considered capable of earning money and caring of the family line. They are concerned about providing for their aging parents so they bring a wife (and with this a capable domestic helper) into the family. For massage, for combing, for cleaning even urine and stool when required. This is the use of getting married.

Women are regarded more of a liability for a family:

By bad luck if the bride has some health issues your mother in law will crib “oh god so much spent on medicines, so much of tests” , etc. amid this your husband will give you complex by hiding your hospitalization from his mother. So that mother is not worried about money spent on unofficial maid. The prejudice against female children is shown in “May you be blessed with a hundred sons” which is a common Hindu wedding blessing.

Food serving by mother in law:

The mom in law will eagerly make some thing like kheer for your husband as it is his favourite. You are standing next to your husband and mom in law will bring the thing and serve her son. The daughter in law will not be offered.

Under the existing cultural and social ethos of India a married girl / woman is no longer considered to be part of the family of her birth, instead she has become part of the family of the groom. Hence, after marriage the woman leaves her parental home and lives with her husband's family, where she is required to assume all household labour and domestic responsibilities.

In such situations, daily events, one can guess how a woman can be liberated? There is no way till the time in laws give equal treatment to their daughters in laws and their own daughters. Will this ever happen? Keeping the fingers crossed. Parents of the girls tell “one day you will go to your own home after marriage”. After marriage she is considered an out sider who is kept away from family decisions, as they say this is not your house.... so the question is – women – to whom they belong?