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Online education!

shweta24
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Online education!

Lockdown has given us chance to usher in new era of education, as most of schools started online classes to avoid the void. SCHOOL FROM HOME is completely a new and evolving concept for us.
It has merged the role and responsibilities of teachers, parents, and students. This is the most creative and positive aspect of online learning. All are equally engaged! Teachers became more accountable. Parent have to put more involvement. And students are learning to use technology for better purpose.
But, this whole thing is equally awful for some. Those who don’t have quality internet connection or required devices and schools which don’t have set up to conduct online classes are succumbed to remain inactive and detached. And this is creating new disadvantaged section in society. Digital divide is new face of inequality! Besides this, distance learning and virtual interaction has its own consequences also. Students are missing several (mainly out of academic syllabus) learnings which they acquire in physical schools.

All this make it clear that we can’t rely on online teaching as a sole way of education (at least in present scenario). It is true that, it can’t and shouldn’t replace traditional learning but it can be considerable add-on to traditional schooling. And appreciable option to continue education process in emergency situations like the present one (Corona pandemic and lockdwon). So, we should get ourselves ready for such advancements. Government policies towards digital inclusivity is the requirement of time.

Odisha BJP reshuffle: 5 women vice- presidents; Smruti Mahila Morcha president; Irashish Yuva Morcha president

Debadatta Rath
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Odisha BJP reshuffle: 5 women vice- presidents; Smruti Mahila Morcha president; Irashish Yuva Morcha president

Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP has undergone a reshuffle. With the approval of BJP National President Jagat Prasad Nadda, State President of Odisha has announced the newly appointed officials and state executive of the BJP. There are 10 vice presidents, five general secretary, including an organization secretary, and four secretary. In addition, 161 permanent invited members, 30 special invited members and 75 state executive members have been announced.

President –
Sameer Mahanty

Vice President –
Sangeeta Singhdeo, Aparajita Sadhngi, Balbhadra Majhi, Bhaskar Madhei, Nauri Nayak, Lalithendu Vidyadhar Mohapatra, Sukeshi Oram, Bhrigu Bakshipatra, Prabhati Parida and Anita Shubhadarshini Pattnayak.

General Secretary –
Ravi Nayak, Prithviraj Harichandan, Golak Mohapatra, Lekhshree SamantSinghar.

Organizing Secretary –
Manas Kumar Mahanty

Secretary –
Kalandi Samal, Tankadhar Tripathi, Amar Nayak, Abhimanyu Sethi, Naveen Ram, Seemanchal Khatel, Pinky Pradhan, Sipra Vajpayee and Sarmista Meher.

Treasurer –
Sudarshan Goyal.

Similarly within the various front responsibilities –

Mahila Morcha President –
Smruti Pattnayak

Yova Morcha President –
Irashish Acharya

Kishan Morcha President –
Pradeep Purohit

Scheduled Tribes Front President –
Bishweshwra Tudu

Scheduled Caste Front President –
Bivhu Prasad Tarai

Minority Front President –
Sikandar Alli

Treasurer –
Sudarshan Goyal

Office Secretary –
Devendra Nanda

The party has appointed 10 people as state spokespersons.

State Spokespersons –
Sudipta Roy, Pitambar Acharya, Dillip Mohanty, Satyabrata Panda, Jatin Mohanty, Biranchi Narayan Tripathi, Dhiren Senapati, Sonali Sahu, Thakur Ranjit Das and Umakant Patnaik.

Is it really Rahul Gandhi who’s ruining Congress?

Ajay Sudame
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Is it really Rahul Gandhi who’s ruining Congress?

Concluding part of Two-part Blog

In this article published on 7th June, I argue that it’s unfair to hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for Congress’ downfall. The blame should be equally shared by other worthies such as Sonia Gandhi herself, Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Digvijay Singh, Ahmed Patel and even for that matter, Priyanka Vadra too. 

Now the nagging questions remain that why BJP spokespersons and even journalists who oppose BJP seem to agree on this one thing? That Rahul is a Pappu.  And yet the same Congress, which was so trusting these journalists only a decade back is not ready to replace Rahul? 

BJP spokespersons and Social Media Volunteers have gone hammer and tongs after Rahul. Obviously, because he is an easy target. He has no experience or formal training in handling any responsibility. There is no record to show he has achieved any results (Yes, not even school exam results) under the smallest of pressure or any deadline. He was one happy to go lucky chap, all ready to take over the ‘Rajgaddi’ of Delhi before Narendra Modi happened to him. And as they say, rest is history! Plus his antics are so glaring that they present BJP a trouble-free opportunity to expose his buffoonery and ineptitude of Congress ultimately. Not to forget his upbringing, affluence and family, which had three Prime Ministers along with a long history of ruling the country, which gives innumerable opportunities to lampoon Congress. So mocking Rahul has great benefits which, BJP has taken with both hands. 

Surprisingly many journalists who not only oppose BJP tooth and nail but also are ideologically opposed, are in agreement with BJP, that Rahul just doesn’t have it in him. This is because one, they want to trivialize BJP’s two great victories of 2014 and 2019. You see once they realized that with him leading the party, is not cutting any ice with voters, they quickly dumped him. Doing that gives them column-centimeters room to say it’s not Modi or BJP which is doing great, but rather it’s Rahul’s inexperience or lack of political cunning, which is hurting Congress. He may not be fit for politics but he is a good human being. 

Second by doing that they are protecting the Congress party and the Dynasty itself. These journalists are smart chaps. They know, the century old Left-Liberal ecosystem which they thrive upon rests on Congress staying relevant. And if Congress keeps on losing like the last two elections, soon the ecosystem will come apart. So looking at the larger picture, Rahul is expendable but Congress party is indispensable and Dynasty is permanent! So what if Rahul is not married and may not start a family in the immediate future? There is another equally entitled and potent Dynasty taking shape. His sister, Priyanka who has all the qualities (Read Nose) of Indira Gandhi also has a husband, Robert Vadra. Though this wheeler-dealer type husband comes from suspect family background and has been involved in shady land dealings, he has his utility. He has children with Priyanka and that’s what matters. They can be future Congress leaders! After all, the Indian public likes dynasties.  

Now, why after such gigantic failures Rahul is not being replaced? First and foremost the iron rule of Congress is that Gandhi has to be replaced by another Gandhi. Because notwithstanding it’s abysmal governance record it has managed to rule for 60 years, with one of the Gandhi in lead. By which I mean, either party President and/or Prime Minister was a Gandhi was in control through a proxy (eg. Manmohan Singh). So, for Congress well-wishers, it’s natural to feel that it’s better to have one of the Gandhis at the helm. 

And it’s not that alternate leadership has not been tried at all. For example, twice since independence, there were clear cut attempts to dislodge family members from the pedestal. In 1969, on the issue of nomination for President of India, S Nijlingappa, then party President, expelled Indira Gandhi. But such was her clout that she managed to split the party and set up a rival organization by the name of Congress (R). Within 2 years, when the General Elections were held she came back with a landslide. Her party won 352 seats and the rival Congress (O) was demolished. 

Second and last time more recently, after Rajiv Gandhi’s unfortunate demise, between 1991-98 (the only period other than 18 months after Nehru’s death, before Indira took over) there was no Gandhi as the party President or either Prime Minister! Of these 7 years, Congress was ruling for the first 5 years with PV Narsimha Rao as PM and party President. And this was the period of biggest economic reforms that paved the way for subsequent high growth decades. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that this was the period when radical reforms did happen when none from the Gandhi household was in control. (Slight digression here, but topic deserves more attention anyway) 

Narsimha Rao’s tenure was rocked by Babri Mosque demolition. There was a feeling in the party, that Rao didn’t do enough to stop it. This accounted for Congress and BJP emerged as the largest party in 1996. He was replaced by Sitaram Kesri, an old family loyalist, who was actually very old – 80 years then. Congress went into 1998 elections under his presidentship. Most of the Congress party workers were very unhappy with Kesri anyway. Sonia decided to take control and started campaigning. This revitalized the party cadre and the rallies attracted huge crowds. Re-establishing the fact that Gandhi Family members are popular amongst Indian masses. Though Congress lost that election and BJP emerged the winner, it gave Sonia the moral authority to sack Kesri. And he was fired promptly in the most humiliating manner, paving way for Sonia to be party President. 

This ended the 7 years period when no one from the Dynasty was either the Congress President or Prime Minister. Since then, it’s either Sonia or Rahul who is in control. The important point, out of those 2 decades, Congress was in the rule for 10 years. Even more importantly, it was Sonia who clinched a victory against the run of the play defeated Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004. Proving for the umpteenth time that, Congress’ best chance of winning power is when Gandhi is in control. 

Starting 1950, when Congress supporters look back they may feel, the seven years between 1991-98 when no Gandhi was either a party President or PM has cost them badly. This was the period when Babri was demolished, alienating Muslims, leading to the rise of BJP. Hence you can’t fault them if they want one of the Gandhi to succeed Sonia. 

With aging & ailing Sonia and hamstrung by trickster husband Priyanka, being the only real competition, Rahul is ‘The Successor’ for foreseeable future. Along with other ideological limitations, he may be a factor that is repelling voters for now. But if the economy continues to slide, voters may not be averse to relook at Rahul in 2024.

साधुओं की पीड़ा- अतीत से लेकर वर्तमान तक

shivanshpareek
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साधुओं की पीड़ा- अतीत से लेकर वर्तमान तक

पालघर में साधुओं पर हुए हमले ने सबका ध्यान अपनी ओर खींचा, पर क्या यह पहली बार हुआ है जब हिन्दू साधुओं को निशाना बनाया गया है। हर साल हमे हिंदुओं तथा साधुओं पर हमले की खबरें सुनाई देती है पर चूँकि ये लोग किसी अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय से नहीं आते इन्हें मुख्यधारा में कोई स्थान नही मिलता। बीते हुए समय को देखने पर हमें पता चलता है कि आजादी के बाद कई ऐसी घटनाएं घटी जिसमे हिंदुओं तथा विशेषकर हिन्दू साधुओं को निशाना बनाया गया। इन घटनाओं को समझने पर हमें यह ज्ञात हो जाएगा कि सनातन और साधुओं का वामपंथी तथा सेक्युलर विचारधराओं के साथ किस प्रकार का संबंध रहा है।

अब हम 2020 से 1966 में चलते है। अनेक राजैनतिक पार्टियां, हिंदुत्ववादी संगठन और साधु समाज एक हुए। उनकी मांग थी गोहत्या पर राष्ट्रव्यापी प्रतिबंध।उन्होंने संविधान के आर्टिकल 48 का भी हवाला दिया जिसमें  गो हत्या पर प्रतिबंध के बारे में लिखा गया है। इस आंदोलन में बच्चे तथा महिलाएं भी शामिल थे। 7 नवंबर 1966 को इस प्रदर्शन ने महारूप धारण कर लिया। हिन्दू पञ्चाङ्ग के अनुसार उस दिन गोपाष्टमी थी। लाखों की संख्या में साधु तथा अन्य आंदोलनकारी संसद के बाहर जमा हुए थे। सरकार के आंकड़ों के अनुसार यह संख्या महज दस हजार थी पर अन्य स्रोतों की मानी जाए तो यह आंकड़ा 3 लाख तक का था। प्रदर्शनकरि शांतिपूर्वक तरीके से धरना दे रहे थे तभी अचानक कुछ असामाजिक तत्वों ने संसद की दीवारों पर चढ़ना शुरू कर दिया और शांतिपूर्वक चल रहे प्रदर्शन में भंग पड़ गया। भीड़ काबू से बाहर हो गयी और उस भीड़ को काबू में करने के लिए पहले लाठीचार्ज और आंसू गैस का प्रयोग किया गया पर तब भी नियंत्रण छूटता देख गोलियों की बौछार कर दी गयी।

आंदोलनकारियों पर हिंसा के प्रयोग का आरोप लगाया गया पर अगर हिंसा का ही उद्देश्य होता तो बच्चे और महिलाएं को क्यो हिस्सा बनाया गया होता। अनेकों छोटे छोटे बच्चे गोलियां चलने से हुई भगदड़ में कुचल कर मर गए।अनेकों साधु भी इसकी भेट चढ़ गए। और न बाद में गो हत्या का मुद्दा उठा ना ही साधुओं के नरसंहार का। सरकारी आंकड़ा 250 लोगो की मृत्यु का है पर कुछ लोगो की आंखों देखी सुने तो ये आंकड़ा 5000 तक पहुचता है। ये ही नही बाद में इस नरसंहार से जुड़े सारे सबूत ओर दस्तावेजों को नष्ट कर दिया गया।साधुओं का न्याय संसद के सामने बहे उनकी लहू का साथ ही बह गया। इंदिरा गांधी ने इसकी जिम्मेदारी न लेते हुए सारा आरोप तब के गृहमंत्री गुलजारी लाल नन्दा पर मड दिया। और गृहमंत्री ने तत्काल रूप से अपना इस्तीफा दे दिया।इसके बाद साधुओं के नरसंहार से व्यथित महात्मा रामचन्द्र वीर एवं अन्य साधुओं ने आमरण अनशन शुरू कर दिया। बाद में गृह मंत्री यशवंत राओ के  आश्वाशन पर की गोहत्या पर कानून लाया जाएगा उन्होंने अपना अनशन तोड़ा। पर कभी भी वादा पूरा नही किया गया।

अब हम 1966 की दिल्ली से 1982 के कलकत्ता की ओर बढ़ते है। पश्चिम बंगाल में वामपंथ की सरकार का कार्यकाल बंगाल के हिंदुओं के लिए किसी भयानक सपने से कम नही है। बिजन सेतु नरसंहार भी इसी भयानक सपने का अत्यंत डरावना अध्याय है। और ये घटना कई तरीकों से पालघर के समान है क्योंकि इसमें भी साधुओं की हत्या को न्यायसंगत ठहराने के लिए बच्चा चोरी करने वालों की झूठी खबर फैलाई गई। पूरी घटना यह है कि आनंदमार्गी साधु देशभर से तिलजला (अनंदमार्गी पंथ मुख्यालय) एक सभा के लिए जा रहे थे।वाहनों को बिजोन सेतु से होकर गुजरना था। तभी बच्चे चुराने वालों की अफवाह फैलाई गई। वे सब टैक्सियों से यात्रा कर रहे थे उन्हें तीन अलग अलग जगहों पर रोक गया। उन्हें टैक्सियों से खींच कर निकाला गया फिर उन्हें बहुत बुरी तरह से पीटा गया। बाद में उनपर केरोसीन डालकर उन्हें जिंदा जला दिया गया।

इस घटना में 17 साधुओं की हत्या की गयी थी जिसमे एक साध्वी भी शामिल थी। बाद में हालात बदतर होने का हवाला देते हुए माकपा नेता सचिन सेन ने अपने 10,000 कैडरों के साथ आनंद मार्ग केंद्र पर छापा मारा। इस संबंध में कोई प्रमाण नही मिला जिससे यह सिद्ध किया जा सके कि वे साधु नही बच्चे चुराने वाले थे। बाद में 1996 में राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने इसकी जांच का कार्य प्रारंभ किया। परतुं वामपंथी सरकार के निरंतर हस्तक्षेप के कारण जाँच आगे नही बढ़ पाई। बाद में 2013 में,आनंद मार्ग के प्रतिनिधियों की मांग पर न्यायिक जांच आयोग का गठन हुआ।और बात यह सामने निकल के आयी कि बिजोन सेतु एक पूर्वनियोजित षड्यंत्र था। आनन्दमार्गी पंथ वैचारिक रूप से कम्युनिस्टों के विरुद्ध था।वैसे तो यह एक वैदिक तथा धर्मिक पंथ था लेकिन वामपंथियों को भय था कि मार्गयों के अंदर राजनेतिक महत्वकांषये है और ये मार्क्सवादी पार्टी के लिए एक चिंता का विषय हो सकता था।इस घटना के बाद में भी अनंदमार्गियों पर हमले लगतार हुए ।

कौन होते है ये साधु? आखिर इन्हें बार बार क्यों निशाना बनाया जाता है? 

एक सच्चा साधु सनातन की शिक्षाओं का प्रतिबिंब होता है और उसके होते हुए सनातन को क्षति पहुचना कठिन होता है। और यही कारण था कि ईसाई मिशनरीयों की धर्मांतरण की राह में बाधा बने एक साधु की नृशंस हत्या कर दी गयी। यह घटना ओडिसा के कंधमाल की है। 23 अगस्त 2008 में स्वामी लक्ष्मणानंद को हत्या कर दी गयी थी। रात के 8 बजे स्वामी जी तथा उनके चार शिष्यों जिनमे में एक साध्वी भी थी उन्हें गोलियों से भून दिया गया। उन्हें मारने के बाद हमलावरों ने लक्ष्मणानंद के पैर के जोड़ों ओर कलाइयों को काट दिया। उनकी हत्या के छह मास के उपरांत माओवादी नेता सब्यसाची पांडा ने इसकी जिम्मेदारी ली। भले ही हत्या माओवादियों द्वारा की गई थी परंतु खुफिया जानकारी के अनुसार इसके पीछे मिशनरीयों का हाथ था। इस हमले से पहले भी स्वामी लक्ष्मणानंद पर जानलेवा हमले हो चुके थे जिसके पीछे राधाकांत नायक जो कांग्रेस से राज्यसभा सांसद रह चुके थे और मिशनरी संगठन वर्ल्ड विज़न का प्रमुख भी है उसका हाथ बताया जाता है। इसके बाद सरकार से स्वमी की सुरक्षा बढ़ाने का निवेदन भी किया गया था परंतु उसपर कोई कार्यवाही नही हुई। और आश्चर्य की बात तो ये है कि जब 22 अगस्त को स्वामी लक्ष्मणानंद ने अपनी सुरक्षा बढ़ाने की अपील की थी और उनके आश्रम की सुरक्षा को कम कर दिया गया। और 23 अगस्त को उनकी हत्या कर दी गई।

इन सब घटनाओं से यही सारांश निकलता है कि ना जाने कितने पालघर हो चुके है और न जाने कितनो का षड्यंत्र रचा जा चुका है। पर कुछ है जो तभ भी नही था और जो अभी भी नहीं है -जागरूकता । हम हमारी सामाजिक दृष्टि से बहुत कम जागरूक है।हमारी जागरूकता के अभाव का मूल्य न जाने कितने साधुओं ने चुकाया। हम सोते रहते है और हमारे जागने से पहले ना जाने कितनी आवाजों  को कुचल दिया जाता है।

और ये स्वर तब तक दबते रहेंगे जब तक आवाज संयुक्त रूप से उठायी नही जाएगी।

अस्मिता: रेप पीड़िताओं की व्यथा

viigyaan
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अस्मिता: रेप पीड़िताओं की व्यथा

आठ साल की बच्ची, जो भूख से हार पड़ोसी के घर खाना मांगने जाती है, का रेप चंद भूखे भेड़ियों द्वारा कर दिया कर दिया जाता है जिनका नाम लेने से देश का संविधान खतरे में पड़ जाता है। इसी खतरे से देश को बचाने के लिये ऑप इंडिया के अतिरिक्त कोई मीडिया न्यूज साइट इस खबर को नहीं छापता है। एक शांतिप्रिय समुदाय से इतना डर होना बात कुछ हजम नहीं होती।

खैर जिस देश में समुदाय विशेष की भावनाएँ मात्र एक ऑनलाइन गेम से आहत हो जाती हो और गेम बनाने वाली कम्पनी (पबजी) सार्वजनिक रुप से माफी मांगती हो वहाँ मीडिया का भयभीत होना स्वाभविक सा लगता है। जहाँ विशेष टोपी पहनने से विशेष ईकोनॉमी बनाने से लोग भयभीत न हो पर झंडे से हो जाये वहाँ सब स्वाभाविक है!

भारत में ‘रेप’ चौथा सबसे आम अपराध है। भारत सरकार के रिकॉर्ड के अनुसार साल 2012 में रेप के 24,923 मामले थे जिनमें 24,470 मामले ऐसे थे जिनमें ये घिनौनी हरकत लड़की के किसी जानने वाले ने की थी।

2018 में हर चौथे मामले में लड़की नाबालिग थी, वहीं 50 प्रतिशत से ज्यादा मामलों में उनकी उम्र 18 से 30 के बीच थी। (NCRB: नेशनल क्राइम रिकॉर्ड ब्यूरो) 2018 में 33,356 केस थे जिनमें 33,977 लड़कियाँ शिकार हुई, औसतन 89 रेप रोज! 2017 में 32,559 वहीं 2016 में 38,947 मामले हुए।

और इन सब मामलों में हम क्या करते है, “दुखद है” “बुरा हुआ” “मुआवजा मिला न?” अधिकाधिक हम एक स्टोरी डाल कर दुख व्यक्त कर देते है।

“यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यनते रमन्ते तत्र देवता” मंत्र का प्रतिपादन करने वाला देश अपनी बेटियों की ‘अस्मिता’ बचाने में इस कदर लाचार है की एक कठोर कानून भी नहीं बना पा रहा!

ये आँकड़े जिस भयावहता को दर्शाते हैं वो आज भी हम सही से देख नहीं पा रहे। NCRB(2018) के अनुसार 14.1% (4,779) मामलों में उनकी उम्र 16 से 18 के बीच थी, 10.6% (3,616) मामलें 12 से 16 के बीच के थे, 2.2% (757) 6 से 12 वहीं 0.8% (281) 6 से कम उम्र की बच्चियों के साथ हुआ था!

प्रति 15 मिनट में एक रेप आँकड़ा था 2018 का! प्रति दो वर्ष में निकाले जाने वाले NCRB के डाटा को अभी 2020 में आना है।

उसका परिवार उसे ट्विंकल बुलाता था। 6 साल की बच्ची जब रेतीली झाडियों में मिली तो उसके छोटे पैरों से खून की बहती धार जम चुकी थी, उसका भूरा यूनिफॉर्म उसके उपर था और गले में बंधा था बेल्ट! “अगर आप उसे देखते तो फिर सो नहीं पाते।” उसके दादा ने कहा!

इन सब आंसुओं की जिम्मेदारी कौन लेगा? कौन ढोएगा ये भार? इन सब के लडकियों का होता क्या है? एक समाज के रुप में हम इतना गिर चुके है की हमनें कभी भी पीड़ितों की ना सुनी। महिलाएं इसकी भुक्तभोगी रही।

ऐसिड अटैक से पीड़ित लडकियों बरसों तक उसी जिन्दगी को लड़ने की जद्दो-जहद करती हैं और अन्त में हार जाती है। क्या हम उन्हें स्वीकारते हैं? समाज में कठोर कानून के साथ साथ एक अपनाव की भी जरुरत है जो इन्हे इनका वो हक दिला सके जो इनसे बिना गलत हुए छीन लिया जाता है!

आखिर कब तक होता रहेगा कश्मीरी पंडितों का नरसंहार?

Ambika Gupta
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आखिर कब तक होता रहेगा कश्मीरी पंडितों का नरसंहार?

किसी पौधे को एक जगह से दूसरी जगह लगाना आसान होता है, लेकिन किसी पेड़ को आप विस्थापित नहीं कर सकते. अगर आप ऐसा करते हैं तो पेड़ सूख जाता है क्योंकि विस्थापन के दौरान, उसकी जड़ें कट चुकी होती हैं. 30 साल पहले कश्मीर में कश्मीरी पंडितों का नरसंहार ही नहीं हुआ, बल्कि उनकी जड़ें भी काट दी गईं.

जम्मू कश्मीर के अनंतनाग जिले में आतंकियों ने सोमवार को कश्मीरी पंडित सरपंच की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी ठीक इसी तरह 17 साल पहले भी कश्मीरी पंडितों का नरसंहार हुआ था। उसके बाद किसी कश्मीरी पंडित पर इस तरह का ये पहला हमला था। आखिर कश्मीरी पंडितों को इंसाफ कब मिलेगा…?

कश्मीरी पंडितों ने अपने विस्थापन के 30 साल बाद भी संयम नहीं खोया. ये अफसोस की बात है कि सब्र को हमारे समाज में कमज़ोरी समझ लिया जाता है, इसीलिए हम ये अपनी ज़िम्मेदारी मानते हैं कि कश्मीरी पंडितों की आवाज़ बनकर, न्याय की लड़ाई लड़ी जाए. कश्मीरी पंडितों की एक पूरी पीढ़ी ने शरणार्थी शिविरों में रहते हुए अपनी ज़िंदगी गुजार दी. लेकिन विडंबना देखिए- भारत में, अपने ही देश के नागरिकों को नागरिकता का संपूर्ण अधिकार दिलाने के लिए कोई आंदोलन नहीं होता. कश्मीरी पंडितों के मामले में यही हुआ.
जो लोग दिल्ली से लेकर मुंबई और कोलकाता तक फ्री कश्मीर के पोस्टर लहराते हैं, अगर वो सही मायने में कश्मीरियत को लेकर चिंतित होते तो कश्मीरी पंडितों के लिए घर वापसी की आजादी जरूर मांगते. वो घाटी के लिए कट्टरपंथ से आज़ादी की मांग जरूर करते क्योंकि पंडितों के अंदर वापस लौटने की इच्छा भी तभी होगी, जब उन्हें एक साथ, वापस उसी ज़मीन पर, भयमुक्त माहौल में बसाए जाने का भरोसा मिलेगा.

ये इसलिए जरूरी है क्योंकि 90 के दशक में एक हज़ार से ज्यादा कश्मीरी पंडितों की हत्या तो हुई ही, लेकिन जो बच गए, उनकी भी आत्मा कुचल दी गई. इंसान का जख्मी शरीर तो फिर भी संभल जाता है, लेकिन आत्मा को संबल तभी मिलता है, जब समाज की सामूहिक चेतना सक्रिय होती है. और आज की तस्वीर यही है…कि कश्मीरी पंडित अभी भी…अपने ही देश में तिनकों की तरह इधर-उधर बिखर कर रह गए हैं…और उन्हें पूछने वाला यहां कोई नहीं है….।

ये एक बहुत बड़ा विरोधाभास है कि कश्मीरी पंडितों की ज़िंदगी में 19 जनवरी की तारीख.. उन्हें उनके घर से निकाले जाने की तारीख है… ज़रा सोचिए…कितना कड़वा होगा वो दिन…जब खूबसूरत वादियों में बसी अपनी रंगीन दुनिया को इन लोगों ने बर्बाद होते हुए देखा होगा। कितनी अजीब विडंबना है…कि कोई अपनी ही ज़मीन से बरसों से बेदखल है…और राजनीति के खिलाड़ियों को उनका हालचाल पूछने की फुरसत भी नहीं मिली।

सवाल ये है कि देश के बुद्धिजीवी और खुद को आम जनता का हमदर्द बताने वाले नेता इतने पत्थरदिल कैसे हो सकते हैं, कि उन्हें वर्षों तक कश्मीरी पंडितों का दर्द ही दिखाई ना दे..? अगर कश्मीरी पंडितों की ऐसी ही स्थिति बनी रही, तो उनका अस्तित्व ही मिट जाएगा और इसके ज़िम्मेदार हम सब होंगे।

कश्मीरी पंडितों ने कभी अपने अधिकारों के लिए, शहरों को बंधक नहीं बनाया. सड़कों को बंद करके पिकनिक स्पॉट नहीं बनाया और अपने एजेंडे को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए महिलाओं और बच्चों का भी सहारा नहीं लिया लेकिन, दिल्ली के शाहीन बाग में एक खास एजेंडे के तहत यही सब हो रहा था । शाहीन बाग में, तकरीबन ढाई महीने से ज्यादा इस मुद्दे पर आंदोलन चला था लेकिन, इसे आंदोलन की जगह नागरिकों पर अत्याचार कहना ज्यादा उचित होगा.

आज जम्मू-कश्मीर की आज़ादी का नारा लगाने वाले देश द्रोहियों की आवाज़ जब दबाई जाती है.. तो अभिव्यक्ति की आज़ादी के चैंपियन आंसू बहाने लगते हैं.. लेकिन जब कश्मीरी पंडितों की चीखों को नज़रअंदाज़ किया जाता है और उनके पूरे जीवन को बर्बाद कर दिया जाता है.. तब कोई कुछ नहीं बोलता।

जरा सोचिए, अपने ही देश में विस्थापित हो जाने की इससे कठोर सज़ा क्या होगी? अगर दरवाजों की जगह आपके घर में पर्दे मिलने लगें, तो कोई अंदर जाने के लिए कैसे दस्तक देगा? आप किसी को अंदर आने से रोक भी कैसे पाएंगे? तब आपकी सुरक्षा भी कैसे होगी? और सबसे बड़ी बात, तब आपकी पहचान क्या रह जाएगी?

Is Yogi Islamophobic?

Dipti Ojha
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Is Yogi Islamophobic?

On 24th of March, 2017 The Washington Post released an article with the title “Meet the Militant Monk spreading Islamophobia in India” but I doubt that the Muslims of Gorakhpur, who have been voting for him since decades, would ever agree with this point of view. The author of the article hardly had any proof of what Yogi Adityanath had done to eliminate Muslims from Uttar Pradesh or deprive them off their rights, all they had were a few quotes from his speeches that were aggressive against those who were doing the “politics of religion” in the state.

People who know yogi Adityanath say that he is a very kind-hearted man, loves nature and animals and is full of compassion.

Before becoming CM, when he was a Mahant in Gorakhpur math, he used to hold meetings with common people called “janta darbaar” where he used to listen to their grievances and solve them. Although janta darbaar was held inside the premises of Gorakhpur temple there were no restrictions on the basis of caste, community or religion.

I read a few articles that mention about two Muslims Zakeer warsi( works for Gorakshanath Chikatsalaya Trust) and Mohammad Yaseen(works with Hindu Yuva Vahini) who feel that Muslim community is safer in Yogi’s regime.

Yogi Adityanath is working selflessly for the state. when it comes to corruption, he is spotless, the law and order situation is better now, the farmers are happier, women are safer and Cows are being protected. so, the left media hardly have anything to feed to masses, all they do is portray him as a Saffron Extremist, which is completely untrue.

Child labour in India: The struggle achieve SDG 8.7

oped
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Child labour in India: The struggle achieve SDG 8.7

The use of children as slaves and labourers in India can be traced back to the ancient times. Chankaya in his Arthashastra mentions prevalence of child slavery during those times. Subsequently, records of the Mughal period mention about child slaves. According to some records, children were as good as commodities and could be sold as such in medieval India. A decree of Akbar in 1594 allowed parents to sell their children and buy them back when they had the resources. Child labourers during those times were made to live in the most oppressive conditions.

Sadly, the practice has continued in the modern times. Since the mid-19th century advent of industrialisation, children were employed in coal mines, cotton and jute mills and several other hazardous occupations. At the time of independence, the practice was widely prevalent in India. According to the NSS data, in 1951, there were around 1.13 crore child labourers in India. Most of them worked in highly exploitative conditions. 

The laws on child labour in India have evolved over the last 140 years. During the colonial period, tentative efforts were made to regulate child labour for the first time. The abolition of child labour in England began in 1833 itself . The process to end child labour in India began much later, though under pressure from liberal and slavery groups. Since then the country has come a long way. 

Laws related to child labour

The first law to deal with child labour was the 1881 Indian Factories Act which prohibited employing of children below seven years of age and regulated their working hours to nine per day. The Indian Factories Act of 1891 increased the minimum age to be a child labourer to nine and prohibited employment of anyone below the age of 14 to be employed for night work. Subsequently, the Mines Act of 1901 prohibited employing any child below the age of 12 in mines. However, towards the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, nothing much changed on the ground. Children continued to be employed day and night in the most hazardous conditions. 

A shot in the arm for laws governing child labour came with the Factories Act of 1911 which restricted the working hours of children to six and provided for an age and medical certificate to employ a child. The Factories Act of 1923 defined factory to be a place where 20 or more people were employed for manufacturing. Earlier, this figure was 100 or more people. However, it was only in 1933 in The Tea District Emigrant Labour Act that for the first time employing any person below the age of 16 was prohibited. However, the law was applicable only to the tea industry. 

The 1935 Factories Act restricted employing anyone below the age of 12 in a factory. A factory was defined as any place where 10 or more people were employed for manufacturing. Under the law, children in the 12-15 age group could be employed for five hours in a day. An important legislation, the Employment of Children Act, came into force in 1938. It prohibited child labour in workshops which were not covered in the Factories Act. However, these legislations failed to cover the huge incidence of child labour in the unorganised sector. 

Child labour post-independence

The 1948 Factories Act stipulated 14 years as the minimum age. However, the biggest legal reform against child labour came in 1950 with the adoption of the Constitution wherein Article 24 made employing children as laborers a violation of their fundamental rights.   

It was only in 1974 that the first National Children Policy was adopted. Another big legal reform to fight child labour came with the passing of the 1976 Bonded Labour  (System) Abolition Act. Till today, it is a key legislation used to punish those who employ child labour. The next important reformist milestone came with the passing of the 1986 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. It prohibited child labour in a number of sectors, including the unorganised sector. A child was defined as a person below 14 years of age. The same year, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act was passed. It provided for protection of children from exploitation at workplace.

Global March

In the late 1990s, an important event would have profound impact on child labour laws globally. In 1998, a Global March covering more than 100 countries was organised by social reformer Kailash Satyarthi, founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement ). The march, which ended at the ILO headquarters, was instrumental in the ILO adopting Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. The convention brought the world’s focus on the need to act urgently to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

Nobel Prize 

The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Satyarthi in 2014 was a critical point in the global fight against child labour. Satyarthi’s struggles and the Nobel recognition gave a new impetus to the movement against child labour across the world. Since then India has seen major legal reforms in child labour. The 2015 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act is the most comprehensive law till date that deals with the rights of children in India. In 2016, the Child and Adolescent (Regulation and Adolescent) Act was passed, banning child labour below the age of 14 in both hazardous and non-hazardous sectors. It also prohibited employing children between the age of 14 and 18 in hazardous activities. The following year, India ratified the ILO Convention 182. 

Way ahead 

The struggle to ensure that every child is free from any form of slavery and exploitation is far from over. In spite of all these laws, their weak implementation and lack of conviction has meant that millions of children continue to be engaged in child labour. According to 2011 Census, there were 10.1 million child labourers in India at that time. As the country observes World Day against Child Labour on June 12, it is important that the government takes steps to ensure better implementation of these laws to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 — freeing India of child labour by 2025 — so that every child is able to grow to his or her fullest.

 Article by Amitva Ghosh

Talk of the town: The untold story of Palghar

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Talk of the town: The untold story of Palghar

INTRODUCTION

The April 16, 2020, witnessed a brutal and heart-wrenching lynching of two Hindu Sadhus and their driver near Gadchinchle village under the jurisdiction of Kasa police station, Palghar in Maharashtra. The dire turn of events transpired when two Sadhus and a driver in an S.U.V. were heading towards Silvassa to attend the funeral of their Guru Shri Mahant Ramgiri. Their car was stopped at the Maharashtra-Gujarat highway check-post after that; they preferred a longer route through Palghar. The Maharashtra forest department’s forest guards stopped them, and at the same time (10:00 PM), the unruly mob attacked the trio. The mob armed with rods and sticks murdered the saffron-clad Sadhus. The victims were taken out of police vehicles and mercilessly killed[i]. The investigation agencies relying on prima facie information stated that the execution of the horrific incident transpired due to misinformation and rumours of organ harvesting gangs and kidnappers in the area, and villagers have formed a couple of vigilante groups among themselves. Henceforth, the mob believed the trio to be thieves.

OUTCRY OF THE LIBERAL LOBBY SINCE 2015

The “epidemic of lynching” is prevalent in India for a long time. Importantly, many endeavours to link this brutal attack on humanity to communalism; therefore, worsening this scourge’s consequences. Selective silence is witnessed on lynching owing to the religion of the victim. Forty-nine celebrities signed an open letter dated July 23, 2019, to the PM Narendra Modi, underpinning the Right to Dissent enshrined under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. Excerpt from the letter where the so-called saviours of secularism wrote: “lynching of Muslims, Dalits and other minorities must stop immediately.”[ii]The explicit mention of a few castes and religion while excluding the others is entirely against the tenet of the constitution’s secularism. Moreover, they went on to say, “Jai Shree Ram has become a provocative war cry today that leads to law and order problems.”

On September 28 2015, near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, when a mob lynched Mohammed Akhlaq, a loud outcry resounded throughout India. Political leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owasi, went berserk and communalized the issue. Moreover, Nayantra Sahgal returned her Sahitya Academy Award. Others, including Ashok Vajpeyi, also returned their awards. Azam khan, the then Cabinet Minister of Uttar Pradesh favoured to state the issue in United Nations. However, the entire liberal and left lobby remained silent on Palghar lynching.  When Mohammad Hashim was murdered, and Mohammad Zubair was beaten in Delhi, the whole of the liberal lobby demonstrated a similar attitude. The useful data structured blogs and websites regarding the lynching of Muslims are omnipresent on the Internet database, but only a few acknowledge the plight of Hindu victims. This discrimination restricts constitutional contours because Article 14 of the Indian Constitution enables equal protection of laws and equality before the law.

FALSE PROPAGANDA AND HYPOCRISY OF THE LIBERAL LOBBY

The liberal lobby remained tight-lipped on unprecedented violence and demonstrated hypocrisy in several cases: On panchayat elections in West Bengal 2018; Jagannath Tadu’s was murdered because he followed a different ideology from that of the ruling dispensation of West Bengal; on vandalizing of temples in Kaliachak, Deganga, Daduria, Ranigang and Chandni Chowk in Delhi; and the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.[iii]. There are Certain tailor-made analyses and reporting instances where neither public exhibition of emotion nor outcry was expressed.[iv]  Few among these instances are enumerated below:

  1. Bandhu Prakash Pal, RSS worker, and his family, including his pregnant wife, were brutally murdered in Murshidabad, West Bengal, over a petty issue for a sum of 24000 rupees.
  2. Pankaj Yadav and Bharat Yadav, lassi shop owners, were killed by a Muslim mob on some perceived inequity when asked to pay the price of lassi.
  3. V. Ramalingaj, a leader of P.M.K., was brutally murdered by chopping off his hands when he opposed the religious conversion.
  4. Ankit Saxena was killed for loving his soulmate of a minority religion.
  5. Chandan Gupta [v]was killed in Kashganj when he refused to Pakistan Zindabad.
  6. Auto Driver Avinash Saxena was lynched in west Delhi for allegedly stealing car batteries.

Preposterous Attack on the Right-wing

When a Hindu executes lynching, the entire liberal lobby accused Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, calling it a militant Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization that repeatedly orchestrates attacks on Muslims. Lynching often is linked to the Right ideology, and perpetrators are referred to as hard-line violent Hindutva believe[vi].This attack on RSS is intelligible.

MEDIA’S ATTITUDE: INDIFFERENT OR SELECTIVE

It is righty believed, “Not publishing such news will provide momentary comfort, but it will damage the social fabric in the long run.” This selective silence is evident in the delayed reporting of the barbaric act[vii]. Apart from the regional press and social media, no reports covered this story.

News does the public good. Freedom of Press flows directly from Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.  The Right to make choices is the gift of democracy. The choice of a person pertains to his reasoning. The reasoning is based on knowledge, and the press helps an individual to gain knowledge. Hence on learning experience, one exercises the Right to Vote. [viii]Therefore, freedom of the press is not the individual liberty of reporters, but the collective will of people. When ruling elites become the Watchdogs of journalism, then the quality of journalism suffers, and people are kept devoid of a glimpse of reality. In today’s world, freedom of the press is the heart of social and political intercourse.[ix]

Selective targeting is no different from selective silence; both have an ulterior and oblique motive to misguide people and bereft citizens of unhindered reporting.   Arnab Goswami, a news reporter, editor in chief of The Republic and host of “PoochtaHai Bharat,” hosted a program aired on April 21, 2020. Through the platform and his agenda, he raised his voice for investigating the actual cause of the incident. He questioned the tardy investigation, different public acknowledging of the investigation agencies, and eerie silence of the State Government. Moreover, he highlighted the initial concealment of police personnel’s presence at the site of the attack. After that, he was slapped with multiple F.I.R.’s throughout the country. The F.I.R.’s mentioned offenses under Sections 153, 153-A, 153-B, 295-A, 298, 500, 504(2), 506, 117 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code 1860.

Most importantly, all the F.I.R.’s were filed in Congress-ruled or allied ruled states. Thus, filing of F.I.R.’s on the same issue is indicative of the endeavour to muzzle media. The Hon’ble Supreme Court stated that the sinister campaign of filing multiple F.I.R.’s in various states should be checked to the criminal procedure code’s vexatious exercise. Further, the court underpinned to protect journalistic freedom within the ambit of Article 19(1) (a) of the Indian Constitution.[x]

POLICE SYSTEM: AIDED OR AVERTED THE INCIDENT

In the Palghar mob attack through a video which is surfacing on many online platforms, it is evident that the Sadhus begged the police personnel present at the site to protect their lives. Instead, the police personnel shrugged him and allowed the mob to persecute and murder him. Moreover, amidst lockdown, a mob of hundreds was permitted to assemble, and then pushing the Sadhus into the hands of the unruly mob caused severe and pertinent questions on the Police’s role. Also, it is unintelligible how 40 policemen would not possess any arms and what stopped them from aerial firing. This unfortunate event has shocked the people’s conscience, and hence, a fair investigation under C.B.I. is indispensable under the irresponsible behaviour of police personnel of the State Police by omission to perform their duty.

CONCLUSION

The liberal lobby go berserk and burst outcry when the victim of lynching is from a Minority community, but they conveniently remain silent when the victim is a Hindu. Moreover, this is evident from the letter addressed to the Prime Minister and their selective silence that they are not concerned about the spectre of lynching in totality but remains perturbed when a victim belongs to a specific community. The incident at Palghar and liberal lobby’s selective silence  have anguished the entire nation. This selective outcry that suits their narrative and double-dealing no more seem bearable. Lynching is a sin in totality, and such attempts to communalize this horrendous crime and bamboozle the nation should be severely castigated. The liberal lobby must mete out similar treatment to all the victims. This act of meting out equal treatment to all individuals will glorify the term “secular” in its true spirit, as mentioned in the preamble to the Indian Constitution. Stringent laws need to be enacted against lynching in the light Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgment, Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India[xi] . Immense power must be given to the Police to deal with the spectre of lynching when the court opined a broad legal framework to combat lynching. However, an appropriate departmental inquiry must be initiated against them if the omission of duty is proved.

Mark Twain once said on racial lynching in Missouri in1901 that the “United States of America” may turn into ‘The United States of Lynsherdom.’  India must be watchful that a similar situation must not arise.  A.N. Mittal, chairman of UP law commission, also expressed a similar fear.

[i] Debasish Panigrahi, Everything you need to know about the Palghar attack where Sadhus were lynched by a mob, Mumbai mirror, April 20, 2020, 1.

[ii]Mayukh Ranjan Ghosh, Amid rise in lynching cases, 49 celebrities write to PM Modi; say ‘dissent makes India stronger,’ times now(July 24, 2019, 14:01),https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/amid-rise-in-lynching-cases-49-celebrities-write-to-pm-modi-say-dissent-makes-india-stronger/458260.

[iii] Dilbag Rai, Now, 62​ celebrities write an open letter against ‘selective outrage’ and ‘false narratives,’ times of India(Jul26,2019,12:27),http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/70391152.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

[iv]JhankarMohta, 23 incidents of Hindus being lynched, brutally murdered, that has failed to inspire any outrage from the ‘liberal’ ecosystem, opIndia(April 23, 2020), https://www.opindia.com/2020/04/23-incidents-hindus-lynched-murdered-no-outrage/

[v]Vijaita Singh,  Wary Kasganj, tries to come to terms with burst of violence, The Hindu (JANUARY 29, 2018,22:13), https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wary-kasganj-grapples-with-unprecedented-violence/article22568349.ece

[vi]s harsh Mander, Lynching, the scourge of new India, The Hindu(October 16, 2020, 00:02),https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/lynching-the-scourge-of-new-india/article29693818.ece

[vii] Ramesh Venkatraman, How the Palghar lynching of a metaphor of all times, India facts (May 22, 2020),indiafacts.org/how-the-palghar-lynching-of-sadhus-is-a-metaphor-of-our-times/.  

[viii]INDIA CONST. art. 326.

[ix] Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Private Ltd. &Ors. Etc V. Union Of India &Ors. Etc. Etc.,(1985) 2 S.C.R. 287(India).

[x] Arnab Ranjan Goswami v. Union of India and others, (2020) AIRONLINE SC 546 (India).

[xi]Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India,(2018) 9 S.C.C. 501 (India).

Has the coronavirus given us a second chance at redemption?

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Has the coronavirus given us a second chance at redemption?

Human evolution dates back to approximately 6 million years. There are roughly 8.7 million species of living beings on earth, many of them originated much before mankind and continue to exist. Unlike others, humans could think, reason, had intelligence, emotion all needed to build a better world not just for them but for everyone. However, with superiority comes responsibility and history tells us since ages humans have been unkind, brutal and insensitive towards nature and other living beings. Their sole focus especially in the last few decades has been pursuing a mean agenda that only benefits the race, indulging in activities that are steadily driving the entire planet into immeasurable risk.

Be it the menace of single-use plastic, modern means of extracting shale oil, large scale deforestation, industrialization, roads across tiger reserve, nuclear plants in ecologically sensitive zones, marginalization of indigenous people, humans have done everything they could to disrupt the balance of nature with great impunity. We have wronged the planet in so many ways and would have continued doing so if coronavirus or COVID-19 had not decided to crash the party. It took only a little over 4 months for a virus to bring the entire human race to its knees, decimating its condescending attitude and exposing its vulnerability and tininess in front of mother nature.

The mighty and the most advanced countries are racing against time to save their people and halt the number of deaths caused by COVID-19. With businesses shut, jobs lost, farmers devastated and people terrified due to an uncertain future, many of them are staring at an imminent economic disaster raising doubts if there was ever a contingency plan in place for such a catastrophe. Whether the virus originated in a wet market in China or escaped a lab, that the country mishandled the entire situation triggering a global crisis, is a gross understatement. It is also a matter of great curiosity how China was able to control the pandemic the way it is showcasing. With a state-controlled media and zero interference allowed from external press, the Chinese numbers look too good to be true.

Europe that faced the most savage assault of the virus from there on has somehow steadied itself now barring Russia. The USA with over 2 million confirmed cases is the new epicenter of the pandemic now. The big numbers may be attributed to their superior healthcare infra and the fact that they are testing anybody under the sun with the slightest of symptoms. India that remained largely unaffected by the virus until March went into a lockdown pretty early, when the number of infected was not even 500, is slowly but surely starting to feel the heat. With a mammoth population, a deficient healthcare infrastructure at various levels, not so disciplined people, the situation is getting really grim with apprehension of the pandemic peaking in June-July.

Quite ironically, an economically impregnable country like the USA risked its populace by not enforcing a complete lockdown in the country to save the economy. And a developing economy like India risked its economy to save the people by implementing lockdown in phases from 1.0 to 4.0 since 25th March. Although it did help to contain the virus and keep the mortality rate down, the lockdown also severely impaired the country’s finances and devastated people’s lives so much so that the government has now been forced to reopen almost all activities despite the graph not showing signs of flattening.

Almost every country has been impacted by it, but none handled it with aplomb. Mistakes have been made, yet all countries are learning each day and trying their best to save people and bring their economies back on track. But whether we like it or not the virus has altered our lifestyles in a way we never thought was possible, some of which were perhaps needed as well.

The fake life we lived so far with our work schedules, gym sessions, chanting, shopping, party routines and trying to make ourselves look cool especially in social media has been mercilessly devalued, confining us to our homes. For the first time, we realized how unimportant these things were, what this vicious circle had done to us and understood our real priorities in life. We were so busy chasing a future that we had completely overlooked something the virus helped us discover, our present. It also registered somewhere inside us that those who we had neglected so far in our avaricious pursuits like parents, spouse, children, close friends were the ones who stood with us in need and really mattered.

The other discovery we made during this phase was how little we actually need to lead a reasonably comfortable life. Whether it was money, household stuff, food supplies, toiletries, cars etc. We failed to explain to ourselves the rationale behind the non-stop purchases of expensive garments, shoes, fancy accessories etc. we had been doing all our lives when they don’t even qualify as ‘essentials’. This may have led many of us to a further discovery that how severely we all are infected by the malady of addictive consumerism, much more than the virus in fact. Experts say that we may overcome the virus over the next few months, but the damage it has inflicted on the economies could take years to recover. So, whether we permanently alter our seriously flawed lifestyles going ahead or continue with our old ways is something for us to decide.

Despite all the negativity the virus has unfurled, it has inadvertently given us some positives as well. In life we seldom get a second chance to correct something and make amends and the virus has just given us that. A second chance at redemption, to ponder over our existence, how we have lived our lives, ways we have unleashed brutality on nature & its beings and a realistic chance of discovering means to set everything right, coexist and blend with other beings.

Most businesses across the world have been centered around large-scale exploitation of nature and its invaluable resources. We remain oblivious to the fact that the massive 7.8 billion population in the world will anyway eat up most of the planet’s resources one day by their mere existence. Add to it our self-created hazards of overpopulation, limitless extraction & burning of fossil fuel, all forms of pollution, unabated deforestation, climate change, mass production and usage of plastic etc. and we might actually feel a little fortunate to be still extant.

Unless businesses that have pounded the environment for far too long, make a concerted effort towards a measured adaption to renewable and cleaner energy that impacts neither livelihood nor the ecosystem, unless governments strive towards creating a functional economy that supports and protects all lives on earth, this stroll towards a guaranteed catastrophe could very soon turn into a sprint. It is easier said than done because it would be difficult to undo the wrong practices adopted and applied for hundreds of years. But it’s about time humans shifted their focus, intent and efforts precisely in that direction if we truly want to avoid an apocalypse. The way nature healed itself in the last four months as humans were locked down, should be an eye-opener. Clearer and cleaner rivers and seas, Himalayas sighted from 200 kms away from Jalandhar after 30 years due to reduced pollution are testimonies to what nature was and what we had done to it. It further substantiates the fact that so much more can be achieved if human behavior becomes more responsible, foresighted, considerate and compassionate towards the planet and its other inhabitants in the post pandemic world. 

Subhasish Das
[email protected]

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