Indi- Happy Hours# A fear Free Society for women?

“Where the mind is without fear”

Such was a future Rabindranath Tagore had envisioned for India. But unfortunately the kind of future we are living in is way different if we talk in context of women safety.

The world is surrounded by such beasts who are clothed in human skin, look no different than the human race, walk freely in the streets, move about in buses and cars. How are women supposed to recognize them and their beastly instincts which are so well hidden under the clothes of human skin. Their looks can be deceptive. Full of violence and lust, they may trap women into the image of a gentleman and later show their true colors.

Quoting the statistics from India Today,

“Ninety-two women were raped on an average every day in India and the national capital with 1,636 cases recorded the highest number of such crimes among all cities last year.

According to figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the total number of rape cases reported in India has gone up to 33,707 in 2013 from 24,923 in 2012.

In 15,556 cases, the rape victims were aged between 18 and 30 years in 2013.

The number of rape cases has doubled in Delhi in 2013 compared to the previous year. A total of 1,636 rape cases were reported in the city last year, while 706 such cases were reported in the year 2012. On an average, four rape cases were reported in Delhi everyday in 2013.

As per the NCRB data, Madhya Pradesh at an average records 11 rapes every day, with a total of 4,335 such cases, which is the highest in 2013 among all other states.

The data showed that 13,304 cases were reported in 2013 where the victim was a minor, which was 9,082 in the previous year.

The data also unveiled a disturbing fact that in the majority of the cases, the offenders were known to the victims. NCRB statistics shows that in 94 per cent of the cases the offenders were familiar to the accused.”

The woman are told to be careful and vigilant while walking in the streets, while boarding a taxi, while coming late from the office but how can women be careful from their own neighbors, from those so called known offenders? How the juvenile girls who yet do not know the reality of it should be made aware of the situation and how they should be careful?

The cases of sexual harassment and eve teasing are not to be ignored. Leave apart Streets and vulnerable places but are women free of harassment in their school, colleges and workplaces? Lewd comments and cracking of vulgar jokes is also commonplace.

Why our society is taking such shape where the women have to live with this fear while doers of such beastly acts are roaming about freely under the veils unrecognizable?

To rise above fear we do not only require laws but enforcement of such laws with zero tolerance policy.

The following are a slew of measures which can help to some extent at least.

•    There should be more women police officers who should be trained properly on such matters.
•  There should be more cab services with lady drivers.
• Thorough Background checks should be conducted on the taxi drivers and other public transport drivers.
•   There should be security guards and police patrolling on the vulnerable stretches at the night hours.
•     Installation of CCTV cameras in police stations to be aware of any lacunae in the system.
•   More stringent laws on eve teasing and any kind of sexual harassment.
• All women should carry pepper spray with themselves.
•  An app of a kind which can send a signal to the nearest police station in case of emergency.
•  The porn should be banned completely.
•  The women should carry pepper sprays with them for self defense
• The police and administration should come up with something of the type of tranquilizer guns or something of the same kind which could be used for the purpose of self defense in case of emergency
• And most importantly what is required is to teach and educate our youth and the rest.

            This post is written for Indi- Happy Hours # Rise above fear. 

               https://www.facebook.com/mountaindewindia.

Let's make India cleaner! - Banega swachh India#

The place looked so familiar. As I looked around, it took me a moment to realize that it was my own place, my own home. But how come it became so shabby! Paper plates and coffee cups strewn all over the floor. Wrappers of this and that lying all over the sofa. Dustbin was wide open and all the trash was lying on the floor. The walls had patches of sauces, coffee and what not splattered on them. I was dumbstruck. Was there a ghost here! The night before when I left everything was in place and perfect! I could die with a heart attack but before my heart could collapse, my eyes opened. It was a dream! I was saved and that’s why I am able to write this post.

My eyes opened but I believe every citizen of this country needs to open his eyes. NO wonder we will all have the same exasperating and overwhelming reaction if something of this sort happens to our well kempt home. But what about our county at large? Do we treat it the same way we treat our homes?

Why do people keep collecting heaps of garbage on roadsides? Why people become so impatient to throw the trash and wrappers at the very place they are standing rather than waiting to reach a dustbin? Why do people spit on roads and public places? Why do people pee at roadsides? Why do people spoil the beauty of the very places they pretend to appreciate? Why do people smoke cigarettes and throw them here and there just like that? Why do people chew Pans and gutkhas and empty their mouths anywhere suited to their comfort? Why do people sabotage public property and public parks? Why Public toilets in our country are always in such pathetic condition? Why do people supply adulterated food items on the cost of hygiene and health just for a few extra bucks? Why do caterers supplying bulk food don’t pay any attention to maintain hygiene?  Why do people on spotting some wrappers hesitate so much to pick it up and throw it in its rightful place? Why people disregard and dispel all the advice to follow the cleanliness rules as some impossible moral policing?

Will these people behave in the same manner, had it been their own home? Then why a different treatment is being meted out for the country and the planet earth? Is it not the planet earth which is our home? Is it not our country which is our home? Are our responsibilities of cleanliness limited to four walls of our houses? Don’t we owe any responsibilities towards our country?

Don’t we all have coffee time discussions on how India is lagging behind other developed countries? That how the other countries are so very clean and well maintained? Then why after coffee these intellectuals fail to create awareness among people and selves of the importance of sanitation and cleanliness?

Let’s all resolve to treat our country as our home and take care of it the same way as we do for inside the four walls of our houses. If we can dirty our hands in keeping our homes clean then can’t we do the same for our country? Let’s all be responsible and help in any and every way; smallest and biggest to keep our country clean.

Let’s all be a part of cleanliness drive and ensure that “Banega swach India”

Image Source: Filmspeak.in

This post is written for Indiblogger contest “Banega swachh India”

For information visit http://swachhindia.ndtv.com/

INDI-Happy Hours...My wishlist

Seychelles will always be on the top of my wishlist. An archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles has the most beautiful and stunning beaches. A perfect getaway for a solo dream holiday.  Capital Victoria is located on the island Mahe, which is the largest island of Seychelles. Praslin island is another easily accessible island which homes the Vallee de mai nature reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site , where we can see wild coco de mer – the world’s largest coconut. Tiny La Digue with its splendid beaches is a perfect place to be. Unique Granite rock formations one can see here are just a visual treat.

Image source: Destination360.com

 Lie at the beaches for hours together and keep observing the sea shore, lazing around, walk in the national parks and natural reserves, and walking purposelessly sometimes, trying out local dishes……..Oh I wish, I could get this holiday!!

There are adventure things to do as well like the undersea diving, snorkeling, boating and cruising!!!

Seychelles is one of the perfect places to be!!!

Image source: nature-landscape-photography.blogspot.com

Next on my list is Majuli Island which is the largest riverine island on the waters of mighty Brahmaputra. It’s said about the island that it keeps on shrinking due to the erosion caused by river water and may be in twenty years or so it will completely disappear. One has to take a ferry ride from Jorhat to reach Majuli. The island is an absolute bliss for nature lovers and a paradise or bird watchers. The island sees many species of migratory birds. One can also enjoy the various colors of tribal culture and get a feel of the tribal culture here. Majuli is also a hotspot for flora and fauna.

Image source: indiantouristspot.com

Kashmir is another favorite. Unmatched in its beauty, It’s a sure heaven on earth. Terrorism has hit the tourism business of Kashmir. But it’s my heartfelt desire to visit Kashmir once. Smell the fragrance of flowers of Gulmarg valley, Stay on houseboat on Dal-lake, encage in my soul the beauty of mountains, glaciers and the meadows of Sonmarg, and get lost in the scenic beauty of Pehalgam. Only if it was possible, I would spend an eternity in this heavenly place.

Image Source: telegraph.co.uk

Ladakh, the next on the list is located in the state of J&K. The rocky mountains of Ladakh covered with snow and the clear deep blue water of the lakes is breathtakingly beautiful. The place is no less than divine. Untouched by human atrocities on nature, it’s a treat for the eyes and a blessing for a photographer. I wish to travel to this place on a bike. A romantic drive to Ladakh on a bike is a dream I would give anything for!!

Image Source:travelduniyaa.com

Kanyakumari, is another on my wish list. It’s the southernmost point of India where three seas, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea meet. This place therefore is called Triveni Sangam. Kanyakumari has got religious significance. There are many temples worth visiting. Also there is a rock in the mid of the water where its said that Swami Vivekananda meditated and attained enlightenment. A rock memorial by the name of Vivekananda memorial has been constructed here on the rock in the water which is one of the main attractions of visitors. The sunrise and sunset as seen from here have matchless beauty. One can see the sun in its various hues and colors as it rises above the horizon in the morning and goes back to sleep somewhere beyond the reach of eyes in the evening.

Image Source: travel.siliconindia.com

This post is written for INDI-Happy hours: Airbnb Wishlist contest. For information about airbnb, visit Airbnb website

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Drive Safe, Drive Happy!!

 According to The Global status report on road safety 2013  by WHO “ More than 231 000 people are killed in road traffic crashes in India every year.”

 If we take a look at the Statistics, approximately half of all deaths on the country's roads are among vulnerable road users - motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.

There are growing no. of incidents of accidents of teenagers on account of Rash driving. Bikers sometimes suffer from injuries and accidents because of their tendency to fly in the air rather than being grounded. The drunken driving is injurious to both health of the driver and the pedestrians.

Life of a person is not only his own, but there are several lives connected with one life. One must therefore be responsible towards one’s own life as well as life of his fellow beings.

We all talk about our fundamental rights more often than we talk about our fundamental duties. To have improved road infrastructures and improved medical facilities is sure one of our rights. But when it comes to road safety, our duties play more important role. So let’s all pledge to play our part honestly and abide by the Traffic rules.

• Say no to drinking while driving.

Drunken Driving is fatal to self and others.

•  Driving faster can cause disaster.

Drive slowly and don’t cross the speed limits. Don’t let the hurry of a few minutes take away a lifetime from you.

•  Using a seat belt, an unforeseen tragedy can be dealt.  

Seat belts are the most important safety feature of a car.  Seat belts reduce the risk of  losing life in a crash by about 50%

• Talking on a handset can be a reason to be upset.

While driving one should never talk on phone. Either use hand free cell phones or stop the car and talk.

•  Wear a helmet, to avoid a stalemate

Wearing a helmet is a must for two wheelers as it can save one from fatal head injuries in case of an accident.

•  Haste makes waste.

Never cross the roads hastily, avoid listening to music while crossing, pay attention and don’t run into any risk of life

•  Be a Watchdog when with kids.

Keep an eye on children. Don’t let them play on the road.

•  We two, but not our two.

Avoid Overloading of vehicles. Three people at a time should not sit on two wheeler.

•  Rest is important.

In umpteen no. of cases accidents happen because of the sleepiness of driver. Take proper rest and avoid driving too long at a stretch

• Patience is a virtue.

Keep patience and don’t break the signals. Be a responsible citizen.

To make sure people follow their duties well, many of the above mentioned have already been made obligations by the way of law. But still we are lacking in the fulfillment of our basic duties. Increasing the amount of penalty and stringently imposing the laws is one suggested solution. But most importantly awareness should be increased among people by way of more and more campaigns, educating the children and youth about road sense and etiquettes. The automobile companies should also promote the use of safety features and encourage their customers to exploit these features. The use of helmets should be promoted by the way of advertisements.

Besides the precautions, the post crash care is also important. The tragedies that cannot be avoided should at least be mitigated. There should be emergency help lines readily available and ambulances dedicated for the cause of road mishaps. The appropriate steps should be taken by govt hospitals and trusts etc.

The bottom-line is , DRIVE SAFE AND DRIVE HAPPY.

The post is written for indiblogger The Nissan Safety Driving Forum. 

Visit the site for more tips on safe driving and do spread the word.

Indispire# For God wants his man to..

For God wants his man to bathe in a river

Which is not the Ganga or Saraswati,

But where flows a heartful of compassion;

For God wants his man to feed him

Not with his costly offerings,

But by putting a spoonful into the mouth of a starving man;

For God wants his man to respect him

Not by fighting over his supremacy or power,

But by respecting his living image of parents;

For God wants his man to love him

Not with his desperate attempts to please him,

But with a will which is selfless and pure;

For God wants his man to follow him

Not by encouraging division, ill will and politics in the name of sects,

But by adopting his ideals of righteousness and morality;

For God wants his man to flatter him

Not by following the rudimentary and superstitious,

But by the power of reasoning and intellect;

For God wants his man to remember him

Not in the name of scuffles related to religion,

But in one and the sole religion of humanity;

For God wants his man to make temples

Not of concrete and stone on the hills and planes,

But of the tenderness, hope and faith in his own soul;

For God wants his man not to fear him ,

But to feel him and love him.

Light and Dark both are hidden inside us. A True worship will brighten the light and fade the darkness.

Why do we worship god? Share your reasons for worshipping gods#FaithvsFear

Indispire# Why do I Pray!

The reasons why I started praying to god are a little different from the ones I pray to god today.

As a child we know nothing. At that time we are told about the existence of god, made to learn prayers. In school the day starts with a morning prayer and in home the day ends with an evening arti or simply lighting of some incense sticks. The time I was a kid I used to watch some mythological serials as well like Sri Krishna, Mahabharata etc. And slowly it became a way of life to pray to god. At that time it never occurred to me to ask why. I was told and I accepted without wondering about why’s or how’s.

But over the time as I started reading more and more and went on experiencing life more closely, the questions did strike me something of the sorts:

“Why is it that I am praying? What if there is no god?”

“What if all my prayers are going futile and there is no one to listen?”

“What if I am wasting my precious time and energy in calling out for something that does not exist?”

“What if non-existence of god is as much real as the existence of humans?”

“What if god has completely different form than the one I assume and what if god does not understand my language?”

“What if by praying to god I am just looking out for a safe haven because the reality is I am not strong enough?”

Plethora of questions…But over the time I have come to believe that the answer is only one “FAITH”

Faith has a personal meaning for everyone. For me it’s the only comprehendible reason and the pathway between material and spiritual. “Knock and the doors shall be opened” ; without faith it just sounds like another biblical sermon but faith makes it almost come alive..

I don’t know what is the form, what is the type of existence God assumes. But yet I believe there is a supreme power, a force larger than life, a force as real as the laws of nature are.

Everything in this universe has order. Smallest of small things are governed by laws. Every event is organized, be it the rotation of the planets, changing of seasons, atoms, molecules, everything! The humans are just discovering that order, just harnessing the knowledge that already exists. If humans have got intelligence, the universe is much more smarter. Human intelligence springs from his mind. There must be a source of intelligence of universe too and I would like to believe that this source of intelligence of universe itself has the name god! How and why are just beyond my understanding, so I would just like to have faith.

Though I still don’t know how is it that one should pray to god! Whenever I am praying it’s not just the thought of god I have in my mind in fact there are two hundred other mundane thoughts racing in my head. But still I do pray.

Now the reasons I pray:

..This one is simple because I like the fragrance and aura of incense sticks. It gives me so much of peace and positive vibes.

..Another simple one is it’s a beautiful experience to light diyas and listen to some soothing chants, visiting temples or churches. It’s a celebration of silence for me.

..I consider god to be my best friend. In fact I don’t really pray, it’s more like talking to god. I talk about all my problems, Frustrations, all happy and sad moments. And it makes me feel lighter just as one feels after venting out everything to a best friend.

..Confessions.. I do all my confessions in front of god. My anger is little bad so sometimes I end up saying too much to people. While praying there is an automatic recollection of things that I should not have said. I am a little egoistic to admit my mistakes but with God I can admit anything under the sun. That gives me a chance to be completely honest with my own self atleast without any pretensions.

..Flattering.. When I pray I always wish for so many things, this and that, it’s like giving god your wishlist and wishing for a miracle to happen!

..A comfort..In the company of god I feel ultimate comfort for God is not judgmental like the real people and won’t walk out on me for my wrongs or mistakes, won’t put labels on me, I don’t have to weigh my words, don’t have to worry about being stupid.

..Hope.. to an extent it’s the fear of god which can also be termed as the inner voice  which saves me from wrongful acts. When there is nothing working out, I always draw inspiration and confidence from prayers. The name of God is a source of endless hope.

..A luxury.. It’s no less than a luxury for me to be able to blame god when things are going wrong. To be able to argue and fight with god because you know God is not going to backfire. Ofcourse I do realize all the time that faults are all mine but it makes me feel lighter to put it on god!

..and in rare, very very rare moments I pray because in those déjàvu moments I feel overwhelmed with the existence of universe and how it houses everything so perfectly. In those moments the prayers are just a tribute to that power which is supreme and governor of the whole.

All in all I pray because it gives me comfort and helps me to connect to myself and my conscience. It keeps me hopeful and patient. God is my best friend, my best ally and my soul confidant.

Just on a lighter note sharing this one ..

Why do we worship god? Share your reasons for worshipping gods#FaithvsFear

Indispire# On a lonely island without internet

A day into a lonely island

Where no one is around,

A morning bath in radiance of sunlight,

Where no one just shadow is to be found;

Waking up lazily

Wearing makeup of a smile,

Absorbed in nothing,

Just the inner light for a while;

Playing with the shadows,

And reminiscing the good old days,

In the company of endless waves;

No cell phone,

 No camera for photo- shoots,

And no laptop which intrudes;

A silent time on a lonely island,

No voices on the exterior,

Just some attention to the interior;

Listening to the music in the air that flows,

Grasses dancing in the rhythm that bestows;

Birds are a company for now,

Seeing their attempts at fly,

Makes me feel childlike somehow;

Flowers shedding

 The night robe of dew drops,

Dressing beautifully

In the brilliant shades of sun kissed cloths;

Butterflies teasing the flowers

And soaking in their colors,

I notice their small world,

And their mischievous maneuvers;

At the innocence of nature I peer,

And feel enchanted and cheer;

Reminding myself,

The smallest pleasures in the world

Come for free,

And are not dear;

Lying under the shadow of trees,

To enjoy the breeze;

Wondering at the language of nature,

I put down my pen on paper;

Walking, sitting and lying down,

Counting the waves,

And not bogged down by the rains;

Following the clouds

Pondering over the secrets they shroud;

To be alone on this island,

Bestows on my soul the gift of bliss and solace,

That’s so hard to find in the mainland…….

experience about A 7 days experiment to stay away from all modern gadgets and apps like mobile, laptop-computers, internet, social networking, E-games and how you spent that time? with family? traveled? meditated, anything you experienced.