In an era of water wars    

The serenity that the thin streams of water flowing graciously down the hill creates and the sanctity associated with it is all deeply buried under the issues related to it. It was once believed that sitting on the banks of a river or at the beach relaxes the mind. Ironically, it is now, a cause for regional and National stress.

     The Cauvery, an assurance of life for many, flowing from Talakaveri, her place of birth is no more known for scenic beauty under the blanket of dense white fog. The paper that makes it to the tea table each morning has a different story to say, a follow up of the infamous ‘Water wars’ issue.  

     A glass of pure water that quenches the thirst dries the mind. A sense of satisfaction that it fetches along is in no time swept away by the scepticism of whether we will have to fight for the same one fateful day.

  An optimistic spirit that something might turn good at the end is all smothered by the stench of a nearby drainage stream or a polluted lake. Ultimately, it is a glass of water that has the ability of calm a frustrated mind thinking of the water issue.

     

Juveniles remanded just for 3 years

If convicted, the minor rapists will be behind bars for

 a maximum of 3 years

                 

       Ineffective law comes to the rescue of the juvenile arrested in relation to the gang rape case of the 21 year old national law school student. It is merely based on the school documentation that the accused who is termed to be the most violent will be tried under the juvenile law, this despite the fact that he is just 3 months short of turning an adult.

    Be it the Delhi rape case or the one that happened in the silicon city last October, the probability of an easy walk through is much high for the juveniles, the irony being that they do no deeds that a juvenile is entitled to. ‘Innocence ‘is what ought to be questioned. It is remorseful that someone who brutally assaults a girl and torments her physically is considered a ‘child’.

       From luring the couple into the bus to throwing the girl out of the bus, it was the juvenile who was a mastermind behind it all. The city’s boy is termed ‘accused number one’ and the most violent of the eight others involved. It is a doubtful if any of these characters signify ‘juvenile sinlessness’.

         This is one of the many issues that the country is battling against, infact something that needs to be addressed to at the grass root levels. Though the police are pleading helplessness as being handcuffed by the law and a majority is fuming about the issue, there is an air of cynicism revolving the same.

 

Woman emotions harassed and bruised

It is with anger boiling within and an emotion overflowing from the heart that every woman tries to express to the world her sordid state when it comes to feeling secure.

   The Delhi gang rape which has evoked an epidemic outrage in the country is one clear example of a sorry state that a woman is in; half the time worried about whom to take along with her at the late night hours and more so what sort of clothes to get dressed in. Sadly, a woman also needs to be told which route to choose while riding back home from work.

It is also appreciable that two woman MP’s endeavor to bring about a change and their strong worded arguments might bring about a potential change. It is quite disturbing when a handful of libertarians express capital punishment would be a little too much for the crime. It is high time now that issues like these be addressed seriously in a country like ours.

 It is bad defense when someone expresses that ‘a woman asked for it’ or she was ‘provocatively dressed’ or an even pervert term to use ‘inviting’. When 60 cases of rape get registered in the country, it is mere common sense that tells me that not everyone could be in bikinis or shorts.  Moreover, she enjoys every liberty to get dressed in the manner she wishes to.

 It leaves most girls in Bangalore in a state of concern and with a lot of questions in mind. It is also true that Bangalore is stealthily following Delhi with increasing acts of eve teasing and rapes. 

Say no for that splash of red

The evening breeze plays with my hair locks hidden below the helmet as I rush towards the signal with a hope to escape before it turns red. If you are wondering why, I can assure you it is no emergency. It is just to avoid having a splash of saliva escaping out of the window grills of a bus with some tobacco and pan masala in it on my vehicle.

   Oh yes, if my stars are bad, I end up looking, in fact frantically try and explore enough space to manage and place one foot on the road to ensure that my brand new sandals do not have to be on someone’s spit. On the other hand, I convince my second foot to stay on the vehicle hoping that my pedicure does not go a waste.

  I wonder why the literacy rate in India is low and the very next moment, someone from the BMW parked beside lowers the window. No, not to ask for some help to reach his destination but to leave an imprint of his on the road. It is then that I realize that there is a lot of difference between being literate and being educated.

 Let me also take the privilege of introducing a term to you, one that is a tip of the tongue phenomenon for all of us: ‘the civic sense’. It appears nice and heavy on a glossy sheet of paper and is sheer hypocrisy in reality.   

  It triggers a thought in the mind. Why can’t this be a good revenue maker? Considering the number of them committing this offence, it is certain that the fine collectors can bag at least twice the amount that the traffic inspectors collect for those still having a tint on their car windows.  

A woman who dared to...

“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water.” 
says Eleanor Roosevelt. In a situation when the entire city was at home on the BMTC and KSRTC strike day,  it was Prema Ramappa, a 33 year old lady BMTC bus driver who dared to take the bus out of her depot.

 Threats from disgruntled elements or her colleagues’ precautionary words, nothing could change her firm mind. The duty bound Prema explained that she got into the bus despite her own colleagues trying to stop her .She said “ I feel my job is service to the public. This is the reason I found it necessary to do that.

 I also know that it is from that service that I earn my daily bread. That is the reason I found it essential to do the same.” She added.

 It was at Shantinagar bus stop that people waited just to get a glimpse of the bold lady and express their appreciation. Prema, unmindful of the consequences she will have to face made her trips to and fro from majestic to kormangala depot. “I could see how relieved the people felt when they saw a bus passed by. They also offered me money as a token of appreciation and a few invited me home for lunch” added the overwhelmed lady.

  Thanking her managing director K R Srinivas, she said “He was so generous. He handed over a cheque of rupees 10,000 with no second thought.” Prema was in limelight earlier too when she became the first BMTC women driver. The lady also expressed that given a chance, she would still be happy to drive the bus.

   

Ruthless act by the uncivilized.

 

The Mangalore incident is nothing but a shamefull deed done in the name of Hindu culture. Also considering the fact that they took law into their hands, it is definitely not something that ought to be ignored.

 Hinduism is a religion, more a culture where women are treated divine. What is it that the uncivilized apes who beat those girls call culture?
 Is it holding the girl by her dress and dragging her?
Slapping her so hard that she had to cry in pain? Lifting and dumping her like a piece of garbage?

 It is also extremely sad that those men had no second thought that a woman has equal rights as them. Sidelining the religion part and considering the fact that Indian culture is one such that commands respect for women and gives her a sacred status, it is definitely not acceptable that the men behave so. If they still take it for granted that their deeds are justified, it is nothing but sheer hypocrisy.

 Having a rave party is definitely not appreciable. Whatever be the case taking law into their hands or ‘man-handling’ the women is something that is not to be excused.

 The issue also leaves a question behind. Is it that the men who support this ideology find it easy to control women from looking good than taming their pervert mind? 

A Confession hard to make 

A suppressed guilt wakes me up each day,

Reminding me to confess about it and take my way.

I know it will be for you, mere dismay:

I have no intention of hiding it, yet cannot say.

At this point in time for you, I feel,

You conventions intend to stop you from getting to the real;

Its high time we, in fact sensible strike a deal 

It’s better to think our way than see for others, what does appeal.

A promise that you made still resides in my mind,

That a friend for me you would be, still... I’m tying hard in you, to find

Our relationship of sharing the same blood puts my thoughts again on a grind,

a fake chain of emotions do nothing but help this idea rewind,

Ultimately I know not, if with my decision you will be kind,

I confess not as I doubt if our age and conceptions can ever bind.