Satyamev Jayate : Is the issue the star?

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The social awareness overdrive that has been created by the Satyamev Jayate is remarkable. The superstar effect seems to have worked with the masses, at least from what the initial responses to the show are. While there is a positive ambience about social issues, one needs to contemplate on two major questions. One, aren't there similar shows which are more detailed? Two, is it more about the star or is the issue the star? Let me at the outset mention that I have anything but praise for Mr Khan for his show. I applaud and admire his initiative. He might have made a fortune out of the show but that cannot take away the initiative that he has taken for the show to work. Considering that he is one amidst the very few superstars who takes an earnest interest in social affairs, it is something that needs to be....

RTE: Good intent but is it good enough?

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The RTE Act has been in the news for some time. Now, it's trending even more due to the recent judgment reaffirming the RTE act and its validity. While there has been considerable admiration, the Act per say leaves open various questions that needs to be answered. Is the 25 per cent reservation the best method forward? Aren't we just camouflaging the major issues by looking at stop gap measures? Let's discuss: The most significant positive of the entire Act seems to be the 25 per cent inclusion of the underprivileged into the academic system in private schools. The intent in this move is surely noteworthy. Considering that the elite strata occupy the echelons of academic institutions, this rule has the potential to break open certain aspects of social dogma in today's India. In addition, it would also provide a platform for young talented students who are....

The earth shook yet we were clueless

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The earth shook. The floor I was sitting on was shaking for about 5 seconds. I was in my world when I was shaken by my colleague next to me. There was a scramble downstairs walking down 5 floors in the building. As I was walking downstairs with my colleague, in my sub conscious mind, I had a sense of slight shock, a slight sense of panic and a sense of urgency. What worried me the most was that everyone on was almost clueless on what to do. Clueless: Clueless is an appropriate word for most of us in India with regard to major natural disasters. People were scrambling downstairs either in a lackadaisical manner or with irrelevant theories on the aftermath of these quakes. One bunch of jokers had the audacity to update their facebook statuses' before leaving the premises. Some tweeters are so insensitive with their dumb jokes....

Poverty line: Myths, perceptions and reality

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The Planning Commission is back in the news. The latest round of poverty levels that have been disclosed have created another debate in the country. Once more, people are stunned at the meager rate of Rs 28 that has been defined as the poverty line. Even though I addressed some apprehensions in an earlier post, this time around the issue seems to be more about myths, perceptions and lack of clarity than distorted facts. Middle Class Perceptions: Anyone who sits down to discuss the role of these figures needs to understand some basic things. First, the people who are doing the data analysis for the commission are not a bunch of jokers. These are people who are renowned for their statistical thinking and the late Professor Tendulkar was a renowned statistician with a Phd from Harvard. Second, the value of Rs 32 or Rs 28....

Dravid's moment: Let's celebrate it like Holi

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Holi was being celebrated all across India. A festival that has a cultural heritage and spontaneity that cuts across every Indian irrespective of their background; it has such a unifying impact. On Thursday afternoon, as the country was celebrating Holi, Breaking News flashed "Dravid to retire" In an era where cricket is a form of entertainment, Rahul Dravid was an art form. An art form that is so delicate so poised yet so structured. It is an art form where we could see ourselves flowing in that art form. The square cut is played with the bat at 90 degrees, the pull is played with the eyes following the ball perfectly and the cover drive would raze like a bullet with sound from the middle of the bat echoing through the grounds. The beauty of this art form is that it was not erratic, as so often art demands,....

India's Shame: Rape and its recurrence

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One of the most shambolic criminal acts off late has been the recent spate of rape's occurring in the country. In a country which prides itself in its ethos, not only is this despicable but utterly unpardonable. These incidents have increased in number over the past few weeks and have left a very uncomfortable scar. On deeper thought, there seems to be a deeper reason for such attacks. It revolves around our inability to punish these criminals and our systemic disintegration of our social fabric. Justice delayed: There have been as much as 6 rape cases reported in one state over the last couple of weeks. The number of rape cases according to the National Crime Bureau is at an alarming 22172 in the year of 2010 alone. Even more shocking is the fact that the conviction rate in these cases has been 26.6%, yes just....

Yuvraj's cancer and the social psyche

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Yuvraj Singh's treatment for cancer has dominated headlines over the last week or so. In a cricket crazy nation, it is not surprising the kind of attention that this draws the media towards. However, the lad indeed needs privacy and one also needs to also look at the bigger picture of cancer treatment in this country. Are we aware of the expenses related to cancer treatment in the country? Would we have zoomed in so much emphasis irrespective of the Yuvraj case? Are we sensitive to cancer patients beyond our kith and kin? In an age where technology is rapidly making giant strides in medication, cancer treatment has improved immensely over the years. Today, it is not as dangerous a disease as a HIV and it can be cured as long as it is detected early. While there has been progress, there are significant challenges for people associated with....

UID Aadhar: Why Aadhar needs to succeed

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The Aadhar debate has been settled for now. With an consensus emerging on the biometric data, there seems to be an agreement with the establishment on the way forward. While the recent criticism on Aadhar has been forthcoming, as a common apolitical citizen, I feel that Aadhar has to succeed and the success of it has important ramifications for us as a whole. Here are the reasons why: Time and money spent: The UID Aadhar scheme was started a couple of years ago and it had a steady start when the UID numbers were issued a couple of years ago. This month, the UID Aadhar is going to enroll its 200th million number. By the end of the year, it is expected to touch 400 million which accounts for almost 1/3 of the population of the second most populated country in the world. It costs us less than....

Higher Education in India: Learning beyond the exams

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The debate on higher education has always existed in this country. In most cases, it has been on the peripherals with the academics venting their frustrations at the system. Now, after the PM's acceptance on the need to improve R and D, the vibes on positive development on the academic front is higher once more. In this debate, there are calls for various policies but a deeper question also needs to be addressed. It's the question of the respect and recognition for the people who teach and the culture of learning beyond the exams. The craving for research and innovations is not something that is going to come with a magic wand. Sure enough, an additional investment would surely help the cause of research but there lies a more fundamental issue with regards to the educational system in our country. The educational system in our country, post colonial rule,....

Welcome 2012: 5 India Positive stories we understated in 2011

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The New Year ushers in a vibrant and an exciting year ahead. It is also a time where the majority of the people look to recharge themselves for the challenges ahead. The past year was a year that was filled with major events and it was also a year where some of us missed some of the significant yet understated events of 2011. Sometimes at the end of the present year, it helps us to reflect and try to look at some India positive stories that were camouflaged in between the gamut of popular news. Indian Army's rising might: The Indian military had a significant year last year. Strategically, it had empowered its military base in order to compete with the regional powers in Asia. According to the 2011 report by weapons watchdog SIPRI, India is the largest military weapons importer in the year accounting for....