Sunday 29 April 2018

‘ADOPTION’ OF THE ‘ORPHANED’ LAL QILA


‘ADOPTION’ OF THE ‘ORPHANED’ LAL QILA


The current fauxtrage on the plan of the government of India to involve reputed companies / organisations for the maintenance of iconic monuments is just unfortunate. Those creating ruckus on this issue are just faking their injury, a kinda pretentious on the issue. Wonder if any of these top notch guys who are creating ruckus over the issue, ever visited these’ institutions’ of national importance, ever since obtaining their adulthood. Wonder if any of them felt like peeing during their visit but could not locate any public facility. Wonder if any of them felt like having a sip of water in the scorching sun while on such a visit, only to find that there was no water. Wonder if any of these creating hubbub ever felt the need of sitting under the shade of a tree or on the lawns or benches while on the visit to such romantically scintillating places where one feels as if someone from the history bygone might come up front? Those creating this brouhaha have a fleet of lackeys running around brandishing their guns and umbrellas and cold water bottles and even folding chairs for their masters to rest their butts on.

All of this in full view of lesser mortals who brave the existing tough and inconvenient conditions only on account of their sheer wish to visit the history, unlike these  visiting ‘cream rolls’ who visit only to be either seen there for some goddamn photo shoot. Mercifully these ‘cream rolls’ remain unaware of the curses being showered on them by the lesser mortals around.

The iconic Red Fort which was lovingly and adoringly got built by Emperor Shah Jehan and commissioned in 1639 stands orphaned today on account of the apathy of the governments and government agencies entrusted with its upkeep.


                                        
                                                     (Pic, courtesy the net)


Only the facade of the crumbling Red Fort is cleaned once in a year when successive Prime Ministers of the country visit with the ‘shan-o- shaukat’ of the emperors who once inhabited the fort. Unfortunately these leaders visit only for about an hour once a year, primarily to satisfy their egos by way of telling stories to the people of India and to the world in general, telling about their greatness and what all wonders they achieved for the country. 

Unfortunately, this iconic symbol still remains a place to showcase the exuberance, vanity and lust for power by those who rule.



                                          
But for lesser mortals, who visit with a sense of pride, it is an icon, a story which they proudly tell to their children not only during the visit, but for years to come. The visit gets set in their mind for years. Wonder what the harm is if some basic civic amenities and comfort is attempted to be provided by someone, from private sector. The Archaeological Survey of India has grossly failed. The ministry of tourism and the ASI are mostly at loggers head so what is the harm if some ones else tries to come to the rescue of the lesser mortal of the visitors. No one, not even the government or private sectors can restore LAL QILA to its pristine glory. No one has resources so why not let some rich corporate come in to try to maintain it.




                                                         
1785 view of the Red Fort from the east. In the foreground the Rang Mahal is on the left, the Khwabgah Jharoka in the centre and the Moti Masjid on the far right. (Pic, courtesy the net)



                                        
                        View of the Red Fort from the river (by Ghulam Ali Khan, between  1852–1854 (Pic, courtesy the net)

About time the detractors who love to criticise for the sake of criticising, shut up.



                              Let someone adopt the ‘ORPHANED LAL QILA”

                               Let the soul of Bahadur Shah Zafar rest in peace. 

Let the scheme be implemented all over for the sake of lesser mortals like us.Iit is nothing but the extension of the CSR

Tuesday 24 April 2018

A RAPE RIDDEN SOCIETY?


A RAPE RIDDEN SOCIETY?


Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act appears to be somewhat lopsided and nothing more than an electoral strategy. It does not talk about the ways and means about the meticulous compliance of the Act and implementation and righteous enforcement of the laws. This is what ails and stinks about the Indian system.

Yes, it rightfully seeks death penalty for rapists of girls below 12 years of age and stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape particularly of girls below 16 years, minimum punishment having been increased from 10 to 20 years, extendable to life imprisonment. The punishment for gang rape of a girl less than 16 years increased to imprisonment for the rest of the life of the convict. The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has also been increased from rigorous imprisonment of 7 to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment. Further, the government has also ‘decided’ to put in place several measures for speedy probe and trial of rape cases. It has also provided for a six month time limit for disposal of appeals in rape cases.

On the face of it, it all appears laudable, but I find the ‘catch’ in the process of investigation and the court trial when immense pressure is built up on the victim and family, to ‘compromise’. This process amounts to nothing but bullying, blackmailing, physical and mental torture and blatant abuse of the due process of law by some of the agencies which are supposed to enforce the law. And this pressure is often generated by few of the family members as well.

When and how will the government seal these loop-holes effectively? It remains to be seen.

While browsing the net, I came across this interesting piece on the Online ‘FIRSTPOST’ which is produced below with due humility and acknowledgement. It gives out the data to prove that the offender is known to the victim in over 95% of the cases.

                    
                   
I wonder what provisions shall be introduced, if ever, to halt these ‘in-house’ rapes? I also wonder if the government will ever also try to rope in that section of politicians / officials (both in government or private sector) of whatever strata, who do indulge in rapes but succeed in escaping the ‘due process of law’ by whatever means and painfully also get rehabilitated because of their ‘nuisance’ value (read muscle / monetary power / clout). I also wonder about the ‘Casting Couch Rapes which are perpetrated almost all the time in a section of film / fashion and theatrical industry. I was shocked when I read this reported post on twitter today. Apparently they go unreported because; as the choreographer said that at least such victims do get a ‘roti’.

                                           

And this brings me to another aspect of Rapes, talk about which is a total taboo in the society and hardly any data is available with regard thereto. It concerns the rapes (read sodomy) of boys of tender and non consenting age. It is unfortunate that the rapes and sexual exploitation of young boys is as prevalent in the society, as that of the girls. Both boys and girls are molested under the same circumstances and by the same category of men; some close relatives, helpers, neighbours and other ‘damn sex seekers’. Exploitation of both is deplorable and need strict legal and social cognizance. It is heartening that the society is up in arms about the rapes and molestations of the girls and women but it is also about time that due cognizance is also taken to save and rescue those hapless young and innocent boys who are being violated with impunity every other day and all over. India has become a hot destination of pedophiles and vicious monsters seeking sex with gullible male children as well.

Hope the sleeping government and the society wakes up to the entire gamut of same / opposite sex rapes in the Indian society and takes real stern action instead of just cosmetic ones. Entire process of law needs a thorough and total overhauling.

Indian society seeks bloody retribution from such devious monsters…

And it also needs to seek equally deterrent retribution from those who fail to meticulously implement and enforce the laws of the land…