Friday, May 16, 2008

Let me feel free

“Liquor is a bad thing to use. It is not a great thing to endorse as well.” These are the words frequently preached by our elders in India.

I take these arguments because there was logic to support it. I accepted the logic of its ill effects regarding health and social conduct. Health concerns and my social image kept me un-introduced to alcohol and cigarette for a period of twenty five years of my life. I never tasted an alcoholic drink and any source of smoke in this substantial part of my life despite of the fact that I was away from my parents putting alone at a very young age of 14. I spent almost 12 years out of my parents’ sight. There was nobody to keep vigilance on my activities. The pocket could have easily afforded the expenses.

Frankly I was not aware of any law that prohibits us using alcohol within a certain age limit. If I still could stay clear of these addictions it was due to the health concerns, family values and my social portrait not any regulation.

The term regulation has turned out to be a challenge here in India. Whatever happens we are on the foot to curse rules and regulations. “Regulations should be stringent. New laws should be framed. The laws are not being enforced effectively.” These quotes are very frequent among the people whenever social values are challenged.

Can laws and restrictions settle the social issues exclusively? I am afraid, these can’t. It can be attributed to the simple reason of fundamental human nature. Human being is a born rebellion. Whenever there were efforts to restrict a community or an individual to certain limits, there was a revolt.

The recent incidents in the capital city of India indicate that the lawmakers do not want to accept the realm. There was a debate in the Delhi legislative assembly regarding the minimum age to consume alcoholic drinks. There was a big hue and cry inside and outside the house. Ultimately the existing status of the tax and excise act was kept in tact by maintaining the minimum age to qualify for a peg at the level of 25. These laws are continuously breached deliberately or due to ignorance. There fore such regulations are frivolous.

Similar reactions outraged on the suggestions given by union health minister Ambumani Ramadoss to Amitabh Bachan and Shahrukh Khan regarding on screen drinking and smoking.

Public health is, no doubt, of primary concern but these are definitely not going to tackle the issue. If average drinking age in India is growing young, If India is the biggest producer of liquor in Asia and if the consumption and smuggling of narcotic drugs in India is at its high, it can not be attributed to the effect of movies only. It could be a factor but very-very small.

LAST WORD –

Transformation is the universal doctrine of nature. Therefore society should also adopt the transformation but it should not be created by force. It should come itself.

After a long duration of oppression Indian society started its new life 60 years ago. This is a very small period of time for a society to change. Let the time play its game. There will be a time when society would be mature enough to eradicate the evils of its own

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Another Power Cut! Oh Not Again!



"Money makes the mere go." It may sound a bit old but is universally true. A huge population in India is still living in dark. Tribal and rural areas of different states don't have the necessary infrastructure. Those parts of the country where the infrastructure is in place are struggling for the power supply. The places where power supply is available for 5-6 hours a day must consider themselves lucky.

This crunch in power is affecting the life of the common man. But it is hurting the agriculture severely. This is a matter of concern as we are already struggling to feed the billion mouths. Agricultural output is in decline as most of our irrigation in the states like Punjab, Haryana and Utter Pradesh (biggest contributors in terms of food grains) depends upon the ground water. It requires electricity to pump the water out. If the power remains absent for a major part of the day it can be easily understood how difficult it would be for an ordinary farmer who don't have the supplementary resources like generators.

This problem is not only confined to the remote places of the country. It can be felt even in the metros. Delhi does not qualify to be the capital city of India- world's biggest democracy and fifth largest economy. 4-5 hours power cut is a regular feature in Delhi. The person from the different parts of the country who comes to Delhi with different purposes suffers the most.

This is true for the ordinary citizens whereas the corridors of power glitter day and night with access of power supply. Electricity is being used as a source of decoration in the so called posh areas of the city. Hundreds of bulbs glow when shadow embraces the houses of the affluent. Scores of electronic gadgets work without any time bar. Religious and public institutions are the most extravagant in terms of electricity which is a disaster for the countries like India.

An information under rti has revealed that in the last five years Rashtrapati Bhavan has consumed elctricity of the worth 16.5 crore. The prime Minister's residence spent a sum of 3726000 Rs on the eletricity bill in the last three yeers. calculations suggests that the consumption of electricity in the Rashtrapati Bhawan in one year was sufficient to glow a toll of 12 villages with a strength of 5000.

This is just because they are in a position to pay for that and our constitution has entitled us with a right to live a better life. They are using their right and so should they. What about the moral duty to ensure the better life of the fellow citizens? Would their social status, glory and life standard come down if they abandon this showoff for even a hour or two? Is it the outer shine of a religious structure which defines the divinity or the faith on the God?

Answers of these questions are quite articulate. The only requirement is to give a sincere thought on these. Perhaps Mr. Gopal Krishan Gandhi (Governor of West Bengal) Pondered upon these questions and got the answers. To put the governor house in dark for two hours every day was a consequence of his sincere thoughts. This decision is there for political interpretations but there would be a few to deny the nobility of the idea