Beggary—a curse on cosmopolitan life of Delhi

As Delhi prepares for the Commonwealth Games 2010, widely expected to draw a large number of international sportspersons and sports lovers to the national capital, the existence of child beggars (read slaves) across the city is all set expose the darker side of ‘a prospering economy’ like India.
Frayed children begging by knocking at the windowpanes of tourist vehicles, irritating any white-skin visitor to buy petty articles or glossy magazines, or at times, abusing or gesturing anyone turning them off, would be an experience which may find wide mention in the visitors’ blogs and journalists’ columns.
A look at the existing state of affairs with regard to beggars in Delhi and authorities’ casual approach flummoxes the mind.
Child Helpline—Dial 1098…..The government’s Child Helpline meant to rescue beggars by preventing victimization of children in the city with citizens’ help find its criticism from the people who understand the problem by its pulse.
“Once you make a call, the information given and caller’s identity is duly recorded. But nothing is recorded to explain what action was taken on that call. What happened to that child after information was passed on to the authorities is a question nobody explains. People should not be surprised to learn that not a single child has been rescued by any child helpline till date,” said Rakesh Senger, National Secretary of Bachpan Bachao Andolan exclusively to Sopan.
Traffic signals and traffic sergeants and Delhi Police…
Rakesh says that every traffic signal has traffic cops and Delhi Police personnel to ward off any untoward incident. But if they also show a sincere willingness and determination at these traffic signals about keeping off beggars, the problem of child beggary can be affected quite convincingly.
Sources of child beggars…..
There is a need to stop prospective child beggars or labourers in their source areas so that child-trafficking cannot take place, says Rakesh while giving insight of the begging world.
Rajasthan and Bihar have been observed as the key states playing a dominant role being sources of child beggars. Rajasthan, in particular, has various areas including Jodhpur, where children of the Banjara community, Jaipur, where some of the hamlets have denotified tribes, Churu, the place with maximum areas of denotified tribes, Seekar, Mahasamund, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur (are full of denotified tribes).
Local agents approach poor parents in villages to befool them with a pittance (Rs.500) in lieu of sending their children for six months or a year to study and also work in Delhi and grow up being a help for the family. In reality, it is these children who are pushed into beggary in the daytime and many of them in prostitution by night at times.
Besides Rajasthan, in Bihar, the areas being source of child beggars include Chapra, Dumka, East and West Champaran. In Uttar Pradesh, such areas are Agra, Saharanpur, Bagpur, and Kanpur. In West Bengal, the areas include 24 Pargana, Midnapore, and Howrah.
Last year floods in Bihar led to child-trafficking at a large scale. The list of missing children keeps increasing side by side. In 2008, about 12,000 children were allegedly trafficked to metropolitan cities between October-December from areas hit by the Kosi floods last August, according to a media report.
Sex and Drug-peddling
While there is no direct evidence of children being pushed directly into prostitution, their sexual exploitation cannot be brushed aside as a product of public’s prejudiced imagination.
“In one case of Delhi’s Hauz Khas and Moti Bagh areas, there are two children aged between 12 to14 whose legs were broken. Today, the crawl as they beg,” said Rakesh Senger of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan.
About sexual exploitation, the girl children cannot explain or point out when it happens. They find it hard to differentiate and explain between a friendly touch and an objectionable touch. They usually live with the belief that just because someone belongs to their village is a reason enough to not doubt or object him for such things. But the prevailing conditions are not too difficult to understand either.
“If five to six children of both the genders aged 8 to 12 share a common place to sleep, there are obvious chances of sexual incidents at any given time, especially at night. Particularly, the Leaders, assigned to supervise the children during day, are usually into taking drugs or alcohol. At Nehru Place, one can find teenaged girls and boys quarreling or teasing each other in the day time. By night their chances of physical exploitation gains strength with such people,” says Rakesh.
Many of these children are at work till 11.00 at night and also become targets of paedophiles. For instance, at Hazrat Nizammudin the beggars include Bengali-speaking children who have been found selling things along with narcotic drugs.
“I have personally noticed an incident in which the child was trying to sell off a packet but the car driver was repeatedly inviting him to get inside the car. It was winter. But the child kept insisting on selling his packet comprising pen, pencil, a torch and drugs! Interestingly, Police are aware of the racket being run through children and which involves selling of drugs here,” says Rakesh.
“Moti Bagh is a VIP area for beggary. It fetches Kali, a child beggars’ group leader in this area, a whopping Rs.90,000 to 150,000 a month. The earnings were admitted by Kali as well as children working under his custody. This gang leader used to operate with a person named Menia, who used to maintain four cellular phones. Despite best efforts, we failed to have a personal meet with him during one of traps, as he turned suspicious about our intentions.
“At Lakshmi Nagar near Kakarduma, there is a cluster of Jhuggis where there are maximum number of child beggars who are brought to different parts of the capital with their bandaged legs or hands or pretending to walk as any lame person at a traffic signal. They are dropped at different places on RTV bus. They are dropped at Paras cinema near Nehru Place, as there are several Dhabas or, the roadside eateries where beside food liquor consumption is also quite high,” says Rakesh.
“These children usually stand outside to collect empty bottles. But most of the time these children would be found requesting visiting customers to leave some quantity in the bottle for them. So, they not just enjoy collecting these bottles to sell off but also get drawn to drinking habit at an innocent age,” Rakesh adds.
Delhi Government’s over ambitious approach…..
Delhi Govt. wants to declare city as ‘Child friendly city’. But a political will power is required which should be sincere to ensure no children should be sighted on traffic signals. Before declaring the entire city ‘Child friendly’, there should be an attempt that first at least one district be made ‘Child friendly district’ and be projected as model district.
“Delhi Govt. wants to declare North West District as Child Friendly District without caring about the fact the problem in that district is almost the worst of all other districts of the city. The pilot project has been prepared for that area which many not be controlled even after five years of efforts. The area involves the dangerous Lal Quarters in Rohini area, where children are trained for begging and other crimes. We want easy areas be declared with minimum effort and be made model for others,” says Rakesh.
Social Welfare Department’s role should be identification, knowing child beggars’ whereabouts, and imparting vocational training or education to such kids. They can be given some financial reward or package during the number of years they take to learn things and stand on their feet at these homes.
Enforcement by police, social welfare department should act and rehabilitate these children, and the society must stop giving alms to begging children. We must stop giving alms to begging children. Once we stop giving them, their demand will stop or decline dramatically.
The public can make a difference in children’s lives if it stops buying things from these children at traffic signals. A real change is possible by just remembering that our every penny given to any begging child ensures supply of five more beggars on that very traffic signal or street.
Wouldn’t it be major help if after completion of their training at Homes, the children are given the entire collected amount along with some extra monetary reward which could lay foundation of their first venture in a respectable society?
Public awareness is important as well as boycott of such kids by people is also crucial to solve the menace of beggary.


“We collected data base of the city and found that in South Delhi’s Moti Bagh area there was widespread child beggary taking place. We established contacts with some of the children who worked under Moti Bagh flyover. During personal interaction, the children revealed that they actually belonged to their parents who lived elsewhere. And, here they work under a woman caretaker,” said Rakesh.

“We jotted down their details about their original native place and parents whoever remembered it. But there were four of them who were orphans and didn’t know about their actual native place,” Rakesh added.

“We approached Govt’s Child Welfare Committee which further ordered for their help. But soon it was learned that not much was being done. We approached police and a rescue plan was prepared. The compliant also mentioned about the children’s middleman or so called ‘caretaker’. Fearing that revelation about the place may cause danger to children’s lives, we contacted the kids again this time at night and asked them to show up when we would arrive the next day with a rescue team. They said if their ‘caretaker’ named Kali could be kept away somehow , they would not hesitate or fear showing up when required,” said Rakesh.

“Kali, the woman caretaker of beggar children, was arrested. And, children were rescued the following day. But both sides were taken away together in the same vehicle. She kept abusing and threatening them in the meantime. At police station, the rescued kids requested that she be put inside the lock up so that they could feel less threatened. But the request was not complied with. The moment they were to be taken for medical check-up, suddenly, some of the kids rushed towards Kali and hugged her. The looked confused as some of them would rush towards her as well as me and would hug both of us,” he said.

“A senior lady police official arrived and Kali shouted at her saying: “Everyday you come to me. Today, instead of coming yourself, you sent this team.” For publicly revealing the secret collusion, the officer beat her black and blue in front of all of us,” Rakesh informed.

Rakesh says that there is a general misconception that these children are runaway kids, which is not the case. These beggar children are those who are borrowed from villages on false promises of being trained for work and be given education in cities like Delhi. Poor parents get tantalized to such malicious traps of agents, especially when a sum of Rs.500 to 1,000 is given to them in advance. --

According to Indian Penal Code’s Article 363 A. (Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging): Whoever kidnaps any minor or , not being the lawful guardian of a minor, obtains the custody of the minor, in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purpose of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Whoever maims any minor in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purposes of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Begging means soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of singing, dancing, fortune-telling, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise. It also includes anyone exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or of an animal besides using any minor as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms.

Mahatma Gandhi--A man who redefined how to rule world beyond time with the power of argument and oratory.

He lived an ordinary life and set example before commoners with his dedication towards a bigger cause.

But, to me, his bigget achievement lied in living a simple, principled and committed life to depict the Power of ONE.

I salute your guts to take on American regime.

Someday the history will remember you for your bravado against the Bush regime.

A letter to Pakistan President General Parvez Musharraf

11/5/07 (written for his website)

Honourable President General Musharraf

Aslam Wale Kum! and Namaskar!

As Pakistan is going through a turbulent time due to the loud mouth political leaders begging for a chance to rule the country for personal motives, I support your latest move to impose emergency to straighten all imperfections.

The world will take time to understand your role to control the terror of extremists and the greedy leaders. But you must follow your heart and intelligence acquired through a vast experience in your career so far.

Let the people around the world learn everything by themselves in due course of time how unwanted air was being given to the difficulties of Pakistan as a nation by political theatre of the country.

In this challenging hour, when cynicism and rumours are doing their rounds, I am sure your self-belief and understanding of these corrupt and power-seeking politicians will bring under the needful control.

I am sure you will remain committed to the welfare of the common man even in this hour turbulence.

I wish you luck and my best wishes.

Let’s expand our horizons and be known in this world

Hundreds of cheerful moments go wasted just becasue we don't take proper note of them, the way any writing enthusiast does. We just remain busy in our routine unmindful of small or big development away from our lives.

There is always something to know, something to appreciate and something to learn in daily life. This blog is just an attempt to reveal significance of various moments that we come across but fail to notice properly.

We just have to be ready to open up our minds and embrace the world hidden in or outside our personal world.

The importance of everything nice need not be explained or understood in terms of money always. It may be in terms of personal expansion or exposing ourselves to new extremes or touching horizons.

For, today, the world recognizes us for our distinction in our observations and expression in our chosen form in day-to-day life. We are known and mentioned the way we perceive or view any development or handle a challenging situation. And, we must explore such a welcoming trend.

I believe, we all have the heart to feel and a mind to understand it all, only if, it is properly explained. Hence, it is an attempt to give expression to what comes to one's mind on different occasions.

As, I believe, all of our views are precious in some way or meaningul in some context,we just have to share them openly with interested people around and see the results ourselves.

Do you deserve love?

When two people enter a relation it involves expectation of being fair and honest.

The world may have changed. But in the sanctity of relations it has not and perhaps will never. For, it remains an eternal reality that relations are nurtured on the basis of purity of emotions and respecting each other's sentiments despite lacunas of personality.

It is so mediocre of some new-age individuals who have started bringing a bad name to sweet and innocent relations like LOVE. It feels disgusting when we notice or learn about people entering into a relation for fun and never bothering about the commitment and loyalty.

The upcoming new culture is anti-relation culture. For, it looks as if it has become ok if someone is found applying or advocating, 'relations till convenience' or multi-lovers or 'use and throw' kind of mentality.

But it is equally true the people who do so for the time being and enthusiastically support it in others' matters, would complain if is done to them or their loved ones.

Even in relations like marriage, many individuals are ready to walk out of the marriage as if it is about breaking a friendship with a casual friend. The ramifications are felt later.

I believe a person who cannot value a friendship is not fit enough enter a pious relation like marriage which requires deep affection, respect, sense of sacrifice of ego and an open-mindedness to embrace the fellow despite weaknesses in personality.

The persons presently enjoying sadist pleasure in playing with others' emotions, perhaps, do not know they might just be popularising a culture and habit that may hit them or any loved one very soon in the days to come. They should be ready for that to happen...as the rule is NATURE RETURNS!!!!!!

==========Part II
Friendship is proverbially valued as the best relation on earth after the one shared with one's mother. The kind of friendship we maintain with others defines our extent and horizon of love.

Our reactions, our feelings, our tolerance, our sense of giving for other person's joy are some of the aspects that define the kind of person we are. The same qualities define our capacity to love.

It surprises to notice people who cannot be good friends with anyone, seek ‘finest’ people to love and would be ready to shift from person to person in search of ‘the WOOOWW person in life’.

It amuses to find that it such persons don’t bother to develop themselves to deserve that kind of person as a friend but would spend all life searching it as a lover. Even if they get such a person for the time being, it doesn’t surprise to see losing such a person at the earliest.

Yes, I criticise Raj Thackeray but.....

The last few weeks (October, 2008) saw almost everyone in offices and general gathering discussing the Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its activists' terror in Mumbai. His party workers resorted to brutal means to help their firebrand leader acquire frontpage headlines and create space in Maharashtra politics.

The protest was regarding the unrestricted inflow of migrating public to Maharashtra, the city of dreams Mumbai in specific. And, hence the MNS's activists' target was non-Marathi public, Biharis in particular.

Most of the people looked justified to an extent in condeming Raj for his political stance, which clearly looked more like anti-Indian than pro-Maharashtrain. There was no doubt that MNS's only aim was to thrive in political circles with pro-Maharastrian sloganeering.

It looked quite flabberghasting to the rest of the India, especially the north Indians (Bihar in particular), as the protest was to oust them by force to assert Marathis' claim on Maharashtra and Mumbai in specific.

People across India watched in disbelief how Raj Thackeray's party workers went overboard to proclaim their 'right' as natives. Knowledge about Indian constitution's provisions allowing all citizens to work and reside at any place of India, except in Jammu and Kashmir, was unexpected from MNS' activists. And, perhpas, that was adequate for a emerging polititian like Raj to secure a vote bank.

At one time, it felt like the violence of Mumbai may spread to people across India, claiming locals' right to oust others and that too by citing examples of the MNS team. Many demanded that he be put behind bars for projecting Maharashtra, as a separate nation existing in India.

In my personal view, I believe people should be encouraged to shift to different regions to learn and share a different culture, tradition and way of life. Biharis, in particular, deserve the biggest appreciation for firmly holding to their original culture and demonstrating a thoroughly hard working and determined mind, which believes in rising despite all challenges of life.

But that’s my personal opinion may be because of the role they played in transforming life of a non-serious Punjabi lad like me and encouraging me for higher studies and become a journalist.

Everyone expressed hatred for MNS and its President, may be because the real objective behind such a rough politics or extreme measure ahead of elections was an open secret for anyone.

The only difference Raje’ approach of influencing local voters is that 'language and regionalism' are perhaps new factors for most of the new audience.

Otherwise, the existing political factors like caste, religion or reservation, or even so called 'Secularism', is nothing less dangerous than the new feature of Indian politics. One can review vote bank politics prevailing in any State of the country on the basis of these factors. North to South, East to West, these factors dominate the political leaders' mind, the ongoing distribution of election tickets bespeaks it loud n' clear.

As per general opinion, Raj’s was a case fit for triggering internal disturbance and deserves harshest punishment for dividing nation and creating terror'.

Media’s role looked more notorious than Raj himself. The issue went blown out of proportion courtesy electronic media. I believe it could have been discouraged to get unwanted publicity. But the electronic media proved an ultimate help for Raj Thackeray to gain immense popularity in just two months.

Government’s role also deserved criticism. It was too painful to imagine innocent people from north Indian being beaten mercilessly for no reason of theirs. It was State government who should have ensured better sense to prevail. It could have assured the agitated people, not just MNS, to do something under law to regulate things and welfare of locals.

But my thoughtful mind also asks me to be fair in evaluating the issue that is the problems caused by migrants in any State. I believe Raj raised the issue, which irrespective who raised it, needs a thorough discussion.

It would be unfair to close eyes and mind to the main issue—the unregulated migration and its ramifications.

It is true that local Mumbaiite are today faced with a serious problem due to migration from across the country. I believe they must get their first right to their native place and its opportunities. But this right cannot be expected to be absolute.

Be it anyone, all citizens of the country must enjoy equal right to work, live and practice religion and culture at the place of their choice in THEIR country. But the natives do deserve to have the first right.

In Delhi, the scenario is nothing different. The pain of Delhiites also got its voice in Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lt. Governor Tajinder Khanna who failed to garner adequate support from meek Delhiites. It was interesting that both of them were not original natives (born and brought up) of Delhi. But still they cried for its present condition when they could.

Delhi is crippled because of being a Union Territory. Most of the people from other States provoke hatred of the locals by enjoying to criticize the very place which has given them shelter and a place to earn livelihood. Most of the people despite coming from rural or comparatively backward areas of the country find fault in everything they find here.

I wonder when anyone from the north-east, one of the most backward and militant affected region, criticizes Delhi for ‘security’ and conservative lifestyle.

Isn't it a fact that the Kashmir gives preference to Kashmiris, Punjab gives preference to Sikhs and West Bengal gives preference to Bengali speaking individuals, Biharis embrace Biharis in all jobs and the southern States prefer their natives for opportunities available in their respective State.

If that is true to even little extent, Thackeray was not absolutely wrong in encashing public support in the disguise of Marathi manoos' social cause. He did what any professional or politician would do to enjoy the best of opportunity in the disguise of social cause.

With YOU Without YOU?

Most of us have a routine query to ask on meeting anyone in daily life: How are you? But if the same quesiton comes to me, especially from those whom I consider my loved ones, i simply ask them ---With you , Without you?

The persons who don't undestand what it means just say WHAATT? And, the others who understand, just realise what am I complaining about to them?

I feel like pin-pointing many of my affectionate friends or relatives at times with deep anguish and concern, the kind of void (gap) that has started to affect our warm relations these days. Be it computers, cellular phones' long chats or the growing work pressure and increasing requirements for children's workload. All this is rapidly taking away the sweet juice out of close relations. Be it family or family of friends, the effect is sadly everywhere.

Irrespective of the pace of life, there is always some scope to stay in touch with each other. But who bothers? Regrettably , our loved ones don't realise that the modernity and cut throat competion in everyone's life has killed the original affection in relations. During festivals, we have started a trend to send boring and forwarded messages. We have forgotten the joy of greeting or meeting each other with a hug full of warmth.

It looks as if we feel the 'duty' is over after greeting each other over phone. And, perhaps, this is the reason why strong relations have suffered a set back. The day is not far when there will be no family relations just after individuals would marry.

Interestingly, our professional engagements never let us realise that social relations are also very important in life. The world would come to its end much earlier than others, if we kept on staying so much engrossed running after meeting one deadline to another and losing out on personal and caring relations.


Who is responsible and who will do something about this mess, if not me or you? And, only then we may never need to ask from our loved ones How are You?

The Speaking trees and we, their fellow living beings.....

The Speaking trees and we, their fellow living beings...........

Be it any chance to stand near a river and look at the vast spread of greenery or visit a mountain and watch the far flung expanse of trees or just even pass by any ridge area while driving on any morning, most of us can easily fall in love with the all embracing natural green?

At time, most of us feel like enjoying that green just like we wish to feel the breeze on our naked face during rainy days. But many of us, just don't. Perhaps, that’s why we often tend to get drawn to anything that reminds us of this green.

Be it due to our exhausted self, irritated mood or just the much-needed break to get close to something that always appeals, we can always reach out to soothing sight of the Green that exists around us in the forms of trees and plants.

All we need is to feel their presence in our lives, as we pass our everyday life without pausing for a few moment and enjoy their glimpse.

Be it the trees or plants, they are always there to add joy in our lives only if we are ready to allow them. They are always standing with open to embrace us, comfort us unmindful of who we are, what we can or cannot do ?

Incidently, none of the Green family expects anything from us. But they are always ready to give whatever we can get out of them.

When was the last time we took note of their natural self, independent growth, entrancing shapes and the readiness to spread happiness all around. It is suprising not many of us spare a few moments ever to feel what can appeal the most and lift our spirits.

But not very long ago a curiosity to understand these trees beyond their beauty of green, generated a fascination for them. I don't know exactly what withholds me to look at them and visit them whenever it's possble. I wish to enjoy the feeling of reaslising their strong , wide and vast presence as fellow living beings.

I wish to know them, feel them and celebrate their association. But how can I until I am ready to spend time in their company and accept their existence and their living being just like us.

But are they equally ignorant towards the human beings as much as the latter is to the former’s presence and total beauty or lifestyle?

It has always been an interesting observation that almost all of us like greenery. We just cherish looking around as far as we can to enjoy a huge spread of Green.
In the hum drum routine of meeting deadlines or spoiled moods due to either neighourhood gossips about us or office politics or even perosnal setbacks, we tend to forget in all this to notice almost something as captivating as trees.

Trees, perhaps by their nature, don't seem to bother who we are or not, what is our level of success, how dumb or intelligent or ugly or good looking we actually are. That's why the trees just welcome us all in equal measure and everytime whenever we visit them. The seem liking embracing us by charming to enter their natural enviorn and just turn oblivious to the human world and just realise the trees's world.

It looks like trees welcome us all in all kind of seasons and with all reasons They simply charm at hearts through their quiteness. A tree charms through its static existent. It draws attention through its never changing orignal self. No matter what season of the year it is but it just stays as carefree as anything, and perhaps, as embracing to all as anything. Perhaps, that’s why we love revisiting the trees for the nth time.

For some time now, a curiosity in trees has added a huge joy that doesn't need anyone but just trees, trees and trees. Their attraction has made most of my long drives worth taking them. Especially, since being mesmerised by the deep and unexplored beauty of trees.

A sudden mind flash last year 2007 pushed me to try to look beyond the greenery of trees. I looked at some of them for their distinct appeal and tried to figure out what was there in them that was fascinating me. Is it all about green leaves or the cool wind coming of them and soothing our mind and soul for a brief time? Or, they are there to show how trees could be beyond that little enjoyment of mind? I just started clicking them through my cellular phone's camera (http://www.delhidelhi.blogspot.com/).

I started looking upon them with a sense of involvement and liking, perhaps like a painter who desires to capture something of anything on a canvas that only his mind and soul observed. It was not intentional that I was finding myself drawn to the trees. But something unusual was drawing me with each passing day or whenever I was outside. And, there I took note of the trees’ branches.

It is interesting to notice, every tree has different shape and size. Every tree takes its own time and way to grow up or age. It never depends on us, the fellow living beings, for its nurturing. It just grows in its own carefree way.

We the human beings may not be more than seven to 10 billions in population on this planet. But we believe we rule this planet and it is only we who is existing on this vast spread of land under equally spread sky as the natural roof.

But how many of us ever spared some moments to think is this earth only belongs to the human beings? Or does it actually belong to animals or birds? Or, perhaps, it also belong to the trees spread all around us much before we human beings came into existence. Then isn’t that it is the plants and trees who have more right to exist as its oldest inhabitants on earth?

Just because trees don’t speak our language, they should be best ignored by human beings. Who are these trees? What they do , if they do at all anything in their day to day life in their life span? Don’t they take birth, grow up, age, suffer and die one day like we, the human beings?

Isn’t it our limitation that we haven’t given a thought to understand them at all? Beyond coming close to them occasionally, mostly for a shelter, shouldn’t we reach out to them and have a feel like going to be with some affectionate human being. After all they are also living beings and have their life like we have in our world of human beings.

Only because they cannot interact or be heard by us in our known languages, we should believe they are nobody or non-existing things?

Trees do speak. They live a life, celebrate it and die one day while giving their little ones space and a chance to grow and carry on their families in different shapes and sizes. They also communicate with each other. They have moods and they express them too. A language need to be accepted as a language only after it is spoken or fully understood by a particularly species like we, the human beings.

Look at the branches of any tree. They speak in shapes. They convey messages. They influence. They dance. They inspire even after they are dead. But…..it is only understood when we have a sincere and deep curiosity to empathise all these unexplored, ununderstood and even unappreciated aspects of their lives.

Trees communicate through the shapes of their branches. All we need to visualize that classical danseuse on a stage who doesn’t use words but uses gestures to convey emotions of any legend or folklore. The dancer says much more than we understand. But whatever we understand is because we try to find out the meaning of the classical dancer’s steps, initially, as per our personal interpretations and later on with a firm understanding.

The same way, we will understand the language of trees. Perhaps, completely or more firmly once we have made a beginning to take an involved look at the tree beyond its temporary greenery. We would learn more if showed involvement with nature no matter whether it expose its beauty in the shape of rivers, landscapes, mountains or the trees. Just do it!

In Introspective mood.....





Who am I? Am I what I sound to others or the way I lead my everyday life? Do I really speak what I wish to convey or just what I want others to react to and reveal themselves before a storywriter’s observing mind.

I must Remember….. The Power of our body lies in the Power of MIND.

We become what we habitually thinketh…..

I have always believed in the value of realising the worth of consistently thinking good or positive in life. If I feel strong and capable of doing anything, I develop the guts to do it splendidly. And, I lose whenever and whatever I fear may take place. Hence, I have always trusted my intuition.

I have always excelled in those things that required consistent practice or hard work carried on for a long time. Taking journalism as a career was perhaps result of this belief. I want to stay ahead of almost every rival in terms of skills or knowledge.

I am passionate about improving myself in whatever task I get. I drive inspiration from the fact that each one of us is consistently improving in one way or the other and accomplishing some degree of success, no matter if take note of it or not.

I have observed that I require to believe in step-by-step approach in life for efficient use of my inner strength. I prove most unproductive or non-improving whenever I forget that I have not born to die an ordinary man’s death. I have to develop genuine reasons to claim high pedestal in life.

May be taking up so many things or people in a relatively less organised and over focussed way, takes away much of my hard-stored energy out of me. I need to focus on useful things and people to lead a purposeful life.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become,” said Buddha.

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music,” said Albert Einstein.

Original self: Being a person with killng instinct and having adorned roles of a top class champion of so many sports, businessman, designer, painter, salesexecutive, communicator, short story writer, journalist, and above all a people's man should always remind me in seclusion that I can be anyone but a person with ordinary Potential at any given stage.

My strengths have been my strategic mind, self motivated (self energized) personality, improving on the nuances, a committed mind-set, strikingly correct action plans, working for the edge in spare moments, channelising my mindset for bigger, better and tough challenges/competitions/rivals, intelligence to observe, motivate and channelise hard nuts to high-headed maniacs, and enjoying difficult situations carrying a sportsperson’s smile on my face and being mentally prepared for the ultimate.

I value everyone as long as he or she does not confront my beliefs. If needed, I can compromise anyone's association and anything for my Principles. I don't care if someone leaves me. He, the almighty, has blessed me the qualities to develop relations anytime, anywhere in abundance. I believe the individuals who who have been with me for some time and understand me actually they know that at heart how much I care and feel affectionate for them at ANY COST. My 2008 resolution was : Not to take anyone' even a slightest offending remark and return it forcefully with the same fervour. But at the same time ensure that not a single person is waisted even for anything/anybody I love.

I have always prepared myself to take out best of myself while spreading hope for the dejected individuals.

I cannot forget: I have suffered a lot of humiliation in childhood being the smallest, frail, and hopeless child. I cannot forget when I was branded "incapable to write even a two paragrah letter" and "black spot on family's reputation due to my failure in twelfth standard". I cannot forget the betrayal by my elder brother and ouster from our multi-crore textile business after four years of my young life. I cannot forget that I was not allowed to study and how tough it was to educate myself with borrowings from friends.

I owe my everthing to my friends' support and mother's belief in me.To me, loyalty to nation and care for humanity are more important than anything till date. For me, friends hold more importance than the people I love. For friends' association shaped my personality, the people I love found it in me readymade. I believe in valuing old relation more than the new.

For making what I am today despite everthing, I deserve to take pride in what I am today. I must enjoy every moment that I put in as harsh/brutal attempt to achieve my big goal.

My intution suggests me my life is for a bigger cause. I have been gifted a talent to connect and convey things is the quality I need to sharpen everyday and every time. Be it any situation the self-belief to perform to my best of overall abilities and take on anything/anybody with a sporting smile should instill confidence in me.

Sex weakens us in daily life but helps to reduce stress. It could be a weakness, if not controlled. It could be a great strength when used with hard restrain or self-control. I refuse to bow to amorous desires of the body. For, I am born not to lead a life like any ordinary man arrived on earth. I am resolute to make a distinguish man of myself with my work and intelligence following my mind and intuition (read soul).


Girls are nice companions and have enabled me to take a pause and celebrate the moments I missed to celebrate during hard time to their fullest joy. Their company has surprised me to believe that they are much deeper and meaningful than usually understood or described in the patriachal world.

Though it sounds so stupid of those who think I NEED them, especially the selfish ones who try be oversmart with me. But I never thought I could be so lucky to have some of the finest females, irrespective of age or profession, surprising with their supportive and delightful associations. Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala gave me the most trustworth and finest friends whom I value more than myself.


Roopa Srinivasan, my teacher for spoken English and an expert on personality development in Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, is one of the biggest delights of my life till date. She held me by finger and enabled me to enter media world. And, Dale Carnegie was the writer who enabled me to deal with people and provoke them to come up with their best.


The Ishq film dialogue “Bus, Train aur Larki….ek choro dus aur aati hain” helped me a lot, in a way, after my college days to not run after any girl in young life and come out of an immature longing for someone . But my personal experience with the passage of time taught me that I must take all pains to save even one good soul parting away from me regarless of gender.

It is interesting to find the males who looked so sincere before becoming professionals as my friends, a majority of them are proving a major disappointment. Though girls, whom I always looked upon as someone from an alien world, are proving ulitmate trustworthy and selfless companions despite their personal commitments to their hubbies.

But I still maintain that most of the women's words/complaints/suggestions/ descriptions of truth should never be taken on its face value. Most of the time they involve personal feelings or fabrications or addition to the core news. Their version of truth, particularly during quarrels or problem, should be weighed thoughtfully.

Evaluating people : I believe my originality shows in my conduct with others and not what I write. People are free to form opinions. I retaliate to others' conduct several times in propotion with me whether it is in postive or negative terms . And, The one threatening to leave, my first reaction is 'least bothered'. But the one I value the most are the ones standing by me in tough times despite everthing. Fortunately, just four individuals behaved like that since childhood out of about 450 friends till date.

To me, my harsh principles, especially regarding abstinence, are for just to live a controlled and focused life. It should not be imposed on others. Everyone has just one life, if they are with us I must watch how they celebrate it.

I will prefer a death for a cause or courtesy.

Is Indian media promoting violence against women through news?

By Sandeep Datta

It seems as if the market (read TRP) demand is compelling media organizations too much to show everything titillating (read exclusive) with no holds bar. But not many have realized that the news involving violence against women, in particular, is indirectly popularizing it.

Many media organization are today showing everything what should have ethically been censored at least for LIVE content.

Showing news of women being stripped or beaten reflects the latest an relatively latest charm. And, despite being 'blurred' after being shown for dozens of time on TV, it just looks like covering someone's naked body with a transparent sheet.

Be it the public humiliation of any woman by a mad mob in any village or a group of miscreants taking off someone's clothes, it appears to have become a craze for many media organisaitons.

Instead of showing a tragic incident, the news reports look like serving material for voyerists.The reports like compassion and instead are found highlighting how the victim struggled and was worth a 'public entertainment' for all onlookers.

It is a common knowledge that whenever any news involves a female's modesty going haywire, it attracts curiosity of even the most disinterested folks. But they way it is presented most often, if not every time, it looks the media providing what anyone missed!

Certainly, media's objective should never sound like so by any possible means and there are more than enough highly cautious journalists who can curb it within no time.

It is not that such incidents should not be covered, the presentation on national television needs a rethink.

The way it is today presented looks anything, but NEWS. It looks like as if media organizations are popularizing: "How to insult the weaker sex". The news that ought to have triggered outrage and sympathy in victims' favour ultimately turns into a free of cost public entertainment.

It is true needs self-regulation while covering various sensitive issues, involving wome and violence. It is required by all moral and logical sense.

Otherwise, this could only discourage every victim from raising her voice and just meekly give in fearing public ignominy after MEDIA coverage.

It would be surprising if a media head shows 'helplessness' sighting 'emerging news trends' or 'compulsions' of cut throat competitions. Everyone knows, things can always be presented in different manner, provided, what way we actually wish to.

There can be so many ways to inform public about any incident. Be it animated version or to the point reportage without repetitions for hours or showing less of the visual revealing shots about a victim facing an embarrassing condition, media organisations can deal with such news a lot more sensitively than they do most of the times.

Avoiding such a self-regulation can only familiarise wrongdoers with ways to humiliate women and prove a nightmare for even any women reporter or anyone of our families.

Let's not show a woman/girl's face on screen just because she is too poor to protest why her identity was revealed in a difficult condition. And, let's not hide a woman/girl's face just because she is educated or rich enough to take a company or journo by task for revealing her identity at a time when she was frantically seeking help.

Otherwise, who will be responsible if tomorrow it started taking place every now and then? Like the mob-killings already have. Will we be able to control it by any means? Then why are we advertising the methods directly or indirectly?

Is there not any other way to report a rape or such an incident? Or, we wish to serve it before everyone including the children sitting in drawing rooms?

Can we imagine the plight of any of the woman meeting the same fate in a street fight or anyone at public place like a market or even parking place?

It looks most of the media heads are ignoring such coverage’s repercussions for any common man on the street? Who will protect his daughter or wife? Do we really think Police could be of any help?

The serious concern seeks the top notch journalists' attention with humble request and by all logic to please refrain from promoting such reports.

Let's not indirectly teach the hoodlums how to blacken or beat someone mercilessly in public even if it's a girl.

Our Indian media can do great social service if it abstains itself from clinging to tabloid culture. It will earn itself respect in public by informing and not entertaining while reporting a serious issue like women stripping or facing violence.

Let's not offer voyeuristic pleasure to the news-seeking people in drawing rooms. Let's not be a party in offering sadistic pleasure through somebody's frantic condition