The Tree with Yellow Flowers

I saw it in the midst of green trees
The tree with yellow flowers
Emanating joy, conveying their love
For one and all

The morning came to Smidgen their sweet dew on the awaiting earth
The vibrant Sun ascended spreading its golden wings
The tree offered its flower to the rising sun

The sun smiled to see the yellow flowers
And flowers danced with joy to see the sun
They greeted each other
Each recognized the other
They are twins
Shared the same womb
Children of one mother

I stood in silence
Watched the great union of heaven and Earth
And I was not alone
The trees, birds all watched in awe
The wind danced in ecstasy and grass moved in bliss
The birds sang in rapture
The trees jazzed with joy

The whole cosmos danced and sang with delight;
This was heaven on earth.

Mortified Existence

Rita, a 32 year old, recently widowed, has to relocate to her father’s house. She doesn’t know what to say to her daughter, who misses her friends. They have no visitors nor are they invited in any function or gathering. When, she went to collect her late husband office, no one would even look at her. There are thousands like Veenu, who are reprimanded every day because they are HIV+/AIDS. Rita and her daughter have both tested positive for Human Immuno- deficiency Virus (HIV). Her husband died of full blown AIDS few months ago. The social rejection and bigotry coerced on people living with HIV/AIDS only add to their miseries, which are struggling to come in terms with this life threatening disease.


Social debasement of HIV/AIDS is due to many reasons. Since infection is also sexually transmitted and research have confirmed that unsafe sex is the foremost reason for the spread of infection. Therefore, HIV/AIDS is considered a moral fault and deserve to be punished. It is considered as irresponsible and promiscuous behavior. Also, virus is associated with homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution these are already mortified by the society. Whoever said; “ignorance is bliss” must have meant for some other world. In our world, ignorance is a curse. Our lack of awareness and inaccurate information about how the virus is transmitted (myths like: it can be transmitted by touching), has exaggerated the fear for the virus and the infected person.

Condition of HIV/AIDS infected women is dismal. Women are blamed for carrying the infection, even though they may have got the virus from her husband. Instances have been reported, where husbands abandon their ailing wives and children to find another wife. Due to the fear of social and family desertion, women are hesitant to disclose their HIV status. Also, disclosure may lead to loss of job and reputations. This fear and dithering will make women an easy target of violence and abuse. Ban Ki Moon says: "Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world”.


The question is: how can we trounce this stigma and discrimination?
We need effective policies and laws, which enables the H IV+ to live and enjoy the rights as any other citizen of India. Safeguard from and prevent social ostracism and discrimination. We need cooperation and action from all the section of society. Participation from media, educational and religious organization will help to increase awareness and acceptability. Last but not the least; we can make a difference, with openness and positive attitude. As mother Teresa said; “if you judge people, you have no time to love them”.

The Other

I know so much has been said and written but to my amazement all this hullabaloo didn’t even manage to raise an eyebrow. The dismal national female over male ratio of 933:1000 insinuates us to take action, raise our voices, create awareness, discuss.

For starters; let me serve you some bare facts –

• 1 out of every 6 girls does not live to see her 15th birthday.
• Every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination.
• Condition of majority of those who survive is no good, as 22 million girls below the age of 18 years are forced into marriage against their wishes many a times to males twice their age.
• Female mortality exceeds male mortality in 224 out of 402 districts in India.

Unfortunately a girl is considered expendable by our society. It is we (the society) who are unfortunate not the girl. Cases of female feoticide are swelling at a fast pace. In this mad spree of slaughter, the main culprit is urban India. Our millennium cities and metros: the torch bearers of “shining India”. Haryana one of the rich and prosper state of India occupies the top slot. If by luck or chance they survive the feoticide, they are abandoned or chucked in a dustbin or sewer.

The castigation that starts in the womb doesn’t stop after the birth. We think that child marriage and sati are old, rusted and retired. Unfortunately, they are accepted and practiced. In Rajasthan, sati is worshipped and encouraged. In child marriage, though the boy continues his education but the girl is deprived of her right to education. She is supposed to learn housework, also look after her younger siblings.

Nature requires balance for smooth functioning. Male and female both are necessary for the sustenance of human species. Tampering with natural biological order we will only harm ourselves. Imagine advising your son eligible for marriage not to get married as there are not enough girls available to find a match for him. A girl is also a citizen of this country. She enjoys the same rights as boy.

Just a reminder!

There are only empty roads and empty places crowded with empty people. I missed my train………….. I’m standing on an empty platform. This hollow tunnel waiting to engulf me into oblivion. This blankness as if my lungs have no breath only vaccum. This staleness in the air , a fermented life , waiting to die passing every minute which need a recharge…….. a long overdue……………….. We are indebted to life to live it. It seems we have failed…. miserably!

We have always ignored its little hints……. Those weird feelings for things more important. We are too romantic! One can’t make both ends meet with fancies; our reproachful explanations. We have stopped; living and start dying……. Didn’t realise when all this started? Love your life! Oh! A good USP for sale . We need real stuff! War, politics, stocks, Who wants love?

What is life?............ Good Question.

Prostitution: a virtual reality

Imagine: the company you are working with, do not give you any medical allowance and PF. You are not entitled to any compensation in case of injury or termination. Also, incase of misbehavior or harassment, you can’t file police complain. How would you feel? Angry or may be frustrated. Did you know millions of sex workers in India are living and working in condition much worse than mentioned above? Our ignorance is due to our unwillingness to know and face the fact. Prostitution is a fact; its existence is a reality. But, we don’t want to see it, for us it is as real as the roundness of earth. Although, we know earth is round but we can see only flat surface.

In India, approximately 2 million female sex workers are operating (this number does not include male sex workers. The Immoral Traffic Persons (Prevention) Act or PITA was passed in 1956 to fringe prostitution and gradually abolish it by criminalizing its various facets. The ambiguity in the law is visible, since it does not make prostitution a crime, but forbids sex workers from publicly pursuing customers. They can’t practice their trade within 200 yards of a public place.

Due to the muddled nature of law; prostitution in India is neither legal nor illegal. Though, prostitutes are sex workers, but unlike other workers they are not protected under labor laws. They are not entitled to minimum wage benefits, compensation for injury or other benefits like; medical, Provident Fund. However, they have right to rescue and rehabilitate (if they desire) and enjoy all the rights that other citizen of India have (only in theory, in practice things are different). Sex workers are often charged with crimes of imprecise names such as; “public indecency or nuisance”.

Recently, there has been demand for legalizing prostitution. According to the advocates of legalization; Legalizing prostitution will help minimize the negative impact of such an activity on society and the vulnerable members in the community. Legalizing will bring in government regulation; this will create a secure environment, for both sex workers and consumers. In a regulated environment, issues like health and hygiene, compensation will
be dealt appropriately. Also, regulation and control will help eradicate child prostitution.


It is doubtful, whether India will become a superpower in 2050. But, if present scenario persists, India will undoubtedly become super house of sexually transmitted diseases – it will be much before 2050. This can be prevented only by monitoring and regulating hazardous consequences of high risk sexual activity. Consistently high HIV infection rates among sex workers, coupled with lack of information, failure to use protection, may contribute to the spread of AIDS in the region and the country.

Prostitution: a word, prohibited to speak in our drawing rooms .Banned in election campaigns. A word: appropriate for talk shows and social workers. A word: which people like us can only speak as an abuse. The question we should ask ourselves- how long prostitution will be an unreal reality for us?

An eternal fallacy

It is deep and dense.
A form less energy.
Oh matter! Oh mind!
It is limited.
A limited means to realize the limitless end.
An eternal fallacy!


P.S. The formless energy is God, creator whatever name one wants give; limited means is our mind, logic; and eternal fallacy is when we try to understand this creation thru logic.

LOVE

She closed her eyes.
The unrelenting waves crashed into the untouched rock.
The ocean was calm on the surface.
But she knew its uproar.
It was there, in front of her an undivided, undamaged whole. Complete as the universe itself.

She could feel a stir within, something unknown,
equivocal like the smile of a sleeping child.
And the time stopped, universe paused.
She could see herself evolving towards the divine.
Like a mystic, enthralled by its immaculate presence.

She was apprehensive. But can she stop?
In split second she was soaring towards the unfathomable.
The rumpus waves hurtle and rupture with an ecstatic cackle into tiny shiny specks.

She could hear the storm.

Martyr

Dr. Binayak Sen, an MD in pediatrics and and a gold medalist from prestigious Christian Medical School, Vellore.He dedicated his life to the betterment and upliftment of rural and tribals of MP and Chattisgarh. He left his academic career to work in a community based rural health centre in MP.

Dr Sen initiated Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha's Shaheed Hospital. An inimitable venture; owned and manged by worker’s organization. Dr Sen and his wife Dr Ilina Sen, founded a community based NGO: Rupantar. It trained health workers and deploys them in across 20 villages. Besides, training and deployment, it also monitors the work of community health workers. Dr. Sen is also a consultant to Jan Swasthya Sahyog, a health care organization provides health care propram in tribal areas of Chattisgarh.

Dr Sen is also National Vice-President of PUCL (People's Union for Civil Liberties).
He initiated many investigations into human rights violations by Salwa Judum. Salwa judum is a state sponsored group; consist of adivasis, who claim to fight against maoist naxals. But reality is quite different. According to Administrative Reform Committee report; millions of adivasis have been forcibly removed from their homes and some 40,000 live in terrible condition in salwa judum camps organized by government. Salwa Judum coerces people to join them or destroy their houses and family. Dr Sen disapproved of measures used by salwa judum and actively protested against it. This created a rift between him and state.

On 14 May 2007, Dr. Sen was arrested under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He was charge of passing letters from an ailing naxal leader to another detained naxal member. He was asked by the state to treat the naxal leader and traetment was done in the presence of jail authorities. Dr Sen’s house was searched and his computer was seized by state. But no evidence was proved that could link Dr Sen with naxals. His bail petition was rejected by supreme court.

In April 2008, the Global Health Council announced that Dr. Binayak Sen was selected for the highest international honour in Global Health and Human Rights, “the Jonathan Mann Award 2008”. The Mann Award is presented to "a practitioner who makes significant contributions toward practical work in the field and in difficult circumstances; highlights the linkage of health with human rights; works predominantly in developing countries and with marginalized people; and demonstrates serious and long-term commitment."

Global health council and twenty-two Nobel laureates from around the world wrote to India's President and Prime Minister and Chhattisgarh state authorities. They said Dr Sen should be allowed to travel to the US to receive the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights.

Dr. Sen remains incarcerated

Pranoid Self

After one year, I went to watch a movie in theatre. To my surprise, I was a little apprehensive. The first thought that came to my mind was of bomb. Second was; am I a paranoid? To my surprise (and relief), I’m not the only one struck by paranoia- we all are. A sense of insecurity has percolated in our psyche and gradually sheathing our life.

The string of bomb blasts that started from Jaipur to Assam has not only shattered people’s peace of mind, but also Indian citizen’s faith in its political system. The dawdling investigation instantly spews out after blasts in New Delhi. The result was Batla Encounter. Shooting at batla took us by surprise and raised doubt in the nature of encounter. Instead of clarifying, police further added to our confusion by announcing a handful of names as masterminds of the blasts.

While we were busy clarifying our doubts, the Christians of Orissa and Kartnataka were crying for their lives. The workers of VHP and Bajrang Dal were committing atrocities on Christians in both the states. They burnt churches, killed and raped. Both these states have governments with a functioning head and state police. But, unlike blast, no names were divulged. No legal action has been taken against VHP and Bajrang Dal. Ironically, in both the states BJP is the ruling party.

The dust of communal violence was puffed up after attack on north Indians by MNS worker. One youth lost his life and many were injured. The arrest of Raj Thackeray was turned into a grandiose saga by media. Bihar reply was ‘eye for an eye’. Agitation in Bihar added fuel to fire. From Nitish Kumar to Lalu Yadav, everyone plunged in to save north Indians. North Indians were attacked before but then elections were not announced.

Icing on the cake was Malegaon attack. Till malegaon attack, terrorism, bomb blast means Pakistan, ISI, muslim fundamentalist. But with malegoan, hindu fundamentalism has been unmasked. When Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia demanded proof and third party investigation into batla encounter, he was reprimanded and a full page article was written against him. But when BJP offered ticket to one of the accused in malegaon blast, no one seem to be bothered.

Last but not the least is Goa rape case. A minor of german nationality was raped and the main accuse is the son of Goa edu minister. The mother of the victim decides to withdraw the FIR due to harassment by police. Her lawyer was attacked and she is scared for her daughter.

The discrimination and division on the basis of caste, race and region are just strategies of politicians to increase their vote banks. Divide and rule is an old but an effective approach. But its effects are deep and irreversible. Our enemy is not an external agency but our internal political system.

The Trap

I live in a brown house
It has five close windows
my house is peaceful and secure
my guards are good
do you want to know there names?
They are perception and ego

They protect me night and day
From wind and storm
From friend and foes
They are the wheels of my black chariot

Ah! What a nightmare, I exclaimed
The realization dawned
I am not the owner of this house
Two guards are not my slave

I am a prisoner in this house
A slave of this matter
Chained by the desires
Tortured by anger

I am trapped in my body!

Your Messenger

You’re Messenger!

It stopped raining and I saw him
Your messenger!

Ah! This distance!
You are so far yet near
I can feel you but cannot touch you
I can perceive you but cannot sense you

I saw your messenger smiling as always
I see you in him
I see your oceanic eyes
Your immaculate smile
Your round earthy face

I can see you in the moon
Your messenger!

The Ferryman

The Ferryman

He works day and night
He moves on the water and lives on the shore
He is the ferryman

He has serviced many passengers
The positives, the negatives
Fair and dark
Cold and warm
Logic and feeling
Clear and confused

His life moves from one shore to another
Like needles in the clock
Nothing more! Nothing less!

Though he knew and befriended many of his customers
But he knew it will not last
A ferryman’s only friend is the river
Therefore he cannot stop
Whether its death or birth
Happiness or sorrow
He needs to move on and flow
With his friend and master
The river!
Which tells him great stories?
Teaches him deep lessons

So keep moving
Keep rowing
People come and go
But a ferryman cannot stop!