Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Sabarimala Issue- My view.

Sabarimala Issue- My view.


 
I don't understand what all this fuss over the sacred Sabarimala is about. Why do we give so much importance to a few so called liberal feminists whose only intention is to create news? Intentions remain the same for those who are behind the ''Ready to Wait'' campaign. If you don't want to go, it's okay..! If you are ready to wait, then wait....! Why such hula-bulah about nothing...? If not for propaganda and for the sake of looking for personal fame and cheap popularity in social media, what the fuss is all about then..? The ban was enforced under rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu places of worship (Authorisation of entry) rules 1965. After all the deliberations, the High Court of Kerala, in consultation with different stake holders had upheld the ban in 1991 and directed the Devaswam Board to fix the age for women to go to Sabarimala as below 10 and above 50. Though, courts have generally upholds equality whenever discrimination is reported on the basis of sex, the Supreme Court of India till now has not issued any definitive ruling on Sabarimala matter and hence the decision of the Kerala High Court on this issue still stands. Therefore, the law enforcement agencies in Kerala should have no problem preventing any attempt to physically enter or break into the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala by whatever Desais or Gosais more easily and efficiently than I'am here typing on these tiny, frustrating buttons on my smartphone keyboard, that too while sitting in this moving TNSTC bus from Palani.....:-)
Relax guys and gals...and stop making stupid people famous.

According to Hindu customs, we do not take a child, boy or girl, inside any temple before “choroonu” a ceremony we follow since time immemorial. It is something that we observe voluntarily as there is no mechanism available in any temple to meticulously verify whether the devotees observe this custom or not. Many of us, particularly the new generation, are probably less aware of such a custom but we still follow such practices prescribed by our ancestors in all their wisdom with a sense of reverence and fear of divine retribution. Similarly, our ancestors provided us with several such traditions and customs beneficial in many ways to our healthy upbringing and maintenance by incorporating a whole lot of simple health routines by making them part of our religious rituals. But in this digital word, we are in a hurry to thrust aside anything traditional as being labeled as superstition and blind faith without ever giving the matter much thought as to why our ancestors had instituted them in the first place.
Let’s not get hysterical about the present Sabarimala issue, treating it as a matter of gender justice and equality. In both Latin and Orthodox Christianity and also in Zoroastrianism, the priesthood is reserved for only men folk considering this belief in the uncleanness of women. In Muslim community the woman folk are not allowed entry in mosque. Here we have to use wisdom and understand that, all these restrictions are deep rooted in our religious and cultural beliefs that are in a way enforced by the religious institutions and patriarchal society in general. The fair and objective attitude to approach this sensitive topic is to observe enhanced tolerance and wait for an appropriate solution. We all agree that most such customs are not practicable and constitutionally justifiable in today’s world. Let’s be more practical rather than allow our mind be filled with negative thoughts and emotions when it comes to dictate our relationship with God. Let’s focus more on our present day life and travel our own distance towards prosperity. Don’t allow an event or person to control your emotions as they have a hidden agenda behind the curtain. The matter is now with the Supreme Court of India and they will soon be hearing the final arguments on the question of the restriction imposed on menstrual women. There should be no argument in regard to fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens of India irrespective of caste, creed and gender. And we all know, in this modern world, it’s absurd to debate on the notion of menstruating women being impure and if allowed inside the temple they may defile the temple by their presence. These are all man-made and with no current scientific evidence that suggests otherwise, the words of Dr. Ambedkar explain the role of constitution in providing social justice. He had remarked, “The religious conceptions in this country are so vast that they cover every aspect of life, from birth to death. There is nothing which is not religion and if personal law is to be saved, I’am sure about it that in social matters we will come to a standstill”. Here it’s all about collective or common conscience which holds the society together. I agree, as we progress we become more aware of our rights and hence the society as a whole becomes more mature, distinct and developed which demands changes to some age old traditions. Our courts in India have rightly addressed social reform agendas using proper procedure at appropriate times. The laws of the land are set up so that we will have orderly and peaceful societies to make us a better nation of people. We are not supposed to insist that all our religious values be the law of the land. Let’s have faith in our judiciary and since the Supreme Court will soon be hearing the final arguments on this issue, we as a progressive society shall wait and see what the highest court of India comes up with and wait until the Supreme Court gives a final judgment.
Till then relax and go to your classes…….

Friday, August 26, 2016

Leh Ladakh- A Short Flight Offload Travelogue written in "SANCHARI" group.

Leh Ladakh- A Short Flight Offload Travelogue written in "SANCHARI" group.

 
A Short Travelogue....
Sometimes you have to cancel your most sought after excursion, due to some unusual, unexpected, or unavoidable circumstances that are beyond your control. It’s quite normal to happen that way. But, can you just imagine a situation where you have to postpone or cancel your trip for a reason that has nothing to do with you? One such example is when you are offloaded from a flight after a beautiful stewardess gently approaches you and, to your dismay, apologises and says that you can’t board the plane since the flight has been overbooked. And that’s when you realise you have just been bumped off with a confirmed ticket very much available with you. Don’t worry guys, you should feel proud to be among those very few passengers in aviation history who can write a travelogue in the shortest amount of time.
This has happened to me a few years ago.
I arrived at least two hours early at the airport and stood in the security queue. I was relaxed. Once through the security checks and the boarding pass were handed over to me by the police officer, I looked at it over and over again. Aaahh....! Yes, finally I’am going to a place where my mind was longing to go ever since I’ve heard about this place. A place I do repeatedly see in my dreams. A place untouched by the hustle and bustle of torrid city life. An unimaginable terrain with spectacular lakes and magnificent patches of green land.
Nestled in between Himalayas and Karakoram mountain ranges, the Leh-Ladakh and its snow capped mountains have always allured me. I felt that lurching sensation in my heart just by thinking about those pictures of Leh Ladakh that I have had seen in some magazine. The aircraft awaited us on the tarmac. As the shuttle bus took me to the aircraft, I looked back at the terminal building of the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to appreciate the enormity of that huge structure. In a few minutes, the bus stopped next to a magnificent aircraft with “Air India” proudly displayed along the side. Near the aircraft door stood a beautiful young flight stewardess who greeted me aboard with her folded hands and sparkling eyes. I smiled back and trudged toward the aisle. I was the last person to board the flight. Once inside the flight, I found there was total cacophony. Many people were standing in the aisle, blocking the others trying to occupy their seats. I was in the queue for almost ten minutes with no one behind me. The whole scenario sounded a bit frenzied and I guessed there was some problem with the seat assignments due to the plane already being full of passengers. I saw the flight attendants were apparently having a hard time dealing with the passengers. Time crawls by. I took a deep breath to compose myself.
“Excuse me sir”, I found a tense flight attended standing in front of me. He said, “You are not flying on this flight sir, we apologise for the serious inconvenience caused to you” and he saw me to the door.
Yes, they bumped me off the flight because the flight was overbooked by one seat and I happened to be the last one to board the flight. One car was waiting down the aircraft ladder to take me back to the terminal building.
Though they have arranged an upgraded seat for me on their next available flight, that thrusting, momentous feeling of happiness that had been elegantly whirling in my mind for past several days was obliterated in the blink of an eye.
If the first thrill and excitement of a journey is broken, then I think, the intensity of pleasure associated with that journey will eventually fades to a large extend.
Now, let me share with you just a few tips you need to know if you get involuntarily bumped from a flight which is quite possible though very rare.
Many airlines acknowledge that they sometimes overbook the flight, which is perfectly legal, to ensure seat optimisation, anticipating last minute cancellations by confirmed passengers particularly during peak seasons. It is normally done to ensure that they don’t lose revenue for “no show” of passengers as nowadays the customers have the choice of cancel or re-book their travel until a couple of hours before the departure. Here, even though you cannot drag the airlines to court but you are absolutely entitled for compensation. In cases of denied boarding, airlines are bounded by DGCA regulations to provide compensation ranges from refund of the air ticket cost or an alternative, comparable transportation arrangement. They also offer monetary compensation for the inconvenience caused. The passenger gets Rs.2000/- for flights with block time of up to one hour, Rs 3000/- for flights with block time exceeding one hour and up to two hours, and Rs. 4000/- for those more than two hours. Block time is the total time from when an aircraft moves for taking off until it comes to rest at the destination point. Some airlines even offer up gradation of seat in their next available flight on the same day or the next by providing accommodation in a very good hotel as the case may be. All this are applicable to passengers denied boarding on flights of foreign airlines flying to or from India with a much higher amount as per the DGCA rules. Readers are requested to get the updated version of these rules from the airline’s website for more information.
Just thought of sharing an experience in my favorite “Sanchari” group for the benefit of my beloved friends here.........Thank you for your patience.
Wish you all a pleasant and relaxing weekend.
Pic Courtesy - Google.

Man carrying dead wife's body in Odisha - Cartoon

Man carrying dead wife's body in Odisha - Cartoon

Man carrying dead wife's body in Odisha - Cartoon
 

Thursday, August 25, 2016

The shortest happy ending story

The shortest happy ending story

The shortest happy ending story- Friday evening. The office clock ticked 6 pm.








Friday evening. 
The office clock ticked 6 pm.

The End.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Rio Olympics- Women power India, Cartoon

Rio Olympics- Women power India, Cartoon

India in Olympics - Cartoon


Good Bye Rio.....Thank You Gals..........
Good Bye Rio.....Thank you Gals.....

Monday, August 15, 2016

70th INDEPENDENCE DAY - IOB REGIONAL OFFICE MADURAI- 15th August 2016


 70th INDEPENDENCE DAY - IOB REGIONAL OFFICE MADURAI- 15th August 2016

Just back from the flag hoisting ceremony conducted at the IOB Regional Office, Madurai.


Ha....! My Flag....My Anthem...My Country......!


That feeling of patriotism, love and devotion to my country that evokes from the inner of my heart manifolds whenever I stand in attention and sing my national anthem while the tri-colour flutters high above the sky......!


Reproduced below is a Hindi Poem, published in the I.O.B magazine "Madurai Vani" a few days back.


it's about our flag, our tri-colour, our pride......................!


लाल नहीँ, पीला नहीं हरा नहीं न काला
रंग तिरंगा है हमारा, हम उसके रखवाला
जिए तो उसको सदा स्मरण कर
मर जाये तो उसे नमन कर
जब होंगे कुर्बान यहाँ पर
निकलेंगे शान से उसे पहनकर
लेकिन उड़ेगा हज़ार सिपाही
एक दिल होकर कदम मिलाकर
बढेगा आगे लहर बनाकर
'भारत माता की जय' पुकारकर....!




A very happy "INDEPENDENCE DAY" to one and all......

Sunday, August 14, 2016