Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Domestic violence has been a silent relationship killer since time immemorial. and the recent court ruling in the UAE

legalising 'wife beating,' has only rekindled old wounds.

A French proverb translates to ‘He who loves well, punishes well.’ ViolenceIn the light of the recent ruling by the Federal Supreme Court of UAE, that deemed it a man’s “right to discipline his wife and children provided he does not leave physical marks”, one is bound to ponder if love has probably crossed the line. The court’s judgment came in a case which might sound paradoxical – a man who’d beaten his wife was held to have breached the law, but not because of the act per se, rather the severity of it. The court invoked the Quran talking about the man having the right to ‘discipline’ his wife. The larger question this raises is, why despite wide condemnation of domestic violence in the mainstream, it seems more prevalent than ever?

Aggressive religious practices like the Hindu caste system, Sati and the right to discipline one’s wife in Islam have stirred the masses many a time, but despite claiming to have expanded our horizons of thought and achieved exponential growth in almost all aspects of life, we fail to let go of certain practices.

“There is religious orthodoxy in Islam and religious superstitions in Hinduism both of which are detrimental for the country. Although Islam talks about equality for men and women, one might find a slight contradiction in the statement which talks about “mild beating”, even though it has been used very cautiously,” says Dr Miratun Nahar, who has addressed issues related to society, state, women and education on various television programmes.

Whatever the rule of law is held to be, it is certain that Prophet Muhammad did not want to see the wives beaten without cause and he wanted successful marriages. It is unfortunate that his message got distorted like in the game of Chinese whispers, where some uninitiated practitioners hardly understood the depths of the message and twisted it to their convenience. “In my opinion a husband has no right to punish his wife. A husband can only suggest his wife about right and wrong. Practically, he has no right to punish her. According to the Quran, a husband cannot punish his wife; he can refer the case to the court only,” says Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Islamic Scholar and President of CPS International. He adds, “A husband can show his resentment to his wife but he has no right to give her any kind of physical punishment. Presently, Muslims have adopted a wrong stand that an individual or group can punish on his own but it is wrong. This is against the spirit of Islam. You can not single out any crime. All crimes without any exception will be referred to the court.” This verdict by the UAE apex court shows the strong influence of Islamic law in the Emirates, which in fact is less conservative than Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, where women are forbidden from driving and travelling without male company. For overall development and growth of a society, it is necessary that human community and religion should adapt and evolve to make human life more meaningful and dignified.

Pseudo purists with pseudo values exaggerate and go overboard with their demarcation of right and wrong. On one hand, women are not allowed to interact with other men or show their faces, and on the other, there are highlighted facts like right to polygamy, the growing rate of promiscuous men and their keen interest in the oldest profession on the face of earth: prostitution. “It is a patriarchal society that we live in. And some men think they have the right to dominate women. Cases of domestic violence are aplenty in the rural as well as urban areas. The main reasons for such behaviour are frustration, extramarital affair and alcoholism. And the reasons why women don’t raise a voice are because they are financially dependent on their husbands and secondly, the societal pressures deter them. In very rare cases in the urban areas, where men and women both are independent, some women raise a voice against such brutality only because they are self reliant. Most cases are referred for counselling and there is an effort to save the marriage. But in absolutely severe cases where injury is serious, cases are referred to the police,” says Nupur Sanyal, Hon. General Secretary, Institute of Social Work.

Ironically some women are too timid to exercise theirWife Beating rights and the others suffer from clouded decision making. “A slap or two in a span of three to four years is normal. It is obvious that sometimes people are overworked and they need to vent out. But what would one do if someone gets abusive with your family or is just not ready to listen to what you have to say?” asks Divya (name changed), who gave herself the same reasoning and made the mistake of marrying a divorcee who turned out to be an abusive husband. Luckily, realisation struck soon, and she’s now safely out of reach of the wife-beater. Only in severe cases girls resort to drastic measures such as divorce or legal separation. “There was a case of a love marriage in which the husband threw his wife down from the third floor. And she has been bed ridden ever since. It was hard to believe that someone you love resorts to physically abusing you. In my own case, my husband hit my head against a wall several times and I had a wound which required seven stitches. Being a relationship expert, we have had cases of domestic violence from couples who have been in live-in relationships to those who have been married for the past 30 years or more.

Domestic violence exists in all societies irrespective of religion,” says Nisha Khanna, Relationship Expert at UTV Bindass “Emotional Atyachar 2”.

“Thank God we are in a country like India which is secular and so we have the liberty to voice our opinion. If you notice, the Quran has been misinterpreted by men, conveniently interpreted to their benefit but not for the opposite sex. It’s sad that men resort to such ruthless means and the only way to get out of this torture is to speak up,” says renowned social activist Nafisa Ali. Pearl Buck once said, “A good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love.” Indeed, if it is so, it’s not the time to point fingers at what prevails, but to make conscientious choices in life.

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

In the lap of the hills

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After a rough flight on one of the smallest aircrafts – the remains of a second World War fleet – I finally landed at the Bhuntar airport; Manali is a mere two-hour drive from here. I was soon on my way to the Queen of Hills in a cab. En route to Manali are various handicrafts shops, as well as the Hanogi Mata temple where every traveller stops to pay respects, and I followed suit. The entire stretch was dotted with small hamlets, eateries and vistas of terraced farming on the mountain slopes. After a 50 km drive, we arrived at a bridge, signalling my entry into Manali. Hundreds of birds chirped happily as the vehicle drove past the red bridge over a hurrying Beas splashing against thousands of rocks. I was trying to make friends with the mountains when I was informed of our arrival at the hotel.

A quick shower later, I was out and about. The valley had weed growing all over, which explains the growing hippie population in the town. Trekking through the tough terrain all by myself, I could soon feel my tummy seeking some digestible company. With a little help from the locals, I headed out in the direction of the nearest eatery, and sipped on hot coffee amidst snow clad mountains – it was pure bliss. A man sitting at an adjacent table perhaps realised how smitten I was with my surroundings, and chose to remind me, in his thick Pahari accent, “Switzerland in India, this.” The world-weary grey on his head suggested he knew what he was talking about. After exchanging notes of courtesy, I headed to the Hadimba temple. The temple with its four-tiered pagoda roof and impressive architecture is tough to miss.

Next on my itinerary was the Vashisht temple in Old Manali. In Vashisht, traditional houses stood interspersed with newer dwellings; the unhurried small town is a stopover duly recommended. Set at a distance of about 22 kms from the Mall Road is the Naggar castle, attributed with a construction that has withstood many an earthquake. The art lovers could spend quality time at the Roerich Art Gallery, housing works by Nicholas Roerich.
Across Kullu and atop a hill crest is yet another famous temple of Bijli Mahadev. Legend has it that the stone lingam (Lord Shiva’s phallic symbol) in the temple is occasionally shattered by lightning. The priests of the temple then use pure butter as an adhesive to reset the structure.
It was probably part divine benediction and part timing that landed me in Rohtang Pass at that time of the year when it was open to visitors. The road to the Pass is all about steep and sharp turns, but the journey is as rewarding as it is tiring. Pit stop at Marhi, the last human settlement before Rohtang Pass, treats you to the sight of Beas at its calmest flow. Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 4311m, was covered with sheets of snow till where the eyes could see; the air was thick and moist and the sun felt a little too close. From Rohtang Pass – the place bursting at the seams with tourists – I legged it to Rohla Falls where the fluid vigour of the Beas was for all to witness once again.

Manali is a year round magnet for backpackers and nature junkies, but despite its tourist trappings, there’s plenty of space to lose yourself in, as also to find yourself.

DESTINATION DOSSIER

STEERING THE COURSE
Hop on a Volvo or take a car ride from the capital. You may also consider a flight till Bhuntar, but at your own risk; there are many delays and cancellations.

COSY CORNERS
The Ambassador Hotel is invariably the top choice for those seeking a luxurious stay. The Manali Inn offers a cozy stay too, with great service and 24 hour entertainment within the hotel.

THE ‘SEASON’ED TRAVELLER GOES NOW
Summers are good, though everybody and his brother is in town too. One could also consider a visit during winters, but at the peril of having your plans altered by landslides and snowfall.

‘SAVOUR’ FAIRE
The local cuisine is rich in dairy. Do try momos and thukpas off the street. The German Bakery deserves a visit.

GET TO WORK
State tourism buses start from various junctions on Mall Road; hop on and let them show you around. You could also hire a cab or trek your way around with some local advice.

WHAT’S THE WORD
The locals understand Hindi and are happy to converse in it. But when they talk in a language that sounds Greek, it actually is Pahari.

KEEPSAKE COURTESIES
Kullu shawls and apples are two items tourists want to stuff their bags with. Do pick pine cones from the roadside.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Russia's foreign policy shift sends strong messages

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The recent news that Russia has accepted NATO’s invitation to join the upcoming NATO Summit has not only surprised many but also shaken the world. The Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed to attend the next NATO summit scheduled on Nov 19, 2010 at the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Does this mean that Russia is witnessing a tectonic shift in its foreign policy under President Medvedev’s leadership?

Certain actions of Medvedev are indicative enough. Firstly, Obama’s state visit to Russia followed by Medvedev’s visits to Washington was a rare phenomenon during the Cold War, and even during Vladimir Putin’s tenure as a President. Secondly, Russia’s decision to impose sanctions on Iran to please America which is equivalent to the 1929 sanctions imposed by the UN was not only surprising but also considered to be a diplomatic disaster by experts. And now, Medvedev’s participation in the NATO Summit. It’s no more a secret that the US created NATO to restrict Russian military movements, and Europeans joined NATO to defend any possible threat from Russia. And For Russia, NATO’s presence in Europe is nothing other than military provocation.
Often, there were wars of words between NATO and Russia. For example, NATO criticised Russia for waging war against Georgia, saying "A peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia must be based on full respect for the principles of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity recognised by international law." Medvedev was definitely not silent. He clearly conveyed that “NATO's decision to hold the exercises in Georgia is seen among Russian military and political ranks as a provocative move... I think this is a wrong decision, a dangerous decision.” Surprisingly, Medvedev now finds NATO to be more friendly as he says, “there is the sense that NATO is some kind of aggressive element. This is in many respects a mistake.” And NATO, which generally excludes Russia from any kind of discussions, invited it to join to discuss common European security concerns.

However, Russia's pro-investment policies to integrate with the global economy is logical enough at a time when it is facing some economic hurdles. But pro-America policy shift of Medvedev will serve his personal interests more than that of the nation. It can be a strong anti-Putin message in his 2012 Presidential election campaign. But will that alone ensure his second term as problems like decline in industrial production, unemployment, economic stagnation and poor foreign investment are looming large over Russia?

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Shortage of IAS officers can be filled by introducing technocrats

Time to exploit the flaws

Couple of months back, Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys in a seminar asked the government to “abolish the system of generalised administrators under the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and replace it with specialists under a new "Indian Management Service." India bureaucracy was even ranked the least-efficient by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy which further stated that “working with the country's civil servants was a slow and painful process.” Corrupt practices not only hamper effectiveness and productivity of an officer but also delay numerous projects and schemes they handle. These further lead to huge economic and even bigger social loss.

Along with corruption and low productivity, the Indian administrative staffs suffer from extra workload and shortage of manpower. According to official figures, around 1,155 posts are vacant in the IAS on January 2010 at the national level. This not only increases the work pressure on the present strength of IAS officers, but also leads to inefficiency in work. Take for instance, in West Bengal, 59 out of 296 IAS posts are currently vacant which is expected to swell further by at least another 40 within a year. In Orissa, the government has recalled at least eight of the 34 IAS officers who have been on central deputation to fill the gap while Maharashtra has asked the Centre to allot 15 more IAS officers as around 50 IAS posts are vacant in the state. Under such a situation, the pressure on an officer increases manifold and the projects under them also get delayed. Such situations allow corruption to flourish as accountability and scrutiny in such situation is mostly low and weak.

The proposal of allowing technocrats to handle administrative work is not new. Allowing technocrats and people with expertise to enter Indian administrative services will not only fill the current vacancies and thus lower the work pressure, but would eventually increase the efficiency and productivity of the department. In the long run, this practice will inculcate accountability and professionalism in the system and also motivate industry experts to enter such services. DMRC and UID projects are a case in point. An IAS officer can then be treated as a professional and the whole system of promotion and increment can be based on performance based pay.

But then, bringing such reforms at a national level will not be very easy. As the IAS officers form a powerful lobby at the national level, they will definitely oppose such proposal and movement. The current nexus among politicians, industrialists and bureaucrats won’t allow the government to implement any such plan that would threaten their position; even though the objective is to make the system accountable. Presently, IAS officers receive enough immunity from Constitution and thus a dismissal process is still very difficult. Technocrats should be allowed into the administrative system and replenishing the demand would be the best excuse; the whole system would otherwise lose its raison d’ĂȘtre.

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