EPISODE 1
NARRATIVE OF A NATIONALIST
ON UNSUNG MARTYR—2015
NARRATIVE OF A NATIONALIST
ON UNSUNG MARTYR—2015
'Till yesterday I had no idea who Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was. Then I read that this commando killed 10 insurgents in 11 days and laid down his life hit by that fatal bullet. He was killed in Kupwara district Kashmir when Indian Special Forces exchanged heavy fire in the Hafruda forests. And all we want to know is what is his family getting as compensation for his valour!
For a moment when you want to critique your armed forces think of him. Forget the furor over whether the Nehru stadium is a dynastic monument.
Ignore the 11 day riot over a high society murder. Snub that union minister who nattered on for no reason at all. Pay attention to the real Indian.
This is the sort of gallantry that makes it worthwhile to take that OROP deal and hand it on a silver platter to these glorious men and women of our armed forces. All 1.2 billion people should stand up and salute him...they make movies about people like this. That’s your soldier. Guts and Glory.
How many of our men went out and scored 10 hits in that many days and then went out again. Imagine the mayhem those 10 terrorists could have engineered if it wasn’t for this man. How many hundreds of lives have been saved by this incredible man? So, as Mark Anthony said, who will do him reverence.
Where is our Defense Ministry and what are they offering as gratitude?
I have not seen any talk show lauding him. Nothing about his funeral. Give him the country’s most high award for valour now...once his commanding officer has confirmed the heroism there is no need to wait. Announce the ex gratia payment and pledge to the nation that Lance Naik Goswami is the man of the hour.
I ask only one question? When will his widow get her revised OROP pension? No more, no less. A simple question, not semantics, no great chest beating, just asking...anybody out there hear the voice of valour?'
Comments
Who is an Icon? Someone who sheds blood and dies for his country or someone who shed sweat to earn a name for himself and brings glory to his country!!
Spontaneous response of a 19 year old medical student—'martyr of course'.
EPISODE 2
DIGNITY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE
At a Law College one morning, teacher entered the classroom to teach "Introduction to the Rights" and asked a student seated on the first bench: "What is your name?"
Student: "My name is Juan, Sir."
Teacher: "Leave the classroom and I don't want to see you in my class ever!" screamed the unpleasant teacher.
Juan was bewildered. He got hold of his senses, collected his belongings and left the classroom. All were scared and angry; however nobody spoke anything.
"Well...." said the teacher, "whom do the enacted Laws serve?"
We were afraid, but slowly gained confidence and we began to answer his questions.
"So that there is an order in our society."
"No!" The teacher answered
"To accomplish them."
"No!"
"So that the wrong people pay for their actions?"
"No! Is it that nobody knows to answer this question?!"
"So that there is justice," said a girl timidly.
"At last! That's it.... so that there is justice. And now, what is the use of justice?"
All began to feel uneasy by such rude attitude. However, we followed answering....
"To safeguard the human rights...."
"Well, what more?" asked the teacher.
"To differentiate the right from the wrong.... to reward the good...."
"OK, that is not bad; however... answer this question:
Did I act correctly when expelling Juan from the classroom?"
All were quiet, nobody answered.
"I want a decisive and unanimous answer!"
"No!" we all replied in unison.
"Could you all say I committed injustice?"
"Yes!"
"And why did nobody do anything in that respect? So why do we need Rules and Laws if we don't have the necessary will to practice them? Each one of you has the obligation to respond when you witness injustice. All of you! Do not stay quiet, never again! Go and call Juan".
On that day, I received the most practical lesson in my course of Law.
When we don't defend our Rights, we lose our Dignity, and Dignity is not negotiable.
Student: "My name is Juan, Sir."
Teacher: "Leave the classroom and I don't want to see you in my class ever!" screamed the unpleasant teacher.
Juan was bewildered. He got hold of his senses, collected his belongings and left the classroom. All were scared and angry; however nobody spoke anything.
"Well...." said the teacher, "whom do the enacted Laws serve?"
We were afraid, but slowly gained confidence and we began to answer his questions.
"So that there is an order in our society."
"No!" The teacher answered
"To accomplish them."
"No!"
"So that the wrong people pay for their actions?"
"No! Is it that nobody knows to answer this question?!"
"So that there is justice," said a girl timidly.
"At last! That's it.... so that there is justice. And now, what is the use of justice?"
All began to feel uneasy by such rude attitude. However, we followed answering....
"To safeguard the human rights...."
"Well, what more?" asked the teacher.
"To differentiate the right from the wrong.... to reward the good...."
"OK, that is not bad; however... answer this question:
Did I act correctly when expelling Juan from the classroom?"
All were quiet, nobody answered.
"I want a decisive and unanimous answer!"
"No!" we all replied in unison.
"Could you all say I committed injustice?"
"Yes!"
"And why did nobody do anything in that respect? So why do we need Rules and Laws if we don't have the necessary will to practice them? Each one of you has the obligation to respond when you witness injustice. All of you! Do not stay quiet, never again! Go and call Juan".
On that day, I received the most practical lesson in my course of Law.
When we don't defend our Rights, we lose our Dignity, and Dignity is not negotiable.
My Comments
This episode reminds me of a question asked by a teenager few years ago—'Is it possible to hold on to ethics (justice in this case) in real life'? My reply to this pragmatic question:
'Yes when one is prepared to pay the price, be it career, wealth, relationship, interests of kith and kin and so on. Illustrations—1) 2007/8—19 year old boy visited RTO for a month to get driving license without paying bribe. 2) 1974—Refused demand for 'chai pani' by porter after loading my Vespa Scooter on train. Next morning I arrived in Dehradun minus the two wheeler which was finally declared lost by railways. I had to purchase another one. Have no regrets till date 3) Much to my discomfort, paid bribe of Rs 20/- to 'Court Peshkars' so that legal documents are not misplaced. Retrieval process would have cost huge expenditure of white money. I was not willing to pay that price'.
This episode reminds me of a question asked by a teenager few years ago—'Is it possible to hold on to ethics (justice in this case) in real life'? My reply to this pragmatic question:
'Yes when one is prepared to pay the price, be it career, wealth, relationship, interests of kith and kin and so on. Illustrations—1) 2007/8—19 year old boy visited RTO for a month to get driving license without paying bribe. 2) 1974—Refused demand for 'chai pani' by porter after loading my Vespa Scooter on train. Next morning I arrived in Dehradun minus the two wheeler which was finally declared lost by railways. I had to purchase another one. Have no regrets till date 3) Much to my discomfort, paid bribe of Rs 20/- to 'Court Peshkars' so that legal documents are not misplaced. Retrieval process would have cost huge expenditure of white money. I was not willing to pay that price'.
EPISODE 3
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
A PERSPETIVE
FEMINIST AUTHOR GLORIA STEINEM, 80
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
A PERSPETIVE
FEMINIST AUTHOR GLORIA STEINEM, 80
Iconic authoress shared her thoughts candidly at Jaipur Literature Festival. She said "if we want to make the world free of violence against women, it's time we start raising our sons like daughters and our daughters like we raise our sons."
She was in the forefront of women's liberation movement in 1960-70 and has since then campaigned for a variety of causes. She voiced her support for abortion rights and equal rights for women as well as denounced human trafficking.
The American author activist said that while India has been dealing with cases of exploitation and violence against women, the situation has not been much different across the world as well.
Denouncing the "dominating nature of males" existing worldwide, she said, "The problem starts with the men, because the dominating nature of males is something which exists everywhere and is the root of all crimes against women."
The author also launched a scathing attack on the mindset of men.
"Men do not feel like men if they do not dominate women. Why do rape cases involve the usage of foreign objects...? It is because men feel great with that cruelty. It is in their nature," she said.
She was in the forefront of women's liberation movement in 1960-70 and has since then campaigned for a variety of causes. She voiced her support for abortion rights and equal rights for women as well as denounced human trafficking.
The American author activist said that while India has been dealing with cases of exploitation and violence against women, the situation has not been much different across the world as well.
Denouncing the "dominating nature of males" existing worldwide, she said, "The problem starts with the men, because the dominating nature of males is something which exists everywhere and is the root of all crimes against women."
The author also launched a scathing attack on the mindset of men.
"Men do not feel like men if they do not dominate women. Why do rape cases involve the usage of foreign objects...? It is because men feel great with that cruelty. It is in their nature," she said.
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