|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHORT TAKES
When, in 1957, the so called Sepoy Mutiny was officially anointed as India's First War of Independence the powers that be failed to anticipate the division of the nascent polity into patriotic and anti-national slots. Sikhs, nay Punjabis, who were the last to fall to the inexorably expanding British power, after the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849, are justifiably incensed at finding themselves in the unpatriotic slot just because they were either on the wrong side or neutral in 1857 when pan-Indianism was not in vogue. The various essays in this volume interrogate this aspect. Nonetheless, certain questions need to be answered, viz., when did the 'India-is-one-nation' sentiment take birth? Need we always look at yesterday through today's prism? There cannot be a simple explanation, but there is certainly a need for objectivity based consensus among historians.
Violence is ubiquitous. It could be in the form of protest, retaliation, injustice or repression; as an instrument for the furtherance of a nation's hegemony or protection of its sovereignty; and for the assertion of state control or meeting insurgency related challenges. Domestic violence, road rage and myriad other situations are also different dimensions of this phenomenon. One essay in this volume points out the symbiotic relationship between development and violence, and goes on to dwell upon ethnic/communal conflicts and wars between nations even as it examines the existence of violence in interpersonal relationships. Other essays in this volume investigate terrorism-related violence, cyber crimes, religious fundamentalism, and relevance of Buddha's teachings. Some contributors to this volume look into crimes against women and children and domestic violence while one writer explores the relationship between destructive/cruel actions of adults and their traumatic experiences during childhood. The Vital Drop:
Communication For Polio Eradication In India
This book tells us how these challenges have been met.
|
R
Violence: A Concern
For Peaceful Co-existence
India's demographic,
economic and geographic complexities pose daunting challenges to mass
disease eradication campaigns as evidenced by the drive against polio,
which is arguably the biggest of its kind in the world. Various agencies
and institutions with variegated competencies have been involved in
order to reach out to India's "large, diverse, segregated and
mobile populations" not to mention the marginalised ones. All this
requires deployment of well thought out and innovative means of
communication and sophisticated surveillance systems. The author points
out, "Democracy accords citizens the luxury of choice, which they
often exercise by saying no." She further states that doubts about
actual intention behind eradication arise when people's minds are unable
to rationalise the logic behind multiple rounds of administering polio
drops. Thus, challenges posed to effective communication have been:
Creating awareness that polio is preventable by the regular
administration of drops to children below five years of age; to convince
families that polio drops are essential for preventing permanent
disability and, therefore, they must ensure that their children are
adequately protected; and to ensure continued compliance by families,
round after round.