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Adult at 18 only
Mountain Strike Corps |
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Punjab after dark
Erosion of public faith
Colleges without cycles
They thought bullets would silence us…
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Adult at 18 only
While
biological maturity is clocked at almost the same age, the age at which people attain psychological and emotional maturity varies. A lot many factors -- economic, educational and social background -- contribute to it. A destitute who has to fend for himself/herself will show far greater maturity in terms of taking decisions, protecting self-interest etc at 14 as compared to a youth of 18 who leads a cushioned life. The context that presented impassioned appeals before the Supreme Court to lower the age of juveniles from 18 to 16 had the exceptional maturity of the criminals attained at a young age in mind. The logic professed by the groups that filed seven PIL petitions was, if at 17 a youth is mature enough to commit a crime like rape, as in the Nirbhaya case, then his punishment should also be in tune with that of an adult. All these groups feared that one of the accused, who was 17 at the time of committing the crime, and is being treated as a juvenile under the present law, will get away with lesser punishment, thereby setting a bad precedent. The reasoning presented by the apex court for the denial of this demand rests on humane grounds. One, as the court suggested, there is no scientific data based on research to prove that a present-day youth matures faster. Two, the court rightly observed that the youth, if treated as adult at 16 and kept in jail with hardened criminals will lose all opportunity to get reformed at a young age. So far under the provisions of juvenile justice, youth below 18, even after conviction, are kept in correction homes. Criminals are an aberration in a society and they should not be taken as a rule. The Indian society still keeps its young well protected and is not prepared to treat its youth of 16 as adults. The spurt in crime among youth is a cause of worry but it should be treated by opening better avenues for them in terms of education, sports and occupation.
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Mountain Strike Corps
The
decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security to raise a Mountian Strike Corps for the Army is a long overdue step in the right direction. The last and only time until now the government ever raised formations specific to the Sino-Indian border was five decades ago soon after India's humiliating defeat in 1962 when ten mountain divisions were raised. From then onwards, the Army has been unable to add any formations for India's vast and disputed 4,000 km long border with China, almost all of it mountainous. This is surprising considering that India's borders with China remain undefined, which from time to time has been a source of friction between the two countries. Mountain warfare is far more difficult and cumbersome than fighting in the plains where the terrain favours easier mobility of both men and machine. Warfare in the mountains is markedly different and is manpower intensive because of limitations imposed by the terrain. Mountains consume troops in huge numbers. Both men and equipment need to be as light in weight as possible and even then are slow to move. High altitude, intense cold and low oxygen impose added restrictions on soldiers making mountains one of the most challenging and daunting battle grounds worldwide. In the case of the high Himalayas, where altitudes average 15,000 to 20,000 feet, guarding a border, let alone fighting a war, is a herculean task. The Army currently has three strike corps, all oriented towards plains warfare. Even though India's border disputes, whether with China or Pakistan, essentially involve a mountain terrain, India, inexplicably, has never had a mountain strike corps for deployment entirely on offensive missions in the event of a war. The Kargil War in 1999 exposed India's lack of preparedness for mountain warfare. Then again, whereas India has four full-fledged regional Army commands: Northern, Western, South Western and Southern --oriented towards Pakistan, it only has three -- Northern, Central and Eastern --oriented towards China with which preparations along the border have been relatively neglected. Intentions can change overnight but capabilities take time to build. Hence, it only makes sense for the Indian armed forces to be prepared for any eventuality, more so with China taking rapid steps in improving their infrastructure and capabilities along the Sino-Indian border.
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Punjab after dark
Policing
in Punjab has taken flak for various reasons, but the state government's initiative to launch a dedicated 4,000-strong force to patrol the streets and highways at night is a tangible step that is more than just promises. Nearly a quarter of all road accidents in the country occur between 9 pm and 6 am despite the traffic movement being the lowest during these hours. Speeding and alcohol are major ingredients in the cocktail of accidents, death and crime, which can be curbed with effective night-time patrolling. A message has to be sent out that darkness is not a licence for mischief. Community policing is another aspect in which the state police has taken steps, but has been struggling to buff up its image in that department. With most people wary of having anything to do with the police, people-police contact is still minimal. That hinders the flow of information that a community may have to prevent crime. Greater police presence in situations where they may be of help to the public would go a long way in addressing that concern. Moving from crime investigation to crime prevention is another aspiration the force ought to have. Night bus service is also proposed to be restarted in Punjab, having remained suspended for nearly 30 years in view of terrorism. An indication the state is ready to put the dark period behind, the step should have been taken much earlier. Not only does it make it convenient for business and workers to operate but also is a psychological factor in building confidence among those outside the state. Restoration of a sense of 'complete normalcy' is important to attract investment. In a state often associated with violence and aggression, it may take a while before 'night life' can be seen as part of normal urban living, but it is an important step before it can lay claim to being a global destination.
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It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbour. — Eric Hoffer
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Erosion of public faith IN the penultimate year of nearly one-decade rule by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, I find the biggest casualty is the people's confidence in political parties, particularly the ruling Congress. In fact, the public is so exasperated that it has come to believe that dishonesty and politics are synonymous and those who have come to politics have done so only to make money. I was aghast to find that many well-placed people have not contributed to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund because they suspect that the money given for the Uttarakhand victims would be used by the Congress in elections. I can understand the argument that the assistance is mismanaged, but the suspicion about the PM's Fund should awaken the rulers to the extent that the people have lost faith in them. The scandals like the 2G Spectrum regarding the mobiles and the allotment of coal blocks to unknown persons have, no doubt, damaged the credibility of the Congress. But the inference that those in positions, to whichever party they belong, are all corrupt is a sad commentary on politicians. Consequently, there is a question mark against any report or probe conducted by the government. Even a judicial verdict is taken with a pinch of salt. The fault is not that of the people, but the manner in which the affairs have been conducted since the seventies. Very little has been done to restore confidence. In fact, official machinery is in disarray. Take the case of Ishrat Jahan encounter. The Home Ministry at the Centre and the state government had taken the stand that Ishrat, along with her three accomplices, were terrorists who were killed in an encounter with the police suspecting them to have a plan to assassinate Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that it was a cold-blooded murder. The agency found no evidence to involve Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Toiba which the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had done. Who does the public believe? Both the CBI and the IB are parts of the same government. The public is further confused because the CBI has alleged that Ishrat and her accomplices were picked up from different places and shot dead. The weapons they had on them were allegedly planted by the police and none of these had been used for days. Assume that Ishrat and the others were terrorists. Does the police force have the right to kill them without proving in a law court that they were terrorists? If this rule is to apply, the killers of Mrs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi should have been shot dead in encounters instead of proceedings even in the Supreme Court. We should not have spent crores of rupees on the trial of Mohammad Kasab, who was hanged, and done away with him for the attacks on Mumbai. The food security law which will subsidise food for 65 per cent of the population is a prey to suspicion. The government is to be blamed for introducing the measure through an ordinance when the Parliament session was only three weeks away (It has now been postponed to August after the ordinance). Most political parties are in favour of the food Bill but want a legitimate discussion in Parliament before it is enacted. The Congress prefers the route of ordinance on the plea that political parties, particularly the BJP, have not allowed Parliament to function. This is true. But the ordinance too has to be passed by Parliament. For that a consensus would be required. Why couldn't the government bring about it before the ordinance? There is something in the allegation that the Congress eyes are fixed on the parliamentary elections which are due in May 2014. It is possible that the polls may take place in November or December. Such are the suspicions which have nullified the food security ordinance which would enable roughly 850 million people of limited means to buy rice at Rs. 3, wheat at Rs. 2 and bajra for Rs 1a kg. The case of the CBI's autonomy is yet another example worth dwelling on. People have no faith in the supervision by the three retired High Court judges. The suspicion is that the government would appoint pliable judges. Since the CBI will be under the government, any measure it takes fails to evoke faith. The other main political party, the BJP, is suspect because it is selling the Modi thesis of Hindutva. The latest is the building of the Ram temple at the site where the Babri Masjid stood before its demolition. The party should realise that the religious card cannot be played again and again. The demand for a temple and a uniform civil code is supposed to be part of development, a camouflage for Hindutva. The party is as much engaged in power politics as the Congress is. That the leftist parties have social justice and federalism on their agenda is to the liking of a preponderant majority. To their admiration, a convention of the leftist parties in Delhi last week reiterated the two points. Indeed, the Manmohan Singh government has made the rich richer and has made a mockery of political autonomy. Yet the CPI (M) was found wanting during its rule of 15 years in West Bengal. The Sachar Committee has said that the Muslim community in the state was the most backward in education (only 2.7 per cent). The CPI supported the authoritarian rule of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. The Janata Dal (United) evokes hope to be a third alternative because its chief, Sharad Yadav, has said that his party will fight totalitarianism of communists and communalism of the BJP. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has shown in his rule that a government can rise above gimmicks. Rightly Nitish Kumar has asked for the National Investigation Agency to probe the Bodh Gaya bomb blasts. The nation's problem is how to reignite the spirit of confidence and idealism. Alas, no political party, even in the states, comes up to that standard. Whether the next election throws up such people is in the realm of conjecture. Persons like me are still optimistic that India would return to the path of values which it took after winning
Independence.
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Colleges without cycles Scores of girls speeding on their scooters is a common sight in urban India today. Perched smartly on their two-wheelers, confidently negotiating chaotic traffic on roads, girls are on their own. Thanks to the light scooters without gears, girls today enjoy far greater independent mobility than women in the past. Independently, they crisscross the city while commuting for education, employment, shopping and recreation. In fact, the two Ms which have contributed significantly to women 'liberation quotient' are -'Mobile' and 'Mobility'. Of course, girls do drive cars but for the majority, scooters provide mobility. I am envious of these young, enthusiastic female scooter riders whose speed and alacrity amazes me .The moment the traffic light turns green, the girls on scooters whiz across the road while I still struggle to get my car moving in traffic. Their swiftness at traffic signals baffles me but I am completely rattled by their attire. A majority of the female scooter riders do not wear helmets but keep their faces thoroughly covered. Evidently skull safety does not bother them. It is the skin protection which is their priority. I recall my own college days when a majority of us boarded the college bus or cycled our way to college. Of course, two-wheelers were there in the early 80s but were not for girls. In those pre-Maruti days not many cars could be spotted on city roads. Only a couple of girls had the luxury of chauffeur-driven cars for commuting. I remember one of them was the daughter of a Deputy Commissioner who would be dropped and picked up from college in a white Ambassador with the red beacon on the top. In contrast to my college days when the humble bicycle used to be the personal mode of conveyance for us, today scooters have caught the fancy of college girls who patronise these light two-wheelers in a big way. In not too distant a past, every college had a bicycle-stand where scores of bicycles used to be lined up; when one bicycle fell the rest tumbled one after the other. Today bicycles have disappeared from colleges; instead we have an array of fancy scooters of all hues and make. Cycles might have vanished but even today colleges have a place designated as 'cycle
stand'.
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They thought bullets would silence us…
Honourable
UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, respected president of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, honourable UN envoy for global education Mr Gordon Brown, respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters: Assalamu alaikum(peace be upon you). Today is it an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time. Being here with such honourable people is a great moment in my life and it is an honour for me that today I am wearing a shawl of the late Benazir Bhutto. I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say, but first of all thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good-wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me. I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me to get better and recover my strength. I fully support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action. Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing: Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights. There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goal of peace, education and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them. So here I stand, one girl among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated. Dear friends, on 9 October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends, too. They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. And my dreams are the same. Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was standing in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion I have learned from Mohamed, the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone. Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. This is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they kill female teachers. That is why they are blasting schools every day because they were and they are afraid of change and equality that we will bring to our society. And I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist: "Why are the Taliban against education?" He answered very simply by pointing to his book, he said: "A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book." They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would point guns at people's heads just for going to school. These terrorists are misusing the name of Islam for their own personal benefit. Pakistan is a peace-loving, democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. It is the duty and responsibility to get education for each child, that is what it says. Peace is a necessity for education. In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by extremism. Young girls have to do domestic child labour and are forced to get married at an early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems, faced by both men and women. Today, I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights, but I am focusing on women to be independent and fight for themselves. So dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of peace and prosperity. We call upon the world leaders that all of these deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable. We call upon all governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child. We call upon all the governments to fight against terrorism and violence. To protect children from brutality and harm. We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world. We call upon all communities to be tolerant, to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, colour, religion or agenda to ensure freedom and equality for women so they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential. Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak up for our rights and we will bring change to our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the whole world because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness. Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty and injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of their schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright, peaceful future. So let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first. Thank you.
The most courageous girl in the world
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed Malala Yousafzai as "the most courageous girl in the world" as the Pakistani schoolgirl who was attacked by the Taliban last year called on world governments to provide free compulsory education for every child in a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The address, timed to coincide with her 16th birthday, drew a standing ovation at a special Youth Assembly held in the presence of Mr Brown, who is the UN's special envoy for education, and the body's Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who declared it "Malala day". Ms Yousafzai, who was shot in the head in October in Pakistan's Swat Valley after attracting the ire of the Taliban for raising a voice against its attacks on girls' education, also presented Mr Ban with a petition signed by 4 million people asking for help to deliver education to all children. The speech came as Save the Children released a report based on research by UNESCO revealing that almost 50 million children living in war zones do not attend school at all, and that attacks on education are on the rise, largely due to the conflict in Syria. Justin Forsyth, Save the Children's chief executive, said of Malala: "She was speaking for the nearly 50 million children around the world who are currently being denied the opportunity of an education because of conflict." He added that the world "should listen" to Malala, who was nearly killed in last year's attack. Few, however, managed to watch Ms Yousafzai in Pakistan. Only two of the county's many news channels showed the speech live. The most-watched broadcaster, Geo News, showed portions of the speech later, while other channels all stuck to normal programming. Moreover, Pakistanis are currently unable to see videos on YouTube, because of an ongoing court ban. The speech did not get much attention in the days leading up to the event. In Pakistan, she is seen as a hero by many, especially those who oppose the Taliban's campaign of violence. But for others she has been turned into an object of controversy, shrouded in conspiracy theories wildly alleging that she was "a CIA agent" and that her shooting was "staged". These theories have had alarmingly wide purchase among young Pakistanis on the internet. The hostility to the schoolgirl, some observers say, is a measure of the pitch of anti-Americanism in Pakistan, where even the faintest association with the US is attacked. — The Independent
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Honourable
