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Now ‘Janata Parivar’ Gender-based abortions |
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Living with the nightmare
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
More listless than lustful Dispassionate celebrationJohnson No gravitational pull
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Now ‘Janata Parivar’ Leaders of six regional “Janata” parties have come together to challenge the spread of the BJP. The Biju Janata Dal of Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, was, however, not represented at the lunch hosted on Thursday by Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and attended, among others, by Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and H.D. Deve Gowda. They have also excluded the Congress, the Left parties, the AIADMK of J.Jayalalithaa and Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee. Members of the “Janata Parivar” are mostly followers of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia who launched their political careers with the erstwhile Janata Party, which came into being post-Emergency and formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre in the history of Indian Republic. Their immediate task is to counter the BJP in Parliament. They have only 15 members in the Lok Sabha and are unlikely to play any meaningful role. It is, however, in the Rajya Sabha, where they have 25 members, that they can support or stall crucial legislation — at least for as long as the BJP does not gain a majority. These regional leaders are all worried about the rise of the BJP under Narendra Modi and feel confident of meeting the challenge collectively. The Janata Dal (United) managed to save its government in Bihar with support from Lalu Prasad's RJD. Their joint efforts showed a positive outcome in the assembly by-elections held earlier this year. This has given them the courage to stick together and give a united fight to the common enemy. Nitish Kumar has even hinted at the Lohia admirers forming a single party later. However, similar attempts had failed in the past. The “Third Front” could not last long. Regional leaders are uniting on an anti-BJP platform, though the INLD has a soft corner for the BJP. They have no alternative model of development other than the socialist one which has been largely hijacked by the Congress and the Left parties, and rejected by voters. Besides, their inner contradictions and personal ambitions may threaten their unity.
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Gender-based abortions SEX-selective abortions are a major cause of the skewed sex ratio in India. Close to 1.4 million people of Indian origin living in the UK have pushed the gender ratio in favour of the male child. So a Bill led by Fiona Bruce, MP, criminalising sex- selective abortions, has received an overwhelming favour across political lines; MPs voted 181 to 1 in the House of Commons. The 1967 Abortion Act maintains ambiguity on the illegality of abortions sought on the grounds of sex, which is exploited by the single largest minority in the UK. However, a recent government report found no statistically significant discrepancy in the gender ratios. But a study conducted by Oxford and Imperial College researchers found that the ratio of boys to girls for India-born mothers having their third child was 114:100 — far higher than the general ratio of 104:100. The study, which examined 23.4 million births over a 15-year period up to 2005, concluded that over a 1,500 baby girls went “missing” — that makes 100 girls missing a year. The Bill will have a second reading in January before it becomes the law. It certainly reflects a proactive stance taken by the public representatives. But feminists allege the British anti-choice lobby is becoming increasingly creative in restricting women's reproductive rights by banning sex-selective and disability-selective abortions. They allege this is being done to serve a much wider agenda — to maintain that abortion is morally wrong. They also suggest countries that restrict access to abortion see an increase in unsafe procedures. Ninety-three per cent abortions take place before the sex test in the UK. In countries like India, where sex selection is banned, not much has been achieved. As long as women are valued less than men in the Indian society, a demand for sex-selective abortions will continue. Only an attitude of gender equality will solve the issue. Indians should not cause the curtailing of other women's reproductive choices.
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Thought for the Day
Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.
— Doug Larson
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Comforts for the soldiers IT is probable that people in India are not quite aware of the many little articles of luxury that will be of great comfort to the soldiers either in action or when wounded. A list of these has already been published and the manner in which they can be sent by friends and helpers has also been stated. An English correspondent who visited Paris gives a graphic picture of things he saw there. He writes: "A great many things are wanted — cigarettes, soap, matches, playing cards and numerous other little luxuries which might be supplied from a depot attached to the base hospitals. A week ago the need of clothes was urgent, and flannel suits, in which officers who had got separated from their kit and worn out their uniforms might return to England, were at a high premium. All such things ought to be kept in store, to be bought or given according to the circumstances of those who need them. No one can speak too highly of the commissariat, and the British are better fed than any others on the ground. But the these extras are scarce, and should somehow be supplied." Fines in criminal courts DURING the year 1913, fines were imposed by the Punjab Courts on 5,373 persons together with other punishments and on 31,782 persons without other punishments. The total amount imposed was Rs. 7,53,360 of which Rs. 7,50,588 was imposed in the Magistrate's Courts, Rs. 2,272 in the Sessions Courts and Rs. 500 in the Chief Court. But the total amount realised was only Rs. 4,51,155 of which Rs. 1,27,002 was ordered to be paid by way of compensation to the complainants or injured parties. The actual amount so paid was only Rs. 49,569. The great bulk of the fine was imposed by the stipendiary magistrates.
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Living with the nightmare ON the October 31, 1984, evening I was coming back after inspecting the Shahdara courts when I heard the tragic news of killing of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The killing was done by two body guards posted at Mrs. Gandhi's residence. The court found that there was only conspiracy by three persons to kill Mrs. Gandhi. No other outside person was found to be involved in the conspiracy. But what followed the assassination was a nightmare which will ever haunt the nation - it was the calculated murder plan generated by the Congress party in power with about 3,000 Sikhs being butchered in cold blood. This unpardonable crime by a political party will remain a permanent scar of shame on those who committed and encouraged it. The police were not recording FIRs and were placing all kinds of hindrances. An application complaining about this was moved before me. It is correct that normally an FIR has to be registered in the police station which has the jurisdiction over that particular locality. But in that fearful situation it was impossible for Sikhs from various areas to go to separate police stations to get FIRs recorded. So I issued notice and told the government advocate that I was ordering that all FIRs which had already been collected throughout Delhi by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) would be taken to one police station (which the government might designate) and filed there. After this it would be for the government to distribute these FIRs to the respective police stations. To be honest, I knew my order was not strictly legal. But then circumstances were so extraordinary that not to have so acted would have been worse. It would have cast a shadow on the strength of the courts, which are expected to come to the aid of the oppressed at all times. Another situation arose when people were demanding the appointment of a commission to inquire into the 1984 killings. A PIL was filed which came up before my Division Bench. The then Attorney General appeared for the Union Government and argued against it. I, however, felt that it was an important matter and needed to be examined at a regular hearing. My colleague, Wad J., was also of the same opinion. So we fixed the matter for a regular hearing when the High Court was to reopen after a short vacation. But such was the panic in government circles that undue pressure was put on the then High Court Chief Justice. The result was that when the High Court opened after the vacation, I found that my roster had been changed; I was now put on the criminal side. The result was obvious - the matter could not be heard by me. The matter was then heard by another Bench and the petition was dismissed. But so great was the public pressure that the government itself appointed Justice Ranganath Misra Commission. But its findings shocked every impartial observer. As a matter of fact the conduct of the Union Government was such as to infuse no confidence right from the beginning. The PUCL had formed a committee of eminent citizens to oversee the matter. Its members included Justice S. M. Sikri, a former Chief Justice of India, and Mr. Govind Narain, a former Union Home Secretary. The committee wrote to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi seeking a meeting so as to discuss important points with a view to ensuring that the Inquiry Commission complied with all legal norms so as to instill public confidence. But surprisingly Rajiv Gandhi did not even reply nor gave an interview to such an eminent committee - you can imagine the government's sickening partiality. So in disgust the committee members resigned. The expected hollowness of the Ranganath Misra report corroborated the fears of all of us about the partisan role played by then Congress Central Government. The various questions raised by the PUCL in its report of 1984 have not even been answered up till now. “Men at the top in the administration and the ruling party displayed repeatedly a curious lack of concern often bordering on deliberate negligence of duty and responsibility throughout the period of October 31 to November 4. The newly sworn-in Home Minister P.V. Narasimha Roa was said to have assured BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee on the October 31 evening that “everything would be brought under control within a couple of hours”. But the PUCL committee has commented bitterly. “Soon after the assassination (October 31), we heard from a reliable source a meeting was held at 1 Safdarjung Road, the Prime Minister's official residence, where the then Lt. Governor P G Gavai, Congress (I) leader M L Fotedar and the Police Commissioner, among others, met. A senior police officer present at the meeting expressed the view that the Army should be called as otherwise there would be a holocaust. No attention was paid to the view.” The report continues: “As already mentioned earlier, till late night there were no signs of either curfew or Army, while miscreants were on the rampage in front of the police. In the heart of the city — Connaught Circus — Sikh-owned shops were being set on fire right under the nose of heavy para-military and police pickets. We later heard that the DC of Faridabad had asked for the Army on November 1, but troops arrived only on November 3.” None of these questions have been answered till now. So when the Nanavati Commission was appointed, I had hoped that its terms of reference would be on the pattern of “Truth and Conciliation Commission” appointed in South Africa by Nelson Mandela. I still feel that this aspect should be followed by the Central Government because I am of the firm opinion that apart from punishing the guilty, it is important to know the real truth which is hidden in government files — human rights principles and justice to the families of victims demand this course. — The writer is a former Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi
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MIND YOUR LANGUAGE “ ... While content is how a good piece should be judged, the audience has to hear the story first. If they don’t like how you sound, they’ll miss the rest.” — Bob Bartlett It is the synthesis of voice with emotion which brings out the fuller meaning of a discourse. The emotions in a message can be realized using pause, pace, pitch and power systematically in speech delivery. With a few excerpts drawn from Amitabh Bachchan’s “India Poised Anthem” (video available on the internet), the discussion illustrates the point made. 1. /for over half a century/ our nation has sprung/ stumbled/ run /fallen/ rolled over/ got up and dusted herself /and cantered/ sometimes lurched on/ We form small groups of words from long utterances ensuring each group makes sense, complete or incomplete. At times the sense group may comprise of just one word. In the lines above, the words enclosed within bars show the sense groups and also signal the need for the speaker to pause between the sense groups. When tracing the movement of the nation with the words “sprung, stumbled, run, fallen, rolled over” and “cantered”, the speaker deliberately pauses after every word/word phrase to give us a feel of the physicality of the movements and then make an emotional appeal. 2. (a) /one India lives in the optimism of our hearts/the other India/lurks/in the scepticism of our minds/ (b) /history they say is a bad motorist/it rarely ever signals its intentions/ Generally speaking, Indian speakers of English are considered to have a faster rate of speech as compared to their British counterparts. Pace and pause work in tandem to give English its characteristic rhythm. The speaker here varies the pace strategically to convey the importance in meaning of a certain line over the other. He goes slow in line (a) to make a sensitive point but then goes faster over line (b) to make an objective statement from a distance. 3. /?while the world is not looking/ a pul?sating/ dy?namic new India is emerging/ The pitch of the voice becomes distinct on a certain word in each sense group, as shown with arrow marks. It is so because those words carry maximum meaning value in each of the groups. Emotions can be restrained or expressed overtly through use of pitch change. Here, the speaker infuses vitality into the words “pulsating” and “dynamic” and lends them visible strength by changing his pitch. 4. /the other India says/ prove yourself first and maybe then/ you’ll have a chance By increasing the power of voice, we convey which words need to be emphasised. In the line here, the speaker raises the volume of his voice when saying “prove yourself first” to communicate a challenge. And soon enough, he lowers his volume on the words “maybe then, you’ll have a chance” to show hesitation. Pause, pace, pitch and power work in coordination like voice gears and accelerators to highlight the meaning, otherwise hidden. Awareness of the rules and a fair amount of practice in articulation helps achieve effective speech with a cultivated voice.
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More listless than lustful Sex, the three-letter dirty word in the Indian lexicon becomes even dirtier when uttered by three ageing men. So, what do you get when three sexually frustrated men lust after a hot young girl? A raunchy adult comedy is in the making... so you believe. Well, the good news is The Shaukeens is not even half as sleazy as one would expect from a film delving into an adult subject. Rather it walks the thin line between talking about what is almost a taboo subject in Indian society and Indian ethos as it keeps Indian sensibilities in mind rather well. But, before we say cheers, here is the dampener — it's not half as funny either.
The supposedly naughty film's naughtiness remains mostly in the minds of three ageing friends (Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor, Piyush Mishra), who stop in the tracks each time they encounter a PYT — pretty young thing. From Delhi to the beaches of Mauritius, the shaukeen mizaaz hope to realise their lustful dreams in lovely lady Ahana (Lisa Haydon), a free spirit deliriously oblivious to the undesirable intentions of the three very 'very' grown up men. And between her Facebook updating status aspirations and their nefarious designs lies the drama, which is in effect a 21st century adaptation of Basu Chaterjee's film Shaukeen. Alas, the drama, though not jarring, does not tickle your funny bone as often as it ought to. Sure, the film has some rib-tickling moments, yet surprisingly these come from Akshay Kumar who incidentally is the producer of the film and who one was led to believe had a cameo in his home production. Indeed, Akshay is not the hero of the film. Rather, he plays himself — that is the superstar Akshay. Ahana, the dusky beauty the object of three shaukeens' amorous attention, is crazy about him. And he remains the anchor on which the film rests. His scenes not only provide comic relief, but also do some serious introspection. No, he is not contemplating as to why three senior citizens have become tharki—a common word in Indian parlance. Rather Akshay's subplot that has him sipping whisky out of coconut shell is suitably satirical with many a pun intended at others, but mostly at himself. He takes a dig at his own film career, the Rs 100-crore clubs and the endorsements which he signs left right and centre. Why, there is a price tag for meeting fans too? All this and more, especially the National Award angle, are genuinely amusing. And herein even Cyrus Barocha in a bit part as Akshay’s manager is spot on. In contrast the three veteran actors' lust for a fistful of lust becomes jagged after a while. They have some tricks up their sleeve, but at no point do they bring the house down. Actually, their desperation might make a sociological point; it doesn't score very highly on the scale of humour. It's not that the veteran actors are not impressive. Be it Piyush Mishra who becomes one with the character of masala king, whose life is devoid of any masala. Or respectable shoe-shop owner Anupam Kher, a 'lech' alright but worried as hell, like any true middle-class Indian on being caught on the wrong foot. Annu Kapoor as the suave rich bachelor and the master planner of dirty games is equally consummate. They are no doubt in top form. But together, they are not a riot and the problem is the film perks up only when Akshay comes on the screen. Since that does not happen too often, the film sags more than it lifts. Finally, as Akshay ties up the knotty problems the three shaukeens land into, the film wraps up on a feel-good note, absolving all condemning none. All of this could have worked well only if it had packed more mirth. Film: The Shaukeens Director: Abhishek Sharma Cast: Akshay Kumar, Lisa Haydon, Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor, Piyush Mishra Rating:
**
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Dispassionate celebrationJohnson
A film on the life of the celebrated 19th century Kerala-born Indian painter—Raja Ravi Varma appeared worthy enough on paper, but the manner in which Ketan Mehta goes about rendering justice to a life story of impressive artistic proportions and pioneering endeavour is pretty much piecemeal and dispassionate. Any great work of art is driven by both passion as well as skill, and Raja Ravi Varma's illustrious paintings and lithographs stand testimony to his greatness. But the same does not hold true for Ketan Mehta's cinematic endeavour. The film, which has been adapted from Ranjit Desai's Marathi biography of Raja Ravi Varma (played by Randeep Hooda), does a fragmented job of probing multiple themes — artistic freedom, religious bigotry, the hierarchical caste and class divides. The narrative fleshes out those themes by serving up the sub-plot of a career prostitute Suganda (Nandana Sen), who dares to surrender herself (for posterity's sake) completely to the man and the artist she loves and trusts. She becomes his muse and he her salvation, but the artist's agnosticism ruffles too many feathers in the caste and class hierarchy for the love story to find a 'happy ever after' ending. That's the tragedy! The story is narrated in flashbacks by Ravi Varma's no less illustrious protégé Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, later revered as the father of Indian cinema. Set in his hometown Killimanoor, Kerala, the first half is replete with hedonism and flirtations where the painter marries a princess, gets embroiled in a sexual encounter with a lowly maid and is banished from the palace by the new raja. There's a distinct lack of tension, authenticity appears suspect and performances are not tight or passionate enough — save for the two lead stars, who showcase their earnestness but are unable to make the experience richer or completely engaging. Cinematographer Anil Mehta colours his cinematic compositions with a vibrant palette, but it just doesn't amount to enough. The depiction of passion through coital positions and partial nudity also fails to heighten the experience. This is a film that needed much more flamboyance and grip—that which Ketan Mehta doesn't appear able enough to provide in what appears to be the autumn of his cinematic career.
Film: Rang Rasiya Director: Ketan Mehta Cast: Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen, Feryna Wazeir, Paresh Rawal, Jim Boeven Rating:
***
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No gravitational pull The earth is getting uninhabitable, what with crop failure and ecological devastation. Hence humans have to find an alternative which means space travellers need to go through a 'worm-hole' to save humanity. That's what Interstellar is all about. But for starters it is 'terra firma' or solid earth we begin with. Former NASA pilot and widower Cooper (Matthew McConughy) lives in the countryside with his father-in-law (John Lightgow) and his two kids Tom (Carrey Affleck) and precocious Murph (Jessica Chastian) who is bugged by the presence of a ghost in the library. Then one not-so-fine morning Cooper and Murph cross a metal fence and on the other side they are nabbed by a group of NASA folk who seem to be waiting for former pilot Cooper to send him into space 'to save the world'. Among them are old Prof Brand (Michael Caine) and his bright and beautiful daughter Amelia (Anne Hathaway). Cooper is reluctantly put on a spaceship along with Amelia, Romilly (David Gyasi) and Doyle (Wes Bently). Gravity is a major issue they have to contend with and one hears a good deal of mumbo-jumbo. Director Christopher Nolan whose establishing shots are quite effective then uses visual effects man Paul Frenton for the space travel. But this aspect get rather repetitive, unlike Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey where less is more. The last quarter just drags on annoyingly. The meeting of twain stories, space and earth lacks credibility and that's putting it mildly but this does not affect the performances. Matthew McConaughy is good but Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastian are even better while Matt Damon makes his entry halfway into the film. Michael Caine is a pale shadow of his former self. See it only if you haven't anything better to do. Film: Interstellar Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Matthew McConnaughy, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastian & Matt Damon Rating:
**
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11:25pM movies now Final Destination 5 is a horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by Steven Quale. It is the fifth installment of the Final Destination franchise. It stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta. ZEE CINEMA 11:04AM Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi 5:05PM Bhai 8:00PM Tirangaa STAR GOLD 12:15PM De Dana Dan 9:00PM Makkhi 11:30PM Billu ZEE CLASSIC 12:39PM Farz 8:00PM Classic Legends (Season 3) : Yash Chopra 9:00PM Naseeb MOVIES NOW 10:30AM Titanic 6:05PM Independence Day 9:00PM Battleship 11:25PM Final Destination 5 MOVIES OK 10:55AM Housefull 1:45PM Bobby Jasoos 4:20PM Main Hoon Na 8:00PM Kick 11:05PM Shootout at Lokhandwala SAHARA ONE 12:00PM Atishbaz 6:00PM Tejasvini 9:00PM Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny ZEE STUDIO 11:15AM Shrek Forever After 6:20PM Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 9:05PM Shutter Island 11:50PM Tropic Thunder FILMY 12:30PM Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... 8:00PM Teleshopping 8:30PM Sherni STAR MOVIES 11:30AM Terminator 2: Judgment Day 6:30PM Iron Man 3 9:00PM Men in Black 3 11:25AM movies ok Humshakals is a Bollywood comedy film directed by Sajid Khan and produced by Vashu Bhagnani. Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh are in triple roles. ZEE CINEMA 11:03AM Ramaiya Vastavaiya 2:12PM Hum Saath Saath Hain 5:50PM Mujhse Shaadi Karogi 9:00PM Ek Aur Ek Gyarah STAR GOLD 9:15AM Dhadkan 12:25PM Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 9:00PM Singham Returns ZEE CLASSIC 10:02AM Gaon Hamara Shaher Tumhara 4:39PM Bobby 8:00PM Classic Legends (Season 3) Sanjeev Kumar 9:00PM Prem Rog MOVIES OK 11:25AM Humshakals 2:30PM Black Water 4:25PM Haathi Mere Saathi 8:00PM Singham 11:00PM The Fighterman Saleem ZEE STUDIO 10:15AM Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 3:15PM Kung Fu Panda 2 5:00PM Paranormal Activity 2 7:05PM Tropic Thunder 9:05PM Wreck-it Ralph 11:15PM Mission Impossible II FILMY 12:30PM Malamaal Weekly 5:00PM Raaj Tilak 8:30PM Indra: The Tiger STAR MOVIES 10:30AM The Incredible Hulk 1:00PM Monsters University 3:00PM Thor 2: The Dark World 5:00PM The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 7:00PM Jurassic Park III 9:00PM Monsters University 11:00PM Fast & Furious 6
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I was then still a judge in the Delhi High Court. The situation outside was so horrible because mobs were going round Delhi targeting Sikhs — there was a total absence of law and order. Such was the unchecked situation that one of my colleagues in the Delhi High Court, a Sikh judge, and his family were accommodated in the lounge of the High Court as we could not assure them safety and protection in their home, which was less than 1 km from the High Court. The shame of this helplessness still haunts me.
Saturday November 8
Sunday November 9