Government scared of People: A rare sight

This is an important time for India and her people - both men and women.

This is not just standing up for women's right where rape only angers the female species. Even a man will be a father and a husband to someone - so will he wait for the "rarest of the rare" rape category to happen before he is assured that the rapist will be awarded a death sentence?

So as the country assembles at one of its most prestigious monuments, the India Gate, New Delhi, the government, media and the police gets a feel of the very people it hopes to subdue with the "system". Surprisingly, the media is supporting the cops - "They (the cops) had to fire cannons, because the public was pelting stones at them." Will someone ask why the people had to pelt in the first place?

Rahul Gandhi says that emotions cannot drive decisions. What is that even supposed to mean? Wait a minute, I know what he means. He means that we must all go home and sit and watch Dabang 2 and wait for the government to draft some anti-rape laws... like punishing rapists on "rarest of the rare cases".

The court is sentencing 14 days' jail to the rapists until identification and confession, under strict protection because the government is afraid if the people get hold of these rapists then they will kill the latter. It is interesting to note that for once, in our country the government and police are afraid of the people. Also interesting is the paradox: the police are now protecting rapists against the people.

Amid all this, people are asking the quintessential question: whether mob should drive political laws? Whether or not this is a case of democracy going in to the anarchy mode? I have a question for these people: Imagine what that rape victim must have gone through that she is still in the ICU even after a week, and cannot walk. The doctor today said she needed more stitches. Is this a picture of democracy?

The government should understand that people are, by definition, driven by apathy and indifference. When that basic shred of dignity is threatened, there will be violence, unrest and these protests. I am not justifying this. But then this has happened and we must analyze as to why people are driven to this point. Hopefully, we should find our answers there. All they care is about their right to life and luxury. The government cannot take this for granted. They cannot take forever to draft laws that must be for the protection of women's safety - it could be your mother or my sister.

I think India must have gone to protest the very day when the first public rape had come to light. If not for the anger of we, the people, this case would again be sidelined - by the media and the government who by default, loves to procrastinate. And we Indians, know that better.

Delhi Rape Case: "She Deserved it" ?

Ours is a nation where a rape occurs every 22 minutes. And only 25% of the reported rapists get convicted.

As usual, there is a huge public outcry about the Delhi rape case. MP Jaya Bachchan speaking out loud about the case, and about the victim, ".. while the media and press will forget this incident in weeks, months, the girl is scarred for life." MP Ram Jethmalani said, "If you want the Capital (of India) to be crime-free, then first take out the biggest criminal out of the Capital: Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar."

This case has opened up a Pandora's box: from the way a woman dresses, to whether or not she should go out with male friends to watch movies at 8PM, to the police system in India that actually promotes crime, to the way men treat women as sex objects to the loose legal fabric in India concerning rape and molestation to Bollywood women gyrating to sleazy songs that actually encourage men to see women as nothing but objects of sex.

This Reuters blog post caught my attention. Why is there a huge outcry about the cultural values of Indian woman? What kind of a country can have the moral right to even question this? The kind of country that makes a heroine out of porn stars (Sunny Leone)? The kind of people who will make super-stars out of people like Katrina Kaif that have zero acting capabilities but huge tits? The kind of people who flock to the theatres to watch movies just because of item songs? Will these people determine how a woman should dress-up and whether or not she must watch movies with a male friend or not? Or will they decide if she should have a boyfriend? Will they decide when to punish her for her "indulgence"?

Not all women are fueled by insecurity to dress less and show more skin to attract more movies, more money and more fame, or even more guys. A woman could dress up to feel beautiful. Is this the way to appreciate a woman's physical beauty? If the entire society has no problem with pre-marital sex, who stands up and says that the girl should not have stepped out to watch movies with a male friend or acquaintance? Why the pretense?

Then there's the curious case of the involvement of police officers in their areas. A police officer, is by default, the image of power to common people like us. In Delhi, this is the "system": Walk in to a police station, place 50 grands on the table and tell the cop that you're going to murder someone. There won't be a FIR against you.

And let's say you the aggrieved party, you'll discover that most cops across Maharashtra (the most law and orderly state in the country) do not know how to draft a FIR. Cops in Mumbai do not know the difference between a FIR and NCR (Non-Cognizable Report). This is based out of my own personal experience from cops and courts and all things dirty.

It seems that Ram Jethmalani indeed has a point. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar are to be blamed. Over the past couple of days, some people in my interaction have come to believe that the Indian society needs to adopt the Deterrent Type of Punishment: In the areas where a rape has occurred, publicly shoot the head inspector. The next person who occupies that office, will be scared. As far as the men (lack of a better word) who rape and think they can get away with it, are concerned, they must be publicly castrated or shot. At India Gate.

I have personally never been able to reason to myself if I support death penalty, or if I would endorse a gory punishment - even to those who deserve it. Perhaps it is the stupid romantic in me. There are some who said that they would want to set themselves on fire right in front of the President of India's residence - just to convey the thought that a life of a basic integrity in this country is so impossible.

Who are the real culprits? We are. We take it lying down.

"Where you live should not decide/ Whether you live/ or Whether you Die...
Three to a Bed/ Sister Ann she says/ Dignity Passes By...."
- U2

Women's Rights, Human Rights: A Joke?

This is the true story of a girl from a town in Rewari, Haryana, fighting for her right to life in Mumbai.

Dolly Dabla turned turned 18 years old this August. She was three years old when her mother died due to a prolonged fever. The reasons for her death still remain uncertain to this very day. Shortly after, Dolly's father remarried.

Her step-mother was not comfortable, it seems, to have a three-year-old Dolly stay with her father and his new family. The step-mother had three kids from a previous marriage, who were accepted by Dolly's father. But Dolly was not allowed a mother or a real family. So it was decided that she stay with relatives from her paternal side, namely, her paternal grandmother, aunt (elder sister of her father), and uncles- Chachaji and Tauji. Her paternal grand mother expired soon.

Dolly's maternal aunts and grand parents asked her father to hand over the child's custody to them, assuring him that they will take good care of her. But her paternal aunt and father refused.

Domestic Violence & Abuse
As Dolly grew up, she was subjected to verbal abuse on a daily basis. Her younger paternal uncle (Chachaji) even beat her up occasionally  She was made to do all household work from a very young age. She used to cook food for everybody in the family: from preparing vegetables to chapatis. The family didn't have a proper gas system, so she made food on a chulha. Her aunt's son, who is in his early 20's is often picked up the local cops for suspected role in thievery and burglary.

Irregular School Fees
Dolly's father paid a certain amount to her paternal aunt (Buaji) and uncle (Tauji) as school fees. Most of the time they didn't submit the fees. There were arrears of her school fees and her Principal said that the admission would be cancelled due to that. Dolly mentioned this to her father, and he then started submitting school fees directly to the school. This angered her Tauji and he sued Dolly's father, his own brother, for not giving money. So the father started giving money back to the family for her school fees in order to avoid litigation. The family now became a little more careful, and started paying school fees on time, more or less.

For her Board Exam fees, her school friend's father paid around INR10,000/- for Dolly's fees or she would not have been allowed a seat in 10th Standard.

Lack of Support for Education
Dolly chose Commerce stream for her 11th and 12th Standard. She needed some additional support in the form of coaching classes or tuition for Accounts. Her Buaji and Tauji refused that. Since she did all the household work, from cooking to washing utensils and cleaning, she hardly had enough time or energy to concentrate on her studies. Nobody took her education seriously. It was only a mere formality to them since they were paid "school fees" by her father.

Her Daily Routine
She woke up early morning to attend school and began her day by making morning tea for everyone in the house. She was then permitted to get ready for school. She was not given breakfast or lunch by her aunt. When she requested her aunt to at least give her a glass of milk in the morning, the latter replied, "Go and ask your father to pay first." ("Jaake Apne baap se bol ki paise de.")

So the girl went empty stomach to school. Sometimes, when she had the money for lunch during school recess, she'd eat in the school canteen. Most of the times, she'd be too depressed to eat and would often skip lunch.

She would come back home after school and was made to prepare lunch for everyone. Tired and hungry, she did as told. Then after lunch, she'd clean the house - the usual dusting, sweeping and mobbing. As the evening dawned, she'd make dinner for everyone in the night. Sometimes, when she finished preparing dinner early, she'd watch TV. But Buaji would switch off the TV and scold her for completing the work too soon.

Daily Humiliation & Insults
Dolly's identity in the house was that of a maid. She was repeatedly humiliated in front of everyone in the neighbourhood for all the work that she did. In fact, in metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai, people treat maids with respect, for the fear that they might never turn up again. But this was not the case with Dolly. She was treated much worse than a maid servant, for, the family knew there was no place and no one she could go to.

This year, on her eighteenth birthday, her Tauji told her, "It would have been better if I had petted a dog, instead of raising you." ("Tujh se acha toh mai kisi kutte ko paal leta") Dolly's father was sitting right next to him and he didn't say a word.

Negligence of Health
Earlier this year, her menstrual cycle continued for three months. There was constant bleeding and she felt very weak due to this continued loss of blood from the body. Her Buaji did not take her to the doctor; she instead called a witch-doctor (as she had done when Dolly's mother had taken ill after child-birth). That did nothing to improve her condition (nor her mother's, leading to her death). She suffered from excruciating pain and loss of blood. Even in that condition she was made to do all household work. Her face became pale-yellow due to loss of blood and no nutrition.

Complete Forced Isolation- No contact with maternal relatives or friends
She was not allowed to talk to anyone in the neighbourhood or even have female friends.

Her maternal aunt (Maasi) wanted to keep her with her for a few days during her school vacations, but Dolly's Buaji refused. She was only allowed to meet her maternal uncle (Mamaji) for 1-2 days in Delhi. Those days were relieving for her and often, she didn't feel like returning to her Buaji's place. Her Mamaji and his wife used to pamper her and care for her. They also noticed her torn clothes and shoes in which she'd come to visit them. They often asked Dolly if she was alright, and she would not say a word.

Then, consequently, these meetings stopped. For the past 1-2 years, she was denied meeting even her Mamaji. Buaji took away her phone and forbid her to be in touch with any one. She didn't have any contact with anyone for the past two years.

Attempted Suicide
In 2009, sad from constant taunts and verbal abuse, mental torture on a routine basis, Dolly decided to end her life.  Since she had no one to talk to or share her problems with anyone, she saw no other option. She took sleeping pills and was unconscious for two days. Even then, her Buaji or Tauji did not take her to the doctor, perhaps due to the fear of disclosure.

Her situation was getting worse and it was impossible for her to carry on.

Her Journey to Mumbai
In September this year, Dolly left her house and came to her Maasi's place in Mumbai. In that one meeting she had with her Maasi and her daughters couple of years ago, she felt like she could also be happy like the rest of teenage children. She realized that if she stayed with her paternal family or step-mother, she would end her life eventually. She decided she deserved a life full of dignity and self-respect. Having a natural aptitude to sketch and paint, she wants to become a painter or a Chartered Accountant. So she decided that there was a place in the world she could go to, and someone could listen to her plight and support her. She mentioned every bit of her story to her Maasi and her family. They were shocked.

They called her father, and informed him about his daughter's condition. He was more shocked at his daughter's journey rather than the news of her daughter's attempted suicide and pathetic living conditions.

Reality remains that he is too meek to stand up for his daughter's rights. Her step mother is not willing to let her stay with her family, and Dolly fears for her life and her safety in their presence. So she knew she had to decide and take a step. Mumbai was the only answer.

Her Maasi and her family is very understanding and caring. They don't even want any money from her father to raise her, or for her education.They are willing and more than ready to provide for her and care for her, her education, and mostly, her life. Her Maasi is still moved by the death of her younger sister (Dolly's mother) and would not want to lose her daughter. They have allowed Dolly's father to visit her in Mumbai as and when he pleases.

To be on the right side of law, they got Dolly write and sign a Non-Conformation Report (NCR) with the local police (in Thane), who took her statement that she was in Mumbai of her own will and wanted to stay with Maasi's family. The cops supported her, after they heard the entire story.

Women's Rights and Criminal Intimidation
When Dolly arrived at her Maasi's place in Mumbai, the latter called and informed her father. They even asked him to come over and meet her and decide her fate. He visited her after 10 days and went back, only to get his aunt and brother to Mumbai to threaten and intimidate Maasi's family.

It seems they had a connection in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), named Naresh Indora. Mr. Indora called the local police station in Thane and leveraged his professional might, and asked them to systematically harass Maasi's family. The cops now acted out of fear and "orders" from Mr. Naresh Indora. Naresh Indora's mother accompanied the aunt and the brothers as a fake Dadi (paternal grand-mother) and lied to the cops as to how much she missed her grand-daughter and how in such cold weather she had come all the way to Mumbai to save her grand-daughter from the evil clutches of her Maasi.

When contacted by the cops, Maasi's family came to them yet again, and clarified the entire matter. After questioning Dolly, they understood the matter and asserted the girl's freedom to stay where she pleased. Hearing this, CBI Officer Naresh Indora's mother threatened - in front of the Mumbai cops - that she would get Maasi's daughters kidnapped and raped, overnight.

Two days ago, they grilled this 18 year old girl to death, taking her statements - yet again. The cops say they are acting "under pressure" from CBI Officer Naresh Indora.

The young girl will appear for her Board exams in Feb-March 2013 and this is the ordeal that she is made to face.

I googled Women's Cell help unit in Thane, Mumbai just to extend support to this kid, and to my surprise there are none. The contact numbers are not picked up. Websites asking for supporting the girl child and women's rights have 'Donate Now" options on their front page, rather than having a toll-free number or hotline to assist needy or urgent cases. Seems like help is almost impossible to come by for a woman or a kid in distress. I urge the readers to assist Dolly Dabla in her fight against inhumanity, and the legal system being polluted by the likes of CBI officers like Naresh Indora.

Such is the state of women and girl child in India. Simply by wearing jeans and allowed night-shifts in a male dominated industry doesn't make a woman liberated or modern. I think there's more to it. It is not even about women's liberation. It is about humanity and the right to life, right to dignity.

I know this story because I am at the centre of it, but I often wonder how many such stories are there in far-off places like U.P. and Haryana. And if there's some way in which we can reach these exploited women and offer them help - and above all, hope - let's do it..

Movie Review: Life of Pi

So here's the recipe:

Combine author Yann Martel's simplistic yet though provoking tone, laced with well timed humour;

Ang Lee's ('Brokeback Mountain'; 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') gift to tell the absurd in the most exquisite way;

Rhythm and Hues studio's ('X-Men: First Class')gift of presenting the marvel in the marvellous;

Claduio Miranda's skill of the camera, identifying the points that make all the difference to story-telling

And the Tiger.... the tiger, with all his glory, and ferocity, regality...

... and you'll get a wonderful cinematic experience.

For those who thought Martel's book by the same name was over-rated, this film might seem the same. But if you paid attention to how the story unfolds, the parallelism between the book and script was beautifully maintained by Ang Lee - unlike Harry Potter movies.

The movie belongs to the book. Ang Lee has just provided an imagination to the book. The best actor in the film is the Tiger, of course; closely followed by Suraj Sharma (some guys have all the luck; getting to shoot with such a magnificent creature [I'm referring to the Tiger, and yeah, Ang Lee, of course])

The film is well balanced on the 3-D front, though personally am not a big fan of the format. After James Cameron came out with Avatar in 3-D, everyone decided the format was a recipe to success regardless of the film content that actually warrants for it or not. This film's content does justice to the format. The cinematography is beautiful, the visual effects studio understood what Lee means when he's the story-teller, letting every frame flow. Some moments are captured really well and that's what a film is remembered for.

The film may remind you of 'The Perfect Storm' when the ocean's bosom rises with a warning, warranting nothing but a spectacle of helplessness. Perhaps Suraj Sharma was briefed that his outing in the ocean must be as sincere and convincing as Tom Hank's performance in 'Cast Away'. He tried. Tabu and Irrfan Khan are okay; but Adil Hussain remains noticeable yet again, after a successful performance in 'English Vinglish'.

It's a great story even for the kids as much as it is for adults. The perennial dilemma about god, and faith, doubt, and the pain of loss as it fully dawns, is something everyone identifies with. But that credit goes to Yann Martel for writing such a book. And to Ang Lee as well, for being so committed to the story.

Movie Review: Cloud Atlas

Watch this film for the first time, and you'll know that you'll want to watch it again. The film is elemental: touching from the core of the abstracts of a great story, concept, creativity, substance and message to the crude essentials of film-making - great direction, an engaging cinematography, meaty script (adapted from a book by the same name by David Mitchell, who is also credited as the writer on the film) and a haunting soundtrack. Yes, this film is intoxicating.

The film tests one's patience as the gravity of the stories unfold, making the film an experience in itself. As the connections become clearer, one cannot help but anticipate the climax that's justly rewarding. Some may find the preaching getting heavier, and uncalled for, towards the end. But then, cinema is all about drama. And this drama is captivating, to say the least.

The stories are complex, brilliantly intertwined and yes, they demand and deserve your complete attention. Seven lifetimes and stories keep interchanging across time, asking you the question what truly lasts forever. If you're excited by alternate realities and parallel universes, then this film will entertain you to no end. Even if you see it as a linear story-telling, the message will find a way right into you. It is that simple, too. 

The stories are intense, with a stellar soundtrack to accompany it. I think this movie will win an Oscar in the Best Make-Up category. You just have to see Tom Hank's avatars to believe their brilliance and creative bent. Visually stunning (that is a given, considering the fact that these guys gave us the Matrix!) and remarkably compelling, the tone of the film is set to move you.

This is an adventure of film-making itself, with directors Lana and Andy Wachowski (the illuminating 'Matrix' film series) and Tom Tykwer ('Run Lola, Run' and the amazing 'Perfume: Story of a Murderer') and actors like Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, who prove that they were born for stuff made up of celluloid.

This is an expensive film, made on a budget of around $102 million. It is also an ambitious film: attempting to connect everything, six lifetimes with an ensemble of a superb cast that is creatively and challengingly recycled. The film is a must-watch for the dedicated performances of seasoned actors like Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant (surprise, surprise), Hugo Weaving and Jim Broadbent. Even the new generation of actors like Jim Sturgess and Ben Winshaw (the actor shows us he's more than just "cute" - one is reminded of a younger Leonardo DiCaprio when the latter started out as an eye-candy in Titanic to being one of the most dedicated actors of our time) bring a lot of energy on the screen.

The film explores your heart, filling you with myriad emotions without a warning. To me, the film is a brilliant synergy-- a connection with sincere performances, adept storytelling and a scintillating soundtrack, that accompanies every emotion with élan and depth. It is truly a timeless masterpiece. Strange that mortal men, with all their faults and shortcomings, can come up with something so compellingly pure and inspiring.

Movie Review: Skyfall

I'm almost beginning to feel sorry for Daniel Craig's Bond. Seems like for his Bond, resurrection has become a loop he can't break free from. Casino Royale, besides being one of the best Bond films ever, also made us watch the immaculate British spy tendering his resignation as he romanced the love of his life in Venice.

As he is placed face to face with her betrayal, we see that James Bond has indeed become what he is renowned for: detachment as right as rain. And we hope that our beloved British spy never has to rise from these dark depths ever again.

But alas, Sam Mendes forces him down into oblivion, over a mistaken shot - completely authorized and abetted by if you please, by Judi Dench's M. Bond, as detached and calculative as he is, is not meant to "lose it all" as he even drowns with that mistaken bullet, with the full knowledge of M's insistence on it. If he does, then he wouldn't be the spy he is meant to be. For all we know, Bond could have been the next in line to the same metamorphosis a previous British agent (the villain Silva) had,  after being dejected in M's judgment. I am hoping this is what the director had in mind - telling us that this Bond has the streak of a hero in him. But I always believed Bond to be more than a hero or an anti-hero.

In GoldenEye, a Russian villain tries to kill Pierce Brosnan, and when the tables turn, he begs of him, "Please don't kill me. It's nothing personal. I am just a professional." Brosnan's Bond shoots him, and replies, "So am I."

Frankly, am tired of seeing him resurrect and find himself through shoddy scripts - I'd want to see his expertise of killing, judgment and action through a script that acknowledges the true potential of his character.

Skyfall, in another way, tries to mould Craig's Bond and not put his character to test really. We are bored of seeing his fundamentals being put to test again and again. Craig's Bond is three movies old; six years this man spends training preparing for his character and moves, and all that he gets in return is his faith in profession and M tested. Can't he simply have a plot where we see his professional excellence? Even that would be evolution of character.

The film is visually stunning and innovative in certain parts - but then, that's expected of a stage director. The film is brilliant in pieces, but one waits for the plot to unfold even till the interval. There's one plus point for Sam Mendes, as he does the impossible: something I never hoped I'd live to see in a Bond film- quoting Alfred Tennyson's poetry. This is the second surprise. The first one was when Martin Campbell's Bond was writing his resignation letter, being in love.

There are several cliches in the film, "There's a storm coming," and "That's how we got things done in the old days," said by Albert Finney, as he lays down a knife besides not so impressive display of guns. One is delighted to see him, but then the final face-off between Dench and Bardem lacks the chutzpah and Finney's addition to the cast seems bland. There are no scorching sarcasms, or witty dialogues between M and Bond - something every Bond fan looks forward to.

Ben Winshaw as the new QuarterMaster, has our attention, but he still has a lot to prove besides his perfectly gelled hair. His self professed love for codes is not really impressive in the film, as Silva continues to hack MI-6's secure system. Javier Bardem's villany is effective, yet lost towards the end. He simply doesn't seem the hacker type.

The Bond women are not too impacting. Bérénice Marlohe's character is in question entirely: was she really needed? Then, Naomie Harris - as a well toned field agent who messes the shot (literally) and throws Bond off the train and off his professional curve - is hard to imagine as Moneypenny.

It is sad to see M gone, but then one feels relieved for her too, for, if this is the way of the Bond now, still struggling to get a foothold, having relapses even after 3 films' old, then she deserves a break. So do we.