DEFENDERS SEEK HELP

Highlighting the plight of ex-servicemen, especially wives of deceased personnel, several hundreds former soldiers and officers protest silently.

This chapter is about the plight of those people who battle it out on the borders, keeping awake, protecting the country from any kind of foreign invasion. They are the men and women who work for the Indian Armed forces. The job that these people do is higher in comparison to any other jobs. They work in inhuman conditions, live through snow and rain, survive on minimum food, barely see their families, do not enjoy the pleasures of a luxurious life and yet they work for the country and towards the betterment of the same.

They do so much but what do they get? The plight of the ex-servicemen is in a terrible condition. Newspapers flashes with the poor state of these people when they retire are quite common. Every few days there is an article talking about ex-servicemen either selling their medals, returning the same, staging dharnas etc. With a meager pension which does not suffice and cannot support their living, they move to such methods so that someone could hear them. And they are hearing, no doubt. But in a way that leaves them frustrated or anguished so badly that their self esteem and pride that they had been carrying for so long, comes shattering down.

Politicians here them out but in their own fashion. As the media goes about hyping the plight of the ex-servicemen, politicians lend them a deaf ear, pull out a few reforms on a temporary basis and then go back to their sweet slumber. This is ‘amazing’, as little do the politicians realise what these servicemen have gone through.

Deeply hit by the careless attitude, they continue to stage protests in their own silent ways, hoping that one day things would change for the good in their favour, until then they continue to adopt to desperate measures like retuning their medals which ‘were’ the symbol of pride to them.

MY ALEX CLASS: IT TOOK A WILD SHAPE-FANTASY

An ordinary day and an ordinary class…yes it was boring, like I was any surprised. I always said I needed a moment which could inspire me to write anything, and then it was….

Alex Chandy, my sports journalism lecturer, was talking about sports…or wait, was it about cricket. It seemed to me and many more that he was somehow obsessed with cricket only. He talked about people from cricket, cricket endorsements, cricket ads, cricket jersey, cricket, cricket, and cricket.

Then I thought, maybe I was wrong in thinking that there were other sports in the world too!

Luckily, to break my chain of thoughts came the Commonwealth Games. It saved the day for us…no that’s what we all thought, until that became his next obsession…and while he preached on my friend Flora said, “Sir, you mean ‘commonless’ games?” obviously not loud!

He told us that we should follow the news about this ‘commonless’ games which somehow a few of us were doing. All that inefficiency of the government and the horrible lack of management show how wonderfully it has been planned. Delhi is in a mess and the people are at their wits end bearing the nuisance each day! It is all about the big words, big money and no use! Nonetheless, hope continues that one day it would be good. Hope, it aways remains, work shall follow anyway!

Then the topic moved on to money. This time it was about how the media earns huge chunks of money from sports. Or maybe even the other way round. It’s always about money isn’t it?

Cricket followed again. My chain of thoughts started running again. This time I wondered if he had any idea about any other sports. Then I thought it has been just two classes let’s wait a little longer. What’s the harm?

I caricatured him, kept writing about what he was speaking, being barely interested in what the class was all about because somehow I could not consider it as sports journalism but cricket journalism.

I am not really fond of cricket sorry sports journalism so there was a minimum interest I had towards the class. This interest came to end with his closing speech on how sports journalism was important with examples mainly from the world of cricket.

Everyone around me thought what was so interesting about the class that I was taking down notes of what my Sir spoke. I just held up the caricature and said, “This is what it was all about!”

REFORM TO HISTORY ITSELF

There’s a famous quote by people who don’t like to study and it goes: I was born intelligent but education ruined me! Little do I wish they had seen ‘Freedom Writers’ they would never say this again.

Chaos in the world never ends. Neither did it then nor will it now. There is so much unrest in the world that no one finds time to rest. At a time, especially then where the world (here, America) was dealing with a crisis involving many things like identity, space, land and most of all lives, someone had to take a step forward.

Mending someone’s life at their own cost is indeed a deed which requires much courage and valour. It needs selflessness and a kind and open heart. Ms. Erin Gruwell did exactly that. She reformed the lives of a lot of students by giving up her own life and joys.

The methods employed by her were appropriate and precise. Though they were at some point child-like but they favoured the then situation very well. To teach a 14 or a 15 year old kid, something beyond manners, in fact a way to live life itself was a tough challenge which she accomplished pretty well.

Binding anyone with love is not very difficult. When it comes to men it becomes easier because everyone has a weak corner somewhere. In this movie the kids have seen a lot more than they are supposed to and have done things way beyond imagination. Gang war conflicts have affected them young. Due to panic and fear, which surrounds them, these kids restore to methods which take their lives away.

In a situation like this, hearing them out was important. Understanding what they were going through was essential to take a step towards their welfare. At the same time, making them aware of the fact that the problem they shared was common to a lot many was equally important.

Providing information, making them aware of the situation and the commonalities they shared, teaching them through personal or inspirational life experiences was a wonderful way to change minds.

There was enough hatred in the minds and hearts of these youngsters and stooping down to their levels, being a kid herself was what the situation had called for. She did exactly that. Talking about the trips she had taken her students to was also a wonderful idea. It helped them in moving to places where they could see and learn things which told a story like their own but in a different manner.

A new place, good environment, a beautiful ambience, helped the students see a brighter side of life. All these put together helped them reform their life and also many others which were to come. It helped them speak the truth and stand up for the right.

A story which went down well in the pages of history, reformed lives and thus created a revolution. It was a one woman show but it was indeed a collective effort.

ALL IT TAKES IS A GOOD DEED!!

It was a sight. Not like any other but neither one I had never seen. They were all there. Puffing it out, some to show off and some thinking it was too cool….

And I stood there for a while watching and thinking. Wasn’t it just for a little money? Just money worth one cigarette!

I wasn’t sure if I should take the lead and go about it. Then I did it. I went forth. I walked up to the shopkeeper. At first it felt awkward. I thought what my people would think if they saw me here. Then I thought-why should I care. I am indeed helping that poor soul.

So I went over to him and said can I buy a pack of biscuits? He gave me a weird look and then said- yes, sure! I bought them, walked over and put them on the ground, stepped aside and waited….

Finally the dog put away its fear and moved close to the biscuits. Still watchful, it ate them up quickly. I stood there for a little more time, watched it eat them and then smiled at it and walked away.

And as I was walking away I was thinking, when people spend more than hundreds each month to reduce their lives, why not spend a little and save someone’s?? Does it take so much to help someone?

It is always about taking a step forward but we don’t do it most of the times. Why, either we think our people would laugh at us or that it is just not necessary! Making a move is vital, not appreciation.

As it is said, do good…the rest will follow….

T o me, I still see Timber around and it feels good….that is the good that follows….atleast to me..!!

THE NIGHT

As the night crawls up and the eyes go blind, I walk through those lanes. Everything is pitch black, so much so that this time my shadow betrayed me too. All that I could see was blindness around me. The stones shone like radium stars fallen from the nuclear sky. And I kept walking…….

There were no lights that would help me see myself. It was just an eerie silence which walked with me and kept me company along with the noise of my own footsteps. Now I seemed to be a part of the dark and melted away with it. Then there was more noise and noise beyond my footsteps…..Yes, I saw people. But alas, this was an illusion too. I thought I saw a few people pass by, but it was just a representation of the marked outline of the dark which had engulfed me throughout. They passed by without noticing me.

Yes, I was not only walking in the dark but was now a part of the same.

Then it was something I could see and this time beyond the dark. Sooner this betrayed me too. It was the beam of that bright light which hurt me in my eyes and forced them to close as it silently mocked at me and passed away. What remained was my blindness and the dark which caused it.

I live in that world and walk down that path and then think….how I wish the colours that people define existed in my world too. Nevertheless, my darkness always walks with me.

The ‘dump yard’ of MU??

Courses today don’t work on one’s intelligence but on the amount of money the students’ parents have in their pockets or on the ease of the same. Indeed I, who happens to be a student of MIC, sadly agree to this. Like I have another choice and option.

Communication course isn’t all that easy. It requires a lot of hard work, spontaneity, creativity, apt and precise mind etc. It also has a lot of field work. Interviewing someone is not a cake walk.

I don’t say that other courses don’t require it but this in reality is the mentality or the viewpoint of a lot of other students in various other courses. We have students pouring in from MIT, MUTD to name just two. These students claim to move into MIC because they could not stand the work load and the severity of other courses. As if joining in MIC have done them any good.

It is a pitiful sight. Students, parents’ and lecturers, all of them suffer. Students hardly attend classes. They have to give re-tests or re-do their assignments because either they did not follow what was to be done (obviously due to their absence in classes) or they simply did not do it.

It is so unfair on the part of the administration to allow such students. It not only increases unnecessary competition of seats among genuine students, it also discourages them. Moreover, a lot of these students don’t really bring in good habits with them. Not only are they spoilt, they also spoil others too. It is undeniably said, one bad fish spoils the entire pond.

Talking about their behavior can be another field of research! The traits they carry are worth studying. To be a little optimistic about this whole issue, a handful of students do carry a positive air of doing some good to themselves, college, fellow classmates and their parents too. But an entrance exam of character, now who is going to take that?

This trend will continue no matter what. As long as there are vacant seats, money and students of this kind, this trend shall never die. All I can hope is that some day the administration would realise that it’s high time to decrease the unnecessary competition among genuine students and let only the worthy claim the field. Let it not be yet another replica of the ‘reservations’!

THE THEN AND THE NOW!

……Article 136 Special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court

It wasn’t like the Indian Parliament thankfully where the ruling and the opposition parties got off their chairs, screamed at each other and made it impossible to continue the proceedings. This took place in a rather peaceful way.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India.

(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.

Indeed a codified language to understand. But in simple words it means that any case which is pending, under stay order or running in a lower court can be taken to the Supreme Court by applying for a special leave petition. This however cannot be done in cases of Armed forces as they fall under an entirely different category. A simple article yet complicated, just like any other issue in India.

When the makers of the Constitution framed this article wonder how much would they have thought? It was undeniably very thoughtful of them to frame this article but little would they have realised how it grew on the nerves of the Supreme Court now. With the Supreme Court having enough cases to solve already, this article proves to be a burden on it.

Taking the example of the latest case which took place on the 20^th of March, 2010, the Supreme Court finally gave a verdict. Not officially but it did mention about it. A bench consisting of Justices Markandey Katju and R.M. Lodha, pointed out that Article 136 was not meant to be an ordinary forum of appeal at all. They quoted that in the year 2009, 70,000 cases were pending in the Supreme Court of which most were SLP’s which originated from Article 136.

The nature of Article 136 is very similar to Article 226 which is a long article running into four clauses. It talks about the power of High Courts to issue certain writs like habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari. This means that the High courts can take charge of certain writs and give justice on the same.

Both these Articles refer to the same point that cases under certain circumstances can be sent to the Supreme Court because they are either of prime importance, haven’t had fair justice or that they have been moved in to the Supreme Court due to the SLP’s. However, it is time to stop now as the numbers of cases are increasing each day.

Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It demands certain respect and honour. It is the last and final institute where fair justice is provided which is unsatisfactory from all other lower courts. Of course justice is required by everyone but a line of demarcation is now required to prevent the overlapping and pending of cases. Long debates have taken place in the history regarding Article 136 but no amendment what so ever has been made till date.

To prevent the traffic of cases the nature of cases, their appeal, urgency and accuracy should be looked into. The courts should not offer SLP’s blindly as it burdens the highest Court. A more accurate procedure of how the cases should be dealt with should be brought up. Supreme Court must not allow cases which had absolutely no hearing in the lower courts before coming to it, to be fought in the same. It should amend only once, those cases where the High Court has given a revised judgment. All these would save time and hence allow more cases to come under it.

Cases which involve death sentence, life imprisonment, murders or kidnapping should be dealt with more precision. Intruding into Government files or official documents and national security and matters concerning the citizens should also be the priority.

Cases like frauds, theft, felony, jeopardy, defamation and so on should be dealt with on a lighter note, though these cases could have a higher intensity under certain circumstances. Family affairs including divorce, marriages, adoption of the children after divorce, acquiring of land during the split of a family, re-marriage issues etc, should be given lesser importance as in the end it could be solved either by the family or by any lower court.

However, under the category of special cases which should not be taken up by the SLP’s I would like to mention cases dealing with reservations. For a long time now India has been debating about the upliftment of the lower and backward castes or classes. There has been enormous amount of money spent on these people but in vain. There seem to be no signs of improvement as all the money does not reach them. Even if there was any improvement the cultural psychology of the Hindu society (which largely forms a major community of India) does not allow this dream to be shattered. Reservations come in the way of those people who are more efficient but lack opportunity because they are not recruited into the jobs or good openings for the “betterment of a few others!”

Another area where justice can be delayed or be dealt by a lower court is the case(s) concerning communal riots. It is a disagreeable thought that the case should not be taken up the Supreme Court but the fact remains that communal riots have been taking place due to various cultural differences and the diverse mindsets of many different people in one vicinity since times immemorial. Even after several reminders of the death tolls, loss of life and property in these riots, when people cannot stop then there is little that the Supreme Court can do. It is true that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ but many different communal riots run on the same lines. Hence, passing a judgment on the same lines, heard by a new mouth every time should not be a leisure of the Supreme Court.

All the cases mentioned above fall under one or another article of the Constitution. Being biased against any of these could go against the very rights of the Indian citizens in which case there would be more cases against law itself. Nonetheless, cases must go on and hence a demarcation needs to be prescribed. There can be a particular sequential order explaining which case should be dealt with first to prevent any kind of bias.

There are a vast number of fields where justice can be instantaneous or can be delayed. It is not in my capacity to cover all of them. However, the latest solution of having an Apex Court at the four metropolitans and keeping the present Supreme Court as the Constitutional bench at the country capital taking matters concerning only the amendment of Constitution is an excellent plan. Though cases would pile here as well, it would however, not reduce the quality of justice as the judges appointed would be under the same terms and conditions as that of the present Supreme Court. This plan could help lessen the burden on the Supreme Court and therefore all cases without any bias can be dealt with.

Past was simple, had less cases and hence it was easier to deal with them. With the increase in population, the number of cases increased as well. Hence when a toll was taken upon the Apex Court, it was recently decided that there was an amendment needed. The quality of justice is seeing poor standards in the highest court of law. Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal observed that the Supreme Court is straying away from its original character as a Constitutional Court. Hence, to retain its dignity, amendment to the Article 136 should be made and detailing the category of cases to be accepted under the SLP’s is required.

‘The then’ helped us create laws which were made for a predicted India, which has indeed changed way beyond imagination. And so it has to be amended to make ‘the now’ more habitable by providing proper justice.