a new beginning

And, I return to the platform I left nearly 6 years ago.....mixed feelings, friends are left behind, riding new waves, have taken new journeys, hope will live up to my expectations again.


A different world, unexplored paths and embellished dreams. Time to discover me again. Discovering-devika again.......

Prem`s gazab kahani- A must watch!

After so many days of the hectic schedule (from office to home n vice-versa), i was rather irritated to have an idle week-off. So instead of just passing my time i decided to go for a movie with my friends.

After much discussion we opted for the Kapoor kid- Ranbir`s latest `Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani`. His new movie had a name similar to a comic edition so it did caught our attention. However the lead pair also included Katrina Kaif who is somehow not my favourite but as i didn`t have any choice so i looked forward to have some enjoyment with my friends. As we opted for the last show at 10:45pm so after taking a heavy dinner we strolled out.

Talking about the movie i would suggest that it is a total bang and is really worth watching. Ranbir is at his best after `Wake up Sid` while Katrina is OK. You can find some similarity in some portions with the blockbuster Andaz Apna Apna of 80`s. Although the story is plain but the comedy sequences hold the audience till the very end. Coming to lyrics Pritam and Irshad Kamil have a unique chemistry which make the audience hum with the beautiful compositions.

Directed bty Rajkumar Santoshy the story revolves around a small-town with a distinct Ooty feel where Prem, a ninth-standard drop-out runs a local Happy Club. Now the story follows with the entry of the neighbourhood girl Jenny, a pretty young Christian girl who lives with her adoptive parents. they team-up and become good friends but lately he realises that he is falling for the girl, but can't muster up the courage to tell her. When Jenny's parents force her to marry an obnoxious rich boy, Prem volunteers to help. Turns out Jenny's got a boyfriend she loves, and now Prem must unite them.

So finally with all the twist and turns the movie finds a happy end giving the audience full time-pass. Ranbir Kapoor, is the brightest spot, rising above the script's many holes, occasionally even making the stupidity work. So I would suggest, go for the movie for Ranbir Kapoor whose performance alone justifies the price of the ticket.

Rediscovering the phantoms of 1984

I can see in your eyes, I can see in your faces, I can see you cry. But what I want to say, there’s no reason to cry. Do not, in the name of peace, go in the streets and riot.”- George Weah


Although I was born in 1985, tales of the 1984 riots have always haunted me. Hailing from Kanpur, which was the second worst riot-affected region after Delhi, discussions about how the Sikhs were tormented always petrified me. My father used to tell me about those painful days and horrible nights whose remembrance still brings tears in his eyes.

Imagining as to what would have happened 25 years ago is nearly impossible for me. Therefore on the 25th anniversary of Indira Gandhi’s death and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots, I decided to meet some of those who witnessed the uproar, grief, death, suffering and bloodshed. Alok Tomar, who was a reporter in Jansatta at that time, Arati Jerath, the reporter of Indian Express, and Deepak Duggal & Jasbir, businessmen who were targets of the carnage, shared their memories with me.

Alok Tomar (Editor, Datelineindia.com)

Nobody could have imagined the wrath and anger that October 31 brought with it. Alok Tomar was going to watch a movie in now defunct Chanakya theatre when, as a routine habit of a crime reporter, he called the police control room and was informed that PM Indira Gandhi had been shot dead by her Sikh guards at PM’s official residence at Safdarjang. He could not digest the idea of her being hit by 38 bullets.

He hired a taxi to AIIMS hospital and managed to see Mrs Gandhi at the 7th floor, lying lifeless. Many of the cabinet members were waiting in the conference hall of AIIMS. Rajiv Gandhi flew back from Orissa. Some of the prominent ministers urged him to take oath immediately but he insisted that his first priority was his mother who was dead. Alok then called Prabhash Joshi, his editor, and dictated to the desk the whole scenario over phone

He even witnessed the first death in the riots at around 4 pm on October 31 when, near the INA market, a sardar was brutally battered with bricks. Later in the day, he filed his story. He recalled the first lines of his report that said- “Aaj do hathyaen hui hai- ek Indira ki aur doosri manushya ke manushya par vishwas ki” (Today, two deaths have occurred- one of Indira and the other of trust in humans)

By November 1, the situation had worsened. While walking to his office, he was amazed to find all the police posts closed and locked. Trilokpuri, especially block 32, was badly hit. The second death occurred at 10:20 am when an elderly sardar was thrashed and killed using a burning tyre that was thrust around his neck. When he questioned Nikhil Kumar (the then additional commissioner of Delhi Police and now Governor of Nagaland), he answered that Hindus are just burning garbage and how could police stop the madding crowd?

Rahul Bedi of the Indian Express went with him to Home Minsiter Narsimha Rao’s place and both, tired and agitated, blamed him for the situation. Rao, however, replied that the Army had been called in. Mundka, Nandgoi, Shahdara and Trans-Yamuna areas were wrecked. Kakanagar, Sarojini Nagar, Palam were the other residential areas that were scarred. More than 300-400 bodies were seen by Rahul and Alok. The toll had passed 3000 in a span of 4 days. Because Indian Express group was pro-victims, Hindu mobs thrashed several of its employees, including Alok.

Later, several committees were set up where he recorded his statements; but all the enquiries were in vain. He also attended the cremation of Indira Gandhi where Rajiv Gandhi’s stoic and numb presence was really unbearable. Amitabh Bachchan, who had cordial relations with the Gandhi family then, was also present there.

Recalling the horror of those sleepless nights, he said that he and his team hoped against hope that what they had been doing would prevent a rise in casualties but unfortunately it was not enough. To quote Rao, “it was madness” but Alok saw a well-defined method in it. A bloody method!

Arati R Jerath (Senior Editor& Chief of Delhi Bureau, DNA)

Recounting her horror, Arati Jerath remembered that it was a chilly winter morning on October 31 when she was spending some quality time with her elder daughter, who was then an infant. Suddenly, she got a call at quarter to 10 that Indira Gandhi was shot dead at 9:20 am and that she was required at office.

Those days security was not much of a fuss and she therefore walked into the PM house easily later in the evening and surveyed the blood-splattered area for her story. The retaliation against Sikhs had still not become widespread but one gurudwara in Satya Chauraha Clave had been burnt down and it ran as the first flash in her newspaper. It was also rumoured that sweets were distributed in some of the gurduwaras celebrating the death of Indira. However, the scenario was like a still before a storm.

Next day, many parts of Delhi were hit by mob violence. Police were, needless to say, unable to control the situation. All those shops and colonies were targeted which belonged to Sikhs. As she used to stay at Amrita Shergill Marg, she had to walk most of the distance to her office. Nearby, the taxi-stand’s taxis were burnt. The drivers fled from the scene as they were all Sikhs. When they returned, they were all clean-shaven and their turbans were gone.

Like others, her family was also scared. Both she and her husband were reporters. Those three days were the most awful days of her life. Her parents came over from defence colony, which was also riot-hit. The violence had gripped the heart of the city and the Sikh domestic areas were prime targets. Be it Khan Market or Safdarganj, extremist Hindus lead by some local political leaders rampaged & vandalised the houses of Sikhs with impunity.

One of her friends in Vasant Vihar was also surrounded. In order to protect his family, he went out on the balcony and lit a cigarette which is prohibited in Sikh faith- to show that he was not of the community. After the riots ended, he started visiting gurudwaras regularly in order to rediscover himself.

Mrs Jerath could not go for reporting as Indian Express had barred girls from going out. But her other colleagues like Rahul Bedi and Joseph daringly covered the whole scenario, even protected some Sikhs from the blood-thirsty crowd. The most amazing part, according to her, was that the whole situation calmed down the day when Indira Gandhi’s body was cremated. This showed that there was some planned motive behind these riots.

The fifth day from Indira’s death, when she went to Tilak Nagar, the scene shocked her beyond words- pieces of burnt hair, clothes and turbans shook her soul. It was grotesque with women wailing for their husbands. Only some old men and children were left out of the ordeal- only to be victimised by circumstances forever.

Deepak Duggal & Jasbir (Businessmen in Kanpur)

Deepak Duggal recollected the memories of the horrendous behaviour of crazed mobs towards Sikhs. As William Penn puts it, “Passion is the mob of the man that commits a riot upon his reason”. Duggal’s experience confirmed the same.

By the night of October 31, it was clear that Indira Gandhi was dead. The incidents which took place on November 1 shook the whole of Kanpur. He elaborated, stating that at 7 am, the lower caste groups from Jajmau and other areas of the city started vandalising shops and ransacking the houses Sikhs in Lal Bunglow and Govindpur areas.

Friends turned foes. Women were raped and molested, not even kids and elders were spared. Police kept mum and the local Congress leaders added fuel to fire. Sikhs were singled-out and burnt alive. “We fired gun-shots and opposed the mob, which was trying to enter our house. Our trucks were burnt but thank God we were saved but the conditions were horrendous”, added Duggal’s friend, Jasbir.

After 3 days on November 4, curfew was imposed and continued for another week; but many lives were lost already. Politics had played its game, what was left was pain.

Follow the link to read the actual story: http://www.zeenews.com/news576514.html

Soon Mandarin will replace Hindi in Terai: Maoist leader Azad

Maoism today is considered synonymous with violence, brutality and crime. Yet its meaning differs in the eyes of its believers. The newly appointed Maoist leader and coordinator, Azad (who refuses to give away his real name) of the ‘Sanyunkt Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha’ says they are fighting for the independence of their motherland- the Terai region, bordering Nepal with India. Wanted in Nepal, he has been in hiding since 2004, away from his family and parents.
Speaking to Devika Chhibber of Zeenews.com, he deliberated on the issues dealing with the struggle of his people, the apathetic attitude of both Nepal and Indian governments towards them and China's presence in Nepal and India.

Excerpts:

Devika: Tell me something about yourself and your movement?

Azad: Born in 1971, like my many of my other colleagues I have dedicated my life for the cause of my land. I adopted Maoism in 2004. Born in the middle of this movement, I have always wanted to see my people and land free of all the atrocities heaped on them. So my movement is all about the freedom of Terai region.

Devika: What is this Terai conflict actually?

Azad: Terai basically was a part of India, but after the memorandum of 1816 and the treaty of 1860, the East India Company divided the land of Terai from west to Mechi, east to Mahakali and north of present Indo-Nepal broader. This treaty forced us to be a part of the Nepalese regime. Later after the independence of India in 1947, Nepal and India signed in “Peace and friendship Treaty 1950?, which nullified all the prior accords that Nepal signed with British rulers. That means the treaties of 1816 and 1860 were considered void. On the basis of UN charter’s Section 73, Terai became an autonomous region. But Nepal refused to grant us any autonomy and thus here we are fighting for our independence.

Devika: You are called Madheshis. What does it mean?

Azad: We are not Madhesis (With anger in his tone). This word is often used by Nepalese to humiliate us. This word actually means an object which is worse than the dead (I was politely asked not to refer to the word again).

Devika: What is the present situation in Nepal? Do they use threats too?

Azad: Yes, first they tried to shoo us away from the region by bringing in the Citizenship Act according to which only those were granted citizenship who spoke Nepalese. Later they started treating us like slaves and labourers. They also hired goondas(goons) to torture, murder, rape and evacuate us. The situation here is much worse than you can understand. Due to these tortures, many have fled to other nations. Several bonded labourers in Bihar and UP are our people.

Devika: You call yourselves Maoists, so do you intend to follow their violent methods?

Azad: We have adopted Maoism recently and yes we are determined to adopt violent methods to gain our objectives and kill those who try to barricade our movement. But actually, speaking from my heart, we do not want to do any of this. We want to live in peace and harmony, it’s just that we have no other choice.

Devika: Do you believe in communism?

Azad: I hate communists no matter where they are, be it India, China or anywhere else. I can assure you that in today’s scenario, communism just doesn’t exist and all those who call themselves communists are phony and bogus. In fact they are Kamao-ist i.e. they just want to earn money by idealizing the old beliefs.

Devika: What are your basic demands?

Azad: We want independence at any cost. Be it through blood or sacrifice. We want to do things which you can do in free India. We want our generations to breathe in free Terai.

Devika: How far have you been successful?

Azad: Recently held elections in Nepal answer your question. You won’t believe it, but no Nepalese was able to win from the Terai region and the winners were our people, who are all sitting MPs in the Nepal government currently.

Devika: Do you think Nepal Maoists are aiding Naxalism in India?

Azad: Yes, certainly they are. Not many know that there is an organization known as Communist Party of South Asia Association, which up to recently was headed by Prachanda. All the Maoist movements in the world are funded by this particular organization only.

Devika: What is your source of funding?

Azad: People who have faith in our movement support us (refused to comment any further).

Devika: Has change in power (from monarchy to democracy) in Nepal helped solve your problems?

Azad: No our woes are still the same. Be it the Kings, Maoists or democratic parties in Nepal, no one has ever supported us. They just want to use Terai for their own benefits least caring as to what happen to those residing there.

Devika: Has the Indian government been of any help to you?

Azad: Not at all. The Indian government has remained partial and biased as ever. The situation is still the same as it was at the time of independence. India has never supported our cause. In fact many a times they extradite us along with other criminals in Nepal. They name us as terrorists. Recently 22 weapons seem to have been recovered in Kalpi, but this we feel was a part of a conspiracy against us.

Devika: What do you think about Chinese presence in India and Nepal?

Azad: China is the mastermind and cause of the plight of India and Nepal. If you ever visit Nepal and Terai you can find pagoda shaped temples. Both the regions follow Hinduism, then why the shape of Chinese temples? It is not fair. It may be very soon that Mandarin will replace Hindi in the text books there. China always wanted to exercise its control on the neighbouring nations. It has already established control over Tibet which is the first in its plan. Leh, Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Arunachal will follow. Through them it will try to create disturbances and unrest in the nearby areas. The recent incursions in India are also the result of the same strategy.

For actual interview follow the link- http://www.zeenews.com/news566998.html

Gujral forced me to quit Fodder Scam probe: Joginder Singh

“Tackle ‘big fish’ firmly and without fear”, PM Manmohan Singh said recently at a two-day conference to discuss the workings of the CBI. It openly reflects the gravity of state of affairs at agency and the uncalculated consequences of political interference in CBI’s workings.

Even the recent revelations in Aarushi murder probe are shocking and have raised doubts on the credentials of India’s premier investigation agency. There are many pending cases which emphasise the need to complete inquiries against those of doubtful integrity; and then there are those which were never ‘solved’ satisfactorily.

Devika Chhibber of Zeenews.com chatted up with former Director of CBI, Joginder Singh, popularly known as Joginder ‘Tiger’ Singh, seeking answers on the existing scenario and possible remedial measures.

Here are the excerpts:

Devika: ‘Evidence tampering’ is another twist in Aarushi murder case. What went wrong in the probe? Is CBI to be blamed?
Joginder Singh: Aarushi case was initially handled by the Noida police and all the mess which you can see today is because of them and the doctors’ negligence. CBI came into the picture very late, i.e. after 2-3 weeks. So, all the evidence was already tampered with and CBI could do nothing else except to pick up the leftovers to carry on the investigation. But the blame of tampering cannot be laid on CBI’s shoulders.

Devika: If CBI carries out all the investigations properly, then why is it that so many cases are still pending?
Singh: CBI can only investigate. What can it do if the witness denies everything in court which he has accepted in front of the police, and let me tell you that this happens all the time! There is no punishment for those who lie in front of court. What can we do? We are simply helpless in such situations.

Devika: So you are telling me that all the pending cases till date are the result of people backing out at the last moment. That’s what you call ‘lack of evidence’?
Singh: : I agree that in some cases, CBI is lacking, but most of the unsolved cases are because of insufficient evidences i.e. people backing out or due to government’s interference.

Devika: Can you please elaborate. What did you mean by government’s interference?
Singh: : In most of the cases, CBI has to deal with those who have strong political holds, and because CBI is not an autonomous body, the officers are unable to probe any further because it is the government that actually sanctions things. Moreover, only then we are allowed to probe. Without their permission we cannot probe to a degree that is required to go deep into the matter.

Devika: Did any such political pressure create impediments when you were the director?
Singh: : Yes, of course. I won’t call it political pressure, but yes, in cases relating to politicians, government did not give me permission and did try to restrict my moves. Even my transfer during my tenure was for the same reason.

Devika: Will you please share some such experience?
Singh: : I remember very clearly when I was investigating the fodder scam in which the prime suspect was the then Bihar CM Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, I was forced to stall my probe against him. Why, because he was close to the then United Front government. I even remember that conversation where the-then PM Mr Inder Kumar Gujral tried to stop my investigation by showcasing his power. He actually told me that he was ‘the PM’ and so I should listen to him. He forced me to leave the Fodder Scam Investigation.

Devika: This shows that CBI does not work freely….
Singh: : As stated earlier, CBI is never an autonomous body. It is just an image which is portrayed, but actually the functioning inside is not that liberal. You must be aware that CBI came into existence in 1943 when the Special Establishment Act was formed, which was once renewed in 1946. But that does not make it legal. We are still following those age old norms. Nothing has been done to renew the Act and the body, I must say today, is in the declining state of health.

Devika: Thank you so much sir but just one last thing. Now that you are out of the system, so as an outsider, what’s your take on CBI and the possible measures?
Singh: : I think that CBI can only perform well when it is not bound to follow the government. For this, a proper bill needs to be passed in the assembly, making it an autonomous body, and experts should be kept to guide juniors. The control can be vested in the hands of constitution directly. Unless this is done, a positive and concrete outcome cannot be accepted.
Here is the link: http://www.zeenews.com/news562134.html

I want people to remember me as a friend: Nasser Khan

Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.’ - Neil Marcus

Life is complicated for many, but easy for those who instead of complaining about what they don’t have try to make the best of whatever they have for achieving their aim. One such admirable person is the visually challenged Naseer Khan, whose debut release ‘Shadow’ is touted to be a different kind of cinema.

Born with visual defect owing to cataract, he has been operated upon several times. An enthusiastic and dedicated person, he learnt to drive a scooter and car at the age of 12. Even in Class VII, when he lost his eyesight completely, his failure never stopped him from setting sight on the stars. Born and brought up in Kanpur, the man is perfect example of sheer genius and positive attitude towards life. An industrialist, an actor, a producer and may be a director in near future, he is versatile and never fails to amaze with his long list of achievements.

The debut actor in an exclusive interview with Devika Chhibber of Zeenews.com shared some cherished memories through the journey of his life.

Devika: Tell me something about Nasser Khan - the man?
Nasser: Well Nasser Khan is filled with optimism, has a positive attitude towards life, is dedicated, and can learn things very quickly. He also has a very strong sixth sense and can never forget those whom he has met once.

Devika: Please tell us about the journey of your life?
Nasser: Since childhood I suffered from this eye problem therefore after studying for some years in a local school I directly took admission in 5th standard in St Joseph convent in Kanpur, but could not study after 7th grade. During those three years, I topped in each class but then I had to leave school. A tutor was kept for English, Hindi, Maths, Arabic and Urdu. I also learnt to type and later in 1996 started my own leather tannery. Now I am into Saddlery export and cosmetics business. So, the journey so far has been favourable.

Devika: Please tell us something about your family background?
Nasser: Apart from my other relatives, I have a beautiful wife and a 10-month old daughter Ayesha.

Devika: What would you like to be called - Nasser Khan the industrialist or the actor?
Nasser: I prefer Nasser Khan the industrialist because as a businessman I am able to enjoy all the comforts of life. I have peace, freedom, independence, money and all the luxuries of life. Being an actor is a hectic job for sure.

Devika: ‘Shadow’ is doing well in theatres, tell us about behind-the-scene incidents?
Nasser: Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Soman are very fine actors to work with. They used to be so patient while I used to rehearse my lines. I am really lucky that I got a chance to work with such talented actors in my very first movie. Let me share an experience I got my leg fractured on the sets. But my co-actors were wonderful as ever. They never complained about anything.

Devika: Why did you choose Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Soman?
Nasser: Well, to be very honest nobody wants to work with a new actor in Bollywood - that’s a known fact, which was repeated in my case. And I was determined to take those actors who would sign my movie for the sake of role and not money and the rest is history.

Devika: Why did you want to become an actor? Were you not skeptical about your acceptance in the industry?
Nasser: I wanted to become an actor because I wanted people to know about me and how I struggled in life and how I reached here. For this it was necessary to first introduce myself. Let me share a secret (with a smile) - I don’t invest into anything where I am doubtful about the returns.

Devika: You are visually challenged. How difficult it is to exist with that kind of handicap in the world?
Nasser: It is very difficult I must admit and quite a number of times I felt very depressed, but then you have to face reality and accept that you are part and parcel of this world. Hence I am here. I have learnt to face life instead of blaming others for my troubles.

Devika: What made you feel depressed?
Nasser: I remember when I was in 7th standard I lost my vision then I tried to shun the world, maintained distance with all those who loved me. I became very frustrated and used to remain in my room even on festive occasions. But finally, I gathered courage to fight the darkness.

Devika: Share with us the happiest moment in your life.
Nasser: Recently when I received ‘India book of Record Award’ for my work in ‘Shadow’, I was really excited. I was on the verge of crying that day.

Devika: Is there anything else you wanted but have not achieved?
Nasser: No, I don’t think so. I have achieved whatever I wanted to and wished for in my life. Yes, now I want to direct a movie and soon you will hear me directing my next venture.

Devika: What inspires you?
Nasser: Bluntly speaking, whenever somebody ignored or snubbed me about something I was inspired to do that particular thing. The first instance came when one of my relatives told me not to touch a typewriter because I was blind and would therefore destroy it but today I thank him. It was because of him that I learnt both Hindi and English typewriting, my first step towards the success ladder.

Devika: Your upcoming ventures?
Nasser: I have two upcoming movies in line ‘Rocky Rockstar’ - an action packed thriller and ‘Rajasthan weds Punjab’, which is a soft romantic movie.

Devika: What kind of music do you like?
Nasser: I love the song ‘Dil de diya hai, jaan tumhe denge’ from ‘Masti’. All Kishore Kumar songs are my favourite. Among female singers I like Asha Bhonsle. Sunidhi Chauhan is yet another favourite and for the same reason I made her sing two songs in ‘Shadow’. I am also crazy for party songs.

Devika: What would you like to do for others like you?
Nasser: I love to help the needy; rest is very personal to answer.

Devika: How would you define beauty and how will you relate it with life?
Nasser: Beauty for me is not materialistic or something which you can see through eyes. For me beauty is when somebody or something touches your soul and whose feel lasts forever.

Devika: How would you like people to remember you?
Nasser: I would like people to remember me as a friend and yes, girls please don’t remember me as ‘Bhai’.

Devika: What’s your message to the world?
Nasser: Tu sansen hai tu dhadkan hai tu zindagi ki aas hai, Tu aarzoo, tu justju, mujhe teri hi talash hai…. (You are my breath, you are my pulse, you are my hope of life, you are the thirst, you are the passion, and you are the desired one I search for in life.)

Here is the link- http://www.zeenews.com/news557507.html

Gaining Independence from illiteracy

India’s literacy growth rate since independence: 18% to 65% as per 2001 consensus
Male literacy rate: 76%
Female literacy rate: 54%
Variation from state to state: Kerala’s 91% against 47% in Bihar

Statistics mentioned above indicate that while progress has been made, measures have been far from adequate. We therefore need to upgrade our education system so that illiteracy can be completely uprooted from India. No matter how hard we try to fight the problem, it simply seems to persist. That even after 62 years of independence we have to lay stress on this issue is a shame- but at least it’s better than brushing it under the carpet.

India, the land of Vedas, where we have learnt over the years that culture flourishes with literature, is one of the nations with highest illiteracy rates. Even underdeveloped countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand have achieved higher literacy levels in shorter time.

In his India Development Report 2002, Kirit S. Parikh pointed out, “With a literacy rate of 65, we have 296 million illiterates, age seven years and above, as per the 2001 census. The number of illiterates today exceeds the population of the country of around 270 million at Independence, age seven and above.”

Our society faces several challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, child labour, female feticide, overpopulation etc. But all of them evolve from illiteracy which is actually the mother of most our problems.

A high literacy rate can contribute to valuable social and economic participation by the people which will go a long way in human development and poverty eradication. Spread of education is necessary for modernization, urbanization, industrialization, communication and commerce. You name an issue and literacy will be a prerequisite for its solution.

Illiteracy in India can be easily characterized by the wide gaps between the urban and rural populations. The urban population is more educated and therefore desires a life of comfort and luxury. On the other hand, the rural population depends on agriculture for their survival. They are the food providers of our country, who work for basic necessities and thus feel no need for education in their lives.

Children in rural areas drop out of schools for a variety of reasons: some leave because of a sheer lack of interest; others quit so that they can work in fields or elsewhere, while some have no other choice due to inaccessibility and lack of school teachers.

In villages, a large percentage of the dropouts are females. Forced by their parents, they are limited to performing household chores. They are married at a very early age and are taught since birth that what is important for them is their family and the looking after the house. Education is not even a secondary item on their to-do lists. Inadequate number of teachers and their absence in schools across the country is another roadblock towards complete literacy. A large number of teachers refuse to teach in rural areas and those who do, are usually under-qualified. Many teachers lack the necessary enthusiasm because of their meagre salaries.

In one of his research papers, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has mentioned, ‘Absenteeism of comparatively well-paid teachers, particularly where bulk of the students come from scheduled castes and tribes, poses a major problem. Students are circumstantially forced to go in for private tuitions. Sometimes the very institutions that were created to overcome disparities and barriers tend to act as reactionary influences in reinforcing inequality.’

Lack of infrastructure like buildings, benches, books etc is a widespread problem too. Some schools are located in warehouses while others in small thatched rooms which are of little use during rains. Many rural schools operate without electricity. The distribution of government funds is another major hindrance in the reform of our educational system. According to World Bank, ‘30 % of the total educational funding goes toward higher educational institutions.’ What with announcements of quota in higher education and an increase in the number of IIMs & IITs, the government clearly cares little for primary education.

Even private institutions are seen to be a hindrance in the progress of children. In such schools, the children from poor households are seen as lowly, below average and thus not fit to sit and study with the children of upper caste or class. Untouchability has been abolished but this new rift between rich and poor students continues to take its toll on the country’s fortunes.

Our education system is more or less a remnant of the long gone colonial system of the British Empire. No emphasis is ever laid on vocational courses, which can provide many job opportunities. "We are bumbling along with this out modeled system of elementary education, which is a real shame," says Krishna Kumar, director of the Central Institute of Education in New Delhi.

Reservation is yet another problem. Though it exists in other countries as well, reservation in India has a totally different approach. Our government grants reservations on the basis of caste when the correct basis of granting quotas must be the economic standards of the people. As a result, even better off backward caste students seek to get an entry in venerable institutions like the AIIMS through petty quotas. Quality be damned, seems to be the motto of such policies.

Amidst this gloom, a recent welcome measure has been the passage of the Right to Education bill, during this session of Parliament. Its guidelines are like this: - Compulsory education for children between 6-14 yrs- Rs 10,000 fine if any child prevented from going school - No selection and screening process to choose preference over candidates- No physical punishments- States need to plan techniques to monitor advancements in the program- Roping in private schools to keep 25% seats reserved at entry level- Banning capitation fees.

It is a commitment that has taken decades to get fulfilled, but more efforts will be needed to implement it properly. As we have seen all these years, only directions and guidelines cannot resolve any crisis in the country

Various organizations and schemes have been fighting this problem. In 2003, the Magsaysay Award was awarded to Shantha Sinha in recognition of her work to end child labour, a major reason for illiteracy. The Supreme Court, in 1993, ruled that children had a fundamental right to free education.

The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan launched in 2001 was to ensure that all children in the age group 6–14 years attend school and complete eight years of schooling by 2010. District Primary Education Programme launched in 1994 has so far started more than 160,000 new schools, including almost 84,000 alternative schools. The National Literacy Mission, launched in 1988 aimed at attaining a literacy rate of 75% by 2007.

India is developing but at a very slow rate and one of the main reasons is the low level of literacy. Literacy enables a person to think rationally- for himself and others around him. A literate person is aware of all his fundamental rights and duties. It is a kind of panacea to fight problems like communalism, terrorism and under development. Not only the government, but also every literate citizen should contribute in battling the demon of illiteracy.

Each one should teach one if we are to become a superpower. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ So let us enlighten the world by bringing this change into our and everybody’s lives.

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