GENDER BIAS

Imagine a country full of stereotypical males with archaic views on gender differences and superiority of the male sex. Not a country favourable for a woman to grow in. That's the country we live in. Sounds scary? Female infanticide, acid attacks on women, physical abuse in marriages, dowry. Sounds familiar doesn't it. What many of us thought is the old school of thought and doesn't exist anymore in this more educated and mature generation is wrong. Education and maturity is not the issue and will not help us eradicate the sentiment of male superiority over women.
Biologically it has been proven that men and women are different and this difference is evident right from our conception. Men and women have 22 identical pairs of chromosomes but the 23rd pair makes all the difference, while women have a pair of 2 X's and man possesses 1 X (dominant) and 1 Y(weaker). This is why when children are young the males tend towards playing with trucks and cars and females towards dolls.
All said and done, the differences stop right there, biological. Nature makes man and woman different but nurture should not. Due to certain gender stereotypes that exist, women are nurtured into a more feminine and submissive role in society as compared to their male counterparts. Research by renowned psychologists prove that women can perform equal, and sometimes better, than men in academics if they are tested in a pseudo sterotypical free environment.
So why then do men treat women with prejudice and authority. I know most of y'all, men and women alike, will disagree with me by saying we now have a women president and women are now travelling to space. I ask you, in our population of close to 1 billion, how many women are free to live the lives they want to without being submissive to man and without being prey to physical and mental abuse. Nature built us differently for a reason, so man and woman would complement each other. Not for man to dominate women. Nature made man strong so he could look out for woman, take care of her and treat her well. Not to use that strength against her with violence and abuse. Nature made women caring and understanding so they could be nurturing and also excel at a workplace in areas man would fail. Not so she could be submissive to man and take his abuse without a word said.
Stereotypes of the weaker sex are as harmful as stereotypes of caste and race.
Education cant help this country but HUMILITY can.

SIKH-DERA VIOLENCE

BLASPHEMY??? U gotta be kidding me. Thats what the Sikhs are alleging Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (head of the dera sacha sauda) did by dressing himself in the attire of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Blasphemy is defined as "the irreverent behavious toward anything religious or sacred". So how in'God's' name is wearing the attire of a Sikh Guru considered irreverant behaviour. So now if a man appears in a newspaper wearing a catholic priest's cassock, is that blasphemy against the catholic religion?
And the retaliation to this "blasphemous" act. Riots, boycotts, setting vehicles on fire, property damage!!!!!! Man society nowadays has got their head screwed on in the wrong direction. What ever happened to religious and social tolerance? We retaliate to a innocent, non-violent act with violence and hatred. What society should understand is that "WORDS DONT HURT", you have a grudge against a person or community, use words to get back. Use malicious words mixed with a dose of profanity and malevolence... cause "WORDS DONT HURT". Not as much as physical harm and violence at the least.
I think in our times the phrase "THe pen is mightier than the sword" is more relevant than "Actions speak louder then words".

MORAL POLICE???????

So what IS this new buzz, a MORALE brigade? Who are these people and more importantly what are they trying to achieve.
Once more they raise their saffron bandaged heads to create a ruckus about another "immoral" act, the one where Richard Gere gave Shilpa Shetty a peck on her cheek. They claim the act to be un-indian. EXCUSE ME! First of all there is a HUGE difference between a kiss and a friendly peck on the cheek and secondly since when has kissing become "un-indian". Oh wait, a kiss out of wedlock is un-indian, so thats what it is. But what about the filthy stares indian men give women on the street or the sly pinches in a crowded bus, that is perfectly indian now is it?
Are these groups only out to attract publicity or do they actually believe in these warped sense of values they fight for? Do these groups really believe that India was and is a holy country where this archaic value system needs to be reinforced?
So who are these democratic offenders who call themselves the "moral brigade"
At the forefront is the Shiv Sena who are mostly known for their attack on V-Day, claiming it is western culture creeping into India. So what if people choose to follow a certain tradition that has its roots in western culture. What are the Indian traditional celebrations, Raksha-Bandhan (which promotes respect a sister should show for her brother), which i feel is nonsense. In this age of women's equality why should we still celebrate a festival where the sister is made to respect and sometimes worship her brothers. And by tying a stupid thread on his hand pledges her undying devotion to him as a sister. I agree V-Day has been commercialised and taken advantage of by greeting card and flower retailers but that shouldnt call for a violent attack on the couples that want to celebrate the occasion.
And then tagging along in the saffron brigade is the BJP and their youth groups. And its always about indians aping our western counterparts. Why dont we stop using fridges and stoves and mixers and microwaves and cellphones? Why dont we go back to cooking over coal fires and making masalas with stone grinders? Isn't this how our ancestors used to live, and aren't all these gadgets also aping the west. What are we trying to potray to the world? That indians are chaste, pure and holy beings? PUHLEASE. Why dont we leave these things to rest and use our valuable and energetic youth to be part of groups that are more positive, like help for the poor, sick and illiterate.
The more you try to control and suppress people and ways they can express emotions, the more it will start turning up behind closed doors and that could get messy. I think most people have a certain sense of public ettiquette and you wont find anything more than a peck on the cheek or holding of hands in public. As one of the largest democracys in the world today let us uphold this freedom that we enjoy by, not misusing it and not suppressing those who are using it.
LIVE AND LET LIVE!!!!

FLAG CODE

WE HAVE A FLAG CODE!!!!!
How many of y'all actually knew that. I was going through this "code" and man they havent missed a thing. And when i looked up if any other countries have such a code for Flag usage, yes they do, but trust me its nothing like the one we have.

For example: Official regulation states that the flag must never touch the ground or water, be used as a tablecloth or draped in front of a platform, cover a statue, plaque, cornerstone etc. Until 2005, the flag could not be used in clothing, uniform or costume. On 5 July 2005, the Government of India amended the code, allowing use of the flag as clothing and uniform. It however cannot be used as clothing below the waist or as undergarments. It is also prohibited to embroider the national flag and other symbols onto pillowcases or neckerchiefs.
How many of us actually knew this, and what if happened to be wearing a t shirt with the indian flag and happened to get caught, we would be imprisoned???? FOR A YEAR

In this day and age is this degree of respect and protocol really required to govern how we treat the indian tricolour. I mean Sachin Tendulkar, who is regarded as a sports icon in India, is under investigation for cutting a cake which had the indian flag iced on it.
How does that display disrespect for the flag, i mean he represents the country all over the world for a sport he is good at, i think that makes him a patriotic guy.

I'm not saying the authorities should turn a blind eye to acts against the flag code, after all its part of our constitution, but i'm sure they can waive it off with a fine and a warning. With the crime in the country and the number of growing unsolved cases with the authorities, i think they should concentrate on matters of higher priority.
And awareness HAS to be promoted among the public on rules and regulations especially those tied to our constitution.
Anyway guys this was an "FYI" kinda mail :)
Keep the tricolour flying high...... and no tricolour undies.
CIAO

Social Phylogeny

Eric John Earnest Hobsbaum (British Marxist historian and author) defines a nation as "one of many traditions 'invented' by political elites in order to legitimise their power in a century of revolution and democratisation".
A nation is characterised first and foremost by its traditions. Most of a nations traditions are derived from its history which includes value systems, religions and practices. The rest of a nations traditions are man - made, solely for political reasons, to (as they claim) unify the people of the nation and breed feelings of patriotism.
Phylogeny refers to the evolutionary history of a group of organisms. In this case i am attempting to "blog" about the evolution of social values, norms and sentiments of us, as indians and global citizens, hence the phrase "Social Phylogeny".
WELCOME......