Sachin Hits First Double Ton in ODIs – Salute the Master

I salute the great man Sachin Tendulkar for hitting the first double hundred in ODIs. His blitzkrieg against the Proteas at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior was a mind-boggling act of tremendous batsmanship, courage and temperament. He eclipsed the ODI records of Saeed Anwar (194 against India) and Charles Coventry (194* against Bangladesh). Now it can really be said of Sachin Tendulkar that he is inarguably the greatest batsman to have ever played One Day Cricket. I bow to thee, dear great man.

Picture Courtesy: AFP

Outrageous Mockery of Democracy in Sri Lanka

The war that Sri Lankan government fought against the LTTE for about three decades ended recently. And in the first Presidential election after the defeat of the LTTE, the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse and the retired army General Sarath Fonseka fought a bitter electoral battle. In the election campaigning both candidates claimed the credit for the defeat of the LTTE. When the results came, Mahinda Rajapakse won by a margin of 17% votes and since then he has been on a hunt to crack down on all his political opponents mainly Sarath Fonseka by making a mockery of democracy and freedom of expression and speech.

Sarath Fonseka was arrested last Monday and will reportedly face a military court martial on charges of revealing military secrets and for plotting the assassination of the President Rajapakse. The arrest of General Fonseka shows that the President is determined to crack down on his opponents after the election victory. When he won the elections with a comfortable majority it was expected of him to guide the country towards a better human rights record but the recent crack down undermines any such reasonable hopes. The level of intolerance towards criticism shown by Rajapakse is similar to the intolerance shown by certain authoritarian and Communist states. The same level of intolerance can often be seen in countries like Myanmar and China where there is systematic crack down on any criticising voices on the government in power.

The timing of the arrest is also alarming as Sarath Fonseka had recently announced that he was ready for testifying before an international court on war crime charges against the government in Sri Lanka headed by Mahinda Rajapakse. In a press meeting Fonseka had accused the Secretary of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapakse, brother of Mahinda Rajapakse, of ordering executions of surrendered LTTE leaders at the end of the war. However, the accusation was later retracted.

The way in which the retired General was arrested also drew flak from the global community. People present at the place of arrest have reportedly said that he was dragged away in a disgraceful manner after threatening others. According to eye witnesses there were around 100 soldiers and they even prevented Fonseka’s security guards to leave the place for about two hours. The arrest was not an unexpected event as there were signs that the government was getting ready to have a serious clamp down on all forms of opposition. Sarath Fonseka even said that he is fearing an assassination attempt on him. The airports of the country were told not to allow him to leave the country as well.

Not only has Fonseka been arrested but many of his supporters as well as journalists with the state media suspected to be supporting Fonseka and the opposition have been arrested or have also faced threats and violence. Amidst a peaceful protest march near Sri Lankan Supreme Court, there had been violence yesterday where certain armed gang, allegedly the supporters of the ruling party, attacked the supporters and legislative members of the main opposition United National Party and leftist party JVP or the People's Liberation Front.

In another related development, President Rajapakse dissolved the Parliament clearing the way for early elections, which will probably be held on 8th of April. Rajapakse would be hoping to get an absolute majority in the Parliament there by cementing his grip on the power. The way in which things unfold now it would be an appalling situation if he gets an absolute majority in the Parliament, which would make him a sort of authoritarian ruler. India has a great stake in the affairs of Sri Lanka and therefore should use its diplomatic strength to pressurise Rajapakse to respect the spirit of democracy. We should also try to bring the attention of the Sri Lankan government to the plight of the Tamilians in the northern part of the country.

It is time for the international community to press the Sri Lankan administration to respect the values of human rights and democracy. If we fail to do so at this point of time we would be facing another human rights catastrophe in the near future in the Asia-Pacific region.

World Cancer Day - Cancer can be Prevented Too

Cancer is one of the leading killers around the world and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 84 million will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. Each year on 4th February, WHO observes the World Cancer Day to promote an international union against cancer and to reduce its global burden on mankind.

The theme for the year 2010 is “Cancer can be prevented too” and it focuses on simple measures to prevent cancer such as:

• no tobacco use
• a healthy diet and regular exercise
• limited alcohol use
• protection against cancer-causing infections

If we take the case of India, National Cancer Control Program states that around 9 lakh Indians die of cancer every year. However the overwhelming majority of causalities among men in India – about 50 percent – are the result of smoking or chewing tobacco. Therefore it is particularly important to endorse anti-tobacco message to prevent the growing occurrence of cancer.

Obesity is another mounting problem in India, particularly in the urban areas. Growing use of refined and processed food and a sedentary lifestyle have often been acknowledged as reasons for the onset of cancer. So there is an urgent need of including exercise and healthy food habits in our day-to-day lives. In the following URL you can find WHO guide for effective programs to convert knowledge into action. 

http://www.who.int/cancer/modules/en/index.html

Source: Official website of World Health Organization 

Congrats to the Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman for Winning the Grammy Awards

AR Rahman has once again made history by winning two Grammy Awards at the 52nd Grammy Award in Los Angeles. He won the awards for the best compilation soundtrack for motion picture category and for the best motion picture song for his score for Slumdog Millionaire. He has already won two Academy Awards, one Bafta and one Golden Globe for the same music score. On this very proud occasion, I would like to congratulate the Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman. The great man has brought Indian music to the world stage and has made us all Indians proud and happy. Great work Sir.

2010 – International Year of Biodiversity

Our lives depend on the biological diversity of this universe. Our fates are linked with the biodiversity of this world; with the huge variety of animals and plants and the environment and the surroundings where they live in. But our biodiversity is fast depleting and along with climate change, the destruction in biodiversity is one of the areas that need utmost global attention. In the year 2002 world leaders agreed to substantially reduce biodiversity losses; but now in 2010 we know that the target that was set for reducing the destruction of biodiversity will not be met. We need new ideas, vision and strategy to reduce the appalling rate of biodiversity losses and ‘business as usual’ will not do. Therefore the United Nations has declared the year 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.

We human beings depend on our ecosystem for variety of products and services and we have reached a stage where we have taken the ecosystem for granted and this has resulted in widespread destruction of the ecological balance. The result of such widespread destruction of the ecosystem would be profound for the millions of human beings in this world who depend on the environment for a living, particularly those from the under developed world. Therefore we need to take imperative action on this front. The United Nations has called upon nations, organisations and individuals to take all necessary steps to make sure that the biodiversity of our nature is protected.

Conserving the biodiversity of the earth, thereby allowing the future generations to enjoy the beauty of the earth is the prime responsibility of each and every one of us. We need to think beyond our lifetime and preserve the planet for the good of our children and grandchildren. Preservation of the biodiversity of the earth is the prime responsibility of every nation, organisation and individual, failing to do so may result in ecological crisis of such enormity that would put all other crises that man has ever met to the shade.

What We Need This Year is a Peaceful World

The New Year has arrived and it brought with it new hopes, aspirations and expectations to all people across the world. Without any significant doubt we can say that the most important thing that we all wish for this year is to bring about a peaceful world for all its inhabitants.

There would be no difference in opinion that we would have to work really hard to bring peace as there is plenty of chaos going on in different parts of the world. The United States’ “war on terror” doesn’t seem to be ending in the near future. Conflict between the US troops and the extremists are going on unabated in Afghanistan and in Iraq. With a contemplated surge in troops to Afghanistan, the US has made it clear that it is not having the intention of making an end to the war in Afghanistan. Bomb explosions and other forms of mass killing are still going on in the country. In Iraq, the situation is not different either and people are losing lives almost every day. The world need to act together and act decisively to find a peaceful solution to the issues at Afghanistan and Iraq if peace has to be brought into those countries.

Terrorism remains the most dreaded reason for the persistence of human tragedy all around the world. The recent effort by a Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to destroy Northwest Airlines Aircraft is one of the most recent examples of mindless terrorism. Security systems are getting improved but that is not stopping the terrorists from going on with their plans. They are able to find out loopholes in all security systems which was evident in the case of Abdulmutallab as he was able to get into the aircraft with the explosives without getting detected. It was only because of the good fate of the passengers, not the robustness of the security system that the explosive didn’t detonate as expected by the terrorists.

Pakistan still remains a state that is unstable and dangerous. Terrorists have been finding safe havens in that country as political stability remains elusive and political parties having no time to think about national and international security as they are always embroiled in some sort of internal squabbling. Terrorists with the backing of the ISI are still in the look out of planning terrorist strikes in India. The India-Pakistan composite dialogue process is in the backburner since the 26/11 Mumbai attack. In order to bring back the peace process we need to find a solution to this impasse.

Africa is also reeling under problems of extremism, hunger, poverty and deprivation. The internal conflict in Sudan caught the attention of the international community. The situation is still grave in the country and their President Oman al-Bashir is wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes including large scale genocide. Millions of people from the country are suffering in the refugee camps in Darfur and in neighbouring Chad. The longest running conflict in Africa has displaced 3, 50,000 people from their homes. The conflict between the northern part of Sudan and the southern part is partly sponsored by China and the United States by supplying arms and ammunitions to the warring groups.

In India also the New Year has ushered in hopes and aspirations of a year of peaceful coexistence between people of different interests. Efforts should be made in the governmental level and individual level to find lasting solutions to the problems that we’re facing now. The Indian government would be worried at present with the Telangana issue as it is quite imperative to find a solution to the issue. People are taking it to the streets and situation seems to be going out of control. Government should also take steps to find a solution to the Maoists problem in West Bengal and in other regions in the “Red Corridor”. In the north-east, the Indian government is confronted with finding a solution to the extremism of the ULFA.

Human rights abuses are also in the increase in all over the world. The United States, under the pretext of the war on terror is widely denying human rights to detenus in its various detentions centres. Though it is a good thing to know that the infamous Guantanamo Bay will not be operating from January 22, 2010, there are other US detentions centres were gross human rights abuses are done. The detention facility operated by the US Department of Defence in Bagram is a classic example of such sort of a detention centre where violations of human rights is the norm and not the exception. Such human rights abuses should be stopped as soon as possible if the US aims at upholding principles of liberty and human justice. Countries like Cuba, China, Iran, Venezuela etc. are also engaged in human rights abuses, which take the form of abusing people who use their freedom of speech and expression to point out lapses and errors in governmental policies. People who voice their opposition to the wrong governmental policies are often detained without any due legal processes. Organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been in the forefront in pointing out such reprehensible deeds of governments in power.

Climate change is another important factor that needs to be kept in mind which is one of the most importance factors that would affect human life this year and beyond. Though the Copenhagen summit hasn’t brought about any significant result, all should work together in finding out a solution to this global menace at least in the summit in the Mexico City that would happen this year.

In order to bring about peace and tranquillity in the world, all must work together this year in a spirit of brotherhood and harmonious co-existence. There must be greater importance given to scientific vigour and knowledge sharing, as it is the most important measure that can be taken to improve the lives of the people and in instilling in them greater human values.

Wish All My Readers a Very Happy New Year 2010

The year 2009 is going to become history as year 2010 beckons all of us to new and greater challenges and experiences in our lives. Wish all my readers a very happy and prosperous new year 2010. May this New Year bring abundant happiness and all success in the lives of each and every one of you.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." - Benjamin Franklin

Ruchika’s Tragedy – A Case of Delayed and Denied Justice

The emerging facts on the tragic fate that a young girl named Ruchika Girhotra met with after being molested by a top cop 19 years back has become a blot in the collective consciousness of our country. The budding tennis player, who was just 14 years then, was molested by former Haryana Director General of Police, SPS Rathore in the year 1990. In a bid to silence the victim from taking legal action against him, Rathore tortured the family of the girl and influenced his police force to implicate Ruchika’s brother in false cases. Pained by the torture faced by her family members, Ruchika committed suicide 3 years later in 1993.

It took long 19 years for the court to punish the perpetrator of this heinous crime is in itself a matter of disgrace for the Indian judicial system. Adding to this indelible shame is the fact that the court gave only an insignificant punishment of 6 months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000 to SPS Rathore. The sight of the culprit walking out of the court smiling was just disgusting for anyone who would have even a trifle of conscience in him. The tragic fate of Ruchika is a classic example of how influential people in our country walk free even after committing serious crimes. Instead of giving judicial and emotional support to the victim, our judicial system had further victimized the victim and her family and gave reprieve to the criminal.

SPS Rathore influenced Ruchika’s alma mater Sacred Heart’s School in Chandigarh and made them expel Ruchika from the school, thereby aggravating the trauma faced by the young girl. In order to save the pride and lives of her family members, Ruchika chose to finish her life rather than fight against the molester cop. Public Interest Litigation is going to get filed against The Sacred Heart’s School for expelling Ruchika on flimsy grounds. Instead of giving moral support for the victim of molestation, the school worsened the trauma of a child by expelling her from the school making false allegations of non-payment of fees. Evidences are now coming out that suggest that Rathore even influenced CBI and removed the officer in charge of the investigation from it. CBI didn’t even press for charges against Rathore for abetment of suicide of the teenage girl.

The public outcry on the issue has made the government to act decisively. The union government has already made the decision to reinvestigate the case. The Home Ministry has also taken steps to withdraw police medals from Rathore and to reduce his pension. Not only in the city of Chandigarh, but all across the country people are out on the streets and asking for justice to Ruchika and her family.

Due credit must be given to the family of Aradhana, Ruchika friend who was the lone eye-witness in the case, for keeping the struggle alive for all these years. They befriended Ruchika’s family and gave all moral, emotional and legal support to her family. Even after 19 years, Aradhana’s family is actively pursuing justice for Ruchika and is without doubt a proud story of strong friendship and human commitment.

The government should not only reinvestigate the case but also should make sure that a criminal like SPS Rathore is getting just punishments. Needed amendments must be made on existing laws to make sure that molesters like Rathore are getting legitimate punishments and the delay on serving justice is minimized to whatever extend possible.

Mobilization of public opinion by the media is one of the most important reasons why the case has shot to national prominence, thereby bringing the attention of the political parties and the union government into this gross miscarriage of justice. The public needs to be vigilant against child molesters like SPS Rathore, otherwise our daughters and sisters would face the kind of ordeal that hapless Ruchika faced in her young life. Today, on the 29th of December, while we are observing the 16th death anniversary of Ruchika - May her soul rest in peace - let us all make a resolution that we would always remain alert against criminals like Rathore and would never allow anyone to face the sort of trauma and injustice that young Ruchika faced.

Wish Merry Christmas to All My Readers

Wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas, wherever you are in the world. Christmas is an occasion where we all look forward to wishing our friends and acquaintances joy, pleasure and utmost happiness. May this Christmas bring all of you bountiful delight and merriment.

Would like to quote Charles Dickens here, where in his classic novella ‘A Christmas Carol’ he said, " it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One! "

May God bless all of you.

Human Rights Day 2009 with Non-discrimination as the Theme

More than 60 years back, 61 to be precise, on 10th of December, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declaring that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. That exactly is the theme of this year’s human rights day, removing discrimination from the realm of public and private life. (You can find the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at this link - http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/)

Discrimination is quite rampant all over the world – discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, political opinions, nationality, language, sexual orientation, birth, status and disabilities. There are covert and overt practices of discrimination and governments, states, organisations and individuals are equally responsible for this indelible stigma on the face of mankind. In today’s world, we have a range of national and international treaties that imbue the spirit of non discrimination and human rights. Many organisations are working effectively in this field and that has made some tangible difference in the lives of the victims of discrimination. But we still have a long distance to go and therefore this is not a time for us to remain complacent of our achievements in the domain of removing human rights.

Women are victims of discrimination all over the world in whatever areas they indulge in. Women work two-third of the working hours and make half of world’s food, yet they earn only 10% of world’s income and hold less than 1% of world’s property. They face both physical and sexual assaults in their workplaces and outside and the majority of abusers go unpunished, which amplify future assaults. The undeterred energy and determination of many human rights advocates and organisations have made the public more aware of the human rights of women and have pressurised many a state government to bring about national laws for the protection of women and girls.

All around the world children are often subjected to discrimination and gross human rights violations. They are discriminated mainly because they don’t have the ability to voice their concerns to the authorities. Children in places like Palestine and Sudan are facing terrible discrimination and violence. In some places they are forced to enlist themselves in the army for armed struggle. They are denied the chance for education and are mostly forced to work to earn their living. Malnutrition is another form of discrimination and human rights violation that children face all over the world. In India, despite a booming economy, about 25 million children face nutrition deprivation. Undernourished children will have less ability to tide over diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia and measles.

370 million indigenous people of this world face serious discrimination by the state and other institutions. These people make the 5% of the world’s population, but 15% of the world’s poor. They live their lives in abject poverty and lack all fundamental rights and access to basic services. The indigenous people in many countries don’t have houses to stay in and their children are often discriminated and are not allowed to attend educational institutions.

Refugees and migrant workers are another group of people who are often discriminated against. According to the UNHCR, there are about 42 million people who are forcibly uprooted as a result of violence and persecution. Of this 42 million, 16 million are refugees and 26 million internally displaced. 80% live in developing nations and 10.5 million live in cities and are facing gross human rights violations. Many refugees, women and children included, are under prolonged detention without committing any crime. The UN convention on the rights of refugees and migrant workers are in place, but is often not judiciously applied in many countries.

The largest and most disadvantaged minority in the world are people with disabilities. About 98% children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school and are hence denied the psychological development that education provides. Therefore they are also denied the chance to stand on their own feet when they become elder citizens. National laws in various countries are not conducive for the development of people with disabilities.

Racial and ethnic discrimination is a very serious issue confronting many nations of the world. For example, the Palestinian conflict is basically an ethnic issue between the Arabs and the Jews. The Palestinians are denied basic rights by the Israeli authorities in West Bank and Gaza. They are even denied access to drinking water at some areas and people have to walk long distances for water and have to wait for a very long time to get water. The Palestinians face racial discrimination and chances of ethnic cleansing in Middle East if the international community doesn’t take any steps to counter it.

The enjoyment of universal human rights has the ability to enrich all of us and therefore it is the moral responsibility of each and every individual to uphold human dignity and oppose human rights violations and discrimination. All forms of discrimination feed discontent, mistrust and resentment, which in turn would result in sense of insecurity, crime and violence. Therefore we need to encourage everyone to uphold the spirit of human rights and observe the Human Rights Day 2009 by taking a solemn pledge to support, sustain and endorse human rights and non-discrimination.