He Lost His Life But Not His Sight!

Mansoor Ali Khan Patuadi, the person about whom I don’t know much, has compelled me to write a few words. I know him as a great cricketer, as father of Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan and also as a husband of Sharmila Tagore. While growing up, I knew about his prominence and power but never knew about his inside life. I knew about his grandeur and brilliance but never got a chance to know his heart! But when he lost his life, the chapters of his time are all unbolted in front of me!

Once in his life, he met with an accident. Though the accident wasn't big, but it laid huge impact on his life. The accident took away his one eye. A splinter of windscreen entered his right eye, which even after operation left him without vision. It happened at a time when he had a bunch of dreams in his eyes. Anyone of his age could have become disheartened and depressed in life to realize that one of those dreamy eyes has left the hand of survival. However, word like depression never existed in Nawab’s dictionary!

The accident took away his right eye but his dreams were still placed on the right track. He was all passionate to play cricket with one eye, though he faced many problems. His victory became evident when he was chosen as the youngest captain of Indian cricket team. Before playing for himself, he always played for the country. He truly believed in self-less playing and that is the thing, which he was teaching to the young cricketers too.

Life has never been burden or tedious for Nawab sahib instead he always used to take up things positively and exhilaratingly. Knowing the worth of eye and realizing the pain of losing it, he presented his wish to donate that left eye after his death, which was his support throughout his life. Though Nawab sahib is no more with us but the eye, which helped him in sustaining his dreams and accomplishing them with enthusiasm, is still alive. He donated his eye, which will again save another man’s dream. We can say that ‘Tiger’ may have lost his life but not his sight!

Our tribute to the legend! May his soul rest in peace!

Shipra Saini

Reservation- A Tool Of Discrimination

Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj started the system of reservation with the aim of eradicating poverty in as early as 1902 but he might not have thought of its consequences in future. His aim was to give poor and backward people their share in administration. Though, it was a great measure to give equal status to the people who were considered untouchables at that time but do you think the system still maintains its essence?

It wouldn’t be cent percent true to claim that practices like untouchability has been rooted out from the society. Even in places where untouchability is not practiced, eyes that look at the people of backward classes does not carry as much respect as it carries for the people of upper castes. This is because they are still considered poor in terms of living and cleanliness. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the condition has been much improved since the time reservation system was introduced.

The condition may not have enriched completely but it has reached to a sustainable level. No one can stop SC/STs from taking admission to a good college, no one can place a barrier in getting them a government job and even no one can hinder the progress of a person of backward class. This is all because of the strong laws of India that offers special protection to the people of backward classes.

To be true, reservation has done what it could do! It has worked for the upliftment of backward classes and tribes and the time has come when they should move forward on their own and leave the hands of reservation. It is no more a tool of favor instead it has become a tool of discrimination. Today, many students wishes to be of backward class, so that they could also get the benefit of reservation. Reservation is now weakening the system!

If any liability has to be given, it should be provided to the students belonging to poor families, that too only in fees. They should be given free training and material for study. Concession in marks is unfair because no candidate of general category is endowed with more intelligence. The brainpower is not given to people on the basis of categories, so giving liability to SC/ST students in marks doesn’t look fair from any side. If talking about their economic status, then any student of general category can also be poor and unable to afford the cost of education.

Therefore, reservation on the basis of caste should be eradicated from society instead there should be fee concession for economically backward students, be of any caste. Castes should not come in between education and jobs. The competition should be between intellects and not between classes! Reservation itself divides people and nothing such should persist in the society which divides the people!

Where The Time Is Going!

Thinking about the flowing time,

I tremble, where it’s going!

Not upgrading to the better selves,

Humans are becoming humiliating!

No self-respect, no self-constraint,

I wonder, where people are drowning!

In tussle to get better every time,

I’m shaken, where values are sullying!

They call it change, I call it destruction,

I ruminate, where the thought differences rolling!

Thinking about the flowing time,

I tremble, where it’s going!

Shipra Saini

Sumangali System In Tamil Nadu

Get shocked to know about Sumangali system, practiced in Tamil Nadu where girls sign a contract with mills to work there for 3 years. Afterward, they are not allowed to meet anyone and to even visit their homes. They stay in the mill hostel where 10-12 girls share one room and there are just 6 toilets for more than 300 girls. They get sleep for a very few hours as they work from 8am-8pm and after dinner, they again work till 2am. If they are injured while working or even die, they don't get any compensation. This isn't enough as they are also harassed by the male staff members. The worst of all is that they even can't complain for anything during their tenure. They have no rights, no liberties. This all they do because they will get Rs.30,000-50,000 after serving the mill for 3 years, the amount with which they can get married. Sometimes, the mill don't give the amount pointing out their silly mistakes and the girls and their families are left with just tears. It's shameless that poor people are used this way and govt. can't take action because no complaint has been filed yet, even though many girls have lost their lives. Is there anyone who's going to listen to the weak voices that are unable to rise out of fear?

SHIPRA SAINI