IN FAVOUR OF VEGETARIANISM

One of the unending and unresolved subjects for debate since time immemorial in our society has been, whether the man should be a meat eater’. There are animals eating only plants and herbs. On the other hand some animals like tigers and lions subsist on animal flesh only. However, another section which is omnivorous includes cats, dogs and even human beings. Since man has reason, some thinkers, deeply rooted in nonviolence totally decry killing animals for food. There is yet another section of physique conscious people who argue that non-veg food gives enough nutritions.The moralists, particularly of non-violence sects, argue that the length of human intestine is much shorter that those of the flesh eating animals and hence man should eschew meat eating. However, we know that there are some plants, grains and roots having more nutritious values than meat. Can anybody forget that the legendary wrestler Master Chandgi Ram had defeated a more famous wrestler, despite being a veggie. The biggest and most powerful animal present on the earth, viz. the elephant, is vegetarian. The animal, who gave us ‘horse power’ is vegetarian. For that matter entire bovine family is veggie. So the logic showing flesh as powerhouse of energy does not appear tenable. Recently some skeletons have been recovered in Argentina, which is explained to be of the biggest so far known dinosaurs. They came on this planet about ten crore years ago and disappeared some 6 crore years back. They weighed nearly 70 tons which is equql to 14 African elephants. From head to tail, they were 40 meter long, equal to a 7-storey building. My basic idea of bringing this recently known dinosaur in this story is to tell that these earthly giants were purely vegetarian. The matter is left at this point for the readers to draw a conclusion.

A MILESTONE MUSEUM

                            

It was an unprecedented rush day for the staff members of the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets because a remarkable piece of news had heightened its prestige globally. The Time magazine of the USA, in its survey of selecting ten weirdest museums of the world, had placed our museum at the third position. Earlier also some other international publications including the Oman Times dated Oct. 18, 2013 had conducted similar exercises for naming ten quirkiest museums and the Sulabh museum had secured mention at higher positions in each. However, the Time magazine has its own prestigious position and hence, we in Sulabh feel elated. As a matter of fact the magazine had released this list on May 18, which happens to be the World Toilet Day.

 When Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak had a meagre beginning of  establishing this museum in 1992, he never imagined that within 22 years, it would achieve this great honour. Anybody who hears about the existence of a toilet museum, at the first instance is surprised and then inspired to visit once. Since the Gandhi Centenary days (1968), Dr Pathak had been exerting to liberate scavengers from the demeaning profession of carrying human waste on head. In the scheme of his multiple initiatives in this regard, the extablishment of a toilet museum also figured in the high priority list. Let me repeat it once again that he himself did not foresee the shining future of this paltry beginning.

By now some 28,00,000 people have visited this museum website. We are flooded with worldwide enquiries about the history of this ‘glorious throne’ and several other sanitation related matters. The museum appears to have played and will continue to tread on that track to create awareness in the community about ‘toilet for all’. Beyond the precincts of Sulabh campus, it is for every Indian to feel proud of. Three cheers to sulabh and Dr Pathak !!!   

STATEMENTWALLA HEROES

                                               

In the history of independent India, the just concluded 16^th Lok Sabha elections will be known for the longest campaigning ever. The din and bustle of that longish and perhaps teasing cacophony, often marked with deafening decibel is over. The next phase of postmortem of defeat by the fateless political parties and the government formation exercise of the winning outfit are on. Since in the modern hi-tech age every word, genuine or unparliamentary, used by the  stakeholders goes recorded, it will be quite interesting to recall some outbursts vis-à-vis the result of such fantastic statements. Since the entire electioneering was Modi versus all, the target was NaMo alone.

Farooq Abdullah, central minister, said that they who intended to vote for Modi, should better prefer to get drowned in the ocean. His son, Omar, CM, J&K expressed to cross over to the POK if the BJP was voted to power. Result: Not only Farooq, for the first time lost but his ruling NC drew blan in the state.

Manishankar Ayer, the big-mouthed ex-central minister, like an authentic astrologer made a forecast that in 21^st century Modi, a chaiwalla would never be the PM but if he wanted to distribute tea at the ongoing Congress meet, a place could be spared for him. Mani, like some other times, lost this time too which was perhaps the worst for this bureaucrat-turned-politician.

Beni Prasad Varma, a central minister, known for his foul language, called Modi ‘a janwar’, ‘greatest goonda of RSS’ and some other such sinister nicknames. The electorate returned a hitting slap and he stood at fourth position in his constituency.

Nitish Kumar, known for his vitriolic criticism of Modi called him a divisive politician and castigated him on different other counts. The public, however could not be befooled. His ruling JD/U was mercilessly decimated and reduced to two only. He himself, having no face to justify his stand resigned from CM-ship. Lalu, known for his bitter ant-BJP policies since he arrested Adwani, claimed that this communal party would be rejected in Bihar and all the 40 seats would be grabbed by his RJD. His party could win only four seats and his wife as well as daughter licked dust. Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son(CM) declared that they would not allow UP to go Gujarat way. His party leader Ajam Khan too was bitterly abusive against modi. In up the ruling SP could retain only five seats, all belonging to Mulayam clan. Similarly Rahul Gandhi created a hoax for the minority that the day Modi became the PM, 22,000 people would be eliminated. Did the voters give any credence to this baseless statement? Accordingly only Rahul and His mother could retain their seats out of 80 in UP. Mamata, who had enjoyed power in the Vajpayi Govt called Modi a ‘shaitan’. Still the BJP not only got two seats but also secured a better vote percentage in West Bengal.

The lesson learnt is that even in the heat of electioneering, gentlemen politicians never forget not to cross the Rubicon so for as democratic norms are concerned. Being unruly and abusive do not strengthen democracy.

         

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

                               

May 18, every year is observed as the Museum Day all over the world. Most of the museums organize programmes to celebrate the day. In Delhi itself half a dozen museums observed the day by staging different programmes. On this great occasion, the National Gandhi Museum, Rajghat also came forward with a unique programme in its own auditorium attended by about a hundred selected professionals of different fields. Bageshwar Jha, Curator, Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, New Delhi represented his museum. For this occasion, the organizers had coined a beautiful slogan, ‘MUSEUM COLLECTIONS  MAKE CONNECTIONS’. However, the main function was to dedicate the collections of Madhuben to the public. They are all rare objects, related to day-today life of Mahatma Gandhi and Ba.

Prof. Aparna Sen, Chairperson, National Gandhi Museum, delivering her welcome address expressed happiness over the celebrities sparing time for the occasion. It was followed by the launching of the museum’s new website www.gandhimuseum.org by Prof. Rajeev Lochan, IAS and Director, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. The special qualities of the portal were also explained in a demonstration. They also screened a  small documentary on Gandhi, beautifully produced by the BBC. After that Dr M.A.Sikandar, Director, National Book Trust, introduced the book “Thambi Naidoo and His Family” (a great Gandhian of Madurai) by E.S. Reddy, which was released by Ashok Vajpeyi(IAS Retd.),Former Secretary, Ministry of Culture. In his inaugural speech, Sh. Vajpayee recalled some brief but highly touching anecdotes pertaining to Gandhi to prove his great personality. Ram Chandra Rahi, Treasurer, National Gandhi Museum also shared some similar experiences while proposing the vote of thanks.

The concluding part of the programme was the inauguration of Manuben’s collection on the first floor of the Museum by Ashok Vajpeyi. The collection includes some rare objects like the coatee of Ba, specs of Gandhi, his pens and a pashmina shawl with a hole which was personally stitched and patched by Gandhi. The needle used is also displayed.

 Gandh was a legendary person and it is our duty to collect, conserve and display objects connected with him and throwing light on his life and achievements for the posterity.

BRICS INITIATIVES

                                               

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a workshop and panel discussion on ‘Affordable Healthcare’ on May 14, 2014 evening in India International Centre, New Delhi with Dr BBL Madhukar, Secretary General, BRICS CCI as the anchorperson. Padmashri Dr P.K. Dave, former Diector, AIIMS was the chief guest. Dr A.K. Mukherjee, DIG, Spinal Injury Centre delivered the keynote address. Sh. S.B. Shashank, Special Secretary, Health @ Foodworks/ Drug Controller, Govt. of NCT of Delhi spoke as the special guest. Besides some eminent panelists, I also had the opportunity of participation as the representative of the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation.

The above mentioned professional doctors, citing vivid examples of their personal experiences drew a picture of pitiable situation in the health sector. They further added that the better services available in govt hospitals in Delhi were also proving infructuous due to heavy rush of patients from the NCR. They underscored the need of expanding and improving health services in states and districts with most of the facilities, if not the super ones.

In my presentation I concentrarted on preventive measures and lamented that if this sector was ignored, curative services will collapse under the pressure of mounting demands. I quoted a World Bank figure which says that against only 5% of Bangladeshis, 57% of Indians resort to unhygienic practice of open defecation. In yet another survey a list was issued with names of 14 countries where open defecation reduced by 25% since 1990. India does not figure there though our neighbours like Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are included. Similarly, the experts are of the opinion that out of all diseases 80% are water borne. 2,200 children under 5, in the world die daily of diarrhoeal diseases. Similarly, we have never cared for personal hygiene of menstruating ladies. In an account it has been found that every women of productive age group bleeds for 3,500 days in lifetime. Most of them, particularly in rural areas and from poor families have neither sanitary napkins nor privacy to wash themselves. In Sulabh, we train the girl students of vocational training to prepare hygienic and cheap sanitary napkins. I also referred to an innovation of producing generic medicines in Rajasthan which are priced just at one-fourth of the market rate.

This highly useful programme concluded with the commitment to meet again and again on this topic.     

SALVOS DIRECTED AGAINST MODI

                                               

Since the hectic  46-day electoral campaigns ended yesterday (May 10), we can have a brief discussion on the agenda put forward by every stakeholder. By far it was a contest of Modi vs all. You talk about any political leader, his speech will have 80% contents of Modi and Gujarat. Never in the last any general election, one individual was so pointedly targeted. They were afraid that if Modi succeeded, his track record shows that others will remain in the queue for power indefinitely. So they are determined to stoop to any level to block his march to Delhi. For the furtherance of this cause, they have put their manifestoes on the back burner and are researching to dig out charges to silence him. What are those charges?

They charge that Modi was instrumental in the post-Godhra communal riots of 2002. In last twelve years, there have been dozens of cases against him without any succeeding in getting him convicted. In Ishrat Jahan case, the CBI has given its final report to stop proceedings as there was no proof to implicate Modi and Amit Sah. All the Congress leaders including the star campaigners from the Gandhi family were holding both of them responsible for ‘snoopgate’. Rahul would charge that one who spied on the privacy of a young lady can never speak for empowering women. The Home Minister declared that the cabinet had decided to constitute an enquiry commission in this connection. The lady never complained and is today happily married. Still these people are bent upon spoiling her conjugal life. When the lady with her father went to the SC and urged to disallow the concocted case, Kapil Sibal announced that the commission will not be constituted. The latset charge by the Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil is that Modi, during his chief minstership managed to declare his caste OBC. They moved the EC to disqualify Modi. The truth is that the Mandal Commission had recommended his caste to be included in the OBC list and the then Congress govt of Gujarat had notified accordingly in 1994. At that time the BJP was not in power either in Gujarat or at the Centre. Now Gohil is in the soup. FIRs have been registered against him for this false charge.

Today, the voters should coolly sit and decide the ‘neech rajnit’i of politicians.

SONGS OF SANITATION

                                               

The above title may surprise many and rightly so. On May 7, 2014 a unique cultural programme was staged in the Sulabh auditorium. It was jointly organized by half a dozen school students including some from Bhubneswar, who are the members of the Sulabh Sanitation Club. The artists were extra-enthusiastic as the internationally famous sanitarian and social reformer, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak was present throughout to bless them. The two- and- a- half hour programme had items like any other such event, but the difference was that all the soulful songs, choruses, dances had tinges of sanitation and folk tunes. It is the fertile mind of Dr Pathak who suggested the programme to be christened as the ‘Songs of Sanitation.

Before a political party made it its election symbol, the people at large never gave any importance to the neglected broomstick. Today the audience was overwhelmed after seeing an enchanting broomstick dance item, presented by these innovative students. It was emphasized in course of these presentations that cleanliness is next to godliness and insanitation is ugly, generating diseases. Good sanitation means good health and that makes a country strong. A world Bank study says that any investment in sanitation sector enriches the national coffer by way of improved health, less expenditure on medication, less absenteeism, increased production, more foreign exchange through more tourist footfalls and ultimately a strong and prosperous country.

The most moving items were those castigating the cruel society where girl children were being debarred from seeing the light of the day which is their birth right. Some other items strongly underscored the banes of child labour and gender bias in the society. They loudly asked the society to answer the shape of things in this world devoid of the fair sex. Some of the folk song based dances from Odisha,Rajasthan and Punjab kept the crowd spell bound.

The most remarkable result of the socio-sanitational innovations of Sulabh is to see that the people at large who hated toilets, have started talking about it. To cap these all, the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, enjoying a global clientele is disseminating the santational messages quite effectively.  We should be ashamed of the reality that while in Bangladesh only 5% people resort to open defecation, in our country it is a frightening figure of  57%. More people per year die in the world of water-borne disease and 79% of them are children under five. Can India afford to ignore these frustrating realities? We hope such novel programmes may create desired awareness in the mass. Congrats to Sulabh. The country needs this movement to surge and succeed.  

NATIONAL SANITATION POLICY

                                               

In last over 66 years of independence, has India ever thought of talking about sanitation? It was never treated with any priority. Toilet, like house, cloth etc is also a civilisational norm. It is so much so that today they say that if there is no toilet, there is no civilization. Open defecation is a slur on any society. Contaminated water is the source of a large number of diseases, claiming mainly lives of children. A study says that out of deaths caused by water borne diseases, 79% are children below 5 years of age. A recent World Bank report says that while only 5% of Bangladeshis defecate in open, it is 57% in India. Doesit cause any concern in any quarter here?  Can any country afford to ignore it? 

Better sanitation means that the society is economically strong, cultured and above all healthy. However we never gave it any importance, treating it as a waste. The sociologists and economists have made it adequately clear that the investment in sanitation also brings benefits on economic front. A minister of Japan had earlier expressed that the investment in sanitation is as important as in defencefield. The latest finding is that with the improvement in sanitation, the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country grows by 45%. That comes through improved health, less diseases and less expenditure on medication and less absenteeism leading to productivity enhancement. A survey tells that the sanitation industry, which includes sanitary wares, drainpipes, construction material, soaps, infecticides etc amounts to six billion dollars per year with the prospect of its growth to 15 billion by 2020. Any reasonable person will agree that with improved sanitational environment, our country can attract more tourists and earn the much needed foreign exchange. Thus, we should not commit the mistake of limiting this term to only smelling toilets.

If India aims at becoming a world power, with agricultural and industrial production augmentation, we shall have to pay proper attention to this neglected sector as well. For the achievement of this objective, we shall have to exert pressure on the new govt to frame the much needed National Sanitation Policy.

FILMS ON INDO-PAK RELATIONS

                                               

Still today, there are a large number of people alive both in India and Pakistan who suffered and witnessed the post-Partition catastrophe overtaking the innocent public on both the sides. The massive swapping of population from this side to that side and vice versa and inhuman treatments meted out to them need not be narrated. As such the subject matter inspired writers, poets novelists and other ones of the creative field to give expression to their views on this heart-rending topic. Even the film world did not remain untouched.

One can name several films in which the division of the the country figured partly including the legendary Gandhi by Attenborough. However, if one looks back, he will find at least ten films solely based on Indo-Pak wars and bilateral relations. Out of them, five are the ones which proved block-busters.  They were Kasam Hindustan ki by Chetan Anand in 1973, Veer Jaara by Yash Chopra in 2004, Border by J. P. Dutta in 1997, Lakshya by Farhan Akhtar and Mission Kashmir by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. They all dealt with highly sensitive aspects of the people on either side of the disturbed borders. Most of them have avoided to make fresh the pangs of division and chosen other aspects of human relationships which compel the people on both sides to forget the painful past and work afresh for love and peace.

In this context, the latest film is Kya Dilli Kya Lahore, produced and lyrics by Gulzar and directed by Vijay Raj. It is also drawn from the partition theme but with a new interpretation. Two soldiers, one Indian and one Pakistani know only the language of bullet and are bent upon taking one another’s life. Then they say goodbye to this killing instinct and become friends. The beauty is that despite being a low budget film and casting only dark horses, it has come to be something far separate from the formula films and scores over all big heroes who charge in millions. The film is only 90-minute long but keeps the audience engaged. In some project in which Gulzar is involved, the end result has to be extraordinary. In the present fashion of costly heroes, costly sets, item songs and bold scenes, this film will prove a path-finder. Congratulations.