manedge

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/woman-should-be-covered-from-head-to-toe-says-khap-leader/article5249821.ece There is something typical about the predominant culture in the north of India. I have been in Delhi for a year now and seen the diverse cultures that have inter-mingled with the predominant groups in and around Delhi. The latest diktat from the Khap is symptomatic of this predominant culture. The Talibanisation of society is representative of the region. By forcing women to wear veils or as per a dress code the Khaps are Talibanising the society. At times I have wondered why the people behave the way they do in Delhi. But gradually I have begun to understand the rationale behind their behaviour. The predominant culture overtakes their original culture, coming as they may be from whatever region of India. Delhi-NCR is home to people from almost all parts of India. People from each region have their own culture. But gradually they begun adapting to the predominant cul...

It was indeed a curious quirk of fate that I was suddenly pushed in the role of a teacher three years ago. The time since then has been a dream run, despite the break of 11 months now. Once a teacher, always a teacher. That is how it has been for me. The love and adulation of students and teachers has kept me going through the worst phase of my life. Thanks a lot - all of you. Everyone, in his or her childhood dreams of being a teacher. The teacher is power personified. Everything that she or he does is a model to follow. We try to talk like them, walk like them and even plan to dress like them. A teacher who does not care for us is despised too. But coming down from that pedestal takes time. A teacher is held in high esteem till she or he does something drastic. But is there a recipe for success for a teacher? No, none at all. Each one has to find his or her way. We have been all affected in some way or the other with teachers whom we have held in high esteem. The moment I was o...

The dethroning of the BJP in Karnataka has lessons for all political parties via-a-vis the next Lok Sabha elections. Corruption is an issue to the common voter. Despite having taken the moral high ground of parting ways with a tainted Yedyurappa, BJP's decision to replace Sadanand Gowda with Jagdish Shettar due to pressure from Yedyurappa did not go well with the electorate. BJP also failed to act swiftly in getting rid of Yedyurappa. The Congress, facing umpteen corruption charges, needs to be on its guard. Though the Anna movement may have been scuttled, the imprint of the same on the voter's mind remains as is evident from the results in Karnataka. So the next Lok Sabha elections will be the voter's response to inaction on corruption. The BJP is hardly comfortable on this front what with its President having to go. But at least the BJP is taking action. However it will have to set its house in order, particularly on the leadership issue to take any advantage of an a...

The last five months have been perhaps the toughest of my life. Pitch-forked into a job I badly dislike, away from family and friends, and also form children whom I so much love and miss at SSS-10. The separation from these children was heart-wrenching. My two kids too are at a crucial phase of their student career. They need me more than any other time. I must blame my own 'visibility' for this assignment which is more of a sham than anything else. But then who cares. In these past few months I have passed through stages of depression, disbelief, doubt, what not. My self-confidence has taken a beating. At times I find myself tentative. Perhaps I have been worrying too much about pressures from people who are not accountable. But I have not given up. I couldn't afford to give up. The project is high-profile, being monitored by top people in my organisation. It is necessary that I do justice to my own self and reputation by not letting go. So things have moved, ev...