Indian Independence Revisited via WeChat App

As WeChat App came into existence along with the idea to get any number of people in a group chat, I thought what would be the debate if I can get people from different era in the struggle of Indian Independence came along and present their point of view. It's going be controversial but let's see it from an social perspective. The people whom I choose to be in my chat are Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Jawahar Lal Nehru along with Mohammad Ali Jinnah. 

Mohandas KaramChand Gandhi is called as Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu and known to us as the father of India. We came to know more about his principles through “Lage raho munna bhai” where the main character followed his simple teachings of life and wins a lot of hearts in the end and saved a lot of lives. He was the central character in the Independence struggle as he captured the essence of Indian public and motivated them to join in his non-violence (Ahimsa) movement. He started many andolans, one of which is featured in our currency note today. I still remember these remarkable words in a song – De dee humein aazadi, bina khadag bina dhaal, Sabarmati ke sant tune kar diya kamaal! 

Bhagat Singh referred to as Shaheed Bhagat Singh was the most revolutionary freedom fighter who was hanged at the age of 23 years. He has inspired more number of people worldwide than any other freedom fighter till date. According to some books, he was the first one to come up with Poorna Swaraj idea which was later advocated by INC. We have seen his life journey in many of the movies and Rang De Basanti too.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was called as Lokmanya because of his exceptional leadership skills and trust of people conferred in him. "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!" is the slogan people remember him for. He was the one who started the Sarvajanik Ganeshtosav in 1894. He was the BAL of the famous trio of BAL-PAL-LAL. 

Subhash Chandra Bose also known as Netaji was the one who attempted to overthrow the British rule by creating an army of his own. He has been the most pragmatic leader whose death is still a mystery. As per Clement Attlee, then PM of Britain, the INA activities led by Netaji was one of the biggest reason to leave India. He showed exceptional courage throughout his life and saw an opportunity to lead Indian soldiers working in British forces to turn against them during World War II. His famous motto was: "Give me blood and I will give you freedom".

Jawahar Lal Nehru, lovingly called as Chacha Nehru whose birthday is celebrated as Children Day in India, was the first Prime Minister of Independent India. He was the longest serving Indian PM as he held the office for 17 years. He wrote many books like Discovery of India & his speech “Tryst with Destiny” is one of the greatest speeches which he gave on the eve of Indian Independence. 

Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor General of Pakistan and leader of All India Muslim League. He is known as the “Father of the Nation” in Pakistan. He was instrumental in having a separate nation for Muslims when the power sharing failed between Congress and his party for United India. 

So we have all these people amongst us on WeChat and they are talking to each other and after initial talks about what they did in the struggle of Indian Independence and how their standpoint was right, it was my turn to ask them questions regarding the present state of India and their opinions on the same. Though this discussion can be continued for the life of the blog but let's say this time for WeChat thing, we will restrict to a single question. 

Let's start with the issue we are facing daily in terms of numerous incidents of eve teasing, rape and many forms of exploitation of women and kids? How will you tackle this issue and what can be done to stop them or how can they be eradicated from our society?

MG – This is really a bad state of India. Every girl is the daughter of India. We have a history of strong culture and value of respecting women. During Independence struggle, women were equally participating through various ways for this common goal. Many of the great leaders of modern India were ladies only and showing this kind of disrespect, I will not accept at all. As I said in one of my quotes, “Be the Change you want to see”, each and every citizen has to stand up against this crime. I know initially some of you will face the heat as faced by many but then slowly when everyone's respecting their wives, daughters, women this problem will be solved. It's all in the mind that they are weaker sex but it's not the case. Women should also not accept this type of behavior from anyone and should immediately confront the person who is doing it to them. Women should always be the empowered citizens of Modern India.

BS – I lost my life at the age where people are watching movies and having fun. I am really angry to see what has happened to Nirbhaya and many other girls and it is happening daily. If this has been my time, I would have killed all those who even eyes any women with disrespect. I think strong action should be taken against such people and it should be swift action. It's time that every one from the younger generation has to stand against these anti-social elements. It's the youth who defines a country and I see my country's teenagers and students as the courageous lot. They have to stand as a wall against all who disrespects women even if he is one of their close friends. They have to stand on the values and principle to respect women. They will be standing for their mother, sisters, friends & society. They have to educate those who falls into this peer pressure to pass lewd comments to become cool or something like that. It's the right attitude towards women that matters. 

BGT – Being a lawyer myself, I want the cases like these to be taken immediately. In the present state of affairs many of the cases are pending in the courts for like ages. The court taking so much time, makes the criminal fearless and more powerful as he feels that he is above everything in this country. He continues to do several such things again and again. Our judiciary needs to be as much advanced as advanced is our science and technology. With a strong judicial system in place, a feeling will come that LAW is above everyone and has the same rules for every citizen of India. It serves all with equal eye and not being biased towards some minister's son or minister himself or powerful ones. 

SCB – I totally agree what BS has said that country's youth is the key and they will be the army to change India. I also think of the government and bureaucracy should be held by strong leadership. Law enforcement holds the key to successful solution for this problem. Government have come up with this helpline numbers and several other funds etc but we do require an infrastructure built up in this country. With the roads, telephone, television penetrating in all the villages and country so is the knowledge that women are equal part of the society. As country has more infrastructure facilities, more and more people will get more opportunity to change their lives through better jobs and social interactions. 

JLN – Totally in sync with all of your ideas, I think, Education too should be made compulsory to everyone irrespective of age and gender and can sit in a class bench. To teach everyone is the responsibility of youth who can serve as volunteers. The education system should incorporate some compulsory Social Initiative as a part of their courses for which they will be graded. This can happen through NGO's or various government initiatives. They will be given degree certificates if they are able to successfully add value to the society as a whole in all the years of their school and college education. This is in sync with foreign countries where you have to compulsory serve in Army or other initiatives as a part of social security program. Education can enlighten human mind and can be a solution to this problem. 

MAJ – You all are aware about what happens in some of the Arab countries to someone who disrespect women. I strongly recommend that the same action should be taken and that happens in full public view so that the there is a fear of such crime. Democracy has given us power but that doesn't mean we misuse the same. A single incident showcased live on TV will definitely change the country's attitude towards women. If even then these crimes are reported, then let many of these criminals face the heat. I have seen many criminals getting punished for the crime and then after serving their jail time, they again enter the society to do the same crime in a more severe scenario. It's better to make citizens of country fearful rather than criminals. 

After listening to all of the ideas, I think the power is vested with all of us to stand against this crime. I will do my part for this India Shining & social change initiative, ARE YOU DOING YOURS? 

WeChat App can really help us all to stay connected all the time and can have a group to ping in case we find ourselves in some life-endangering situations. Anyone from the group can come to your rescue and this way we can stand together as One for All & All for One. 

More features of the application can be seen at YouTube - WeChat's Youtube channel.

In the end I would like to add a disclaimer that this is my personal interpretation and doesn't represent anyone else ideas and should not hurt sentiments of anyone. 

Thanks & Regards!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

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Whose responsibility it is to Ring the Bell for Women's Safety?

The safety of Women- a topic that called for heated discussions and massive protests throughout the country. India has witnessed a huge uproar, a revolution against lecherous members of the society who have caused immense shame to the entire country through their henious acts.

The question on everyone's lips… the question that has been echoing around the globe, which has been blaring out of televisions and radio stations worldwide – “What is wrong with Indian men”?  Why is it that there are incessant incidences reported almost every day and even after numerous claims and promises by the government, police and judiciary nothing seems to have improved? Infact, the situation has worsened over time. Who is responsible for the safety of women in a country of 1 billion people?

The answer lies within each one of us, the only problem is we do not realize it. It needs a lot of brainstorming to identify that WE are responsible for all that is happening around us. Eve teasing, molestation and rape are the draconian forms of everyday petty incidences at our homes that we ignore. Each time a couple repents the birth of a girl child, however secretly, a shameful sin transpires. Each time a family favors their son over their daughter, the seed of superiority is sown in the mind of the little boy. The family gives fuel to this fire of superiority everyday by showing preferences towards the boy. It can be as trivial as letting him to go out and play while refraining his sister from doing so or dividing the responsibilities of household work among siblings in such a way that the girl gets to be holed up in the kitchen while the boy can go out to the market. As Mahatma Gandhi has said, for the first seven years of their lives, children are like clay. They will mould into respectful, responsible and honest citizens if you teach them to. This is the time children need to be taught equality and respect towards the opposite gender. We have to nip the mere thought of gender inequality in its bud.

The momentum gathered by the fight for a woman’s safety reveals a sad and bitter truth about our society. I believe that this issue cannot be solved superficially by shouting slogans or amending a few laws. After all, it is upto us to either follow the laws effectively or to flaunt them. If every father stops feeling the burden of his daughter’s marriage, if every mother seeks pride in letting her daughter make important decisions of her life herself, I bet the problem is solved there itself.

The situation we face today is not because of a man’s libido. Nor does it depend on the clothes of the girl or how late she chooses to come back home. The problem lies in the eyes of the beholder. The problem is the lack of respect given to women in this patriarchal society, by men and women alike. If every individual recognizes that a girl is not an object, that her place is not reserved in the kitchen, that she is not merely meant to cook and make life easier for her husband, that she is someone who has her own priorities, ambitions and dreams, we will triumph over this problem.

A major lesson that we all need to learn is that the Indian man is not solely responsible. At a time when everyone is ready to jump down the throat of every man they see, we must not forget the brave men who stood up to protect their friends, girlfriends, sisters or even complete strangers. Many men, like Keenan and Reuben have lost their lives fighting to stand up for the equality they believe in. Let us not forget that women are equally responsible. A few days after the Delhi gang rape, a woman sensitization program was being conducted by a senior woman scientist. In front of a large audience comprising of policemen, the public and senior government officials she lambasted the victim .In her opinion the gang rape victim should not have fought back while being raped since that may have ‘saved’ her intestines. She also wondered what she was doing at 9 PM alone with a boy. When powerful women are actively participating in victim blaming, how do we expect to change the mindset of boys who are brought up by these women?

Let us not forget that the responsibility of keeping a woman ‘safe’ is not merely restricted to protecting her from rape. It encompasses protecting her dignity and self esteem even after she has been raped. It means to never, ever blame the victim or make any excuses for the crime. It implies never questioning her intentions of staying out at night or wearing what she wants to. Would we question our sons if they wanted to wear shorts and go out for ice cream at midnight? Protecting her safety signifies protecting her from discrimination at every single step of her life.

Today, when the entire nation is clamoring over the problem, cribbing over the rules, critising the judiciary, the police and the government, I appeal to the people of India, dig deep into your family, because you have the capacity to bring about a change in your family and your neighborhood. Feel proud to be the father of a girl, don’t curb her freedom. Instead teach your son to respect his sister. Teach your daughter to be fearless and independent. Teach your children equality. Do not let their genders guide what you teach them. Irrespective of their sex, teach your children to cook and to play cricket. Teach them to sew buttons and to plan for their future. If your son is interested in fashion, send him to an art class. If your daughter is an athlete, coach her for the Olympics. While many have labeled this period in India as a fight for woman empowerment, I believe this is a fight for equality.

Thanks a lot! 

This blog post is for #RingTheBell initiative. More information is available at www.bellbajao.org 

Laws alone are not enough. Ring The Bell believes in the power of individual and collective action to challenge the habits, norms, and cultures that perpetuate violence. One person adds up to one million; one million acts add up to change. You can be a part of the change by telling us how YOU will Ring The Bell, and inspiring your readers to do the same. What action will you take to bring violence against women to a halt? Blog about your experiences, your intentions, and make a promise!