The Uncommon Common Man

 

The year 2013 has been tumultuous in Indian politics. But people of India haven’t ever experienced such unprecedented frenzy about politics as evidenced in this year. Undoubtedly the new discovery in the political arena is Arvind Kejriwal who has single-handedly vowed to change the contour of Indian Political history. He is the Person of the year.

The genesis of the Aam Aadmi Party drew flaks from all corners including those from the mentor and Guru of AK. Politics as a field was scorned and politicians were treated with contempt by general public. Six decades of independence have witnessed severe erosion of values and morals in this class.  It has become synonymous to the class of people with name, fame, power, wealth and muscle. Ordinary men and women even dread the idea of revamping rotten political system and gradually it was considered as the most unceremonious way of serving nation.

Assembly elections have come at a crucial phase when people have almost given up any hope for revival. Not that people have become pessimistic, but even by international standards the levels of corruptions are overboard. The latest global perception index by the transparency international ranked India 94^th among the 177 nations. On a scale of 0-100 India scored 36 points where 0 means a clean country while 100 means highly corrupt. Our country has started falling down in the corruption indices.  Corruption seems to be rampant with more and more scams being unearthed every day. People have become despondent. They desperately needed change. The anger of the nation and especially the youth is more evident by frequent protest, rallies hitting the roads of the capital city. In almost all these protests common man have eagerly come forward and participated in this show of anger. Another striking example has been the overwhelming support received by the Jan Lok Pal Bill initiated by Anna Hazare, where he literally mobilised the entire nation. People are seething with anger and are feeling cheated. They desperately wanted some change, drastic and reliable; a new change which could revive their lives spirits and bring back some hope the system and governance. They were fed up of the false promises, of free bounties offered by the politicians. The capital city especially is plagued by problems which made people more hostile. Being the hub of all political activity common man had to face the brunt of power politics making the things even worse.

The only ray of hope in this situation was the Aam Aadmi Party which hadn’t promised them of a heaven, but assured them of safe drinking water, power, infrastructure, corruption free governance and the real democracy (or the Swaraj) as they called it. They had 70 different manifestos for each of the constituencies. They approached the common man and promised them of the basic necessities. They had firm roots at the base and many people voluntarily canvassed about the party and their ideology which was simple and clear, a war against corruption.

With Arvind Kejriwal, the founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, a party with 9 months of history, taking the oath as the chief minister of Delhi, a new era has dawned in Indian Politics. This has symbolised the resurgence India middle class their hopes and aspirations.   AAP has redefined the politics by its unique, thrifty and reliable campaigning mode. The volunteers as the workers called themselves believed in door to door campaigning and of course election results have shown how the diligence and commitment have worked. AAP party which had modest funds have managed to successfully topple the richly funded campaigns of the national parties. With the result a common man with absolutely no political connections and affiliations had created a history in Indian politics by becoming chief minister of the capital state.

The decision to form the government came as a rude shock for all the political jacks. It was the most politically unanticipated jolt for BJP which in spite of emerging as biggest vote winner decided against formation of government. AAP as a fledgling political party and a novice surprised all with their novel political strategies. Nearly all the parties have stumbled when they sought referendum from people about the government formation. Amidst of mockery they emerged victorious and decided to form a minority government. Every day they are creating flutter by their unprecedented moves like doing away with red beacons, security, government bungalows and other traditional baggage which comes with the plum posts.

As other national political parties are crying hoarse, of some political match –fixing, undeterred AAP is going ahead with its manifesto. Just as a common man, AK took the oath. Irrespective of what he is going to deliver, till now he has played the game of politics in a way no one has ever dared to play. Even the average age of his cabinet is around 40, making it the youngest cabinet that existed in India so far. All the dirty tricks of mudslinging, horse trading and making severe allegations of money exchange have failed to tarnish the image of AK so far. Despite treacherous game plays, he emerged out as a person of strong conviction.

NaMo has begun his election campaign much ahead by touring vastly across different venues in India mostly wooing the young with his development manifesto. But now AAP is tipped to cut into the major electoral gains of BJP with its anti-corruption slogan which has attracted the attention of the urban middle class. Earlier all the educated youth who have given up their Adult Franchise realised its potential as a most powerful weapon enforced their rights. They have participated in recent polls with renewed enthusiasm turning the tables in favour of new change. Thus these Assembly polls and results had an astounding effect marking the beginning of awakening of the assertive middle class. The tech savvy and social media activists have in innumerable ways have been the great motivation for the new change. The urban constituencies alone account for about 170-190 seats. It would be interesting scenario to watch how the AAP wave would blow out the anti-congress bubble.  

Political analysts believe that BJP is tipped to stand as a loser in this political massacre as it has singularly invested on its lone candidate much ahead of the elections. It started blowing its own trumpet too loud ignoring the resonating effect of AK. All the political parties were shocked by the reverberating display of AAP in Delhi. This victory has turned tables and sent all the parties to the desk again to redraw their plans. They are now forced to chalk out their strategies which are more people-oriented and manifestos driven by people’s immediate needs. The assertive middle class has found their saviour in form of AK and now they have truly vouched for him. Though the possibility of resounding performance for a debutant on the national arena is still not brushed, it still remains a bigger challenge to all other parties. India which has endorsed its vision to gerontocracy has found its new masters in the emerging younger generation.

As the general elections are due in less than six months all the attention is focussed on the political arena of country. Earlier it was thought to be a battle between the two big-wigs Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. But with the sudden surge of AAP and with political parties of third front pitching high for AK, there is a serious concern about AK derailing the election campaign of NaMo. It doesn’t call for extraordinary intellect to say that general elections would see a newcomer and clearly the rivalry is pitched between three leaders- Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi.

 

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University Grants Commission (UGC) & Contemporary Higher Education

 

University Grants Commission (UGC) celebrated its 60^th foundation day on Dec 28^th. On the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebration Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh in his speech has stressed on the importance of raising the standards of research especially the number and quality of the doctoral programmes. He emphasised the need for the inter-disciplinary approach in research, which is the corner-stone for excellence in research.  Departments should refrain from the culture of functioning in isolation as individual islands, instead should engage faculty in inter-disciplinary research. All Indian Universities continue to depend entirely on the fund allocation from the governments for undertaking research. Instead Universities should foster greater ties with industry to boost research and development. While a greater support from industry can lead to better outcomes in research, industry can utilise the meaningful outcomes of the research for practical applications. He appreciated the role of UGC as an effective regulator but believed that real task lies in fresh thinking and in innovative ways of doing things.

UGC which essentially assumed as role of regulator has to take up the role of the national think-tank and organise professional, purposeful discourses that can have close bearing on the higher education system. He indicated that there is serious shortage of faculty in higher education institutions which is likely to be more acute with a proposed move for expansion of centres for learning. He indicated the urgent need for including E for employability in the UGC’s already existing triad of Expansion, Excellence and Equity. He lauded the government’s initiative of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Sikhsha Abhiyan (RUSA) which strengthens the state universities.

The foundation celebrations are marred by some controversial opinions as one of its ex-chief who refuses to be named opined that UGC has lost its power and prestige. It was instituted to think about pedagogy, expansion and inclusion of more children under the ambit of higher education. But sadly it is now deemed to be a grant giving authority.  Usually any regulatory body which functions well retains its effectiveness and autonomy. But since UGC has outsourced its job of thinking to the ministry; it has reduced itself to the present state. Presently it has become more proactive in accrediting status of deemed universities to innocuous private institutions. He said that it is time to introspect rather than celebrate since the recommendations of Radha Krishnan report for the higher education prepared by the scholar president in 1950 are still not realised. He was hopeful that the prime minister who once held the position of the chief of UGC might reinvigorate the institution.

The roots of current education system in India can be traced back to the minutes of the Mount Stuart Elphinstone who stressed the need for establishing the schools teaching English and European Sciences. Later Lord Macaulay in 1835 consolidated all the efforts and went ahead with all the recommendations for introducing the English system of education. Subsequently Magna Carta of English education articulated the scheme of education from primary school to the university level and thus universities were set up in Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and in Allahabad. The Central Advisory Board on Post War Educational Development in India, also known as Sergeant Report recommended the formation of University Grants Commission in 1945 to coordinate the activities of Universities at Aligarh, Banaras and Delhi. In 1947 it was entrusted with the task of dealing the responsibilities of all the existing universities. After Independence in 1948, University Education Commission was setup under the leadership of Dr. Sarvepalli RadhaKrishnan to suggest improvements and extensions that might be desirable to suit the present, future needs and aspiration of India. As per his recommendations, University Grants Commission was reconstituted on the basis of University Grants Committee of UK with full time chairman and other members appointed from amongst educationists of repute. In 1952 Union Government has decided that all issues concerned with allocation of grants from central grants to Universities and other institutes of higher learning be referred to UGC. Thus, in the year 1953, Dec 28^th Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the Minister of Education, Natural Resources and Scientific Research formally inaugurated the UGC.

However, UGC was formally established in 1956 by an Act of the Parliament in 1956 as a statutory body of government of India for coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in India. For effective administration UGC was decentralised by establishing six regional centres at Pune, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Bhopal, Guwahati and Bangalore with its head office and two bureau offices in Delhi. The mandate of UGC includes framing regulations on minimum standards of education, serving as vital link between the Union and State Governments and centres of learning, advising central and state governments on measures necessary for improvement of university education, determining and maintaining the standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities. Accreditation for higher learning under the aegis of UGC is overseen by 16 autonomous statutory institutions.

Now the future of the UGC is under scanner as the Union Minister of Education in 2009 has revealed its plans of closing down UGC and AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) in favour of a higher body with more sweeping powers. The Higher Education and Research Bill (HE&R) 2011, intends to set up National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) for determination, coordination, maintenance and continued enhancement of standards of education and research. Existing bodies like UGC, AICTE and Distance Education Council (DEC) will be subsumed under it. Those agencies involved in medicine and law are exempt from this merger. Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) discussed HE&R Bill which seeks to establish a national over-arching regulatory body in higher education. CABE decided to ask state governments about their comments on the same. Governments of Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Tamilnadu and West Bengal opposed the setting up of such board.

India’s higher education system is third largest in the World after the United States and China. UGC is the governing body in charge of the tertiary education system in our country. It enforces standards, advises government and coordinates activities between the centre and the state. India’s higher education system has recorded a fast pace of growth in the past one decade.  But more than 90% colleges of higher education are rated as below average for quality parameters. The congruent  reasons for falling standards of tertiary level education can be attributed to the incoherent regulatory framework and lack of quality standards with the result even the India has poor reputation for potential foreign partnerships. Owing to the lax regulatory environment and driven by market opportunities several institutions are having a free run in offering various degrees courses. As a result numerous fake institutions which lack proper accreditation are awarding degrees and siphoning off profits. Thus as a regulatory authority UGC must restore transparency, coherence and confidence in our higher education system else future generations would fly off to green pastures for quality higher education.

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Major Events In Indian Science In 2013

 

As we aspire to continue our journey into another year it would be interesting to recapitulate various milestones achieved to evaluate our progress and make better plans for future. Indian Science has received widest acclaim in the year 2013 firstly for successfully unleashing The Mars Orbiter (MOM) or Mangalyaan and second for honouring Prof. C.N.R. Rao an internationally reputed chemist with Bharat Ratna.

 Other important events that earmarked the Indian science calendar are:

January: The inauguration of the 100^th Science Indian Science Conference at Kolkata on Jan 3^rd by Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh who has launched the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) project with an aim to position India among the top five global scientific powers by 2020. STI would also ensure that the benefits of science, technology and innovation be utilised for the development of nation. The policy would work at optimisation of the gross expenditure in research and development by calling for active engagement of the industries and encouraging the private sectors in innovation related activities by offering incentives for the same.

An announcement made by the head of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Bangalore on Jan 5th  regarding  India’s plan of building World’s largest telescope at the foot hills of Himalayas in Merak Village of Ladakh region to analyse the basic processes occurring place on the surface of the Sun. The 2-meter class National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) a state of art facility with a provision of night time observation is to be built by the IIA to initiate advanced microscopic studies on the solar atmosphere. The other participating institutes are the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aryabhatta Institute of Observational Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). The cost of the project is estimated to be 300 crores is supposed to be commenced by the end of the year.

Scientists have developed 16 disaster management drugs that can be used in case of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) accidents. These drugs are developed by the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS). These have passed efficacy tests and are getting ready for release into the market at a much cheaper price.

Renowned space scientist, Prof. U. R. Rao has been inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame by the Society of Satellite Professionals International. He is the first Indian to receive the rare honour for leading all Indian Space Programmes from 1984-1994. With this he would join Arthur C Clark, Van Allen, Harold Rosen, Peter Jackson and 49 other space scientists. Beginning with the first satellite Aryabhatta over 20 satellites have been launched under his guidance. He was instrumental in accelerating rocket development in India. Currently he is chairman of governing council of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmadabad.

February: A single blood test costing Rs 2400 capable of screening for 13 cancers at the earliest stages of disease has been developed by SRL diagnostics. The test detects the presence of protein fragments Fibrinogen Degradation Proteins (FDP) which are released when cancer cells disintegrate to facilitate the growth of cancer.

India has successfully launched seven satellites carried by the PSLV C-20 whose lift off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre from Sriharikota was delayed by five minutes. The delay was done to avert collision with resident space objects in space. One of the satellites on board included Indo-French Satellite SARAL, world’s first smart phone operated nano satellite, a space telescope satellite, and four foreign satellites. This was India’s 101th space mission.

March: Six alleged irregularities in clinical trials have been identified. Further to this, strict orders have been issued by the health ministry making the registration of the trials compulsory on the ICMR website. New guidelines for organising inspection of trial sites and sponsor or clinical research organisation have been formulated. Drug and Cosmetic Rules 1945 has been amended.

The first Supersonic cruise missile BRAHMOS has been successfully test fired from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam. The missile took off vertically from a submerged platform to an altitude of 290km with pin-point accuracy which was confirmed by the telemetry and tracking stations. They are capable of maritime strike and land attack.

April: SC dismissed patent protection for the anti-cancer drug Glivac (Imatinib Mesylate) developed by Novartis. Chennai Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has decided to revoke the patent for not complying to the Article 3(d) of Indian Patent Act.

 Scientists at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology along with Japanese researchers have developed a prototype of an advanced multi bending Peroral Direct Cholangioscope (PDCS) device to detect and cure Gastro-intestinal cancers. The device is equipped with a video camera that can bend easily and can detect cancers of bile duct, liver and pancreas in early stages.

May: A scientific study revealed that the glaciers of Mount Everest have shrunk by 13% over the past 50 years due to global warming. The situation is aggravated by the fact that there has been less snowfall in this region since 1990. While the Karakoram mountain ranges on China-India-Pakistan border are holding steady and are believed to be growing.

 June: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has installed Early Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) at Rangchang in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that can predict the tsunami immediately after an earthquake. The new technology can predict Tsunami within 3 minutes of the initial tremors are felt and sends warning signals too. Subsequently alert warnings can be sent to the 10 risk zones in consultation with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) at Hyderabad.

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) permitted certain companies and research institutes for conducting field trials of five genetically modified crops which include-cotton, maize, castor, wheat and rice. These GM crops would offer resistance to insects, salinity, and tolerance to water logging and excess use of nitrogen fertilisers.

July: India’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D launched from the space port of Kourou in French Guiana by Ariane space’s Ariane 5 rocket. It is positioned in the Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO) 36,000km from earth. The satellite’s instruments will be operative from second week of August.

August: ISRO aborted launch of the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D5 designed to carry the GSAT-14 communication satellite into the orbit, due to fuel leakage in the upper cryogenic tanks at the eleventh hour on Aug 19th.

Bharat Biotech a leading Vaccine company launched a new vaccine for Typhoid Typhbar-TCV which can offer protection to children less than 2years and to adults even.

 India’s first exclusive satellite for military operations GSAT-7 launched with the paid up launch service of  European Space Consortium's Ariane Space’s Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou Space Port, French Guiana on 30^th August.

September: The Chairman of the Department of Atomic stated at the 57^th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Vienna that India’s nuclear plants as well as several fuel cycle facilities record notch top performance for the year 2012. The average annual availability of Indian nuclear plant remained at 90% and registered low unit energy cost.

All the 11 transponders of the multiband communication satellite GSAT-7 have been performing well.

October: The much awaited Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan has been delayed by a week and the new launch date is November 5^th (mangalwar) 14:36 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. India is using its most trusted launch vehicle, PSLV-C25 an XL variant of the launcher. The decision to delay the launch of the Mars Orbiter is due to the bad weather conditions in the South Pacific Ocean. SCI Nalanda ship carrying the satellite tracking system failed to reach Fiji by Oct 21^st.

November: With the efficacious blast off of the Mars Orbiter (Mangalyaan) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 14:38pm on November 5^th, India has successfully launched its interplanetary mission campaign and gained entry into the elite club of nations -USA, Russia and Europe, which have made explorations to the red planet.

Professor Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (C.N.R Rao) an internationally renowned chemist has been conferred the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna. He is the third scientist to join the pantheon club of Indian scientists to have received this prestigious award. This elite group of scientists include Nobel Laureate and Physicist Sir. C.V.Raman who was awarded Bharat Ratna in the year 1954, and the renowned aeronautical engineer and former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 1997.

December: MOM (Mars Orbiter for Mars) has become the farthest object sent by India in space, when it surpassed the Moon’s orbit. The Mar’s Orbiter left the earth’s gravitational field and successfully positioned itself into the Mars Transfer Trajectory, thus finishing the Earth’s Orbiting phase.

India successfully test fired its missile Prithvi, a surface to surface missile from the Integrated Test Range from Chandipur. It was India’s first indigenously built ballistic missile with a range of 350 km. It has 483 sec flight duration and can carry a war load of 500kg to a peak altitude of 43.5 km and is more lethal than similar calibre missiles in the world.

 The first indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas has received its operational clearance after 30 years of conception. Tejas will be replacing the old fleet of MIG’s from the Indian Air Force. The cost of construction of each aircraft is around Rs 200 crores and is expected to come down once the mass production of the vehicles begins. It is lightest military jet in its class capable of reaching a speed of 1350 kmph and is comparable to Mirage 2000, Gripen fighter jets and F16s.

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Space Tourism - Unplugged

Of late space tourism has become buzz word for the billionaires of the west. Till now the world has been witnessing a raging competition between nations to stand out as the elitist nation. Revelling in space technology has been an order for various nations of world, as this is an index of nation’s prowess as a technological super power.

Though it might seem to be an excerpt from a Sci-Fi Hollywood Movie, but in real several entrepreneurs are making sustained, individual as well as collaborative efforts to realise the dream of travelling to the void. Ever since the first public announcement for selection of astronauts for the Mars One mission (a non-profit organisation that plans to establish a human settlement on the red planet by 2025), has been made, the company has been flooded with applications from the young and enthusiast adventurers. The private space flight project is leaded by Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp. In 2024, the Mars One intends to send four critically selected crew members to become the first resident of the Mars. Every two years a crew of four members would arrive on Mars. By 2033, there will be over 20 people living and working on Mars.  Every step of the crew is going to be telecast 24X7. Though the Voyage is very arduous, demanding extreme mental poise and physical fitness it hasn’t dampened the tremendous enthusiasm and excitement of the applicants who want to make to the final four crew members of the Mars One project. This project has been endorsed by a Dutch Physicist and a Nobel Prize winner Gerard’t Hooft. His interests include black holes, gauge theory, quantum gravity and fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. Globally 40,000 thousand applications have been received and there would be four rounds of selections to test for the resilience, creativity, ability to withstand thrust, adaptability and curiosity. The project is going to fly the Space X Falcon which is slated to undergo further tests.

It is indeed amazing to learn about the new renaissance in the space technology aptly described as the “New Space”. The hub of this new revolution is the Mojave Desert in California. It is away from the prying eyes and surrounded by landscape where any crash would not inconvenience anyone except if the pilot fails to eject.  Unlike the massive government funded mission projects to space, New Space includes a special breed of curious and starry- eyed entrepreneurs whose sole motive is to enter the cosmic space and make profit out of it. At present there are 17 rocket and space-related companies that operate in the Air and Space Port of the Mojave town. All the business set-ups have two objectives, firstly to launch commercial satellite and then to enter the exciting trade of space tourism.

Mojave has become the seat of extensive research where companies are vying to develop hybrid rocket engines to carry passenger to the giddy heights of 100 km (which is demarcated as the inner edge of the outer space). Several trials are underway to determine efficiency of fuels, as both the solid and liquid fuels has their own set of limitations. Solid fuelled rockets are easy to handle on ground, but difficult to control in flight as once ignited, their fuel burns until it is exhausted. Liquid fuelled-rockets are other way round and tend to be more powerful. Space Ship Two one such vehicle used best of both the solid propellant and the liquid oxidiser, where the power of the solid fuel can be controlled by altering the oxidiser flow.

The space technology developed by these companies often employs several indigenous techniques. For example the Space Ship Two is an air-launched craft, where the rocket is lifted to an altitude of 15km by a special two-hulled aeroplane, White Knight with a wing span of 43 metres and then released to fend for itself. Series of tests has indicated that this idea works. Scaled Composites, funded by Sir Richard Brason employs a giant version of the White Knight with a wing span of 117 meters, making it the largest aeroplane ever flown.

Lynx another vehicle proposed by Jeff Greason, an engineer who developed the Pentium Microprocessor uses liquid fuelled engines which can takeoff from the runway under its own power. Similarly Stratolaunch Systems, managed by Ruten and Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) proposes to use the air-launched vehicle. Several engineering giants are now venturing into the space business. Masten Space Systems, creation of David Masten, an engineer intends to mainly focus on the controlled landing in absence of which all the satellites end up in the sea-bed. With controlled landing, hardware will not be lost and hence it can be reused and can be flown over and again. With entry of more companies into space technology rapid advancements are made. For instance, Fire Star technologies are developing a liquid fuel that consists of premixed propellant and oxidiser. This requires only a single tank and no complicated mixing mechanism in the motor thus simplifying the basic engineering designs. Technological improvements imply further simplification and availability of the new technology at much lesser cost on long term.

Mojave is now soon evolving into a cluster of technology where several small and big companies alike are competing and collaborating. Millions are dollars are being pumped into research by the super rich who aim to garner profits through commercial satellite launches and high-end tourism. Companies are making plans to start flights from next year with a single seat costing $250,000. Yet another place in Texas is getting ready to offer a stiff competition to the firms in Mojave. A company Blue Origin floated by Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder which developed a rocket New Shepard named after the Astronaut Alan Shepard. Another by Elon Musk, the man behind Pay Pal whose company Space X stationed in Hawthorne suburb of Los Angeles intends to use Space Pad 39A Kennedy. The liquid fuelled rocket Falcon was already used for resupplying International Space Station. They have even placed two communication satellites into orbit in 2013. In wake of all these developments, if companies get technology right, journey to our nearest neighbours in space may not be distant dream. More over even the foresighted entrepreneurial visionaries might end up making huge gains.

Gone are the days when we awed at the superfluous creations of the extra terrestrial life forms on the big screens but now the much eluding space is going to be a space ship away......

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China’s Lunar Mission Chang’e 3

 

China has made its interests very clear by successfully launching a new lunar probe Chang’e 3 carrying the robotic rover onto the surface of the moon. This was first attempt of China at soft-landing spacecraft on to an extra-terrestrial body. A Long March 3B rocket carrying the lunar space craft has  blasted off from South-west China’s XiChang Satellite Launch Centre on Dec 2^nd, landed on moon’s 400km wide ancient crater, thought to be relatively flat and devoid of rocks, Sinus Iridum or the Bay of Rainbows, on Dec 14th. The space craft arrived in the lunar orbit after five days of launch and from then it has been preparing for landing. The descent from the lunar orbit to the moon’s surface took 12 minutes. A six-wheeled, solar powered, Yutu or the Jade Rabbit, with four cameras and two mechanical legs can dig soil samples upto a depth of 30 mts, has unleashed on the lunar surface from the Lander. Jade Rabbit is named after a mythological creature, white rabbit that travels with the goddess Chang’e to the moon. The rover weighs 140 kg and carries an optical telescope for astronomical observations and a powerful ultraviolet camera that will monitor how solar activity effects the three layers of the earth’s atmosphere. It is fitted with radioisotope heaters unit that will allow it to function even as temperatures plummet to -180C. The stationary Lunar Lander is fully equipped to observe earth, and astronomically constructed to eye other celestial bodies and the rover Yutu as well.  The objective of the mission is to explore the natural resources and conduct geological surveys for a year. China has successfully recorded a soft-landing meaning a landing in which the spacecraft and equipment remain intact. With this it has joined the elite club of US and Russia the earlier two nations who could accomplish this feat.

Chang’e 3 is the first spacecraft visiting the moon after Soviet Union’s unmanned space mission in 1976. Another interesting historical coincidence is that on the same day in 1972 Apollo-17’s Gene Cernan took last steps off the moon’s surface to climb aboard Challenger Lunar Module. The most sophisticated feature of the Chang’e 3 is the presence of the ground radar to measure lunar soil and crust. With this launch, China is seriously making preparations for its next lunar mission aimed at collecting the lunar samples and sending it back to earth for investigation by 2020 followed by a manned lunar mission. China’s plans to lunar surface as “spring board” for its future deep space exploration missions. Chang’e 4 is supposed to be an improved version of the Chang’e 3 which would eventually pave way for their fifth mission Chang’e 5 aimed at collecting the lunar samples.

China has ambitious space mission aiming at developing its space research stations on par with the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Centre. Currently China is working indigenously as US congress has banned NASA from using Federal funds to cooperate with China two years back. China has several accomplishments in space research to its credit. It has become third nation to send a manned spacecraft a decade ago. Now efforts are on way for a manned mission to Mars and a series of lunar exploration projects. This shows China’s technological and scientific prowess and the ability to pool all its financial resources and manpower.

China has been very keen about Lunar explorations for three important reasons as elucidated by a adviser of the mission. Firstly- to develop technology needed for exploration this includes materials, communication skills, IT skills etc. Second, from scientific point of view it is important to know about the brothers and sisters of earth to have a greater understanding about the earth, its origin and other features. Third-in terms of talent to develop its own intellectual pool to work on all space related projects. Apart from the above stated reasons China has set aside a vision for Lunar Programs. Since moon has no air, solar panels would work efficiently which can be used to support whole world. Moon is rich source of Helium-3 an important fuel for nuclear reactors; hence it can solve the energy crisis of nation for the next 10,000 years. The combination of thin atmosphere and extreme temperatures can be better used for manufacturing. Moon is full of rare earth metals like Titanium and Uranium which of short supply on earth. Though the mining option does seem to be remotely plausible, Chinese are confident about their future prospective use. China has several schemes of activities for its lunar explorations. Since there is no crunch for funds space research, China which has been a laggard initially seems to be catching up with the elite nations.

This launch has opened up a scope for robotic exploration of moon. This will join the NASA’s LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) launched in September. Besides this, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Accleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of Moon’s interaction with Sun (ARTEMIS), probes have been working on their mission objectives on the Lunar Surface. Though there is no agreement between US and China regarding sharing of scientific information, data will be shared to the International Science community. China’s moon landing has been supported by the European Space Agency (ESA)’s deep space tracking system. Chang’e 3 lunar descent has been tracked by a telescope from New Norcia in Western Australia. Radio signals received during the descent can used to reconstruct the trajectory for future references.

While India registered an initial success in the lunar explorations through its unmanned lunar probe Chandrayaan-1, its subsequent mission Chandrayaan-2 has to be inadvertently delayed as the Roskosmos of Russia failed to extend the needed support. After Russia failed in its Phobos-Grant mission, a mission to one of the moon’s of the Mars, it had to work on sturdy launch vehicle and India was asked to wait till 2017. The India backed out of its agreement with Russia and decided to develop the technology indigenously. As a part of this exercise indigenous Geosynchronous Launch vehicle (GSLV) D5, the supposed launch vehicle has been fabricated. But the launch had to been aborted at the eleventh hour due to fuel leakage in August 2013 and the new launch is scheduled for early Jan 2014. A successful launch of GSLV would ensure a steady progress towards Chandrayaan-2. Hope ISRO inspired by its spirited feat of Mangalyaan, would continue to repeat its miracle. Though media minced no words in pitching India against China for an ongoing space competition in the South Asia, India has miles to travel to catch up with China which is way ahead.....

Yutu or the Jade Rabbit, lunar rover with its Lander

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Trip to City of Lakes: Udaipur

For most of us, Rajasthan is synonymous with vibrancy of colours. Perhaps this state alone can boast of being a guardian of its colossal tradition and culture and hence the sole reason why it could draw a maximum number of tourists from all parts of the world. We have set out to explore the “Venice of the east” or the “city of lakes” Udaipur, a city that is buttressed by the oldest mountain ranges, the Aravallis.

Warm scintillating sun’s rays stroking us on a perfect wintery day could by far be the best welcome gesture we could experience as we stepped out of the train to enter the cultural flag bearer of Rajasthan. Winters are the most preferred time to visit the western part of India. The temperatures of the mid-day could be most pleasant hovering around 25C. Luckily our choice of the hotel proved to be best as it is located in the old city where the grandeur of the old traditions is still alive. The narrow lanes and the mesmerising slopes in this part of the city offered a merry ride as our auto steered into various alleys at a modest speed. As we anxiously stepped inside the hotel we were awe-struck by the beauty of Lake Pichola created in the 14^th century is currently a sanctuary for a wide variety of birds. Over several centuries, the lake’s surroundings and islands within have been developed. This freshwater artificial lake is spread across 1700 acres and is abutted by the overwhelming high rises of hotels that offer a fantastic view.

 View of Lake Pichola from Hotel

The first leg of our exploration included a boat ride on Lake Pichola to reach the Jag Mandir Palace, a natural island developed within the lake. The Jag Mandir place is acclaimed to be most sought after place for celebrity weddings and indeed the ideal place for pleasure parties. This palace also served as a refugee asylum for Shahjahan when he rebelled against his father Jahangir for the Mughal throne. Jagriti, a museum within the place has a unique collection of rare paintings, old photographs, maps and contemporary architectural drawings. 

Jag Mandir place

Next, we stopped at the Fateh Prakash Palace which is now a seven-star hotel that also houses the crystal gallery.  The visit to the Crystal Gallery is a guided audio tour and for the first time, we were flabbergasted by the splendour, flamboyance, and grandeur of the Mewar dynasty. Crystal Gallery connoted the glory of the Sisodia clan and has an exquisite display of the various paintings, large chandeliers, and weapons of the kings. It housed the biggest display of the unused crystal chairs, tables, fountains, tables, dinner sets, perfume bottles, beds, and table fountains which were ordered by Maharaja Sajjan Singh in 1877 from F&C Osler & Co, London. But before the shipment arrived the king died and it remained unopened for nearly 110 years. It is the single largest collection of crystals anywhere in the world. The opulence of the interiors transports us back to the time of the rajas and reminds us of the wealth and the glory of medieval Indian kings. The tour ended with refreshments offered with a special vintage touch. Unlike other trips to forts in other parts of India, this place is very well-maintained and hence this place is frequented by tourists who are stumped by the audacious display of the richness of the royal dynasty.

Fateh Prakash Palace

 

The next spot on our list was City Palace which is in the same complex as the Fateh Prakash Palace. The outer facade of the palace is an amalgamation of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. The flamboyant five-storied palace built on the top of the hill offers a panoramic view of the entire city and its surroundings. Actually, the Palace is a pack of series of palaces built by successive 76 generations of the Sisodia Clan and is a repertoire of different artifacts of the Mewar dynasty. A small museum within the complex has been exclusively dedicated to legendary Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak. A walk through the entire palace is like a journey past various generations of the dynasty who have substantially modified, modernised, and tried to beautify and glorify their fame according to existing trends of their regime. Even the silverware and other aesthetic possessions of the kings and Queens were displayed. As we exited the palace, we couldn’t stop ourselves from lauding the dedication, special interest, and extra efforts made by Maharana Pratap Charitable Trust to restore the beauty and the identity of one of the oldest dynasties of our country. So far, we have visited many dilapidated forts across India, but this particular palace alone could successfully transport us back to the times of the Rajas.

Outer Façade of City Palace

 

Apart from the fort, Udaipur also boasts of its unique collection of vintage cars of Raja’s of Mewar which include the Rolls-Royce, 1939 Cadillac Open convertibles, Mercedes, Vauxhall, and Opel Models. These have become more popular with the James Bond Octopussy where one of the Ford cars was actually used. All the cars are in working condition and can be customised on request. They are all housed in the semi-circular courtyard which was the original palace garage. A visit to this museum is a must for every motor vehicle lover as the collection also has an old truck, bus and a few jeeps.

1939 Cadillac Open convertibles

 

Our adoration for the place reached its zenith when we took a ropeway and reached a hill peak at sunset. The ropeway led us to Mansapurna Karni Temple, located at the highest point of the hill. A bird’s eye view of the city under the setting sun wrapped by a blanket of still blue waters surrounded by the aesthetically landscaped Aravalli ranges was a visual treat.  With those pleasant images of the city we retired back to our hotel room and eagerly waited for the night to grow. Our hotel rooftop offered a splendid view of the beautifully lit Lake Pichola its islands and Ghats.  The serenity of blissful moments is symphonized by the sacred hymns and temple bells from a very old Mahadev temple located on the Ghats. A lovely candlelight dinner under the open sky gave a perfect ending to an eventful day.

A bird’s eye view of the city

 

We started our second day by first visiting the Jagdish Temple dedicated to Laxmi Narayan built in Indo-Aryan architectural style by Maharaja Jagat Singh. It is 150 mt away from the City Palace. It is constructed at an elevation and we have to take a flight of 32 marble steps to reach it. The three-storied temple complex has beautifully sculpted pictures of elephants, charioteers, dancers, musicians and horsemen, a typical feature of Maru-Gurjara architecture. The central deity Lord Vishnu is four-armed and the idol is carved out of a single black stone. The temple premises are thronged by hundreds of visitors and ardent devotees as well. The sound of the hymns, bhajans, and recitations bestows celestial peace of mind. Then we immediately dispersed into the market to have local breakfast at a small outlet where the steaming vapours of ginger tea eagerly welcomed us. The typical breakfast served included hot poha garnished with freshly chopped coriander and onions, samosas with khatta-meeta chutney and kachori. We savoured the local delicacies and chalked out a plan for the day.

Jagdish Temple

 

Udaipur was founded by Maharaja Udai Singh II father of the legendary Maharana Pratap, who is known n for his outstanding bravery and chivalry. Especially his resistance to the untiring efforts of Mughal Emperor Akbar to annex the Mewar kingdom is a source of inspiration to every Indian and a matter of honour and prestige for Rajputs. Motibagri is a place overlooking the Fatehsagar Lake, has a bronze statue of the Rajput hero, Maharana Pratap riding his favourite horse Chetak. The location of the place at an elevation, amidst well-manicured gardens is a delightful sight. Down the hill, we entered a museum containing splendid paintings of Maharana Pratap and other kings of the Sisodia clan. It also had replicas of the Kumabalgarh Fort, the Chittorgarh Fort, and the battleground of the Haldighati, where Rana Pratap clashed with outnumbered Mughal armies. The journey to the past is an exhilarating experience as it leaves us inspired and cleverly elusive as well.

Bronze statue of Maharana Pratap riding Chetak

 

As we walked out of the museum we were bowled by the irresistible speed boat ride across the Fateh Sagar Lake. Though the ride lasted for a few minutes, the bouncy jumps it offered on a wintery morning while the popular Bollywood numbers played in the background made the ride pretty exciting. Then we visited Saheliyon ki Bari, a royal garden meant for the royal ladies and their women's entourage. It has fountains, lotus pools, carved gateways and fountains. During our visits to all these historical places in Udaipur, we were pleasantly delighted that none of these structures were left decrepit. In fact, the concerned authorities have made diligent efforts to restore the structures to act as repositories of our illustrious past.

Saheliyon ki Bari

We next stopped at Shilp Gram, a craft village where skilled craftsman and artisans from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan displayed their unique talents. It actually showcases the typical village environment in each of the states. Thatched huts, sheds, and wooden houses seen in the remote villages are the special attractions of the place. Youngsters who are born, and bred in the metros remotely deprived of the pleasure of the countryside can have an opportunity of acquainting themselves of the rural India. Here we had the privilege of talking to some of the craftsmen who were extremely happy with the state government for taking a special interest in patronising the artisans and craftsmen with exceptional talent. We had a unique learning opportunity here when we accidentally stumped into a hut displaying a rare collection of crystal objects. Moved by our curiosity and interest the crystal maker a winner of 37 international awards started narrating about his accomplishments. He is an Indian government-sponsored craftsman, travelled to 56 countries and is a visiting professor at Oxford University. For a majority of us, who still believe that professional courses are the proclaimed path to glory and success, his route of excellence and passion towards the selected vocation is the perfect answer.

Shilp Gram

 

By late afternoon, we proceeded to Monsoon Palace formerly Sajjan Garh Palace, constructed atop the hill. The fort was a summer resort for the raja who overlooked the beauty of the lakes and also used to observe the monsoon clouds. This fort has a unique mechanism of storing the rainwater for round-the-year use, hence the name Monsoon Palace. Presently this is under the control of Rajasthan Forest Board and has a display of charts containing pictures of the fauna and flora found in the Aravalli ranges. Since it is located at the highest elevation in Udaipur, it offers a panoramic view of the lakes, forts, hills, and the countryside. It is touted to be the best place to watch the sunset. This place was shown in the James Bond Movie Octopussy as well. Hundreds of tourists awaited in the grand balconies to watch the spectre of sunset. As the sun started bowing down making way for the moon, the gradual spell of the orange light began to wane and a curtain of darkness began to engulf the skies. Soon the crowds started retreating into the confines of the concrete jungle. As we came across the brightly lit corridors of small shops displaying colourful stuff in the undulating lanes of the old city, an irresistible urge for shopping overpowered us. Most of the stuff up for sale are signature product of the land and speaks volumes of the talent of the local artisans. Probably these craftsmen must have flourished under the steady patronage of the rajas. This is true for most of the places, wherever strong kingdoms ruled those provinces had signature products. This obviously sends an unequivocal message that local art and culture can be nurtured only if the local governments undertake strong initiatives to encourage the artisans. Unfortunately, we were unable to find a good place to savour the local delicacies, hence had to quench our hunger with regular roti and dal.

Sunset from Monsoon Palace

 

On the final day of our trip, we decided to visit some historical pilgrimage centres around Udaipur. We first travelled to Nagda, 23km North-west of Udaipur on a highway to Nathdwara. This is recognised as a heritage monument by the Archaeological Society of India and is popularly referred to as the Saas-Bahu temple. The temple is almost in its ruins but the marvellous carvings on the walls speak volumes about its glory of yesteryears. The temple was actually dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Some of the carvings on the inner walls of the deserted temple have clear depictions of incidents in Ramayana. Sitting by the side of Lake Bagela, the ruins stand as stunning examples of architectural excellence and engineering skills dating back to the 10^th century.

Temple ruins of the Saas-Bahu

The temple Eklingji the reigning deity of the Mewar Kingdom is one kilometre away from Nagda. It is a temple complex that has 108 temples now closely guarded but access to some parts is restricted due to security reasons. Eklingji is highly revered among the locals. The main temple made of sandstone and marble had several intricate carvings. It houses the four-faced image of Lord Siva in black marble. During our visit, the temple wore a festive look with locals actively engaging in bhajans, devotional dances, and beating drums. We then headed to Nathdwara, 23 km from Eklingji temple.  The place is famous for the temple of Shrinathji, a 7-year-old boy in the 14^th century who was considered as an incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu. It is the most popular Vaishnavaite shrine and is considered to be the Lord Balaji of the North. The main deity is the black-faced Lord Krishna with raised hands holding the Mount Govardhan. The place is famous for the noted Rajasthani style of Pichwai-painting where artists depict the rasalilas of Lord Krishna. The temple was thronged by thousands of devotees mostly from Gujarat. Unlike at the Eklingji temple, scores of devotees thronged the temple premises and briskly huddled past each other to have the darshan of the Bhagwan adding to a lot of commotion and confusion. The whole purpose of visiting the sacred places almost gets lost if no order prevails. Though most of us don’t enjoy such a pilgrimage this is unfortunately becoming the order among the temple crowds. The roads en route temple corridors were extremely busy with shopkeepers making brisk business. Either side of the road was occupied by street hawkers selling different milk sweets, pakoras and various tantalising fried foods. Though the local delicacies were mouth-watering, compromised hygienic issues have stopped us from devouring any of the stuff. Restraining our culinary senses, we stepped into a well-maintained hotel for our lunch.

Shrinathji

 

As we were heading to Udaipur, we realised that the place is quite arid and dry. We thanked ourselves for planning this trip in winter else we will be scorched by the intense heat. We then relaxed for a few hours in the hotel room and got ready for the return journey home. Udaipur, unlike most of the cities, is pretty much clean and maintained well. The place is really geared up to receive a constant exodus of foreign tourists and extend unforgettable hospitality. Most of them have a reasonably good level of communication skills in English, one more reason for its growing popularity.

Photographs Courtesy: Dr. Bhaskar Teegela

 

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Book Review: Unbreakable by M.C. Mary Kom

 

"Nothing is impossible” is the apt phrase that sums up the inspiring story of the Olympic Bronze medal winner Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom. Her autobiography “Unbreakable” brought out by Harper Collins is a commendable effort to bring into light the rigors of the India’s greatest woman boxer.

The book takes us to the tribal heartland of the North eastern part of India Manipur, where Mary Kom was born to a landless agriculture labour. Having suffered for being an uneducated farmer himself, Mary Kom’s father decides to send his children to school aspiring for a brighter future. Hence both the parents work tirelessly to support the educational needs of their children. Being the eldest in the family Mary was expected to help with the domestic chores and lend a helping hand to his father who worked in the fields. The initial chapters of the book deal with her childhood days and the hardships she endured. Apart from attending school daily and contributing to the household finances she was extremely protective of her siblings. Mary always had a strong desire to be independent and wanted to support her parents and siblings.

At school she was an active participant in all the sports events and displayed exemplary talent in outdoor games. Owing to her consistent performance in sports the school authorities suggested her parents to enrol her in a sports academy. But her parents were little hesitant about a career in sports as training would involve lot of financial commitments and a good performance demands discipline, determination and physical labour. More so for a family which could barely able to eke out a livelihood, parting with one of the working member meant a lot both in terms of material and financial losses. Finally due to Mary’s persistence, her parents had to let her join the academy. Initially Mary was indecisive about the kind of the sport she would focus on. Being conscious of her aggression, will power and nimble footing she chose boxing. Boxing used to be a signature sport of men and was widely chosen by the most aggressive and tenacious people. After making a choicest decision about the sport she had to work absolutely hard to withstand the ardours of rigorous work outs and exercises. The intense hard labour during her childhood days had prepared her body for the sport which needed tremendous strength and power.

In spite of severe financial crunches, borne by her parents to fund her travels to various sporting camps all over the country, she continued to work hard and never gave up her passion for the sport. Her undaunted dedication, persistence and the aggression in the boxing ring coupled with consistent performance have been the stepping stones for her success. She progressed steadily in the sport and earned due recognition for her exceptional talent and skilful execution of punches. Mary even carefully manoeuvred the political minefields of the Indian sports and emerged as the most successful sports icon. In this context she laments about the poor state of affairs of Indian sports which includes the lack of coordination between various sports authorities, intense internal lobbying and abject lack of infrastructure.

Several years of her relentless hard work, pursuit for excellence has earned her five world boxing championships. She is the winner of all the coveted sports medals and honours of our country which includes Arjuna Award, Padma Sri, Padma Bhushan and the Rajeev Khel Ratna. She made extraordinary compromises of parting with her young twin sons under her husband (Onler’s) care to get back to the training sessions after a brief hiatus due to child birth. People prophesied that she will be unable to make a comeback after leaving the sport during her peak performance. But with her sheer devotion and love for game, she proved everyone wrong and went on to win medal in Olympics. Her untiring efforts and the refusal to give up have been answered by the thrill of winning a medal at Olympics which was her life ambition. She is a source of inspiration to the younger generation and epitome of motherhood. This success has instilled a new hope in her about the future decided to give back to the economically weaker section. She heralded a new hope for Indian Boxing by setting up a boxing academy in Imphal to nurture talented and the underprivileged boxing enthusiasts.

The book also discusses about the insurgencies in the North-Eastern part of India where people live under constant fear and threat. It is a must read for anyone who aspires to do something big in life. The extraordinary will power exhibited by an ordinary girl of extremely humble origin would invariably inspire us and throws us into a mood of self-introspection too.

For all the things we often crib, despite the comforts we have, this book puts us to shame and embarrassment for a while.

 

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Sanguine Expectations

 

Though a part of me is utterly disturbed by the ever increasing episodes of crimes and violence against women in India, I am equally overwhelmed by the poise of younger generation of women. The new generation of young Indian women are making rapid strides and are holding earlier male bastions. But unfortunately, various surveys conducted across India have undeniably put up a picture where the status of women in our society is marginal.

The new generation of women are now set to defy the prevailing misogynist attitudes of the old genre. The steady, undaunted courage and conviction displayed for young girls and especially those hailing from the middle class truly offer a glimmer of hope. They are casting a new image of dynamic personality in the society through resplendent success in any of the major exams and excelling in all fields of trade. Their ability to work and earn and their knowledge of their rights has grown. Guided by the parents who are equally enthusiastic and passionate women are marching ahead with aplomb and confidence. Steering away from the social stigmas and taboos they are reaching for the skies. Witnessing women occupying all the major chairs/positions by women is true succour to ailed hearts gravely disheartened by the brutal crimes committed against women.

Recent Indian scenario is etched with high-profile cases involving directly or indirectly assaulting the dignity of women. The most hounded Tehelka scandal highlighted the desperate attempts made by the big-wigs and the self-proclaimed moral upholders of society to hush up the incident. But now as the accused stands exposed, it has sent a quick jolt of tremors across the minds nestled with patriarchal ideas. Just as the story is unfolding before us, dramatic turns of events are making headlines. This particular episode of the sexual assault has been receiving the widest censure as the accused for the past 10 years has occupied a pivoted position of a moral crusader. It is a tectonic jolt for the entire journalist community whose credibility is under scanner. This has proved beyond doubt, irrespective of the social advocacy about the rights on the public platform, Indian men can never relinquish their predatory sexual instincts.

Another reason why this issue fail to dodge away from public mind is the impunity of the managing editor. A prominent journalist, known for her affirmative feminist attitudes has played every dirty trick in the book to silence the whole issue. She dispatched an unambiguous message that her business interests reign supreme over her moral conscience.

This defiant compliance of the management with the accused has earned her an outrage among fellow feminists for inflicting an unassailable damage to the victim. The entire cover-up drama is annihilated by the unfazed disposition of the victim who has rebutted each of the charges with electrifying clarity. Now as the sequence of incidents are out in the public domain any attempt to cover-up would tantamount to severity of crime. This particular scandal in particular has witnessed the moral denigration and the chameleon shades of the towering media celebrity, impunity of the business lobbyists and the emergence of Women power. But for the strong stance taken by the young woman, this incident would have died down inside the four walls of the board room. The strong business interests would have completed devoured the anguish and humiliation of the victim and would have placated her to withdraw her complaint. This impregnable position of the victim has lacerated the character assassination plots hitched by the management. With the inspiration of this lady, may hundreds of women who silently suffer this of betrayal at work places stand for their rights and protest against any kind of violation both mental and physical. But unfortunately with political parties entering the fray, the gravity of the real crime is levitated. Hope the fast-track courts deliver a legally effective judgement to intimidate the piquantly cannibalistic attitude of prying men.

Women are now seizing opportunities in various social platforms to make their voices heard. This speaks of the aspirations of the growing tribe of women who no longer want to rest and cuddle up in the charms of glitter and comfort. They are constantly evolving and making people listen to them seriously. Though women are still hunted down under the name of honour-killings and still molested under the garb of the corporate culture, the staunch will and confidence exuberated by the new brigade of women offers a new hope of change.

We are now witnessing a great change in temperament of ordinary women. Their sphere of influence is not restricted to the narrow confines of home. They started exploring the world staying at home and are extremely confident about each and every action in their lives. This essay doesn’t fail to take cognisance of the burgeoning crime against women but vouches for the growing aspirations of young women who are fighting tooth and nail to make their mark felt in this grossly biased society. May this fighting spirit refuse to die and never succumb to violence.

The victim of the Tehelka scandal has opened up new frontiers of challenge and resilience. Instead of finding recluse in the dark alleys of defeat and confinement, women should draw courage from this spirited lady to clench honour and respect in the society. Self-help is the best help. Amidst the raising atrocities against women, I firmly believe that Indian Women have the tenacity to uphold their honour and dignity.