NATIONAL STUDENT PARLIAMENT

We keep shouting that without gender equality, the democracy is handicapped. That irrespective of the gender, we all have the right to equal opportunities and treatment at home, work, and society in general.

But have we really risen above the traditional practices of patriarchy? Aren’t girls and women considered “lesser sex” even in our “modern society” – as we so keep proclaiming it – and millions of them are still bearing the brunt everywhere around the globe in the forms of female genitalia mutilation, sex trafficking, education deprivation, rape, domestic violence, acid attacks, early marriages, honour-killings, maternal deaths, and other severely inhumane dangers that cause them lifelong physical and psychological harm? If gender equality is a reality, why can’t 10 of all the 10 women worldwide breathe, walk, and live safely and freely as they please? Can we really expect the world where every woman is seen, heard, and respected as a human being – where her individual work and integrity is honored, rewarded, and will always be remembered?

On 9th August 2017, Mumbai came to a standstill in a show of strength rally , as Marathas wanted reservations in education and jobs. In Gujrath, a non-descript Hardik Patel became a hero overnight when he almost started a mutiny in the name of “Arakshan” for Patel community.

Not to be left behind the Jats in Haryana wanted their piece of pie and left the state burning in their demand for the Reservation Tag. As if on cue, Rajsthan Government recently announced reservation for Gurjars.

How long will India take to cast off the spectre of caste based reservations? For how long must caste become a major qualifier in a “free” and “ equal” India?Can a Chaiwala becoming a Prime Minister, not by flaunting his OBC status , asking for concessions or quota and emerging a world leader script a new social narrative of a free India?

The right to personal liberty has been interpreted by the Supreme Court in such a manner that it encompasses many rights of the individual which ordinarily would have been beyond their imagination.

The right to personal liberty has been interpreted by the Supreme Court in such a manner that it encompasses many rights of the individual which ordinarily would have been beyond their imagination.

For instance right to go abroad, right to privacy, right to clean air, water, right to safe environment, etc. There are many such rights which the Supreme Court has given to the common man. Privacy is the most essential requirement of a person.

Privacy is such that without which a person would not be in a position to enjoy his life

Everybody cherishes privacy, of course the degree of it varies but it is impossible to find a person who does not want privacy. Privacy for many is the theme of life and that is also the approach of their life, as a result of which it has acquired unique significance.

This unique significance should be unravelled so that everyone can understand it. The Supreme Court has thrown the light on the degree of privacy and the spheres of privacy which needs to be cherished by each and everyone.

The truth may or may not prevail, but the TRP has to peak. This seems to be the attitude of the current News Media, which in reality has a greater responsibility as it reaches and influences the maximum audience – quicker than we browse between the channels.

When such a fourth pillar of democracy fails, the most vulnerable public (which unfortunately also makes the larger part of our community) – the one which is not as empowered as it should be and relies heavily on TV for all kinds of information – is left with a great amount of misleading content and no other effective medium for confirmation.

High dramatization of useless news, and even the news that matters the most, kicks off a superfluous response, far from the truth.

How can the authenticity of a certain fragment of information be validated? Rather than creating a sensation, mustn’t media perform with a more reasonable tone? Doesn’t sidelining the real issues and highlighting the non-issues corrupt the mind and hamper the development? Does TRP mount up only when it’s a twisted content? Can’t we keep the media for truth and the business of entertainment separate? Can we expect media to take us through this most transitional period with less pain, more respect, but more importantly, better & relevant content even at the cost of losing some TRP?

With infrastructural growth, developmental politics, demonetization, GST implementation, and other critical news that has affected the country recently, we must look back and ask what has India achieved as a country in the 70 years of her independence? Have we made most of the freedom we say we got with the utmost struggle and sacrifice?

Has India achieved her dream of becoming the most benevolent secular and federal state? Does every citizen, region, and religion protected under the Constitution of India is as safe as it says in the text? Has India accomplished the “the shining India”, “the incredible India”, “the digital India”, etc.

campaigns – or more or less than that? If we don’t have a better story to tell now, how will we have it in the next 70 years? And if we do have it, may we say it without bloodshed and tears? Let’s re-examine, re-evaluate, and re-define the fundamental right we live and die for! Let’s stand for the country whose name itself gets us goose bumps of pride and hold her up when she falters, for it’s not really she who falters but us! Let’s say freedom is not just a tattoo – it’s a responsibility!

Let’s re-start with Zero.