First-Time Voters: Weigh the vices and virtues!

By: Smriti Sharma

Paradoxically, the country has seen an upsurge in the first-time voters in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. These prospective first-timers would face a tough time making a choice between what is right, and who will benefit the country most. According to the statistics, about 10% of the voters during this election season are probably first-time voters, by far the highest percentage of the data show. For me, I believe this high percentage is unlikely to be improved in the near future due to fertility issues, so 2014 would see a wonderful escalation of the first-timers.

                                     
                                    

Well, who, according to you should be the deserving candidate to win majority votes and rule the country? Who, in your opinion can stabilize the economy as well as help exterminate corruption? Who, do you think can act as a balanced, unbiased, honest and a competent leader? In my opinion, none of the proposed ruling parties with the leading candidates. This can be debated and I’m sure many of you would opine, but then do you really think this whole NaMo (Narendra Modi) and RaGa (Rahul Gandhi) and AAP propaganda, these leaders deserve to rule the country? The answer is a blunt no. 

BJP dismisses RaGa as “late entrant” to anti-graft battle, NaMo harps being single and the best man to fight graft, RaGa milk booth to counter BJP’s tea campaign, Kejriwal resigned from his post as Delhi CM, Kejriwal writes to NaMo. This is the scenario, “Milk and Tea”, “Quitting and Writing Letters,” where is all this heading to? The whole NaMo, RaGa and AAP scene is simply beyond me. Are we going to choose between a chaiwala, a doodhwala and a naakam CM? I would again say that none of the proposed ruling party leading candidates deserve to amass the position of an able leader. We as voters have to choose as we definitely have choices, but not even one can deserve to be chosen as an option.

I know there are many to contradict on this note, but then, let me ask you to visualize. Envisage a group of three friends in your mind’s eye, X, Y and Z. X has promised to deal with all your problems and you just need to be calm about it. Yes X has “promised” to deal with all your problems and you need to be calm, end of the story. Y has promised to deal with all your issues yet again, you refute and Y is aggravated. Y would deal with all your issues, you counter and Y is agitated, end of the story. Z comes out of the blue, Z wants you to be with him all the time and only then, Z would deal with all your issues. You believe on Z and you are supporting, ironically, Z ditches you and runs away, end of the story. Well, let’s face it, this is the stark reality of the country where we have three majorly preferred ruling parties but none deserving that position. X is Congress, Y is BJP and Z is the much hyped AAP. You have some who promise and forget, you have some who promise, if you refute they get aggravated and then you have some who promise and quit. 

The dilemma that the Indian voters and primarily the first-time voters would face is who to choose, but obvious? I cannot frame anyone’s opinion nor it can change the democratic scene of the nation, but, perhaps, it would affect your psychology to some extent and that’s surely not just in my head but in reality. If people start bifurcation of the good from the bad and not just go by what the multitude believes, if people don’t think about materialistic things and think about the country’s well being first, if they vote not those whom they like or prefer, but who actually would prove their mark in the leadership of the country, the country would be a better place, for sure. It would take a few iterations and some time for all the corruption and the dishonesty to go but it would at least go. At the end of the day, let’s face it; you have to choose someone or the other amongst the three. Weigh the vices and the virtues, only then make a decision to vote because we are going to be the sufferer’s and not them!

IS TODAY'S “PRACTICAL” GENERATION IRRESOLUTE ABOUT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION'S?

By: Smriti Sharma

The definition of success differs from person to person and field to field. One could take economic success as a touchstone to label a person successful in life, ignoring his or her other failures like health, divorce, inefficiency, etc.. Others may look at a capacity for overcoming challenges, irrespective of what someone earns and the nature of their private life. What are the characteristics of a successful student? While the definition of “successful student” has changed over the years, today's youth need to know a great deal more than reading, writing, and arithmetic in order to succeed. 

              Ironically, Today’s practical generation touts academic qualification futile and not obligatory to be successful in life. According to key business leaders in the US, students who are to succeed in 21st century America must be able to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information; proficient in science, mathematics, computer/technical skills, foreign languages, as well as history, geography, and global awareness; ethical individuals who are committed to their families, communities, and colleagues. Educators' conceptions of the successful student seem to parallel those of the key business leaders queried. Successful students, they maintain, have learned to effectively balance the social and academic aspects of school, expect to succeed, and may be described as socially proficient, goal oriented, and intrinsically motivated.

                 “Whether one is proposing marriage, applying for a job or looking for a new business partner, the first thing people ask is “what do you do?” they judge you by your academic qualifications, No bio-data resume or curriculum vitae is acceptable without the inclusion of educational qualifications. I would say it is an unannounced rule of both the corporate world and the social world that man’s acquisition of academic qualifications is a giant leap towards opportunities in every walk of life. An academic qualification as a whole gives people a rounded experience of life, with opportunities to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds an to consider the importance in life of values and culture. These are necessary things required to label a person successful in all aspects of life. It uplifts our morals and ethics by exposing us to the great thinkers of the past. 

                                    The current generation might harp about a few people like Bill Gates and others who have made it, in spite of their drop-out background and lack of academic qualifications, but this cannot be generalized as even Bill Gates could not have prospered without the skills of the IT professionals and engineers. Success isn’t just a matter of building a huge firm from scratch and making billions of dollars,  by that definition, only a tiny number of people in the world could be considered successful. Success is actually about making the most of your talents and abilities, and that requires dedication and study in academic institutions that will stretch students intellectually.

                      Unfortunately, the materialistic world has changed the concept of success. It has become a rat-race where every student chases grades and therefore the entire perception of success and prosperity has changed. Rather than studying to reach our full potential, we do it because we think it’s necessary for a successful career and some are even uncertain about this.

                Academic qualifications may not be enough on their own to ensure success, but they indicate their possessor has got what it takes. Academic grades are not everything but they are important because in order to gain good exam grades or degree at college, students have to work hard, master demanding skills and learn a great deal of specialist knowledge. All these qualities are valuable attributes for success in any field of endeavor, which is why employers value academic qualifications. More broadly, widespread further education makes us a civilized nation. It makes us aware about our rights and liberties and helps entrench a liberal democracy with active citizens and lively media. Wake up! There is a long way to go…

IS JUSTICE ASLEEP?

By: Smriti Sharma

 In this 21st century where we call India a developing nation, where we harp about women no less than men in any sense, where we harp about India no more a male dominated society, a rape is committed every 54minutes, molestation every 26minutes, kidnapping and abduction every 43minutes, eve-teasing every 51minutes, dowry death every 1hour 42minutes and criminal offense against women every 7minutes. Is this we call a developing nation where crime, corruption, humiliation and rapes rule the roost, where women are treated as doormats, disrespected and tortuously treated?

This is a country where equality differs from husband to wife, brother to sister, man to woman. It is a gender distorted nation where girls are yet not free, they are still restricted by their parents not to roam late at night, not to go out and work in different cities, we call India free but India is free yet in shackles. Why are girls told not to wear clothes that are exposing or not step out of their homes late at night? Why such a hue and cry about it? Don’t tell the girls what to wear but tell those barbarians not to rape. It is a nation which is known for its culture, ethics and values but is this we call a well equipped nation with morals and values? The answer is a blunt no. There are thousands of cases of rapes, eve-teasing, kidnapping which are increasing at an alarming rate.

Delhi gang rape case was a live example where the young woman aged 23, was gang raped by six men and hit with an iron rod for nearly an hour along with her male friend. The six men attacked the girl barbarously and when they were done, they stripped the couple and pushed them on the flyover and took away to wash their vehicle and destroy the couple’s clothes. The girl was fighting for her life but eventually lost her life due to such barbarians. Why are girls treated as toys to be used and thrown in such a way? It is a heinous crime, why is a girl’s personal space created public? The unimaginable attack on the young woman shook the whole country sending shivers down their spine demanding constitutional amendments by the parliamentarians as well as the public.

There is no security offered to women especially in the capital, there is hooliganism and barbarism spreading all over which has to be curbed. Police patrolling should be done, strict measures should be taken especially against those rapists who raped the innocent victim. Think of that father who didn’t even allow his daughter to put a foot on this earth when she went out for a mela with him and instead carried her on his shoulders. Think of that mother who went everywhere with her daughter for admissions to schools, colleges and institutes so that she doesn’t have to face any sort of problems that she probably faced. Think of that brother who loved his sister more than his life. These rapists destroyed everyone’s life just because of their perverted mind. The victim has to live with the memory of what happened each day. The girls are abused physically as well as mentally. Has shame disappeared from the society? Have emotions vanished from this nation? This Indian culture which hails women as goddesses has demeaned everything and such hailing falls as a pack of cards.

Will this case also close like other cases, where in the Guwahati molestation case the hooligans were not found, like another case that came up where a five year old girl was raped in Karnataka, where justice wasn't given to this young girl? Justice delayed is justice denied.
People make tall claims that rapes happen to girls stepping out of their homes late at night then what will those people say about the five year girl raped? These questions will always remain unanswered till the government and especially the people change their mentality and psychology. This is a country where girls have no right to live, love, laugh and they are tortured where there is no justice for tears, brutality, and hooliganism. We have to make a change, reboot reform and rearrange, wake up and take a step towards justice for women. There is a lot happening in the world where people are cynically moving around yet there is no justice. . I would ask is justice asleep?