Doctors? Really?

A video of two men from Chennai indulged in a horrific act of throwing a puppy from terrace of a building has gone viral in last two days. What is more disturbing is that both the boys are students studying medicine from a college in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. I am not going to post the video here for it is extremely disturbing.

The video consists of a man holding a puppy and smiling in the video and the next moment, flings it from the terrace. This slow motion video ends with a painful cry of the puppy, who by God’s grace has been found alive and is being treated.

The face of the video, Gautham Sudarshan was months way from becoming a Doctor. Really, a DOCTOR? A profession that trains individuals to save lives? The Humane Society International / India (HSI)’s deputy director Alokparna Sengupta said that based on current laws, the offenders could walk away with a meager fine of Rs. 10 or max Rs. 50 (Not even 1 Dollar). Although they have appealed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to increase the penalties, it will be really depressing to see these boys being let off so easily.

The recent update is that both of them who were absconding have been nabbed but are out on bail. This is an update by the animal activist who is relentlessly trying to bring justice to Bhadra (the name that the institution has given to the dog), “Those criminals have come out on BAIL. This is how “strong” the animal welfare laws are. With video evidence and so much of public outrage we couldn’t remand them even for one day . We are extremely disappointed and it’s a “Black Day” for Animal Welfare in India. However , we will keep fighting and try and get the police to file the charge sheet.”

During the times like these, it makes you question the relevance of law and order in your country and what would it take or how much time will it take to make them relevant and robust. I hope an apt punishment is awarded to these bastards (If it was in my hands, I’d want them to suffer the same act they inflicted on their poor animal) and our lax institutions come out of their 2 centuries redundant laws and make them relevant for the time being in force.

PRAY FOR BHADRA.

Source: India.com

The Purge.

Last week, my friend gave me a DVD of the first movie in Purge series. The concept was horrendous. This apparently a ‘social science fiction horror‘ film is a story where the new founding fathers of America sanctions a national civic tradition called ‘The Purge’ during which all police, fire and medical emergency services will be suspended. The movie spoke that this concept has been successful plummeting employment rates to 1%, lower crime and a strong economy. However, there are some rules; restrictions prohibit government officials ‘ranking 10’ from being disturbed, as well as the use of weapons above class 4 such as rocket launchers and bazookas. What you will notice in the movie and is repeated too quite a lot of times that the only victims to this purge are the poor, the vulnerable ones who cannot protect themselves. Come to think of it, I am sure you will be thanking your stars that such a thing is not in reality.

But is it so? Open a newspaper and you will see Purge happening day and night, each day at different corners of the world. Everyday some new shooting, beheading or bombing. Who is the victim? The homeless ones, the poor and vulnerable people who cannot protect themselves. Who doesn’t get disturbed? The high ranking officials. Hardly anyone gets punished for half the world sides with one type of terrorism where other half condemns it. Terms of Good Terrorism and Bad Terrorism is in force. After every attack when someone starts a social media trend of #PrayForTheVictim, there is other side which rejoices in the cold blooded murder and term they deserved it. It is a sick mentality which sanctions or justifies murder.

“There are perhaps many causes worth dying for, but to me, certainly, there are none worth killing for.”   ― Albert Dietrich, Army GI, Pacifist CO: The World War II Letters of Frank and Albert Dietrich

I wonder when will this world realize the results of what is happening. When will there be a stop to all of this. When will this world consider killing an innocent to be a crime, for whatsoever reasons or whatever nationality or culture or tradition that person belongs to.

And for those who find this movie’s concept interesting, read about Direct Action Day and Great Calcutta Killings or The week of long knives. It was no less than a Purge as shown in the movie. Violence never serves the purpose, it only destroys. Most of the countries that justified or reasoned a terrorist attack in Asian countries for last many years are facing the same monsters in their homeland today but sadly, maturity still appears to be light years away.

A Syrian said, “We pray 6 prayers a day now; Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha and Janazah [Funerals].

Really, when will this stop?

Shall not be washed away

“Despite its growing scarcity and preciousness to life, ironically, water is also man’s most misgoverned, inefficiently allocated and profligately wasted natural resource.”
― Steven Solomon, Water : the epic struggle for wealth, power, and civilization

Monsoon arrives! This year has been the most vocal year in my memory regarding conservation of water. Over 10 states in India were under severe drought. Cash-rich IPL matches were shifted, donations poured in from all sides and festivals were celebrated without much wastage of water. The department predicts that Monsoon shall be better this year in India. Whatever the future holds for us, let us hope that the rising awareness doesn’t get washed away until next drought surfaces.

There’s plenty to learn. The state we are living in today is because of continuous abandonment of sense of responsibility, lack of will and ‘not my problem’ attitude of people and politicians. Last week, I came across an article about Israel’s water management technologies. The statistics will blow you apart. Israel is World’s number one water recycler with 85% recycling rate followed by Spain who is at 12%. Look at the gap! Israel is situated in an area where water shortage is inevitable, a place where 60% is desert area and yet exports high value farm produce.

Where are we going wrong? It is simple. Besides lack of technology, it is the behavioral aspect too. It is high time we consider this an alarming problem and move towards importing technologies and ideas of water conservation. Today, Israel’s 60% water comes from the sea, 80% of waste water is used in agriculture. Desalination technology is becoming cost effective and is going to be cheaper in coming years. With Maharashtra being a state with a long coast line, I wonder why don’t we start adopting state of the art recycling technologies. The authorities has to step up and fix the leakage problems with conveniently wasted more than 30% of our water. Education Department has to introduce lectures and practices and inculcate knowledge about importance of water resources to young minds who are quicker to adapt and change. A simple transformation from Shower bathing to Bucket bathing can save so much of our water. Introduce rain water harvesting techniques, make people aware, involve religious institutions for I believe in India, if you need a quicker push, start from religious place.

Israel is home to the world’s largest Seawater Reverse Osmosis desalination plant, annually producing 100 million cubic meters at the low cost of approximately $0.52 per cubic meter of water – the most cost-efficient of its kind in the world. India is the first country to send Mars Orbiter in first attempt. There is no doubt why India cannot continue improvising on such technologies. Heat is going to increase, so is population and water needs, if we do not wake up now, when will we?

Israel’s success arise from the continuous need for and support of innovative methods, technologies, holistic water resource management and strategies for sustainable provision for the nation’s water needs and I see no reason why India shouldn’t crave for that need desperately.