Every once in a while, you watch something on TV which leaves an indelible impact on you.
Old habits die hard. I was deep asleep, with the lights, laptop and TV on. At 3 am, I wake up, and head towards the TV, to shut it down. Just as I'm about to turn the knob, this documentary begins. "World's Untold Stories: Land of missing Children". I am pretty drowsy, but I decide to watch the first few minutes, and am pretty shocked by what I see. YouTube link given below.
Basically, the documentary is about sex slavers, and illegal trafficking of under-aged girls in the sex trade. It starts off in Silliguri, with a family whose daughter had been abducted, forced into prostitution, raped, but rescued by the family ultimately. Similar stories of abduction along the India-Bangladesh-Nepal-Bhutan trade route continue, and slowly the story moves into Kolkatta and Mumbai.
The lead journalist goes to various prostitution union offices, dalals and red light districts all the way, trying to figure out who can give the right information on under-age sex slavers. Teenage girls, some probably as young as 13, are shown at red light districts, not allowed to speak without permission. Denials of any under-age trafficking follow from dalals and authorities.
The really shocking part is this. Finally, Sam Kiley(the journalist), manages to find an activist who, who can take him to a brothel in Bombay, and decides to take the police along. Going up to the ADCP, he requests him to come along and follow the lead, mentioning the instances of abductions and children being forced into prostitution, to which the officer replies:
This is the need of the society. This is the need of the male person. If these need are not fulfilled, I think they will commit some rapes. Or some molestation of the good girls and ladies of the society.
The wind is knocked out of my sails.
Stress on the words in italics. Obviously, this is not about legalization or legalizations of prostitution, which is a totally different issue altogether. This is about the system. The fact that to come to terms with crimes like rape, the police needs to adopt such measures. The fact that prostitution is viewed as a channel to avoid other crimes. The fact the women involved in prostitution are categorized to be inferior to the good girls and ladies, in spite of never having made the choice. I am too disgusted to say anymore.
The documentary ends on a terribly shocking note, with a raid being conducted, and the true intentions of the police revelaed at the end. Just when you thoughts things would fall into place, the ground below breaks apart. Devastating. Shocking. I'm ashamed.
The documentary is on YouTube in 3 parts. Just click here. Please do watch it.
Monday, 11 June 2007
"God has given you an Opportunity"
I do not take religion too seriously. I'm yet to find out why I follow one. At times, I feel its a place to store all your insecurities, the answer to all unanswered questions. Some of the journeys which I have been on to find out the answer have been memorable, but I am yet to find out. The following post does not intend to hurt the feelings or beliefs of any faction, but just describes one of my experiences.
After a long day, with lots of travel on foot all over the streets of Rome, the 4 of us (Ankit, Mohit, Vivek and Myself) are dead tired. With a train to catch at 6 in the morning, we decide that there is no point in finding accommodation at a youth hostel, being as lazy as we are, there is no way we could make it back. Moreover, we are looking to save wherever we can. Post dinner, hoots and snickers, the benches at the subway station are where we have to spend the night. Everyone is fast asleep.
At 1am, we are woken up, and told to go out, as the platform closes down from 1-4. It takes some effort to move. And pretty soon, there we are, outside Rome station, for the night. Its shivering cold. A little dirty too. Too exhausted to stand any further, to sluggish to bother about comfort, we find a corner, and are soon dead to the world.
The night gets colder. At 2am, I can't sleep anymore. 10 metres in front of me, stand a dark man in a green coat, and a pregnant woman, having some kind of argument. I try to be ignorant, but sleep doesn't come. Once an old man, then a tramp come up and hopefully ask me if I have a cigarette, a nod answers their question. Soon the argument ends, and a couple of minutes this man walks up to me. I am shivering. I don't know what to expect, and am right on my guard, well awake. Here is the conversation, with his lines in italics, mine in bold.
This woman, she is pregnant, and not eating anything. I try to tell her. I try to explain. She doesn't understand.
I nod, hoping that he leaves.
Where are you from, Sri Lanka?
NO
Pakistan?
NO
Then where?
India
So are you Christian?
NO
But in India there are a lot of Christians.
I am Hindu.
Oh.
(20 second pause) All of the sudden:
God has given you an opportunity. Why do you stay here? What are you doing here? Come with me to the Church. They will give you food and water. Come with me.
I look on in disbelief. Confused. Suddenly, it strikes. He is at work! Politely, I say NO. He insists.
Finally, I decide this has to stop.
I live in Germany, and I'm going to Venice tomorrow morning. I have a train at 6 am.
He acknowledges the reply, and without saying bye, walks away. Later in the night, I see him having animated discussions with many more people, telling stories, shaking hands.
What do I call him? Who was he? A pastor? A priest? A cleric? Did he want to convert me to Christianity? And what does he get out of it?
I felt a little proud that night, that I actually had a religion and a god. I realized how integral religion is to ones individuality. But why should it matter, what religion I am?
After a long day, with lots of travel on foot all over the streets of Rome, the 4 of us (Ankit, Mohit, Vivek and Myself) are dead tired. With a train to catch at 6 in the morning, we decide that there is no point in finding accommodation at a youth hostel, being as lazy as we are, there is no way we could make it back. Moreover, we are looking to save wherever we can. Post dinner, hoots and snickers, the benches at the subway station are where we have to spend the night. Everyone is fast asleep.
At 1am, we are woken up, and told to go out, as the platform closes down from 1-4. It takes some effort to move. And pretty soon, there we are, outside Rome station, for the night. Its shivering cold. A little dirty too. Too exhausted to stand any further, to sluggish to bother about comfort, we find a corner, and are soon dead to the world.
The night gets colder. At 2am, I can't sleep anymore. 10 metres in front of me, stand a dark man in a green coat, and a pregnant woman, having some kind of argument. I try to be ignorant, but sleep doesn't come. Once an old man, then a tramp come up and hopefully ask me if I have a cigarette, a nod answers their question. Soon the argument ends, and a couple of minutes this man walks up to me. I am shivering. I don't know what to expect, and am right on my guard, well awake. Here is the conversation, with his lines in italics, mine in bold.
This woman, she is pregnant, and not eating anything. I try to tell her. I try to explain. She doesn't understand.
I nod, hoping that he leaves.
Where are you from, Sri Lanka?
NO
Pakistan?
NO
Then where?
India
So are you Christian?
NO
But in India there are a lot of Christians.
I am Hindu.
Oh.
(20 second pause) All of the sudden:
God has given you an opportunity. Why do you stay here? What are you doing here? Come with me to the Church. They will give you food and water. Come with me.
I look on in disbelief. Confused. Suddenly, it strikes. He is at work! Politely, I say NO. He insists.
Finally, I decide this has to stop.
I live in Germany, and I'm going to Venice tomorrow morning. I have a train at 6 am.
He acknowledges the reply, and without saying bye, walks away. Later in the night, I see him having animated discussions with many more people, telling stories, shaking hands.
What do I call him? Who was he? A pastor? A priest? A cleric? Did he want to convert me to Christianity? And what does he get out of it?
I felt a little proud that night, that I actually had a religion and a god. I realized how integral religion is to ones individuality. But why should it matter, what religion I am?
The Great Indian Railways
This post is dedicated to The Indian Railways and our rail Minister, Mr.Laloo Prasad Yadav. All through my life, I have cursed the Indian railways for delays, dirty platforms and coaches, poor service, and so much more, but after my experiences with Italian Railways, I'd have to be grateful for whatever I got back in India. With the number of tourists visiting this country, and the money they are making(mostly a result of what their forefathers built), one has to be disappointed. Taking Rome as an example:
- There are no waiting rooms on platforms. Platforms close between 1-4 at night, and you have to stay outside, even if you have a train at 4.30 in the morning.
- Pay and use restrooms, even for passengers.
- All announcements are in Italian. No English.
- Trains are delayed 'indefinitely' from their initial stations for bad weather, when its not raining.
- There is no inquiry center open at nights.
- No berths on the trains, only seats. Very few night trains actually have berths.
- Graffiti all over Metro coaches (refer to previous post)
Be grateful for the wide berth you get on Indian Trains. The Chaiwaalas passing by every 5 minutes, the samosas and the bread ommlettes. The lady who keeps making announcements every thirty seconds in 2-3 languages. The coolies. The cabin attendants. If only they ran on time!
- There are no waiting rooms on platforms. Platforms close between 1-4 at night, and you have to stay outside, even if you have a train at 4.30 in the morning.
- Pay and use restrooms, even for passengers.
- All announcements are in Italian. No English.
- Trains are delayed 'indefinitely' from their initial stations for bad weather, when its not raining.
- There is no inquiry center open at nights.
- No berths on the trains, only seats. Very few night trains actually have berths.
- Graffiti all over Metro coaches (refer to previous post)
Be grateful for the wide berth you get on Indian Trains. The Chaiwaalas passing by every 5 minutes, the samosas and the bread ommlettes. The lady who keeps making announcements every thirty seconds in 2-3 languages. The coolies. The cabin attendants. If only they ran on time!
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Italy
My first weekend here was pretty crazy. An extended weekend, and the irresistible option to go to Italy. Yes, It did burn a huge hole in my pocket, and I am yet to get my first stipend. But this is what living in the moment is all about. No planning, no unnecessary fancy shit, bare minimums all the way.
The scenic train ride through the Alps of Austria
Venice! No roads. Just water buses, water taxis and gondolas.
:P
Venice is flooded 230 days an year.
Rome metro. Gross. Busted.
Rome ka Gateway of India! The Palatino
Shoaib Akhtar ripped right through them!
Rome ka India Gate this time.
The Colosseum
Vatican City
The scenic train ride through the Alps of Austria
Venice! No roads. Just water buses, water taxis and gondolas.
:P
And then, it rained.
Venice is flooded 230 days an year.
Rome metro. Gross. Busted.
Rome ka Gateway of India! The Palatino
Shoaib Akhtar ripped right through them!
Rome ka India Gate this time.
The Colosseum
Vatican CityOops! Battery over. I haven't got more pics from the others yet. But yeah, the Vatican was quite an experience. Rome was a disappointment. I don't know why, but all through the city, I got the 'This is India' feeling, and so did my friends Ankit and Vivek. If only we were smart enough to respect our national monuments and promote tourism better. This city has the same feeling as any Indian city: pollution, traffic, corruption, crime. And more on the trains in the next post.
The trip ended in Verona, with Juliet's castle, and the balcony famous for the most well known conversation in Shakespearean theater. I guess I'll probably go back to Venice and Verona 10 years down the line....hmmm.
The trip ended in Verona, with Juliet's castle, and the balcony famous for the most well known conversation in Shakespearean theater. I guess I'll probably go back to Venice and Verona 10 years down the line....hmmm.
Heidelberg
This town is my home for the summer. With only 150,000 people(100 times less than Mumbai, India's most populated city), and sparsely distributed, I was pretty shocked initially by the tranquility of this place. No honking cars. No loud[repetitive too, if you live in 409 Jamuna :)] music in the next room. No conversations...not even whispers. But its all good. Heidelberg is famous for......
Its Castle
The Neckar River, and the Bridge over it, which some of you may recognize from movies, paintings, etc.
The Rhine River
And the main street in the old town!Seen everything here I think, time to move on!
My New Home
I know this has taken a long time, but finally,here are some pics, for all those who have been waiting:
My 1-bedroom apartment. Very quiet and isolated. Sound Proof.
My 1-bedroom apartment. Very quiet and isolated. Sound Proof.
I was smart enough to get my laptop, and speakers too! I have wireless internet connectivity and a TV too. It plays only 8 channels, but everything that a 20 year old would need. I watched the Champions League Final. MTV plays English music at times. Lots of crazy shows. The only totally English Channel is CNN, and I'm pretty up to date with International events, watching re-runs of World News in the evening. Sometimes, I just turn the TV on to make some noise.
My desk and work bench. Its a Cell Biology Lab.
The European Molecular Biology LaboratorySaturday, 9 June 2007
Tortilla Chips
Its your first day in Europe. After getting quite a lot of gyaan, meeting lots of people, and coming to terms with the fact that semester 6 and the 1 week break after that are over, its finally time to take the first big step to ensure your survival for the summer: Head to the supermarket!!
Having been to lots of supermarkets before, you think this wont be too difficult. The problem is, you really don't know what you want! Some thought, some logic, and ground reality help you realize that since cooking isn't your forte, its better to stick to lots of finger food and easy to cook meals. 75- minutes before the place closes. You walk in, yippee! First shelf: CHIPS, couldn't have been easier!
Red. Blue. Black. Green. Orange. Yellow. Salted. Nacho. Barbecue. Sour Cream and Onion. Salsa. Paprika. Prices ranging from 1,99 to 4,59. 100gms. 150gms. 250gms. 300gms. (The comma is used instead of the full stop here) Lots of brands, with names which you utter to yourself to try and figure out the right pronunciation. Ouch.
Half an hour passes. You first look at all the potato chips bags, their prices, flavors, sizes, packets. Finally, you pick up the first bag of plain salted chips which you had seen, weighing 250gms and priced at 1,99. But you really aren't satisfied. Just then you turn around and see a whole row of Tortilla chips. Ohscrewit, I want these! The potato chips go back on the shelf, and then starts the search for Tortilla Chips. Buying big is cheaper, so search for the biggest pack. Nacho...no barbecue....or Salsa? You start narrowing down. Firstly, look for the brands with the largest packets: 4 left. Then the right flavors: 2 left. Then the cheapest: 1 left. Now select the flavors. 1 big one? Or 2 small ones? The big ones are at 2,59, and coming up to around 140 Rs. Ouch! But you can't resist the temptation of munching Tortilla chips, with the dip sauce right above the packets. Another 2,19 euros for the dip sauce. Mild salsa, Hot salsa, Mild cheese and Hot cheese...hmmmm....
You check the time again: 20 minutes left!!! Now its chaos! You finally make a decision: Its two packets, 250 gms each, one Nacho and one Barbecue, priced at 2,59 each. The sauce...ummmm...no...too expensive....and it probably isnt that great either! The trolley moves on. Still to be bought: Milk, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Vegetables, Sugar, Corn Flakes, Cooking Oil and a Soap and Shampoo for tomorrow.
Just when you turn around the corner, you notice more tortilla chips. These are in larger packs, and not branded with some fancy labels, but by the supermarket label itself. Barbecue. 450gms. 1,89 Euros! Aaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhh! Utter disbelief! Before you know it, you ask yourself, 1 or 2 packets? Finally, common sense prevails, you pick up one of these packs, dump the old ones. And pick up the Dip Sauce too. Hot Cheese.
At the end of the day, you sit down, and set yourself some rules to go to the supermarket:
- Have a list of what is needed.
- Don't go on an empty stomach.
- Go right before the supermarket is supposed to close.
And thank god you have mom at home to do all this. And she does it for the whole family, not just herself, keeping in mind what everyone likes and dislikes.
Happy Shopping!
Having been to lots of supermarkets before, you think this wont be too difficult. The problem is, you really don't know what you want! Some thought, some logic, and ground reality help you realize that since cooking isn't your forte, its better to stick to lots of finger food and easy to cook meals. 75- minutes before the place closes. You walk in, yippee! First shelf: CHIPS, couldn't have been easier!
Red. Blue. Black. Green. Orange. Yellow. Salted. Nacho. Barbecue. Sour Cream and Onion. Salsa. Paprika. Prices ranging from 1,99 to 4,59. 100gms. 150gms. 250gms. 300gms. (The comma is used instead of the full stop here) Lots of brands, with names which you utter to yourself to try and figure out the right pronunciation. Ouch.
Half an hour passes. You first look at all the potato chips bags, their prices, flavors, sizes, packets. Finally, you pick up the first bag of plain salted chips which you had seen, weighing 250gms and priced at 1,99. But you really aren't satisfied. Just then you turn around and see a whole row of Tortilla chips. Ohscrewit, I want these! The potato chips go back on the shelf, and then starts the search for Tortilla Chips. Buying big is cheaper, so search for the biggest pack. Nacho...no barbecue....or Salsa? You start narrowing down. Firstly, look for the brands with the largest packets: 4 left. Then the right flavors: 2 left. Then the cheapest: 1 left. Now select the flavors. 1 big one? Or 2 small ones? The big ones are at 2,59, and coming up to around 140 Rs. Ouch! But you can't resist the temptation of munching Tortilla chips, with the dip sauce right above the packets. Another 2,19 euros for the dip sauce. Mild salsa, Hot salsa, Mild cheese and Hot cheese...hmmmm....
You check the time again: 20 minutes left!!! Now its chaos! You finally make a decision: Its two packets, 250 gms each, one Nacho and one Barbecue, priced at 2,59 each. The sauce...ummmm...no...too expensive....and it probably isnt that great either! The trolley moves on. Still to be bought: Milk, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Vegetables, Sugar, Corn Flakes, Cooking Oil and a Soap and Shampoo for tomorrow.
Just when you turn around the corner, you notice more tortilla chips. These are in larger packs, and not branded with some fancy labels, but by the supermarket label itself. Barbecue. 450gms. 1,89 Euros! Aaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhh! Utter disbelief! Before you know it, you ask yourself, 1 or 2 packets? Finally, common sense prevails, you pick up one of these packs, dump the old ones. And pick up the Dip Sauce too. Hot Cheese.
At the end of the day, you sit down, and set yourself some rules to go to the supermarket:
- Have a list of what is needed.
- Don't go on an empty stomach.
- Go right before the supermarket is supposed to close.
And thank god you have mom at home to do all this. And she does it for the whole family, not just herself, keeping in mind what everyone likes and dislikes.
Happy Shopping!
Number 1
Without all the fancy shit about an opening post, lets just get down to business!!
I guess most of you have already heard, maybe witnessed, enough of this, but this is pretty crazy. Its been 3 weeks in Germany, and here are some pretty funny things:
- There are no speed limits on German Highways. NONE. As the first cab driver I met would put it, "Dhraaive laike en eeidioot!"
- Beer is cheaper than drinking water. That should sum up the story.
- I get a shock every time I touch a door knob.
- The sun rises at 4 in the morning and sets at 10 in the night. There is more time to work. More time to see things. There seems to be so much more time.
- God seems to be pretty confused when allocating the daily weather to this place. Saturday is brilliantly sunny, with everyone out for a tan. Thunderstorms with really cold conditions on Monday. Sweltering heat again on Tuesday. And then a misty, cloudy cold Friday morning to top it all off.
I've learnt to smile and say HI to everyone!
People here are awesome. They would go that extra mile to make sure you are comfortable. Things get on quite smoothly, and everyone gives you your respect, and you give them theirs. There is no compromise with Discipline and Punctuality, as I realised when I missed a bus which only runs once an hour. Equality is one of the virtues of society, with no divides in caste or status, which I fell are the biggest curse on Indian society.
Other than that, life is pretty fun. Weird. Different. Figuring things out yourself. For all those who haven't done it before, shopping for yourself at the supermarket is one of the most cumbersome ways to waste time, I'll be getting into details a little later. Learning to cook is pretty fun. My first fried rice was an absolute disaster, but now I've got the courage to invite any of you over, no doubt. And obviously, lots of new people to meet, places to go to, things to check up on. I'm Learning.
To quote myself, I'm going through an "Accelerated Growth Period"!
I guess most of you have already heard, maybe witnessed, enough of this, but this is pretty crazy. Its been 3 weeks in Germany, and here are some pretty funny things:
- There are no speed limits on German Highways. NONE. As the first cab driver I met would put it, "Dhraaive laike en eeidioot!"
- Beer is cheaper than drinking water. That should sum up the story.
- I get a shock every time I touch a door knob.
- The sun rises at 4 in the morning and sets at 10 in the night. There is more time to work. More time to see things. There seems to be so much more time.
- God seems to be pretty confused when allocating the daily weather to this place. Saturday is brilliantly sunny, with everyone out for a tan. Thunderstorms with really cold conditions on Monday. Sweltering heat again on Tuesday. And then a misty, cloudy cold Friday morning to top it all off.
I've learnt to smile and say HI to everyone!
People here are awesome. They would go that extra mile to make sure you are comfortable. Things get on quite smoothly, and everyone gives you your respect, and you give them theirs. There is no compromise with Discipline and Punctuality, as I realised when I missed a bus which only runs once an hour. Equality is one of the virtues of society, with no divides in caste or status, which I fell are the biggest curse on Indian society.
Other than that, life is pretty fun. Weird. Different. Figuring things out yourself. For all those who haven't done it before, shopping for yourself at the supermarket is one of the most cumbersome ways to waste time, I'll be getting into details a little later. Learning to cook is pretty fun. My first fried rice was an absolute disaster, but now I've got the courage to invite any of you over, no doubt. And obviously, lots of new people to meet, places to go to, things to check up on. I'm Learning.
To quote myself, I'm going through an "Accelerated Growth Period"!
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