By Rozy Ibrahim.

In the foreigner’s rape cases like Jodhpur rape case of a German national and Agra rape case of a Japanese woman, the courts have passed the verdict in a short span of time. This is a good indication, say observers, as Indian Judiciary has always been alleged to be turtle-slow at adjudicating justice.

While this is a piece of good news, questions are being raised in various quarters, as to why the rape cases of Indian nationals are not given speedy verdicts as in the case of foreigners.

Talking on theses developments, Kamlesh Jain, a Supreme Court lawyer says: “It’s totally a slave mentality in Indians that whenever we see any foreigner in India, we give space to them in a different way.”

Hailing the verdict on the rape cases, Abdullah, an advocate in District Court at Ghaziabad, says: “It’s an excellent job by the justice system of India. The judiciary has given life imprisonment to the convicts and they had to pay huge amount as penalty to the petitioner,”

Nadeem Ahmed, a practicing lawyer at Patiyala House, New Delhi, says that the question about rape has nothing to do with nationalities. It is a heinous crime which can victimize any woman, Indian or foreigner, he said.

Further, Nadeem Ahmed said: “Often Indian women do not come forward to register their cases out of fear but the foreign women do not have these inhibitions.”

“Firstly, we should file a charge sheet within ninety days in the court and the court will send summons to the accused. On the basis of all proofs and eye witnesses, the judgment will be delivered,” says Abdullah.

“The main basis for delivering fast judgment on the rape cases rests on the statement, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied,” concludes Abdullah

By
Moonis Ahmad


“Aao aao natak dekho, Jamia ka natak dekho,” echo theatre enthusiasts in Jamia Millia Islamia campus these days. Once more, the university is seeing the revival of theatre after many years. Energetic thumping, shouting and adrenaline loaded gusto amongst theatre wallahs of the University has set the platform for speech and expression.

From theatre veteran Habib Tanvir to groups like Jan Natya Manch, big names have performed on the University soil in the past. However, their influence soon withered away over time.

Things are now changing for theatre in Jamia.

Talking about the revival of theatre, Professor Ghazanfar Zaidi of fine arts department, says: “The University has witnessed its passivity (in theatre performance), but the last six years has seen a dramatic change in the psyche and dynamics of administration towards it.”

Though theatre is a part of the curriculum for social work, fine arts and mass communication disciplines, its culture was subdued till few years back.

In the last half a decade several theatre groups have mushroomed within the University. Apart from Jamia Drama Club which is the drama society of the university, there are others like IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association), Sangwari, Awam and Pratibha Unnayan Natya Manch.

Adnan Bismillah who runs the theatre group, Pratibha Unnayan Natya Manch, says; “The present trend was started by Jamia Drama Club way back in 2002, when it stood third in the north zone festival in Allahabad. Since then there was no looking back.”

Most of these groups are primarily influenced by Marxist thought. The plays of IPTA, Sangwari, and Awam are mostly political satires, anti-communal and anti-capitalist in nature.

The University has just come up with an art gallery and has also provided an open space specifically meant for street theatre performances.

A new endeavor in this regard has been the revival of Talimi Mela (a cultural festival initiative) by the present vice chancellor Professor Mushirul Hasan three years back. The festival aims at promoting cultural activities, wherein theatre performances are a core part.

K.S Kusuma, a lecturer of traditional entertainment at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre says that theatre culture is finally permeating amongst students. He is also the head of the street theatre club of the University. Mr.Kusuma says that “ organizing a street theatre festival is also in the pipeline”
The question is whether the garnered momentum in this direction will be able to sustain itself. Freedom of speech and expression under the garb of theatre lovers is finally knocking the doors.
So, are you game for some nukkad natak?

By Sheeba Naaz and Kinley Tshering

“I am not optimistic about the Indian media...Today the type of journalism that is practiced is sticking the mic on someone’s face and getting the byte,” declared Tarun Tejpal in his keynote statement during a one-day seminar on “Does the media care?” held at Jamia Millia Islamia on August 28. The seminar was organized by AJK MCRC in collaboration with the BBC World Trust Services.

Having worked with several national and international media organizations, Tarun Tejpal is currently associated with Tehelka. In 2001 Asiaweek listed Tejpal as one of Asia’s 50 most powerful communicators, and Businessweek declared him among 50 leaders at the forefront of change in Asia.

Addressing the seminar, Tarun Tejpal gave an overview of the grim media scenario in India that bordered on pessimism. He talked at length about the numerous issues that were haunting the national media, supposedly decreed as the fourth estate.

According to Tejpal, media in India is failing in its journalistic duties and is reluctant to take up real issues. Driven by economic and commercial interests, the Indian media has lost its ‘cause and crusade’, he stated. “The economic metabolism of the Indian media is badly skewed.”

He further added: “None of who consumes media actually pays for it. The person who pays for the media is the advertiser and the media you get is the media the advertiser wants.”

Supporting his argument, he said no media has ever done any expose on the corporate sector as they are the ones who are providing the funds to these media organizations. More than half a dozen media organisations in India are involved in private treaties with the corporate world, he added.

“The media is getting narrower and narrower in India. Rural bureaus and reportage have all died,” he opined, adding that media is no more the voice of voiceless. “Media in India flex their muscles. They run with the rabbits but hunt with the wolves.”

Tarun Tejpal also said that the national media cares very less about the issues concerning common man. “All of Dalits get less attention than Kareena Kapoor,” he said.

According to Mr. Tejpal, Indian media is losing its ground especially the Hindi news channels. “See the Hindi news channels, they are embracing humbug and superstition and turning their back on the grand ideas of modernity that were in some sense the founding principles of this country.”

The second session was commenced by the veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha who is a an author of several books and a columnist with publications like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, The Business Standard and Outlook.

“Journalism was not a celebrity profession or glamorous profession in the 60’s. Those people who joined journalism were from rural background and rural issues were addressed in plenty,” he said. Those were the times when newspapers had different pages for development, social and gender issues, he recalled.

But today, because of the change in the nature of society, there has been a shift in the emphasis laid by the media, he added. “The intensity of coverage is more in big cities and even the advertisements are urban centric. This society has become more aspirational and has less time to empathize with those who are affected.”

Predatory pricing, a deliberate outcome of pressure of competition for circulation, has also affected how the media works today. The increasing focus on advertisement and circulation has forced the marketing departments to dictate editorial content, he opined.

“Media today cares a very less deal. Does it really not care is the question?”
Mr. Jha stated.

At the end of each session, both the keynote speakers agreed that the Indian media has somewhere shifted its focus from developmental issues to cinema, crime, and cricket. They also emphasized that the young journalists should have depth and proper understanding of social and political issues.

अगर आप बड़े-बड़े मॉल और शोरूम से खरीददारी करके बोर हो चुके हैं और खुद को और अपने घर के ड्राइंग रूम को देना चाहते हैं एक नया लुक तो, जाना मत भूलिए, दिल्ली के कनॉट प्लेस के राजीव गाँधी हैंडीक्राफ्ट भवन में।भारत सरकार के ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय के सहयोग से 18 अगस्त से उत्तर प्रदेश के ग्रामीण शिल्पकारों के द्वारा आयोजित प्रदर्शनी इन दिनों लोगों के आकर्षण का केन्द्र बनी हुई है। लखनऊ का चिकन,बनारसी सिल्क साड़ी,गोरखपुर के टेराकोटा के आइटम,फिरोजाबाद के काँच के बने सामान,ड्रेस मैटीरियल इत्यादि,यहाँ के मुख्य आकर्षण हैं।

भदोही की कालीन,दरी और बिछौने कई रेन्ज में यहाँ उपलब्ध हैं।इनकी कीमत 250 रूपये से लेकर 6500 रूपये तक है।इनकी कसीदाकारी में काफी महीन धागों का इस्तेमाल किया गया है।भदोही की इस परंपरागत शिल्प को कई सालों से सहेजते आ रहे विमलेश पटेल इसके बारे में कहते हैं, “एक कालीन को बनाने में लगभग ड़ेढ़ से दो महीने लग जाते हैं।और ये कई सालों तक बिना किसी शिकायत के चलती हैं”।

गोरखपुर से टेराकोटा की बनी मूर्तियों,खिलौनों और शो पीस के साथ आए रामआसरे प्रजापति के यहाँ ये काम कई पीढ़ियों से चला आ रहा है।इनके नानाजी इस शिल्पकारी के लिए राष्ट्रपति पुरस्कार भी पा चुके हैं। इन्होंने बताया कि, “टेराकोटा का काम लगभग 5000 साल पुराना है।सिन्धुघाटी सभ्यता में भी मूर्तियां और खिलौने बनाने में टेरकोटा पद्वति का इस्तेमाल होता था”। दिल्ली के कमला नगर के सुनील भसीन इसके पुराने खरीददार हैं।इनके बारे में ये बताते हैं कि, “ये चाहे जितनी पुरानी हो जाएं इनकी चमक हमेशा बरकरार रहती है”।इनकी कीमत 20 रूपये से लेकर 300 रूपये तक हैं।

बनारस की साड़ियाँ और लखनवी चिकन के कुर्ते और पाएजामे के खरीददार केवल दिल्ली वाले ही नहीं बल्कि विदेशी भी हैं।यूएसए से भारत आए रॉबर्ट ने लखनऊ के चिकन के बने कपड़ों के बारे में बताया कि, “इनकी क्वालिटी काफी अच्छी है और पहनने में ये काफी आरामदायक होते हैं”।लखनऊ के चिकन कई क्वीलिटी में यहाँ उपलब्ध है।लोग काफी संख्या में यहाँ खरीददारी करने आ रहे हैं।दिल्ली के मालवीय नगर की डॉ. संतोष अब तक यहाँ से 20000 रूपये की खरीददारी कर चुकी हैं।

फिरोज़ाबाद की बनी फैशनेबल चूड़ियां, कांच के बर्तन और खिलौने, चित्रकूट और सीतापुर की दस्तकारी भी लोगों को काफी पसंद आ रही है।उत्तर प्रदेश के ग्रामीण शिल्पकारों का यह विशेष डिस्प्ले 31 अगस्त तक रहेगा।

लेख : रमा शंकर पाण्डेय

चित्र : जयश्री

Next to cancer and cardiac ailments, kidney failure is the third most life threatening disease. Over a million people the world over are surviving on dialysis according to the health website, medindia.net. But this rude fact can be avoided. The answer lies in the old adage, ‘prevention is the best cure,’ reports Kinley Tshering.

Twenty two-year-old Tashi Namgay is fortunate to be alive today. Only a year before, he was struggling between life and death after being diagnosed with chronic Kidney failure. The disease could have taken his life, had he not received a kidney transplant on time. However not everybody can be as lucky as he was. Next time, afflicted with the disease, we could be lying on the deathbed, wishing for a miracle to happen.
Needless to say, the figures are shocking.
A whooping 7.85 million people are suffering from kidney failure in India alone. Every year one lakh new patients are diagnosed with end-stage renal failure (ESRD), of which 90,000 of them require dialysis. Only about 2% of these patients can avail dialysis treatment while 5% of them get kidney transplants according to Medindia.net, a health website.
Furthermore, about 90% of kidney patients in India are not able to afford treatment. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that kidney failure is incurable. The treatment is a life-long process until the patient dies.
Causes of Kidney failure
Kidney failures occur due to several reasons. Decreased blood supply to the kidney due to Hypovolemia i.e. low blood volume due to blood loss, dehydration from loss of body fluid, and less in take of fluids, amongst others, can render the Kidneys dysfunctional.
Excessive in take of diuretic medicines also enhances the risks of kidney failure. Medications used to control high cholesterol level in the body can cause renal failure too.
However, the common causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic glomerulonephriits, cystic diseases of kidney and tubulointerstitial diseases, says Dr. Sanjay K. Agarwal, an additional professor at the department of nephrology in All India Medical Institute of Science.
While the chances of getting a kidney disease varies from person to person, Dr. Agarwal warns that patient with diabetes, high blood pressure and person having a family member who has a kidney disease have higher risk of developing kidney disease.


Treatment
There is no cure for kidney failure unless in the case of a transplant. But consistent treatment can keep the kidney working for a lifetime. Therefore, doctors say prevention is the best cure. However, all is not so glum.
“Kidney failure is of two types. Acute kidney failure can be cured. But chronic kidney failure can not be cured,” says Dr. Agarwal. “Even for renal transplant, we do not use the word cure. It replaces renal function and keeps kidney function normal for certain period of time. But it does not give life for unlimited period.”
By taking a strict and controlled diet, the kidneys can be prevented from worsening. Since the kidneys cannot easily remove excess water, salt, or potassium, they may need to be consumed in limited quantities. Diseases like hypertension and diabetes add fuel to the fire. Therefore, keeping blood sugar and blood pressure within normal limits is important say doctors.
“Medicine can not improve kidney function of chronic kidney disease. They support dysfunction and delay further damage of the remaining functioning kidney,” warns the doctor.
Kidney Transplant, an expensive choice
Getting a kidney replacement through transplant is even costlier. Some figures point out that to get a kidney transplant it cost around Rs four lakh on an average. Tashi Namgay’s family spent more than Rs 10 lakh for his kidney transplant.
In India about 90,000 kidney transplants are required every year. However, only a measly 2.5% of the patients receive transplants according to figures maintained by the National Kidney Foundation.
However, when the kidneys fail completely, the option left is either dialysis or kidney transplantation.
In the age of AIDS, people are not aware about the fatality of kidney disease. Agrees Dr. Sanjay K. Agarwal: “That is the irony. People are more aware of heart disease, stroke, cancer, mental illness but not aware of kidney diseases. To some extent our government is responsible for this. There is NOT much attention given to kidney diseases as it is given to other non-communicable diseases.”
Further, patients who have high blood pressure, swelling over body, low hemoglobin, loss of appetite and vomiting, fracture with minimal trauma and those who have problems while urinating, should get checked for kidney diseases adds Dr. Agarwal.