A breathe of fresh air..

पृथ्वी, जल, वायु, आकाश...  The elements that keep us alive and nourish us. Unfortunately, we the people of India give little importance to the conservation of these elements. In our day to day lives, we inflict innumerable assaults on our environment, which have direct and very serious implications to ourselves.

For example, when you burn waste, you are the first person who inhales all the toxic gases that are released into the environment.Though most of us are aware that whatever harm we do to the nature comes back to us, immediately, we forfeit all responsibility to preserve our environment.

Let's take the scenario of vehicle emission.

WHAT OUR VEHICLES EMIT:

• Hydrocarbons-These are toxic gases which are the major reasons behind smog. Smog is the condition due to which, even on a clear sunny day, if you look at distant landscapes, they will appear behind a thick blanket of fog.  (SMOG = Smoke + fog). Even if you are surrounded by smog, it will not be visible to you, unless it is very very intense. Exposure to Smog, has liver effects.
• METHANE - This is also a Hydrocarbon which has been identified as a greenhouse gas, a major contributor to global warming. 
• Carbon monoxide (CO) - Carbon monoxide bonds with blood molecules and reduces there ability to transport oxygen to organs, which is the main function of blood. In case of being surrounded by intense CO, organs get starved for oxygen. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a major killer.

• Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) -  NO_x leads to smog and acid rain. Notrogen oxides cause respiratory infection. NO_x is produced when nitrogen and oxygen react at high tempreratures. Therfore more NO_x  are produces when our engines run most efficiently (i.e. hottest) part of the cycle.

• Particles, from fuel impurities –  If inhaled can lead to poisoning and cancer

• Sulfur oxide (SO_x) -  SO_x is produced because our fuels contain sulfur. This can be reduced easily but refineries generally fight requirements to do this because of the increased costs to them.

Most of us today drive motor vehicles. But How many of us have ever bothered to check the emission levels of our vehicles? Only when the traffic cop asked us for a PUC certificate. There is a whole set of rules and restrictions on emission levels in India. If it had been adhered to since inception, the environment in India would have been much more favorable for us. But I really doubt if the enforcement of these standards now could help us.. isn't it a bit too late for liberal restrictions?

Better late than never, we could start mending our ways. 

WHAT CAN WE DO

1> Use public transports. Reduce the number of vehicles on the road. This would minimize the number of accidents also.

2> Start walking. It will also improve your health. 

3> Get your emission levels regularly checked.

4> Turn off engine on traffic signals. Save fuel, save money.

5> Switch to green vehicles. Electric vehicles are the best option. Economical and eco-friendly.

Burning of fuel not only harms environment it also depletes important natural resources. as explained in a previous post

DO WE REALLY CARE?

Ask yourselves?  can you do your bit  for a pint of fresh air. 

If you really care, then do your part just for your own sake.

Looking through the " Aam Aadmi's " glasses ...

I am an ordinary Indian Citizen, and it is widely assumed that I do not understand even an iota of economics.

To some extent it is true, I am not an economist. I do not understand the statistics and complexities of investigations based on which a nation's year-on-year growth is decided and then documented. I  am just an individual with average intelligence and senses. 

But India is the home of many famous economists  including our Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh. He has been in power for almost eight years  now, along with his very capable cabinet.

Then why is:

India standing 15th in the The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2011. The GHI of India went up from 22.9 to 23.7 in the last 15 years.

37% of Indian population living below poverty line.  

spending Rs.32  or more a day defining people as being "not poor" 

Isn't this unfortunate?

The Road to No-Where…

A few months back, it seemed like the nation was standing at the cross roads of history.

But pretty soon, much to my chagrin, I realized that we are actually treading down a road that takes us no-where. Forgive my despondency if it offends you, but I think as a citizen of India, I can make use of my right to expression of thought.

What started at the Jantar Mantar was historic. A group of respectable activists, headed by a simple and inspiring villager appealed to the masses to demand for the demolition of Corruption. It struck a chord with the “Aam Aadmi” who was burdened with increasing prices, reducing amenities and taxes which seemed to be vanishing in the thin air.

After months of Struggling, the government finally gave in, and we celebrated what we called “Azaadi ka August”

And after that we shrunk back into our shells, never bothering what happened to the bill.
Though not explicitly said, the “Team Anna” was now to take care of the rest of the matter, and the public slipped back into the normal routine of facing the hard Indian life-- earning their bread...facing the lack of amenities, and paying our taxes.

 This is where, from the cross roads, we actually took a turn into a road that leads us no-where.

What happened next is not surprising. “Team Anna” was jeopardized.. Swami Agnivesh tape struck the small-screens.. News of internal rifts made headlines.. Santosh Hegde’s and Anna’s interviews were manipulated to be against Arvind Kejriwal. Prashant Bhushan dragged into Kashmir row…

And the most ridiculous thing to happen, Team Anna was asked to clarify their stand on Kashmir Issue? It was like asking Rakhi Sawant about quantum mechanics. :D

We were asking anti-corruption crusaders a question that we actually should have put up to our Govt. (Does anyone ask the govt. for a clarification about its stand on Pak policies, Does our PM have a clear stand on Pak issues)

And why do we forget, that “Team Anna” members are also individuals. Prashant Bhushan is an active lawyer and a citizen of India. He has every right to express his thought. We can reject his ideas if we don’t like them. But we cannot punish him for thinking.

Yet the public, who feeds its mind on the 9’o clock news, took offence about it!  What we don’t understand is that, Bhushan’s remark is a “remark”, not a judgment. If we don’t agree with it, just ignore it! While we honor Nehru for dividing India and creating Pakistan, we beat up a person who thinks People’s wishes should be honoured.

Then, came the Hissar by-polls. Once again the issue of anti-corruption crusade being apolitical sprung up; and many thousands of people who had said “I am Anna” a couple of months ago, were distanced from Anna by active lobbyists who spread the notion that this movement had turned political.
(well, the corruption issue is really very political to its core. After all the Jan Lokpal has to be passed by politicians. I don’t know why it is labeled apolitical.. and why would people want it to be apolitical)

While the “Aam Aadmi” stands dazed and confused about what is happening, the media is doing little to portray the true scenario as it is.

Why has this movement suddenly lost its sheen?

It is NOT because the leaders are incapable of taking it ahead. It is NOT because there are rifts/power struggles between them. It is not because the Govt. is cheating us. It is because, We, the people of India do not jusdge for our own, rather we feed on the opinions of news readers.

I guess it is not that difficult to see through this muddy pool. Focus your lenses and you will see it right.

We are lost in the mid-way because We, the people of India, have chosen to get confused by the twisted facts that are served on the platter to us.  It is because we believe less in ourselves and more in the views of newspaper columnists.

It is because we take less notice of Leaders who work silently, and more notice of Politicians like Digvijay Singh, who have focused all their energies and time in defaming this movement.

Anna Hazare may be the leader of the movement, but if you take a closer look, the real Leader of the movement is in the Common man, who works hard and deserves every penny that he earns.
The leader is in the Individuals who led themselves to support a cause for their nations;
The Leader lies in people who led their families on the streets to demand a Corruption Free India;
.... the leader is in you, who refused to pay a bribe to get a job done.
It is in the parents who teach their children to live an honest life.

When You and I are the true leaders and builders of our Nation, how does it matter whether “Team Anna” has internal rifts, or if they have gone political (if that bothers you)?

This was our movement and it is only us who can take this movement ahead. How can we slip into inactivity and un-awareness and delegate our responsibilities to a few leaders. It’s time the ordinary man took account of what is happening to him.

The famous saying goes: “…Fool me twice, shame on me”.  If we keep our eyes open, nobody can fool us. We need to filter out what is irrelevant right now and see where the Jan Lokpal Bill is going. Yes, that will require a little extra effort by the ordinary man, but then “extra” added to “ordinary” yields “extra-ordinary”.

On the 2nd Partiton of Bengal...

" WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION. "

Thus goes the preamble of our very own Constitution and it feels indeed very sad that we have utterly failed to give ourselves the things we promised. Above all other things we have failed to give ourselves Unity...!!!

The hard hitting truth today is that India stands divided.. divided by geography, by economy and above all by its own People. While we make huge declarations on the strength of Unity, we ourselves are taking it away from ourselves!

We live in a mystical land. The vernacular changes in every 250 KM within India. Its a cradle of great civilizations and many many languages. Every region in India has a fresh tradition. And if I were to present a picture-perfect description of my nation.. I would go on to say how we have great Unity despite our diversity. I really hope for such a harmonious existence for all of us but let's face it..

हिन्दू, मुस्लिम, सिक्ख, इसाई... पहले मज़हबो में बटा इन्सान..

सांझे में अब और कुच्छ क्या रखना, जब बट ही गया भगवान्..



तो बाटी धरती, बाटी नदियाँ, हमने फिर बाट लिया आसमान

अब बटने को कुछ बचा नहीं.. सो बाँट रहे है हिंदुस्तान !!!

-- प्रियंका गर्ग