How we fight is important. But what we fight for is more so. Some recent examples to the contrary.
1. Please if you do not mind, I am not “sexy”!
The remark that women should consider “sexy” as a compliment and not as a lewd reference created much uproar recently. Yes, national commission for women is a statutory body and as an apex organization it is mandated to work for women welfare and empowerment. And yes, its achievements have not been much glorious. But the kind of issue that we are debating here merits a close examination. Can we really afford the Victorian luxury of engaging in such talks when we all are aware of the excruciating pain and handicap that womanhood attracts in our society? When we have failed to create a safe environment for women, when we have failed to feed and shelter widows (the plight of widows in places as Vrindavan) and when we are unable to ensure that a girl child sees the light of day, it’s very wrong time to have misplaced priorities. It is high time we redefine sentiments like “welfare”, “liberation” and “empowerment”. Turns out the women’s rights group are stuck on the page of protests that rocked over the Supreme Court’s judgement in Shah Bano case- lots of symbolism, regressive outlook and empty resolve.
2. Well of course first we unite the two kids with their parents. We can feed 42% of our kids later!
The Child Welfare Society of Norway decided to separate two kids from their parents as in its view they were not taken care of properly. May be a valid argument. The Indian government jumped on the wagon protesting against a state that infringed on parenting rights. May be a valid protest. But the whole issue obfuscates the very concept of show and substance. When the prime minister of a country himself accepts that over 42 percent of our children are underweight it does not reflect too good on child welfare. If there was anything left, the recent case of baby Falak leaves no one in doubt. True, it’s our duty to protect right of our nationals but to make a confused domestic matter central issue at the expense of more pressing problems only suggests misplaced priorities. The condition of our government run hospitals, schools and other institutions clearly reflect our “care” and “concern” for our children. We do not need to drum that up in Oslo. The care we showed for Bhattacharya kids, if we can afford even a fraction of it for the vast majority of other kids, then may be some day we will outperform Bangladesh in child welfare!
Excessive symbolism and populism are signs of a democracy still in its infancy. More politics is played on naming a bridge or a road than in maintaining it. May be we can blame the government. May be we are a country of facades and gimmicks.
gardathedust
Swapnil
killichandrasekhar
indiaandissues 
Good point. Media has the power to raise the right voices in high decibels but of late they have been stretching less important ones by jazzing them up with pseudo National relevance. It’s high time that Media powerhouses realize their importance to take India forward.
And welcome to the blog. 🙂
thnku!
Yes..may be we are part of a society whose favorite pass time is Govt. n Bureaucracy bashing. May be as a consumer we want more of newsfeed which is dramatic with twists and turns, as in case of Norway CWS episode. After all a man behind the lights and camera would want to focus on what the public wants to consume. As citizens are we equally ready to be part of the Action! that ought to follow Lights! n Camera! ??
The priorities of our populist government and populist media are flawed but they reflect our society.
Talking sense and logic, like you do, are not part of market economy. TRPs and sales figures require non sense and illogic, and it seems that they rule!
norway topic is useless i dont want read it any more , thr hindu specially filling 2-3 pages for this why ?