Category: Lok Issues

A Better Leader than Akhilesh Yadav

‘Polarisation And Pandemic Will Dominate UP Elections’

By LokMarg

Danial Faraz, 26, a lecturer in Uttar Pradesh, considers Yogi a better leader than Akhilesh Yadav and warns against hate-mongers like Waseem Rizvi (aka Jitendra N Tyagi)

What a time to be voting in! In the middle of the pandemic. The virus has kept everyone on their toes, and depending on the severity of the Omicron variant, the number of people attending political rallies can go up and down. Which is to say that the situation and its handling by leaders might play an important role in deciding which way the wind blows.

So we will have to take each month as it comes until elections are due in India’s most populous state. After the virus, it is polarisation that can sway the votes, and polarising people is something that BJP and its leaders know how to do really well. One would have thought that after the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan in August 2019, there would be no more issues on which people could be polarised, but that is not the case. Polarisation continues and people give in.

If you were to ask me whose tenure I found better between Akhilesh Yadav & Yogi Adityanath as CM, as an individual, I would say Yogi Adityanath. Even though Akhilesh Yadav started the Laptop Distribution Scheme for the youth and the Dial 100 scheme, there were many things that were left to be desired.

ALSO READ: BJP Has Done Good Work In UP, But Polarised Society Too

The Muzaffarnagar riot took place under his watch and people were not brought to task. I feel Akhilesh Yadav has become greedy for power like many others and forgotten to carve his own separate way. There was a lot of biradariwad (nepotism). Yadavs were preferred over efficient people in the administration. I don’t know how his alliances with the smaller parties or independent candidates will work, but he needs to step up his presence.

Faraz considers Asaduddin Owaisi (right) a strong contestant in UP elections

Under Yogi Adityanath, the crime rate has definitely come down. If we don’t go into the means used to bring the crime rate down, then we can say that the lowering of crime rate has proved beneficial to many. One work of Yogi Adityanath government that I really like is the Scholarship Schemes for graduates where 60% marks is the set criteria for receiving aid and students have been receiving them consistently for the past 4.5 years.

I am not scared of living in UP, himmat se kam lena chahiye. Take life each day as it comes. I believe in the Indian Constitution and also believe that a good leader is one who teaches us the Constitution (as in our rights and duties) better.

I feel Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) is the right leader. Many people think he is a polarising figure as well, but I don’t believe that to be true. Just because he takes care of the Muslim community doesn’t mean he doesn’t care for Hindus. There are Hindus in his party. If his party’s results in Bihar elections are anything to go by (a nearly 25% success rates) then he should be able to make headway in UP as well. Many people think he is an outsider and would not have an understanding of local issues, but I believe deep down our issues are more or less the same, given that we are all humans.

It is leaders like Waseem Rizvi aka Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi who do major harm to the whole political landscape. People like him are mere opportunists, ready to go to any length to remain relevant, and the youth needs to be especially weary of turncoat leaders.

I believe youngsters should give weight to the party leader, but also take note of what kind of work their local leader has done. One should give importance to individuals over party. Choose a leader who is good for you.

Youngest Shaolin Kung Fu Instructor

‘How I Punched & Kicked Away My Hearing Disability’

By LokMarg

Kartik Verma, 18, recounts his journey to become the youngest Shaolin Kung Fu instructor in the county in spite of his hearing and speech impairment

I was four or five year old when my parents came to know about my hearing and speech impairment. Naturally it was a heart-breaking realisation, leaving them worried about my future. At this moment they also felt it was important for me to gain focus and let off my pent-up energy. They decided to arrange karate coaching for me. For my condition, I was often teased and bullied among children of my age. The family felt martial arts training will help me gain confidence to keep off bullies.

However, few instructors were willing to teach me; they considered it a time-consuming and arduous task to teach karate to a differently abled child. My parents were not going to give up. They approached a Shaolin Kung Fu school run by Shifu Kanishka Sharma in Noida who agreed to enrol me as his student.

It was not easy for me to follow instructions as I cannot hear or speak properly. My coaches too had a tough time in the beginning but they were up for the challenge. A few months later, our communication improved. I grasped all the moves by watching the instructors and kept long hours to master the moves. Meanwhile, my academic studies also continued at a school for the differently abled.

Kartik Verma with his parents

I made martial arts the aim of my life. I kept practicing hard and excelled in the ranks of Shaolin Kung Fu. The hard work paid and I was selected to perform at a Shaolin Kung Fu demonstration in China. For the first time, I saw a proud glitter in the eyes of my parents. They were apprehensive about my travel to a foreign country, but my coach convinced them and I underwent training with grandmasters of Shaolin Kung Fu in China.

ALSO READ: ‘Quit Self-Pity, Swim Against The Tide’

I became a certified instructor, the youngest in the country, and started teaching my fellow students at the Shaolin Dojo. There I heard about a Jiu Jitsu championship for the differently abled in Dubai and decided to take part in this form of martial art. With no experience in Jiu Jitsu, I started watching videos on YouTube to pick up its nuances. I successfully defeated all my competitors in India and was selected for the championship. I secured a silver medal in the Dubai competition.

I believe, we must follow our dreams as nothing is impossible. I have a circle of friends and we often meet and communicate in sign language. I keep encouraging my friends to work hard towards what they wish to achieve. My new mission in life is to act as an inspiration to the differently abled children.

The society needs to understand the especially abled people like me. We are perfectly sound in most aspects. All we need is equal opportunities. We can do wonders, we can work like any other person and we have the similar emotions other people have.

Choose The Right Leader for One’s Constituency

‘Yogi Has Done Good Work In UP, But Polarised Society Too’

By LokMarg

Shubham Singh, 31, IT professional, says the pandemic has shown us how important it is to choose the right leader for one’s constituency

I have voted in every election, ever since I turned 18. I always make sure to take a good, hard look at the work and profile of the candidates in the contest. In the coming Uttar Pradesh elections, I feel the Ram Mandir verdict isn’t going to play a very important role. For, that issue is over and done with; now the voters are looking at everyday issues. The focus is back on poverty alleviation, education, infrastructure development etc.

I have been working in Delhi since 2014, but I return to my home state UP every time I am supposed to vote. However, for the past two years, like most people, I have been working from home. And in these two years I have had a better understanding of the ‘state’ of affairs around me.

As someone who has lived in Delhi, I can see that the communal tension does raise its head many times. And I have noticed the BJP government has been doing some good infrastructure development work on roads and bridges, Rapid Metro Project, Ganga Expressway Project etc. Personally I am happy about the work done on the Delhi-Moradabad Highway on NH-24. Indeed, if there is one state that has benefitted from what the BJP says “double engine ki Sarkar” then it is Uttar Pradesh.

Singh feels the youth must ask questions from their elected leaders

Having said that, we cannot ignore the fact that the groundwork for these were laid by the Samajwadi Party government. Marketing matters a lot during elections. Most people only remember the work done in the last one or two years of a party’s tenure, whereas the public should scrutinise all five years, the choice of candidates etc.

All around me, I see youngsters becoming focussed on entertainment (making short video reels for social media is their favourite pastime). They have forgotten to ask the right questions to leaders, say for example the dissatisfactory employment opportunities in the state.

ALSO READ: Western UP Gets A Healing Touch

Communal polarisation triggered by the BJP is a sticky point for me. But I also feel that the Muslim community needs to be more confident rather than giving in to victim mentality and not being able to see any good work done by the BJP. For example, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a good initiative, yet many people find it hard to praise it.

People need to show exemplary analytical skills in these elections because as the pandemic has shown us, choosing a good local leader plays a very important role in handling a calamity. One should vote as an individual, not as a Hindu or Muslim. Sarv Dharm Sambhav is an important aspect of our lives here in UP. And seriously every reasonable person has begun to feel that the Hindu-Muslim narrative has begun to get a little too much.

Still If I had to choose between Yogi Adityanath and Akhilesh Yadav, I would go with Yogi Adityanath. The crime rate has come down, government machinery has picked up pace. If anti-social elements are scared, so are certain police officials who cross the line.

As about Asaduddin Owaisi and his party AIMIM, I believe it is BJP’s B-Party and is here just for cutting the vote base. Outside candidates don’t have a good understanding of local issues and neither are they able to build a strong connection with the natives. A case in point is Mohammad Azharuddin who contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 from Moradabad, won, and made few appearances afterwards. A local leader should be given more importance, at least he/she can be held accountable by the public. Now Azharuddin is busy with Telengana.

Being rooted is very important for a politician. The youth is aware, but all youngsters need to step up on their rights and duties if we want to see a flourishing political atmosphere where everyone’s issues are well-represented and solved.

Harnaaz Sandhu’s Win at Miss Universe

‘Winning A Beauty Pageant Title Is An Empowering Moment’

By LokMarg

Joie Bose, Mrs India (East) winner and Mrs India 2018 finalist, says Harnaaz Sandhu’s win at Miss Universe pageant must be an inspiring moment for all women in India

I’m so happy about Harnaaz Sandhu’s win at the Miss Universe pageant. She brought the coveted crown back to India after 21 years, and deservedly so. Her answer in the last round was exemplary, her confidence amazing. As her answer suggests, women actually need to believe in themselves if they want to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Beauty pageants have been decried by many for many years now, and their argument is it forces women to adhere to ‘societal norms of beauty’. On the contrary, I believe these pageants are absolutely empowering. As long as the participant is there from her own free will, the experience is as liberating as any other choice a woman makes.

I speak from experience. I became a finalist at the Mrs India pageant in 2018 after winning the Mrs India (East) crown. After giving birth to my son in 2011 I had struggled with weight issues. At 120 kg, my self-belief took a hit. It is then that I decided to do something just for myself; to achieve an identity beyond my home and hearth.

I had a full-fledged career before my marriage but had taken a break from work to be with my family. I exercised in a disciplined manner and soon lost enough pounds to be able to compete for the Mrs. India title in 2018.

Bose and her many moods

I cannot express in words the feeling when the crown for Mrs India (East) was placed on my head. I felt like a princess from the fairy-tales I had grown up reading. I felt I could do anything I set my heart to. My belief in myself in that moment was complete. I have not looked back ever since.

I have been doing everything I ever wanted to do: publishing an anthology of my poems; taking up a management course from IIM (Kolkata) and acing it; participating in vintage car rallies and being adjudged the best female driver; yoga; even kickboxing. I then worked my way up the corporate ladder. My pageant win inspired me to live my life to the fullest. I also work actively on social issues, particularly on domestic violence.

So yes, Harnaaz Sandhu’s victory should be celebrated by people. She is so comfortable being herself and that is what is most important right now, especially in our country, where women often second guess themselves and are treated as second class citizens. Women in India are conditioned to think their role is that of a caregiver. Beauty pageants (it can be different things for different women) is about a woman putting herself first.

Bose is a fan of former Ms World Priyanka Chopra as well as coporate leader like Indra Nooyi

I love former Ms World Priyanka Chopra for exactly that. She is so confident, so unapologetically herself and yet cares about others too. It is not only beauty pageant winners who inspire me. Corporate leaders like Indra Nooyi, Arundhati Bhattacharya and Barsha Sanyal are equally my role models. Any woman who is comfortable being herself is a winner.

People who belittle beauty pageant winners by saying they have given in to patriarchy are again trying to fit women into one particular mould, a mould which they think fit. A truly emancipated woman is a woman who makes her own choices, no matter what they look like to others.

A Calculated Risk to Enter a Small State

‘Mamata Is The Only Leader Who Can Challenge Modi’

By LokMarg

Chintan Patel, a sports physiotherapist in Panaji, Goa, feels Trinamool Congress has taken a calculated risk to enter a small state like Goa before emerging on the national stage

Owing to the fact that Goa is the smallest state in the country (40 seats), its political landscape is a little different from that of the other states, especially from that of West Bengal (294 seats). Perhaps Mamata Banerjee decided to start her national political innings from here because it is good to start on a small scale. That according to me is a wise step: to take only as much as one can easily commit to and handle.

The physical and metaphorical distance between the voters and representatives in Goa isn’t that much unlike in larger states. The cook employed at my house is a Goan native and says that local representatives do pay their residential areas regular visits. The voters are aware too and take active interest in local politics. Politics isn’t just about making promises to the janta, but also executing them properly. Mamata Banerjee and her party candidates will have to build a very strong base in Goa, if they want to make inroads into national politics.

Goa, being a small state, is no stranger to personality politics. It is also no stranger to ideas of cosmopolitanism and being open to other cultures, given its thriving tourism industry. Mamata Banerjee will have to strike a fine balance and really try to understand the local lifestyle well. It is good that she visited the state last month for a few days.

The Goa Assembly elections are scheduled in February 2022. As a sports physiotherapist working with the Goa Cricket Association and Goa Football Association, I come in contact with many star players regularly. One of my friends, footballer Denzil Franco joined TMC recently.

Patel comes from a politically conscious family in Gujarat

Anyone who fulfils their promises or tries to show genuine intent to understand and solve local issues will win the voter’s minds and hearts. During the second wave of Covid in May, Goa wasn’t able to handle it well and in the post-pandemic world people are looking for leaders who can be strong and lead from the front in moments of crisis.

ALSO READ: ‘A Daughter Of Soil, Didi Is The Leader To Watch’

The voter nowadays is also more aware thanks to social media and understands that state issues aren’t independent from that of the centre. The central leadership does affect and influence state politics in certain cases, such as a pandemic.

I am a Gujarati who has been living in Panaji for nearly five years now and my family is based in Gujarat. A few of my close relatives are actively engaged in politics and I am aware that the wind can change direction any time on any issue in politics. It depends on the charisma of the leader at top apart from the hard work of the party cadre on ground level.

Modiji or let’s say the BJP has managed to somehow win over the attention of the janta, but Mamata Banerjee is also a formidable opponent. Perhaps she is the only one giving strong ‘opposition’ to Modiji. Despite Congress being the single largest party in 2017, they lost Goa, but Mamata held the fort strongly in West Bengal and came back for a successive third stint as Chief Minister this year. It would be interesting to see if TMC can build a strong base in Goa and go from being a strong regional player to a strong national player.

Protest Against Central Agriculture Laws

Happy To Have Defeated This Arrogant Govt, Say Departing Farmers

By LokMarg

As farmer leaders suspend their protest against Central Agriculture Laws that were rolled back by the Narendra Modi government, LokMarg team speaks to the protesters who had been camping at various border points of Delhi for over a year.

Most of the farmers say while the rollback has not come in a day too late, they are happy to bring an arrogant NDA government to its knees by their persistence and support from India and across the world.

Watch the full video here

Repeal of Farm Laws

‘The End Consumer Must Connect With The Farmer’

By LokMarg

Kavitha Kuruganti, a Bengaluru-based member of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, says repeal of farm laws is just the beginning; a lot more is needed to protect small farmers and Advasis

I handle the media relations and public statement of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and was actively involved in drafting the resolution adopted by Kisan Sansad held at Jantar Mantar in August this year.

We wanted something positive in terms of entitlement to farmers with regards to the crop prices. And our demand is in sync with the promises made by NDA government which had committed itself of doubling the farmers income during their tenure. It is unfortunate that even to this date they haven’t made any progress on this front.

While the government has rolled back the farm laws what farmers need beyond the repeal is guaranteed price for their produce. Towards this end, we asked for four things under the title Kisan Swaraj Neeti. These four steps are the essential elements of changing the paradigm in favour of the country’s farmers.

First is income security to be guaranteed to all framers. It’s not correct that we talk in bits and pieces in terms of insurance, better technology. At the end of the day, whatever the government does in the name of farmers or rural development and agricultural reforms, it has to manifest itself in terms of a dignified living income. The government has to make itself accountable to deliver the income and not schemes, as they do not add up to better income. If you make the overall goal of raising their income, all other things will be better aligned and there will be a self-correcting mechanism of them becoming falling in place.

ALSO READ: ‘Films To Farms, It Has Been A Strong Learning Curve’

The second is environmental sustainability in agriculture. There is no point in degrading our resources or overexploiting our resources. A short term prosperity, if at all there is any such thing, at the expense of those very resources which are required to sustain livelihood for the future is unacceptable. If our soil degrades, out water tables dry up, our diversity erodes, how can farming sustain in future? So making environmental sustainability a key focus and commitment in everything we do. Sarkar, Bazar and Samaj all three have equal responsibility towards this end.

The third is the control of resources must remain in the hands of farmers. You can’t take away their land, forest seeds and expect them to still survive in this enterprise. The government cannot lay claims to agricultural resource; that will be resource-grabbing.

The fourth and final one is to save diverse and nutritious food for all citizens. We want consumers to be connected to food, farming and farmers. The struggle for farmers cannot just be their struggle alone; it is the food system struggle and consumers have a large stake in it. This is how we in ASHA Kisan Swaraj articulate the Kisan Swaraj Neeti and while by doing so we visualize the invisible actors in farming like women farmers, tenant farmers, and Adivasi farmers. Without that social responsibility building, the structure will not sustain.

Support Punjab Farmers Protesting Against Central Laws

‘Films To Farms, It Has Been A Strong Learning Curve’

By LokMarg

Monica Gill (32), an American model, actress and beauty pageant title holder left her flourishing career in glamour world to support Punjab farmers protesting against central laws

I started off my career in modelling at a very young age. I took a break during college years and after that I re-joined pageantry. I won Miss India Massachusetts, Miss India USA in 2013, and Miss India Worldwide 2014 after which I was picked up by Tips Industries to do Punjabi films.

I did Ambarsariya opposite Diljit Dosanjh, Kaptaan with Gippy Grewal. I made my Hindi film debut with the film Firangi. I then did Sat Shri Akaal England with Ammy Virk. My second Hindi film was a J P Dutta movie titled Paltan opposite Harshvardhan Rane. My last Punjabi film was Punjabi-language period drama Yaara Ve in 2019.

It was on the spur of an emotional moment that I decided to drop behind tinsel world and took up the cause of Punjab farmers battling against implementation of new Agri Laws. The single most important thing that led me to this decision was my grandma and her reaction. The farmers’ protests started in June in Punjab and was going on for a while before the farmers moved to Delhi and pitched makeshift tents on various state borders.

When in November they moved from Punjab through Haryana towards Delhi, they faced unprecedented police and paramilitary brutality. Such was the intensity of police force that for my grandma it brought forth deep traumas within her from 1947, and from 1984, when Sikhs had faced largescale massacres. I knew that we had to win this battle for her; for those traumas heal. Otherwise she was going to die with this burden: “Is this world safe for my grandchildren?”

Once active in the glamour industry, Gill has found fulfilment in the field of human rights

I wanted her to know that this isn’t the same world that it was in 1947 or in 1984. This world is a better place. Yes, as Sikhs we are minorities but we are not helpless. We have people in so many powerful positions across the world that we can make a difference, and that is exactly what happened and I am grateful for that.

Leaving behind camera flashbulbs, I joined the Sikh Human Rights Group, an NGO with special consultative status at the UN. It has been a strong learning curve. I struggle at times because I am not an academic. I am not someone who come from a different background but my boss is quite patient with me and for that I am grateful. I have found a sense of peace working in the field of Human Rights. It is extremely fulfilling.

ALSO READ: Farm Laws – Winners, Losers and Future

I consider myself lucky to have found this organisation which was willing to take me and give me a chance to learn and give me an opportunity to fight for my community. My family was supportive of me in making this career switch and I hope to stay in this field for a while.

My mantra in life is: your voice matters, you matter. If it wasn’t for the diaspora and the youth waking up, the voice of the Indian farmers wouldn’t have gone as loud as it did. One of my friends says that there is a Pakistan Punjab and there is an India Punjab but there is a third Punjab that lives throughout the world. And when Punjab is in turmoil that third Punjab rises up. And that voice cannot be shut down.

That is what the Indian government didn’t understand. That third Punjab stood up and it was beautiful to see. So to all the youngsters reading this I just want to say: You matter, your voice matters. Rise up, speak up and create chaos.

Jobs For Transgenders

‘Job Vacancies Must Mention That Transgenders May Apply’

By LokMarg

Manoj Pachauri, founder of NGO Socio Story Foundation, found the transgender as one of the most vulnerable sections amid Covid. Pachauri discloses his work to make the community self-sustainable

I am an MBA graduate who was drawn to social sector. When I started the NGO, SocioStory to help social enterprises through mentorship and other support, I never thought that in a couple of years, I would witness a pandemic crisis of such magnitude. Like many other NGOs, we too decided to use our resources to help those affected by the virus and the nationwide lockdown.

Thus, we began to distribute food and other essential items to the vulnerable during the first wave amid largescale migration and oxygen concentrators during the second wave. It was during the first wave that we were contacted by several members of the transgender community (Hijras) that there were many of them who had run out of supplies and needed urgent help.

The Hijra community in India usually have no other vocation and live off on charity. Their primary source of income is begging on traffic signals or dancing at people’s wedding or childbirth. When the lockdown was imposed, their earnings stopped. Their neighbours, who had helped them for some time, were themselves running short of money and ration.

So we decided to pull all our strength and lay extra focus on the community. We first identified the pockets where the transgender community members lived in clusters. Then we went to these areas to assess their situation and create some data. We found that many were skipping meals and drinking water to supress the hunger pangs. Some were trying to sell their belongings in return of food. They were in a crisis situation. This was the case in all the cities where we were operating.

ALSO READ: A Police Cap Gives Me Life Beyond Begging & Badhai

We arranged help for over 10,000 transgender people across Vizag, Rajkot, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi-NCR by continuously distributing ration kits, sanitizers and other medicines for them to survive the pandemic. We tried to keep them fed through crowdfunding till the Unlock progressed. I would here also thank all the donors who came forward to support the community in the times of crisis.

However, we realised our job was not over simply by feeding them during one lockdown. What will they do if another lockdown is imposed tomorrow? These people will be in the same condition again. So we devised and launched a skill-based programme to make transgender people employable and self-sustainable. The effort required two-way approach. While we trained the willing members of the community, we also approached the employers for acceptability.

The society needs to accept the members of transgender community as their own. We need to value their self-esteem and treat them as fellow human beings. If there is a job vacancy in any private company, they should make a mention that they also accept applications from the members of transgender community. Getting quality schooling and college education is also a challenge for this community and we are working to provide them both education and skills to get respectable employment.

Greater Role for Women in Armed Forces

‘Expansion Of Women Role In Army Will Benefit The Force’

By LokMarg

Kerala-based Lt Col (Retd) Susan John, 62, welcomes the steps to ensure a greater role for women in Armed Forces. However, she says, the move hasn’t come a moment too soon

I joined Indian Army after my Class 12 in 1978 and am very proud to have served the forces. I was with the Military Nursing Service (MNS). Ours was the only Army corps way back then which gave lady officers permanent commission.

It was only after the Supreme Court, in February 2020, upheld the right of serving short service commission (SSC) women officers to be granted permanent commissions just like their male colleagues. And lately the welcome step of female cadets being allowed to enroll in Sainik Schools.

So you can see it took the government and the defence apparatus over three decades to realize what women are capable of when it comes to the uniform services, that too when prodded by the apex court. All I can say is the decision has not come a moment too early. Better late than never.

I see Armed Forces as the best career option for girls with the discipline, culture, respect and security that it gets with it. I felt so secured in my life as a lady Army officer in the army that it cannot be expressed. The Army unit was like a well-knit family and our matrons were our role models. Today when I look back I feel choosing the uniform was the best decision of my life. I have no regrets.

Lt Col (Retd) John says women know how to protect, be their family or nation

The expansion of roles for women in the Army will also benefit the force immensely. The whole notion of branding women as the weaker sex is mere patriarchal propaganda. In whichever roles women officers have served the defence forces, they made exemplary contribution without fear in the past. And now, there is no stopping the girls and women of today.

ALSO READ: ‘Never Faced Sexism In Air Force’

I can say with confidence that women officers in their new roles will smoothly adapt themselves without a challenge. No one would be able to raise a finger on them when they ask for their promotions or higher ranks; such is the capability that women possess. Incapable men who opposed combat roles or higher positions for women can go sulk now that the SC has paved the way.

Even in the medical core we served in filed areas. In fact there are lady officers who are far ahead of men managing certain corps over their male counterparts. Army can reach to great heights in every filed with the support of women, I believe.

A woman knows how to take care of the family and protect it. She carries this conviction be at home or the warfront. Men can never match the mental strength and the skill of a woman, no matter which roles she takes up.

As Told To Mamta Sharma