One of the first residents of Gurgaon, Yudhishthira (of Mahabharata fame) was in a way a stray dog lover. As the Pandavas, post the war, set East towards the direction of the Himalayas, a stray dog follows Yudhisthira. On the way Draupadi and the younger brothers fall one by one but Yudhisthira trudges along with the mongrel in tow. At the door to the heaven, it is said, Lord Indra welcomes Yudhishthira but tries to deny the dog entry. Yudhishthira pleads the dog's case and says that he cannot … [Read more...] about Leash the Pets, Sterilize the Strays to Rid Gurgaon of Dog Menace
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Other Side of Honking: How it helps us to survive
This paper carried news of the launch of a campaign to make the city Gurgaon a no-honking zone by an NGO - Earth Saviour's Foundation and the members of a major horn manufacturing company. They went a step too far and tied a dog onto a post at the busy Shankar Chowk and wrote a mighty offensive line with the cartoon of a dog on a poster – ‘Kutta bhi bina vajah nahin bhonkta. Horn nahi bajayen’. While the initiative is laudable, assuming and generalising that ‘Hum horn bina vajah bajate hain’ … [Read more...] about Other Side of Honking: How it helps us to survive
Should fame give you a licence?
Dear Friends, Some of you have asked me about the sone ki chidiya-baaj (Veer) case. Since the matter is sub-judice I would not like to comment on it yet but pose before you a broader question. If someone who is more famous misappropriates something from us. Should we just bear it silently fearing that if we protest the famous personality (himself or through his team) will accuse us of trying to get cheap publicity? And through such an attack try to hurt our good will and credibility. … [Read more...] about Should fame give you a licence?
Talk on mobile, but keep the conversation to yourself
The other day I went to see a movie at a mall situated on the outskirts of Gurgaon. My aunt, 55 and my niece 22, came along. While we were waiting for the doors of the theatre to open, a middle aged man came up to me, introduced himself as Mr Gupta and complimented me for my show, Hum Aise Kyun Hain on DD. He went to bring his wife, his school going son and daughter to introduce them to me. I was happy to note that that my aunt and niece had already heard the acclaim but still drew them closer … [Read more...] about Talk on mobile, but keep the conversation to yourself
Make Gurgaon the Champaran of cleanliness
Earlier this year Ms.Kanthi Kanan founder of the Right to Walk Foundation filed a petition to the National Women’s Commission and the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission stating that Peeing in public is equivalent to stripping in public and it should be made a punishable offence. The Government has not yet acted on it. And wisely so. As it can't forbid people from peeing in public till it has provided public toilets. Civic infrastructure has to precede civic laws. And while planning … [Read more...] about Make Gurgaon the Champaran of cleanliness
Spitting cuts across class in our city
Writing in his weekly Navjivan on Our Dirty Ways Gandhi said that those who spit on the streets have no consideration for others. Today- Many decades later- while the world has become cleaner, spitting continues unabated in our country. And we can't blame the government for this one. In fact the only lull in spitting in public came in India in the 1960's. When through posters and films- some governments to prevent the spread of TB- took up a mass education programme about the dangers of … [Read more...] about Spitting cuts across class in our city