Uniformity or Conformity?

Have you ever worn a school uniform? If yes, I’m sure you hated it. School uniforms are dreary, uncomfortable and unnecessary. Most students around the world despise them, but are forced to wear them every weekday. I’m sure most adults out there wouldn’t like to be dressed in baggy pants, an unimaginative shirt, and spiritless black or white shoes. So why should kids have to?

The predominant drawback to school uniforms is that they are an added expense. Instead of wearing clothes they already have, children end up purchasing five to six sets of the exact same outfit, only to outgrow them the very next year! Not all families can afford this cost annually.

Buying uniforms is not only expensive, but inconvenient. To all the parents reading this, I have a question for you. How many times have you driven your son or daughter to an out of the way uniform store and spent two or more hours there (not to mention the time taken to reach the shop), to find that they outgrow the outfits in a couple of months, and you have to repeat the entire cumbersome process? Any sort of shopping for children is a nuisance, but uniform shopping is definitely the worst.

Another problem with school uniforms is discomfort. School uniforms are often stiff, itchy and ill-fitting. Moreover, they create insecurity in students. Different kids have different skin tones, body shapes and heights, and school uniforms don’t always complement these unique features. “I’ve always felt so much more natural and free in my everyday clothes rather than my school uniform,” says a twelve-year-old student at an international school in India.

School uniforms also destroy individuality. Earlier, uniforms and conformity in general were seen as forms of discipline. However, ideas such as these do not belong in today’s world, where expression and creativity are valued much more in children.

Uniforms propagate gender stereotypes, as well. This is due to the fact that many school uniforms require girls to wear skirts while boys wear shorts. Instead of allowing children to choose what type of clothing they wear, they force kids to dress in garments that supposedly conform to their gender.

There is an argument that uniforms increase focus and discipline in school. According to some people (note that these people are adults- no student enjoys wearing a uniform), when there is an absence of a variety of clothing to observe, there is a higher chance of kids focusing on their schoolwork instead. However, this can easily be countered by the fact that they are more comfortable, and therefore more productive, in their regular outfits. In fact, Virginia Draa, a professor at the Youngstown State University, conducted a study which proved that wearing uniforms does not improve the academic performance of students.

These are just a few of the reasons why schools across the globe should stop requiring their students to dress in boring, uncomfortable and sexist outfits. Kids should be kids, free to express themselves in all possible ways, including their everyday attire.

Pawsibilities of a Stray Dog-Free India

Photo by Anoir Chafik on Unsplash

Stray dogs on our streets is something we moan and mither about frequently, especially when the topic of inept government in India comes up. Some strongly suggest eliminating them, while others protest rabidly (pun unintended) against their slaughter. While culling may seem harsh, these canines are exposing us to the danger of uncleanliness, injury and disease.

At over 35 million, India has the largest number of strays in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Roughly 36% of the world’s rabies deaths occur in India each year, most of those when children come into contact with infected dogs”. Even though this fact is extremely perturbing, it doesn’t mean that we can indiscriminately kill living creatures. So, what is the solution to this multiplying (literally and figuratively) problem?

I think that the main problem when it comes to stray dogs is that most of us don’t know enough. In fact, some of us are actually contributing to the breeding of these strays due to our ignorance. So before we jump to conclusions, let’s understand the real issue.

Most of the strays we see are Indian Pariah dogs (Indies), a breed native to India. They are also sometimes other breeds that have been deserted by their owners. This is why one of the preventive measures you can take against strays is adopting responsibly, so you won’t have to abandon a dog in the future and add to the ever-growing number of stray dogs.

Another important measure you can take against strays is not feeding them. Contrary to what you may think, when you feed stray dogs, you are not helping them. Stray dogs live what are called “half-lives”. They can’t live wholesomely as they lack nutrition and shelter, but they don’t die either as they manage to survive on scraps of waste food. By feeding them, you are only elongating their deficient lives.

What should you do instead? Contact a dog shelter nearby and get the mongrel neutered or spayed and vaccinated. Spaying is an operation performed on female dogs which prevents them from giving birth. The equivalent of this is neutering, which is conducted on males. Did you know that a single female stray dog can give birth to approximately 14 puppies a year? Each time you get a dog neutered or spayed, you are preventing it from reproducing and therefore reducing the stray dog population significantly.

Have you ever wondered why stray dogs seem to breed so much in India and not in other nations? Well, it’s because of the litter. I’m sure you’ve seen stray dogs roaming around garbage dumps. Strays scavenge through the trash we dump in public areas for food. Each time we make the choice to throw our garbage anywhere except in a trash can, we indirectly make another choice: the choice to support stray dogs breeding in our cities.

If you want to solve the stray dog problem in India, you now can! By following the simple steps above, you can make a “pawsitive” impact on health and hygiene in India.

Simplifying the CAA Controversy

Photo by Micheile Henderson @micheile010 // Visual Stories [nl] on Unsplash

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 has been the talk of the town since it was passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha a couple of weeks ago. But what does it really imply? Why is there so much controversy around it? And finally, is it right or wrong? 

What is the CAA?

The CAA is an act passed by the Union Cabinet of India. It proposes to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955, by granting Indian Citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Act also states that the immigrant must have entered the nation on or before December 31, 2014.

How does it alter the current immigration policy?

The immigration policy followed in India prior to the introduction of the CAA is based on the 1955 Citizenship Act. According to this act, anyone who has entered the country without legal documents, or entered with valid documents but has stayed on “beyond the permitted period of time” is defined as an “illegal migrant”. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) hopes to modify this to allow citizenship to specific groups of persecuted minorities living in India for at least 5 years.

What is its purpose and who does it affect?

The purpose of the CAA, according to the BJP, is to resolve problems arising from the partition, during which a number of Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians were unable to enter India. These minorities were being persecuted in their respective countries, and so the BJP has decided to grant citizenship to those who entered as refugees until five years ago. 

In support of that statement, Amit Shah said that the population of minorities in these three countries has declined by 20 percent because “they were either killed, or forced to convert or migrated to India”. 

Another reason the CAA is being implemented is to separate legal migrants from illegal migrants who are soaking up our resources. Once the persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are classified as Indians, it will be easier to identify illegal migrants and send them back. Unfortunately, this means that Muslims will be the community that is forced to leave. 

Now, here are the arguments against the CAA.

This Act will definitely ensure safety for persecuted individuals, but is that really what we need? In a country with the second highest population in the world, where we can’t even feed our own people, why are we making it simpler for other people to become citizens? 

The act is also seen as a violation to Article 14 of the Constitution (Right to Equality), as it grants citizenship based on religion. It lets so many communities in, but singles out Muslims as not eligible for Indian citizenship. This means that while a Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist or Christian immigrant who has lived in India since 2014 or before will become a citizen, no questions asked, while a Muslim who has entered at the same time will have to wait five more years (to fulfil the ten-year residency requirement), and even then might be refused citizenship.

What is right and what is wrong?

Like most matters in the real world, this issue is not black or white. What may seem wrong to me is right to someone else, and vice versa. As always, there are two sides to the argument and it is crucial to understand both. 

However, I do think that instead of focusing on unimportant issues like the religion of refugees entering our country, the BJP government should focus on bettering the life of Indians already living here. 

I also think that when the CAA is viewed in combination with the NRC (National Register of Citizens), it seems sinister. Let’s take a scenario where the CAA has just been Implemented. Then the government decides to proceed with the NRC. The Muslim immigrants who have been denied citizenship will be trapped. They can’t go back home because they have been living in India for years, but they can’t stay because they’ll be sent to detention camps. The CAA and the NRC together create a horrible situation in which innocent Muslims will be targeted. Unfortunately, we are still unsure whether the NRC will be implemented for the entire nation or not. There have been conflicting statements from the BJP, and we are still awaiting the final decision.

One point I feel strongly about is that revolts against this Act have been suppressed brutally by the police. During a protest on 15th December, the police forcefully entered the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, injuring more than 200 students. In Mangalore, two people were shot dead by the cops during another protest. These incidents of violence are extremely perturbing. 

But there is no point in us complaining about the faults in our government. Instead, we can make a change by voting, and voting responsibly.

Sources: The Economic Times, Citizenship Amendment Act, India Today 

The Girl, the Kallens and the Babysitter

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash 

“Let’s draw!” lisped Keith, scooping up a handful of vibrant crayons.

‘‘What do you want to draw, Keith?’’ I asked, smiling at him as I searched for his drawing book in a messy stack of games that was lying on the floor.

 “I’ll draw a dinosaur!”

 He roared, and I gasped, pretending to be terrified.

It was my third time babysitting for the Kallens. I always agreed to take care of their four- year- old son, Keith, when they went out for dinner. I absolutely adored Keith, and the Kallens usually paid me a lot of money, which didn’t hurt either.

I helped Keith draw a slightly lopsided T-Rex and then began to sketch my own scenery. After a while, I happened to glance at the stairs and, to my immense surprise, noticed a girl coming down them!  She was scrawny and pale, but graceful nonetheless, like a wilting flower. Her only outstanding feature was her wavy, fair hair, that glided gently past her shoulders towards her waist. She seemed a few years older than Keith.

I stared at her, bewildered. I didn’t know the Kallens had a daughter! I had lived in this neighbourhood for three whole years now, and I didn’t remember ever meeting her. I hadn’t even seen her the last two times I was in their house! I made a mental note to ask the Kallens about her later.

Keith either didn’t catch sight of her, or was pretending not to. It seemed like they’d got into a fight. Come on, I told myself. She’s just a little kid. Maybe she wasn’t at home the other times you were at this house. What’s the big deal?  Putting my apprehension aside, I forced myself to grin at her, and she cautiosly came closer.

“Hi! I’m Madelyn. What’s your name?” I asked, trying to make conversation.

“Kiara,” she murmured, so softly that I had to stoop down to catch her reply.

I asked her to sit at the table with us and she did. ‘’How old are you, Kiara?’’

‘’I’m- ‘’ she faltered for a moment. ‘’ I’m nine years old.’’

Keith began pulling my hand, wanting attention. He seemed annoyed that I was speaking to Kiara instead of him. I coloured with him for some time, but then my eyes returned to the girl. She wasn’t doing anything; just looking around the house with a sense of …. of longing. But that didn’t make sense. I must’ve imagined it.

“Wouldn’t you like to do something, Kiara?’’ I asked her.

She jumped, startled. ‘’Oh-um…not really…’’ she muttered.

Keith began whining, so I turned back to him. ’’Keith, why don’t you show me your new teddy bear?’’ I suggested to him. He was distracted for a few minutes, rummaging in  his toybox. I began to talk to Kiara again. She told me that she was homeschooled, and that was why she didn’t hang out with the other children at the park. When I asked what her hobbies were, she said she liked thinking. Wow, I thought. She seems pretty weird.

I spoke to her for a few more minutes, but she seemed more inclined to letting me talk than talking about herself. She still didn’t speak to Keith though. I decided not to interfere in whatever quarrel they’d had. It was best to let them sort it out themselves.

After some time, I served Keith his dinner, but when I asked Kiara what she would like to eat, she told me she wasn’t hungry at all.

‘’Please have something,’’ I implored her. But she wouldn’t eat anything, not even the pasta I’d served her.  She didn’t seem to be a very good eater. She was so skinny, unlike her chubby little brother.

I would’ve tried to persuade her to change her mind, but Keith was getting impatient so I turned to him instead. He wanted me to feed him, though I knew he could eat on his own. Still, I indulged him, and he giggled happily as I pretended he was a dinosaur grabbing his prey and swallowing it.

After Keith ate his dinner (and Kiara’s pasta, too), I let him watch TV for some time while I finished my sketch. Kiara didn’t do anything. She seemed content to sit beside me and look around the room. I reprimanded myself for judging her, because I knew her strangeness wasn’t her fault. She was just socially awkward.

A few hours later, the Kallens got home. They thanked me profusely for babysitting Keith and paid me my money. Then they told me I could leave. I said goodbye to Keith, who gave me a hug. But when I went to say goodbye to Kiara, I couldn’t see her anywhere. I assumed that she’d gone upstairs to sleep. I checked the time on my watch, wondering if it was her bedtime already, and realized it was nine o’clock! I immediately rushed home, not wanting to cycle back in complete darkness. I definitely didn’t have time to ask the Kallens about Kiara, and why I had never seen her before today. Anyway, I wasn’t that curious about her anymore. She just seemed like a nondescript lonely kid.

When I reached home, I ate a light dinner and decided to call it a night.

A few days later, I was lying on my bed, reading a new magazine. There was a three-page-long article about the struggles of being a parent. As I flipped through it, getting incredibly bored, I found something that caught my eye- it was a quote from Mrs. Kallen!

She was explaining why she thought that it was good to be overprotective of a child.

‘’ My husband and I learnt this lesson in the worst way possible,’’ she had explained, sobbing. ‘’We used to have a daughter, but we never paid her enough attention. We often left her all alone at home when she was only nine years old. One day, we went out for breakfast with friends and left her to amuse herself. We came back home much later – to find her lying in the bathtub, dead. We rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. The doctors told us that she had hit her head in the bathtub, but could’ve survived if only we had been at home and taken her to the hospital sooner. We now have a son, but we’ve never told him about his sister. We hope we will be much, much better parents to him.’’

Below the quote was a picture. Without even looking at it, I had a spine-chilling feeling in my gut that I would recognise the girl in the image. And I was right. The photograph depicted a scrawny, pale girl with wavy, fair hair flowing down to her waist.

An "Exasperating Farrago" of Words

Image Credit: Blatant World / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC By 2.0)

Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Read this next phrase, then close your eyes for 30 seconds and try to figure out what it means: “An influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and specificity of human experience.”

Did you understand it? Well, unless you’re a walking encyclopaedia, I’m pretty sure you didn’t get it immediately. What I have discerned it to mean (after a considerable amount of research, because I am not a mastermind though I may come across as one) is “An influential work about the boundaries and unique qualities of human experience described in a shrewd, innovative way.”

So what is this phrase describing exactly? It’s the reason the Nobel Foundation gave for awarding Peter Handke the Nobel Prize in Literature. But why is it so difficult to comprehend? Doesn’t that make the reasoning inaccessible for average literature lovers like me or maybe you? And would Alfred Nobel be satisfied with that? 

To answer these questions, we’ll have to explore several different sources including Alfred Nobel’s writing, the Nobel Foundation’swebsite, and many more. So buckle up and brace yourself for a legendary expedition back in time!

First, let’s travel to November 27, 1895 and watch as Alfred Nobel sits bent over a piece of paper, thoughtfully penning his will, perhaps the most instrumental will ever to be created. The will is written in simple words, and can be understood easily. In his testament, Nobel writes:

“All of my remaining realisable assets are to be disbursed as follows: the capital, converted to safe securities by my executors, is to constitute a fund, the interest on which is to be distributed annually as prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The interest is to be divided into five equal parts and distributed as follows: one part to the person who made the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics; one part to the person who made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who, in the field of literature, produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction; and one part to the person who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses.”

Further, Alfred Nobel names the organisations that would award the prizes. He makes sure that his will is as precise as possible, to make it indisputable. This brings me to the conclusion that Alfred Nobel probably would have liked the Nobel Foundation’s website to be comprehensible to the general public. He most likely wouldn’t be pleased with the complicated language used by the Nobel Foundation to explain their laureate choices. 

But was it always like this? 

The first Nobel Prize in Literature was presented to Sully Prudhomme in 1901 “in special recognition of his poetic composition, which gives evidence of lofty idealism, artistic perfection and a rare combination of the qualities of both heart and intellect”.

More understandable? I thought so too. The second literature prize was given to Christian Mommsen for being “the greatest living master of the art of historical writing, with special reference to his monumental work, A History of Rome”. 

Again, clearly comprehensible and straightforward. Now let’s go forward in time to the year 2000, when the prize was bestowed upon Gao Xingjian for “for an æuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity, which has opened new paths for the Chinese novel and drama”.

As you can see, this is much more arduous and puzzling. Over time, the Nobel Foundation's laureate reasoning has become more and more complicated to understand.

So what is the solution to this? Of course the Nobel Foundation has the right to give their own reasons for their choice of laureates, but perhaps they could make it more digestible for ordinary folk by using words that are reader-friendly. This would encourage more people to visit the website, and maybe even start reading the laureates' works.

I don’t want to offend the Nobel Foundation by writing this, but I hope my suggestion is considered. After all, I wouldn’t want to ruin my chances of a future Nobel Prize!

Dussehra Days and Navaratri Nights

Navaratri Varthakal! Shubh Dussehra! Shubha Durga Puja!

If you live in India, you’re sure to hear at least a few of these greetings around this time of the year. But why are they all so different? 

India is often described as a melting pot of cultures, and the fact that in one country, a festival is celebrated in so many diverse ways, is proof of this.  It is important for us to delve deeper into the customs and traditions of people and places so that we can understand them and coexist peacefully in a country with such a varied population. And that is why I am writing this blog (and not because my mum told me to).

Here are the numerous ways in which this festival is celebrated in India.

Dussehra is a North Indian festival celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin (which falls in September and October) according to the Hindu calendar. It is commemorated by shooting down a towering effigy of the asura (demon) king Ravana with a flaming arrow. This practice is called Ravan Dahan or The Burning of Ravan.

Symbolising the victory of good (Lord Rama) over evil (King Ravana), it is widely popular in the capital city, New Delhi. A Ravan Dahan event is held annually at a ground opposite the Red Fort, organised by the Lav Kush Ramlila Committee.

In West Bengal, pandals (structures built for religious or social gatherings) are decorated exquisitely with everything from fairy lights to mirrors to carpets. Nothing but the grandest is good enough to host their beloved goddess, Ma Durga, as she returns to her maternal home to rest after killing the demon Mahishasura. After spending nine days in the pandal, where thousands of devotees flock to catch a glimpse of her, the idol of Ma Durga is carried in a grand procession to be immersed. Everyone bids farewell to the goddess, eagerly awaiting her return the next year. This celebration is called Durga Puja.

In Mysore, Dussehra is celebrated with pomp and splendour. A magnificent parade of elephants, musicians and courtiers is arranged annually by the royal family.

Finally, in Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Navaratri or ’nine nights’. The highlight of this festival is ‘’kolu’’. A set of dazzling dolls in vibrant colours is placed on padis (steps made of wood, or nowadays, plastic). Women and girls are invited home as they are considered goddesses and worshipped during this festival. They are greeted with Kolam at the doorstep and scrumptious sweets on the table. Girls are then asked to perform and exhibit their talent in various fields such as music and dance. Delightful sounds of chatter, laughter and music fill the home as delectable sweets melt in mouths.

The Kolu we keep depict several age-old stories that teach us essential values. For example, even a simple figurine of Mira Bai symbolises devotion and loyalty.

Most Hindu festivals are based on ancient legends and folk tales.The lessons that we learn from this mythology are relevant even in today’s busy, acquisitive world.

For instance, in the Ramayana, Ravana is a cruel ten headed devil. Today the Ravana we must conquer is plastic waste, pollution and global warming. The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) in India recognised this and created Ravanas out of plastic waste in a few cities for Ravan Dahan this Dussehra. “The intent is to personify Ravana in its plastic form as a demon, bad for the society and environment,” the CMA explained in its statement.

This Navratri, it is time for us to explore our rich heritage. The jewels of wisdom we might find are worth far more than the most expensive diamond in the world.

Simple Steps to a Zero-Waste Lifestyle

Image credit: Sonia Golemme

Everyday, you and I throw away shopping receipts, plastic containers, and used sheets of paper without giving them a second thought. But though these bits of trash seem trivial to us, they are drastically increasing the amount of waste on our planet. To stop our garbage from consuming the Earth, we need to begin changing our lifestyles as soon as possible. One way to do this is by joining the Zero-Waste Movement.

The Zero-Waste movement is a lifestyle where people aim to have no trash output so that no garbage is sent to landfills, oceans, or incinerators. It began with a book written by Bea Johnson: Zero-Waste Home. In this bestselling book, Bea explained how her family reduced their annual waste to one jar of trash!

Now that more people are joining this eco-friendly movement, maybe it’s time for you to join, too. But where do you start?

You could begin by counting each and every object you throw away. Then, find a way to replace those things with reusable alternatives so you don’t end up dumping them the next time around. This is an easy way to start and soon, you’ll find that you hardly have any trash to take out!

If you have enough time on your hands, you can make homemade products, too. This is a great idea as it stops you from throwing away the plastic packaging, which store-bought products come in. You can look online for simple recipes using beeswax to make lip balm, body butter, lotion bars, etc.

However, if you’re busy and don’t have a lot of time, you can use different methods to go zero-waste. Here are some small changes that make a big difference.

1. Make homemade gifts. When you make gifts for others, you can use resources that you already have, instead of buying something new. For example, you can make origami gifts out of old magazine paper. Remember to only wrap your gifts in newspaper!

2. Replace your plastic toothbrushes with bamboo ones, which can be planted once you’ve used them.

3. When you step out to buy takeaway food, carry your own reusable containers. If you are buying a takeaway drink, check if you can have it in your own flask with a metal or bamboo straw. And the next time you go shopping, carry a cloth bag with you and avoid buying a plastic one.

Bring your own bottle! 

4. You can also visit zero-waste stores to buy items without plastic packaging, and products like shampoo bars so you don’t end up throwing away used shampoo bottles.

Products sold without packaging at a zero-waste store

These small changes can be implemented in every household. As you dive deeper into this movement, you will realize that you’re not only saving the Earth, but safeguarding your health too. Organic products from zero-waste shops are much safer to use than normal products. And drinking from a metal bottle is healthier than drinking from a plastic one.

If you begin living a zero-waste lifestyle, don’t get frustrated when things go wrong. Just remember that everyday, you are making a positive impact on the world.