Time for USA to change its firearms laws.

USA on 14^th December was confronted with a tragic incident when twenty children and six adults were shot dead by a gunman who opened fire at an elementary school in Connecticut. This sort of a shootout was 19^th in last five years. The onslaught at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown was carried out by a lone gunman, who was later found dead at the scene. Innocent people were killed because of this senseless mayhem. But the moot question remains as to why the guns are available so easily? Statistics reveal that USA has more number of retail gun stores 51,438 than grocery stores 36569. This envisages that guns can be procured without any hassle for even the 20 year olds. There was also a similar incident in August this year when many Sikhs were shot dead by a shooter in USA. Also, private citizens hold around 300 million pistols so it is imperative for authorities to ensure that schools, movie theatres and places of worship are properly protected. Gun control or regulation is the need of the hour.

USA has a very strange stand as regards to its arms laws which allows its citizens to carry a gun unless the person has been involved in a serious crime. And at the same time there can also be a case that the person may be a first time lawbreaker who is engaged in such a shootout and these sorts of events remain a bone of contention for people who are campaigning for gun control and is truly a worrying situation for everyone since the gun laws in this scenario are heavily skewed in the favour of such uncommon cases.

The supporters of this gun culture maintain a very strong view that the guns protect people more than they kill and that owning firearms is far too enshrined in American culture to give rise to any kind of recapitulation. There is of course no denying the argument that guns are a part of American culture—but not to question that culture seriously defies logic.

There is a strong need for gun regulation since the situation right now demands that some actions should be taken to control the access to assault weapons that are being used in such a devastating manner. About 10,000 people are murdered each year in the US through the use of a gun, with an average of about 17,000 people using a gun to commit suicide. This is an ugly statistic which also advocates gun regulation. USA can take a cue from Australia’s response after being put in a similar crisis in 1996. The Australian government at that time responded with large scale changes that resulted in a decline in deaths caused by gun related crimes.

Also, a kind of personal commitment and co-operation is needed from all the sections of the society to change the societal attitudes and perceptions relating to gun culture. History has been a testimony to the fact that any implementation of law in an efficient manner needs the support of its citizens. The gun laws in this case need to be more dynamic and flexible. 

President Barrack Obama needs to exercise all his authority, skill, ability, diligence to drive a change. This carnage must galvanize USA into action against the gun culture. The people of USA must take a call that whether the Newtown mass murders can provide the much needed impetus for changing the culture of gun related violence or not.

Sports Diplomacy vs. Feelings of a true Indian.

Earlier this month the schedule for the cricket series between India and Pakistan to be held in India was announced. The said series was approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs despite the fact that our enigmatic neighbour has done nothing but protected the perpetrators involved in the terrorist attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The terrorist who was caught red handed is a citizen of Pakistan and he along with all others came to Mumbai with a single point agenda which is very apparent now after their ordeals. Every evidence implies just one thing and that is involvement of Pakistan in some capacity.

While it was very much on the expected lines that the ‘neighbour’ will not respond to the charges made but it was rather frustrating to see our own government submit the way it did. India has not forced or it has not pushed Pak to the wall. And on the top of it the nations join hands for a cricket series; it is like someone killing a member of our family and then we forgive him and join him for a party. Perhaps, I forgot that those running the Central Government are devoid of a body part called ‘Heart’, but what about the people who lost their lives fighting for the safety of the country. They have been dealt a rough hand here. That culprit ‘terrorist’ is still enjoying his life and sad thing is that government has spent crores of rupees for his well being.

I don’t understand this concept of ‘Sports Diplomacy’ for essentially sport is a game played between two teams representing two different nations. And if that nation has hurt the other one by way of terrorist attack you don’t play anything with that nation. Everything comes second to the national interest and the national interest was in not inviting the neighbour for a cricket series. The true Indian in me is deeply disappointed with the actions of government but then this government is notorious for ignoring the interests of people and doing what it does the best i.e. corruption. The apex cricketing body in the country BCCI also did the unthinkable by pushing the talks for an Indo-Pak series. BCCI has been very professional by gliding the questions raised to them to government but some very down the line they need to consider that a thing of national interest or importance is more significant than the revenues generated from cricket. Sunil Gavaskar has been very vocal against this series.

But, all said and done the series will be held as per the said schedule and I can say only one thing that people of Mumbai have been betrayed.  

Nothing like college days !

'Nothing like college days' if one could get a rupee every time one heard or uttered these words, there would be a fortune waiting to be made.
While this may seem a stretch of imagination, especially in those classic college moments - when the only choice is making the deadline, when your crush is now seeing or talking with other boy/girl, or that moment when you discover that your friend chooses someone else's company over your's. In these years, the rest of your life is shaped and making it just about the classrooms and books is demeaning the college experience. In college the canvas is unadorned, the slate bare and life innocent.

These memories last forever and have an everlasting impression on our minds and soul. But since every good or bad thing has to come to an end, these memories become a part of our day to day routine life. The collection of memories especially the good ones bring tears when all the reminiscences of the past are brought out, dusted and shared when you gather with college mates  many years later in warmly lit rooms, after a heart full of joy and laughter.

College life is some where between the energetic childhood and the adventures that adulthood offers. It holds a very small chunk of a human life but it has the power in it to define the person for the rest of their lives. Choices are made and re-negotiated in these few years; not merely about education but about anything in life. It can be about the beliefs one wants to live by. As different as the person making these choices, they tell you not just what kind of profession you will choose but what kind of a friend, lover, spouse and citizen of the world you will be. These choices are embedded in the things you allow into your life during these years.

The adventures and fun during this phase cannot be matched with any other moment in life. Also college life allows you to build your own path and charter your life towards success. Its the excitement of walking in the class with your friends amidst a frenzied atmosphere (for most of the times) that makes it memorable.
'See you tomorrow' or 'Chal kal milte hain yaar' is the best thing about being in college. We say any of those two and head back home thinking about how we are going to spend the next day.

The lessons from outside the classroom also create a room for itself. Observing the opinions and the dressing style of your friends, classmates and teachers, these lessons do help you to mature as a person. The teachers do strike a brilliant chord with students in college than in high school. This bonding helps the students to share their fears and concerns about their careers and life at large.

The College life throws all sorts of people your way. Some of them make you to adore them while many others are not remembered for long. But then the college life gives you the friends whom you want to grow old with and for friends who, no matter how infrequently we meet, give some hours to smile about. Also the teachers who enrich us more through their wisdom and knowledge than anything.

I can say it with all the conviction in the world that college years are a time of excitement, exuberance and many other adjectives that i couldn't think of. It is like all the freedom of adulthood without the responsibility. And yet, this is also the time for self doubt : Will I be able to get good grades? Will I be able to make it big in life?

A visit to the Historic Gandhi Ashram and much more.!!

October 2 is widely celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. I had visited the very famous Gandhi/Sabarmati Ashram on the anniversary and came back with lots of good things to talk about. However, I am too small a person to say even a word about the great man. You can have a look at the Ashram here.
The atmosphere was extremely electric and turbo charged with school students taking out a rally supporting the views of the great Mahatma. The place was brimming with energy which was very infectious for all the people present over there. There were many things such as pens, key rings, books imbibed with Mahatma's messages for sale as usual. Many visitors thronged the place which made the morning and the day even better with nice breeze blowing across the place which is on the banks of Sabarmati river. Here are few snaps which I managed to capture:

This one is probably the best place to just sit there and ponder about the various puzzles of life.

A view to right side of the Ashram.

This one's to the left and the bridge is visible very clearly which makes for an enchanting experience.

    Overall the Ashram contains every detail of Mahatma and there is a section of it which is used for teaching underprivileged children. The place is very delightful and you can be yourself; free from all the burdens, problems, rigid and complex ideas. You can stay there for hours, read a book, write some poetry or probably fret over some things.  

The curious case of 'Social Networking Sites'

Cyberspaces, a tool which has made many people hooked on to it endlessly has been a subject of constant debate in recent years. It can be safely assumed that a person who keeps himself secluded from Cyberspace is like a man who prefers bullock cart to car. With the advent of this 'Internatic' era, we are blessed with infinite inventions Emails, Blogs, Websites and of course the numerous Social Networking Sites. Some of the popular Social Networking Sites are Facebook, Orkut, Twitter, Bigadda, My Space, Tumblr, Hi5 and the list is ceaseless. Still in a diverse country such as ours some brains still come up with a question that 'What is a Social Networking Site?' 

In a common language 'Social Networking Sites' are referred to as web-based services which allows individuals to construct  a public profile supporting a wide range of interests enabling them to communicate  with other users with whom they share a connection. The nature of the connection may vary from site to site wherein some cater to diverse audience while others attract people in a different manner. The Sites also vary in their offerings like blogs, photo-video sharing etc.
There have been plenty of debates and deliberations regarding merits and demerits of these sites across the world. But one thing is very sure that they are here to stay and with that its usage assumes all the significance. The driving factor behind these sites has been the human tendency to connect and communicate with other people. It has been a foregone conclusion that 'Man is a social animal' and hence it is in their genes to connect with the known and unknown to display their feelings and emotions. From a psychological perspective, the virtual world helps to keep your super ego miles away. You can always be who you are rather pretending or disguising one's own true identity.
 These sites also enable a person to expand his business with the global exposure he gets. In addition to this, it helps a person communicate with efficiency and go out of the social boundaries.

On the flip side, like the old adage 'Every coin has two sides', there are some issues that crop up with these facilities. Cyber stalking is firmly rooted of those. One can never be sure of the profile being real or fake. Sometimes the fake profiles contain some private details of the person whose profile has been created this way. Another thing adding fuel to the fire is the problem of hacking and identities being stolen. It instigates misuse of important information and data. The ever increasing threat of hacking has germinated into a serious issue these days.
But keeping all these elements aside, it is a compulsive obsessive disorder found generally in teenagers and youngsters due to the extreme involvement and attachment with it. The fondness for these sites has reached its crescendo with many people living in an 'imaginative world'. It certainly turns out to be time and money consuming due to useless chatting which differs with individuals. You need to be moderate user of this to prevent yourself from becoming a addict of it. A judicious use will always be fruitful. Some of the golden precautions are like never put your personal information like address, contact details, pictures, videos etc.
It is upto you to save yourself from drowning into the swamp. Its again you who can experience the pain and agony if its not handled with care and diligence.