Paani Paani Re...

Have you ever given a thought about the approximate daily water consumption in a big city, or for that matter, in your city? Say, Pune, for instance, with its 4.5 million people requires 950 million litres of water daily.

Now that is huge. I was really shocked to learn these figures. What should concern a citizen is that all the water we get is purified for safety. And this purification doesn't come free of cost. Even if we leave aside the cost of chemicals required for purification, a months electricity requirements only mount up to a whopping Rs. 4 crore.

So the next time you decide to take a bath in that lavish shower of yours or leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, just think about this coz you don't get this water for free. All of us pay taxes to make up for this cost...

And, there are places where water is not available that freely. Even till a few years back, people in Akola had to buy water.

Even if all of us save just 1 litre of water daily, Pune saves 4.5 million litres...

These are very small things I thought of which all of us can easily practice and make a lot of difference :-

1. A shower wastes 6-7 times more water (120 lit) than the use of a bucket for bathing (20 lit)

2. Even while we using shower, turn off the tap when you don't require water

3. Turn off the tap while brushing or shaving

4. Turn off taps in public places, schools or officers if you happen to witness them running for no reason

Lets Save our Saviour...

The Dalit Culture

Dalits are a people broken, forgotten and exploited. There are more than 240 million dalits who are formerly known as the Untouchables or the Outcaste in the subcontinent of India which has a population of almost a billion.

Dalits whose homeland is India were made refugees in their own land by the aggressive invasion of the Aryans. Dalits who had maintained their own unique culture and heritage were robbed by the intruders. Even up to this day, the dalits are the modern day slaves and holocaust victims through the most cruel system of the caste.

The Afro-Americans suffered slavery for some centuries. The Jews suffered holocaust and martyrdom for some time. The Dalits have been suffering humiliation, martyrdom and unspeakable horror for the last three thousand years of our human history. Does the world know about this man-made tragedy?

At the dawn of this millennium, who has to bring the good news of freedom and hope to the millions of voiceless people? The world communities must assume responsibility in bringing total justice to the dalits who have been systematically deprived of their rights and dignity by the upper caste people of India. These upper caste and in particular the Brahmins carry the blood of the millions of dalits in their hand. Now time has come when these people need to be brought to justice.

The upper caste men and women have been traveling comfortably at the cost of the dalits. It is at the sweat of these poor dalit peasants, the landlords and other caste people have amassed wealth. In short, in the name of God, the dalits were cheated and continue to be cheated. Now time has come when dalits must wake up.

Show some Spirit, CFBC

The Central Board of Film Certification (CFBC) has yet again proved its improbity. Its our motivational guru's Documentary Film this time to face the music.

Intended for a good cause, the 29 minute documentary on Reservation, Jaati Todo - Bharat Jodo (Break Caste - Unite India) by Shiv Khera, was allegedly advised 3 cuts, with the Board asking for proof for 2 claims made in the film.

Khera dismisses them by saying, "They want documentary evidence of some of the statements I've made. For example, there's one that says that in 1984 riots, thousands of sikhs were killed. I've gone on to ask whether their lives can be compensated with money. The Censor Board wants a documentary proof of this! The others are equally ridiculous."

This is the level of people in the Censor Board. It can safely be stated that we're not the world's biggest Democracy, we're the world's biggest Hypocrisy...

Its sad to learn that just because of those corrupt politicians India is in such a sorry state, and to add more to the misery, the political heads do not even want these facts to be stated in the documentary.

Mera Bharat Mahaan, Sau mein se Ninyanave Be-Imaan... Jai Hind!

Lets Design a Film Club

What is the first thing that strikes our mind when we hear about a Film Club? Well, it should screen movies; What else?

How should a Film be? Should it have a message to deliver? Should it have something that appeals our intellect? Should it be satisfying? How about a film that could showcase an important social issue?

If that's the case, how should a Film Club be? Should it provide us the best of movies? Should it be a place where individuals can hope of spending quality time or rather invest time? Should it also provide a platform to exchange our views?

Now, what if there is a dream film club wherein we can have discussions held right after the screening of a movie? So we watch a movie; Form an opinion about the issue being raised; And put it forward in the house...

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Who knows your idea can start a revolution?

All of you who have that desire to understand a lot of Social Issues and working out their possible solutions, Aagaz Film Club is the place for you.

And, those of you who are least interested in Social Isuues that affect our neighbourhood, our locality, our state, our country and our world; There's something for you too.

How about developing a taste for such issues through way of mature and lively discussions?

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Aagaz Film Club plans to screen 2 movies a month; On the first and third Saturdays, and also progressive cultural shows once in 3 months.

What are you waiting for? Flex that Social Muscle in your mind. Together we can create a community of our kind, which is fearless, self motivated, unique and most importantly Socially Aware and Responsible...

Have You Taken a Life Today?

This is a real incident that happened in a local hospital in Bangalore, India.

A 4 year old girl was admitted due to leg fracture. As it was an open fracture, she had to undergo an operation to stitch the protruding bone back in place. Though it was quite a minor operation, she was hooked on to life support system, as a part of the process. The doctors had to input some data prior to the operation to suit different conditions Thereafter, the operation proceeded. Half way through the process, the life support system suddenly went dead.

The culprit :- Some one was using his/her hand-phone outside the operation theatre. And the frequency had affected the system. They tried to track the fellow but to no avail. The little girl, young and innocent as she was, died soon after.

"Be compassionate! Do not use your hand phones/mobiles especially at any hospitals or within the Aircraft or any places where you are told not to use it... You might not be caught in the act, but you might have killed someone unknowingly".

Sometimes it's a matter of Life & Death...

Why No RTI for Jammu & Kashmir?

World's largest democracy, that's how we know India. But is it really true? Unfortunately enough, Kashmir, the Paradise on Earth, happens to be one of the largest militant hub in India. The situation is so worse that people can not avail even the most basic of their rights and needs.

A premiere example being citizens in J&K still do not have access to the Right To Information Act. I'd say this is absolute Death of Democracy at the hands of the corrupt officials in the state. Let me acquaint you with some very harsh truths about the most beautiful state of our country.

Every year Centre issues a special sum of Rs. 275 crores for developments in the state, but thanks to the local government, not even a single leaf is turned in the region. Its a nexus of corrupt government officials, IAS officers and army personnel. All have their own shares in this managed colossal exploitation of man and resources.

The rate of growth of unemployment here is even higher than the growth of population in India and China. There are no jobs for the increasing number of graduates in the state. The recent protests by engineers there stands a true testimonial to the situation.

Fake Encounters are a frequent sight. Its not unusual for people to go missing for years together. In a recent incident the Police captured a person from a market and killed him in an encounter. His face was crushed badly. When the civilians forced a DNA test, he was found to be a normal civilian like you and me, and the Police claims he was a terrorist.

Increasing pressure by social activists in the region also had no effect in the administration. The central government says it can not do much for the state as it falls in the area of dispute (Indo-Pak).

"Kuch Karo... Agar Kashmir mein jaldi RTI nahin aya toh Khoon ki Nadiyan beh jaengi yahaan!", cried a social activist at the National Convention for RTI Activists held in Pune some time back.

Is there a way to solve this problem? YES. Indian Home Ministry has a special Jammu & Kashmir Cell. If this unit is approached by residents from all over India in the form of RTI applications requesting for the status of RTI in Jammu & Kashmir, may be some improvement could be expected.

Lets hope for Peace in the State !!!

Different states are like different rooms in a house called India. Wouldn't you do something to put off a fire in your brother's room?

Bt Calamity

We all read daily about farmer suicides in India. But have we ever thought what could the reason be? Here is why they are bound to take the ultimate step.

Bt Cotton accounts for one of the most cardinal causes for the growing deaths. Unlike usual cotton, Bt Cotton is grown from artificially developed seeds and ensures a much superior harvest with the minimal use of pesticides.

Companies selling the seeds claim that the use of Bt Cotton can increase the yield by 30-40 % and also decrease the use pesticides by a whopping 70%. As anticipated, these advantages come with a cost. The seeds cost roughly 16 times the cost of Non Bt Cotton seeds.

In no time, farmers across India became interested in these seeds and opted for them hoping to increase their profits. But the results were truly crestfallen.

New crops cant be grown from the seeds of artificially grown cotton

Farmers have to buy new seeds every season

The crop stills required almost the same amount of pesticides

As opposed to 50-60 bolls in the Non Bt brand, the Bt Cotton bore only 20-30 on an average

Most of these would fall off much earlier than the crop could be harvested

Use of these seeds degraded the soil, which affected other crops as well

Result, all hopes shattered! Harvests became their biggest nightmare.

Most farmers took loans for buying such costly seeds

Loans were made available on a staggering 35-40 % interest rate

Investing about Rs. 25000 (that too through loans) gave a return of only Rs. 2500 after harvesting

Other crops also affected

No way of returning the loan

Possible Reasons

Seeds were developed in the USA and suited their environment, soil and weather, not ours

No tests or experiments conducted to study the impact of artificial seeds on the soil

Government privatizing Agriculture Sector because of political gains through MNCs

MNCs don't bother about the impact of seeds on Indian Agricultural. They only think about selling off their product in the Indian market

Unawareness among farmers

Possible Solutions

Try to raise voice against privatization of agriculture sector

Spread awareness among farmers

I feel the first optional is very crucial. We must take a stand against the various injustices happening around us.

There is also a need to unite our farmers and raise voice against the deliberate murder of our Agiculture. No industrialization can sustain without a firm agricultural base!