By: Himali Kulshreshth

When one is surrounded by the tenderness and cordiality of family and friends, it becomes easier and rather entertaining to face any situation. As a kid, I used to wonder if I could be sick or injured, my cousins and friends would visit me even more frequently. And, that would have made my days filled with ‘extra’ fun. Sounds horrible! However, if we think about it with a different angle, we would come across a wonderful reality.

The other day one of my cousins, living alone in some other city, had to make a trip to the hospital. He had a few of those tiny stones in his stomach that leave one with a very bothering pain. Therefore, he took a three-day leave from his office and got himself admitted in the hospital. As planned, he was treated on the first day itself and had to stay admitted for the next two days. Fortunately, those three days turned his ‘leave’ into a beautiful holiday. A few of his relatives and friends staying nearby gave him a visit. Along with those visits, came the mouth-watering sweets and other homemade delicacies, the joy of which he had not had since a long while. Moreover, he spent all his time chatting and laughing with them and rarely found an occasion to realize his pain. Hence, with the joy and ecstasy of those warm bonds, he recovered soon and got back to work. When he told me about this trip, I could feel the intense delight that he experienced then and nurtured forever.

This is the perspective that gives its way towards a wonderful reality, in which the support and spirit of our beloved ones helps us to face and get over almost any kind of situation without realizing the twinge. Oh yes, I would call it a ‘twinge’ rather than ‘pain’ as it appears to me that pain is just a short-term feeling that is so trivial when faced by the affection of those gentle hearts.

Two young lives were tragically snuffed out in a freak accident on a construction site in Noida late last evening.

Nine-year-old Shekhar and 13-year-old Varun were playing near a construction site in sector-32 which was closed for the last one week due to excessive rains.

Due to the downpour, the cavities were filled to the brim with water. Not realizing the depth of the cavity, the two boys in an attempt to take a dip, drowned in the murky water.

According to SP (City) H.N Singh, the shell shocked parents of the two boys have not filed a complaint as of yet. “They are yet to come to terms with what happened. It is a tragic accident”, he added.

While Varun was a resident of sector 19, Shekhar lived in sector 31. Both their bodies have been sent for post mortem.

By: Vineet Wal

Yes, there actually is a Thread the Needle Day, which is celebrated on July 25. No body has a clue as to why there is a Thread the Needle Day, but since there is such a day we should celebrate it together.

Whether you are a tailor, seamstress, upholsterer, surgeon or just someone with a toe poking through a sock, almost anyone can sew. It all starts with choosing the right sewing needle.

“Sharps ” are the most common type of needle, but there are plenty of others, too.

The other types are “Ballpoints ” used for sewing knits. “Betweens ” used for tailoring, “Bodkins ” meant for threading elastic, “Crewel ” needles used for embroidery, “Darning needles ” meant for, well, darning, “Glovers ” used for sewing leather, “Milliners ” used for basting and pleating (and hat-making, too), “Sail maker ” needles used for sewing thick canvas, and “upholstery needles ” used for sewing heavy fabrics, tufting or for tying quilts.

That is probably more than you would have thought. Now once you have chosen the right tool or the needle, for the task at hand, cut a strand of thread, string, yarn, or filament long enough to sew up the deal. And with just a little spit to keep the ends moist and together — pass, loop, or wind it through the eye.

Threading a needle is easier said than done. The hand-eye coordination required for the job at hand is truly a challenge.

To the uninformed, Thread the Needle Day is a celebration of those who baste, darn, embroider, hem, patch, tat or seam.

But looked at from a slightly different angle, we have a day that acknowledges the intense amount of energy and concentration it takes to walk that fine line, wrestle with difficulties, and overcome the distractions and obstacles life throws our way.

The needle, is the tool, we thread or prepare and arm ourselves to set right and fix the tears that happen in life.

Thread the Needle Day is also a day to empower yourself with truth, and go through that proverbial eye of the needle, to embrace the changes in life that are certainly awaiting you.

By: Vineet Wal

In India, Doctors’ Day is celebrated on the 1st of July every year.

The day has been chosen to honour the contributions made by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who left an indelible mark in the history of medical profession in India. July 1st is his birth as well as death anniversary.

Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, MRCP, FRCS. (1 July 1882–1 July 1962) was the Chief Minister of west Bengal. He remained in his post for 14 year, from 1948 until his death in 1962. He was a highly respected physician and a renowned freedom fighter.

Bidhan Roy is considered as the great architect of West Bengal. He founded two eminent cities Kalyani and Bidhannagar. He was an alumnus of the Medical College Calcutta of the University of Calcutta. He is one of the few people who completed both F.R.C.S. and M.R.C.P. simultaneously within only two years and three months.

He was Gandhiji’s friend and doctor. In 1933, when Gandhiji was undergoing a fast in Parnakutivin, Poona during the Quit India Movement, Dr. Roy attended to him. Gandhiji refused to take the medicine on the grounds that it was not made in India. Gandhiji asked Dr. Roy, “Why should I take your treatment? Do you treat four hundred million of my countrymen free?” Dr. Roy replied, “No Gandhiji, I could not treat all patients free. But I came… not to treat Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but to treat “him” who to me represents the four hundred million people of my country.” Gandhiji relented and took the medicine.

Dr. B C Roy was awarded the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna on 4 February 1961.

Our country faced many social evils like sati, dowry & caste system. If we look back we’ve many examples of killings due to these three evils but gradually & slowly our fight with these evils grew fruits. Now a days we hardly find cases of sati & dowry deaths but time has once again given our Indian society a much bigger evil - honor killing.

To be young & being in love proved fatal for some young girls & boys in north India. It has become a big cause of worry for north Indian society. Killing after killing, western U.P, Haryana, Punjab & now Delhi day by day this evil is spreading. The number of love marriages has gone up in the metro & cosmopolitan cities but the reality remains different in rural society.

Honor killing - where men or women are killed by the kins of their family or caste, is still very rampant in many parts of India. But question is: - why this heinous crime is committed? This is the latest face of Indian Taliban & even more dangerous than Afghanistan Taliban.

The huge number of honor killing revolves around issues such as love marriages & inter caste marriages. Our own face of Indian Taliban, we are at a situation where we’ve to think hard about this evil. One more thing which we should not ignore is the double standards of the society. This Taliban type of society has different rules for male & female, for male they are different & for female they become honor killers. It shows their non-respectable attitude towards female.

Today we have a woman president, when we worship we believe in the supreme powers of ‘Maa Durga’ but irony is that when we come across such type of situation we very easily become killers of our own female blood & this time for the fake honor of the caste. I wonder how many young people have lost their lives in the name of honor.

Shameful as it may sound, but such things still exist in our society but there is a strong need for government intervention. India is worlds largest democracy & in a country where people have the right to voice their opinions freely, to be young & to marry the person of their own choice shouldn’t be fatal anymore.

The recent examples of honor killings have shaken the society very badly & the advocacy in favor of killers by their family members shows the shameful face of the society. It shows money can not bring values in a person. Having money in your pockets & changing your dressing style doesn’t mean that you are developed.

Development means mental growth & modern by your mind. We ask government to take strong measures to fight this situation & make some strong laws to fight this social evil. Killing is a crime & in my opinion no law, religion or moral lessons deny this fact, than how could you commit it in the name of honor? This is the time to wake up & make bridges not walls. Live & let live.

Vineet Chaudhary
President Hai Ummeed
haiummeed@gmail.com

Inputs and Photo by: Vineet Wal

The World Day against Child Labour is an International Labour Organization–observance for raising awareness and activism to prevent child labour in both economic and military fields.

The ILO created this observance in 2002 and it is held annually on June 12.

The creation of this international awareness day was spurred by the ratifications of ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for employment and ILO Convention 182 on forms of child labour.

Both the conditions governing the child labour by way of age and form of work are least understood and respected in the Indian milieu.

The rights of the child are violated with impunity. The child remains a helpless victim. The child is exploited to the hilt. There are no escape routes. Trapped and held steadfast by strong tentacles of poverty, shelter less and hungry, the child is a willing victim, easily satisfied and thankful for the crumbs given.

Millions of children across India are cheated of his/her rights and deprived of childhood. Each affected child remains bereft of mental, physical, moral and social development.

The members of the Indian society simply look on. Most are themselves perpetuators and willing party to the crime. The corrupt and inefficient government authorities and agencies are silent partners to the social malaise. The activities of the loudmouth social activists are limited and mostly end with a samosa and a cup of tea after every function.

Once in a while a name and fame gathering function is undertaken. Many people assemble. Loud noises are made. Big pictures are splashed. Bigger promises are made. Biggest lies told. A happy child is shown. A promising childhood is assured. All then go home. And the mirage merges in the night.

Mean while the child labours on in sun drenched India.

Story and Picture by: Vineet Wal

According to mythology, June is named after the Roman Goddess Juno. Juno is the goddess of marriage. Large numbers of people consider it auspicious to get married in June. For marriages, Roses are required. It so happens, and very conveniently so that in June the roses are in full bloom.

It then comes as no surprise that Rose, emerged as the birth flower of the month of June. While pearl, was named as the birthstone.

June 12, was selected, probably at random, as a day to highlight the importance of roses in June. Consequently, it is celebrated as the Red Rose Day. The Red in the Red Rose Day is only because Red Roses are most common.

It is not a very elaborate or ritualistic occasion. One is required to gift rose(s) to whom so ever he or she wishes to and the participation in the Rose Day is complete.

However, it is important that one should know the significance of the colour of the rose to be gifted, so as to ensure a correct message is conveyed to the person to whom the roses are presented.

For quick reference, the rose colours and their meanings are given below.

1 Red Love, beauty, courage and respect

2 White Purity & innocence, Silence & Secrecy, Reverence & Humility

3 Pink Appreciation, grace, perfect happiness, admiration

4 Dark Pink Appreciation, gratitude

5 Light Pink Admiration, sympathy

6 Yellow Joy, gladness, friendship, promise of a new beginning

7 Orange Desire and enthusiasm

8 Red & White Given together they signify unity

9 Red Rosebud Symbol of purity and loveliness

10 White Rosebud Symbolic of girlhood

By: Vineet Wal

While tea day is every day, the iced tea day is a rarity. Therefore, right in the middle of the hot summer season let us get down to celebrating tea in its special avatar. The Iced Tea.

On June 10, make that special effort to get yourselves a cool iced tea. Be it plain, with a twist of lemon, with or without sugar, let tea do good to your health.

Since ancient times, people have believed that tea has a wide range of medicinal uses. Modern research has given credibility to many of these beliefs and some remain inconclusive, but it does not matter. Just trust the good taste and enjoy iced tea. It will get you through the hot summer.

It is said that iced tea was invented in 1904. That is not true. In America, Iced tea was known in the 1860s as a warm weather drink, and was quite common in 1870s, when it was on sale at hotels and railroads, according to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.

Black or green, the choice is yours to make. The best is a mixture of both. Now days of course, you have special outlets which provide you a very long list of tea concoction, each with its own origin, specialty ingredients, method of preparation and presentation. And not to mention the price tag.

You should try to keep it simple. There is, of course, no harm in indulging yourself. The important thing is to celebrate with an iced tea drink, today. Or, you could throw a iced tea party for your friends. And enjoy the hot weather.

By: Surabhi Srivastav

It is stunning how everyday the crowd seems to have grown in number everytime I see the Rajiv Chawk Metro Station at around 8:30 in the morning.

I board the yellow line from Central Secretariat to change for the blue line at the Rajiv Chowk station and everyday, without fail, I get alarmed by the difference in the crowds I face in the two lines.

The metro in peak office hours is always so crowded that calling the trains overcrowded would be a disrespecting adjective to the large numbers of people. There is no place to stand, to move, not even to breath; the stench of sweat and odour makes me go back to the times when I used to travel in the blue line buses. Sometimes I think that using the new low floor buses is a better option than the metro.

With such a large crowd waiting to board into the train and an even bigger crowd waiting to board out of the train it is almost impossible to mange the crowd, in addition to it the passengers make it more difficult by not following the line system of boarding and de-boarding.

Along with the multitude of masses the passengers have to put up with the problems of ‘technical snags’ leading to delay of trains which is even more agitating than not getting any place to stand.

The metro officials are now facing a new problem i.e. the misuse of tokens. Many passengers use the same token to travel in different directions i.e. they take a token for a specific direction but actually travel in the opposite direction so that they can occupy the empty seats at the terminal stations. To deal with this problem the DMRC has brought forward six special checking squads of Customer Relations Assistants, with ten members each.

“These squads have been deputed to provide hassle-free services to genuine commuters.” remarked a DMRC spokesperson. Well this is the solution to just one problem, the DMRC needs to focus on the more weighty problems staring at them, as soon as possible.