A career in cartooning is demanding one

By

-

December 27, 2019

Though cartooning is not limited to drawing it requires a person to have ideas that can be translated visually. It is important to be well-versed with current events and read on a variety of things. The idea being that the cartoonist should be able to write captions, besides conceiving the idea. It is also imperative for aspirants to follow the works of cartoonists. There are a number of cartoonists who have carved a niche for themselves in different spheres of cartooning.

Art in some form or other has existed from the Paleolithic period, and as long as humans have existed, we have been attracted by and fascinated by it. Art affects society by its power to change opinions and translate human experiences. It is a repository of our collective memory. But it is the effects that art has on the mind and brain that truly deserve admiration. Art has been shown to have an impact on the brain by causing an actual increase in the levels of ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters.

Humans have two types of skills — physical and cognitive. Neuroscience show that even the simple act of drawing can improve our cognitive and higher cerebral functions. The essence of art is its perceptibly imaginary nature, which reflects actual experiences, feelings and sentiments. The mind being the target behind the idea of art as therapy, the same art can purify our sensual world through artistic catharsis-on-canvas, which could even ‘correct’ some psychological dispositions.

The art of cartooning is alive and kicking. Political and social cartoonists have often been pressurised and threatened by entrenched political leaders or religious groups — and some have even been assassinated. The cartoons and paintings cut across barriers of language and culture, and the galleries did not need captions to explain their powerful messages of change and justice in the face of discrimination.

It is futile to cry hoarse about the need to understand the larger text of which the cartoon is an illustration: not only is the text unexceptionably fair in its assessment of the Constituent Assembly’s achievements, it has anticipated many possible critiques of the constitution making process as well. Let it be said that what the textbook achieves is not only a way of reading Indian politics, but encourages a politics of reading, anticipating opposition, criticism and building defences. These are all experiences and challenges that our young people deserve. But representations have many lives, and are subject to fresh interpretation and critique. The possibility that an image offends in the present day, and becomes a call to political action, where it might not have had the same impact at the time of its production, needs to be fully recognised.

This is what has been achieved by those who have raised their voices against the cartoon. Far from being another affirmation of public unreason, the protests have brought the politics of reading to the fore. Filmi actors and cricketers gets Lion’s share of cartoons in the media. As a freelancer I got the opportunity to draw a cartoon on Gandhiji as a cricketer. My cartoon sent to Late Madhavrao Scindia got his appreciation letter filed to my scrap book. Drawing cartoon is an art no doubt.

Precisely for this reason, it is impossible to anticipate at which point or in which location a particular representation will cause offence. A career in cartooning is a demanding one.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 27 December, 2019

By

Web Team

-

December 27, 2019

Celebrate New Year in a simple manner

It is good to see New Year celebrations warming up much before a week with a wide publicity of the New Year themes, huge shopping discounts, party offers etc. But one fails to understand the reason for extensive awareness drive on do not drink and drive while drinking should be otherwise be discouraged on a New Year. Instead New Year should be celebrated in a simple manner within family and friends.

One should understand that the New Year is the beginning of new leaf in each and every individual’s life and to welcome it with alcohol and partying is highly avoidable. People should give up such things and instead consider celebrating New Year in a unique manner which will be enjoyed by one and all-atleast this can top the list of New Year resolutions.

Varun Dambal

Take steps to curb pollution by cars

It refers to welcome news that only e-scooters (two-wheelers) will be sold in the country after 2025 while in respect of three wheelers, the deadline is even earlier of 2020. Since two-wheelers constitute major portion of total vehicle-sale in the country, ban on two-wheelers and three-wheelers other than driven by pre-charged electric-engines will effectively check pollution.

However till phenomenon of exclusively sold e-cars becomes a dream come true, cars should be allowed to be sold only with petrol-engines fitted with CNG-kit. Production and sale of cars driven by diesel-engines should be altogether banned with immediate effect. Production of diesel-driven cars is gross misuse of having price of diesel less than that of petrol only for keeping cost of public-transportation less.

Also since big cars occupy more space in road and parking, their production should be discouraged also because these cars are purchased and used by affording rich. GST, road-tax, insurance and other levies on cars with ex-showroom price say above rupees ten lakhs should be doubled. There should be a complete ban on loans on costlier cars. Only economical cars should be purchased by central and state governments and their public-sector-undertakings including even for judges of higher courts, ministers and top bureaucrats except required for use by foreign dignitaries visiting India that too on permission from Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Madhu Agrawal

Take action against celebrities for provoking people against legitimate governance-system

It refers to noted writer Arundhiti Roy publicly provoking people to give misleading and common information about their names (as Ranga-Billa), address (as 7 Racecourse Road, New Delhi) and a unanimously decided mobile-number when government-officials come to their residences for compiling information for National Population Register (NPR).

It has become a pseudo-secular political fashion of some intellectuals, celebrities and politicians to oppose usual administrative-procedures just for sake of opposition. Compilation of such details has been a usual feature even in earlier UPA regime, and its opposition now is just political aimed to disturb governance-system. Strict-most action should be taken against such provocation by concerned ones against the state.

It is beyond understanding that all such pseudo-secular persons causing disturbance against governance, are curiously silent on atrocities against majority-community like they did at time of mass murder of Kashmiri pandits in the year 1990 causing their exodus from Kashmir valley.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Women workers forced to remove uterus, writes Congress leader Nitin Raut

By

Hema Singh

-

December 26, 2019

The Marathwada region in Central Maharashtra has the highest number of sugarcane workers who are mostly women. It’s been reported that more than 30000 women in Beed and Osmanabad districts have undergone hysterectomy as they were unable to go to work while they were menstruating. The contractors are reluctant to hire women given the possibility of them missing out on a day or two of work during their periods.

Congress leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Nitin Raut, wrote to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray seeking his intervention to address the issues of women sugarcane workers who had removed their uterus in their bid to ensure they don’t lose wages.

When Afternoon Voice contacted Nitin Raut, about the kind of response he got from the chief minister, he said, “Response from the CM on this issue was very positive. A proposal should come up from the department. I asked the department to bring the proposal before the cabinet to give relief to the women. Those women want both holidays and wages.”

According to Raut, the women will not take such drastic steps if the sugarcane factories provide them wages for the four days of menstrual cycle during the six-month sugarcane harvesting period. To solve the problem of those women, Raut had written a letter to Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday stating,”Thousands of women sugarcane labourers from Beed and Osmanabad have undergone uterus removal surgery. It’s saddening as they did so to avoid the few days of their menstrual period wage loss. I’ve requested the CM to address their grievances. The government will certainly find a solution to it.”

Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women said, “This issue was brought to me a few months back and the state commission had taken note as it was a serious issue (Uterus removal). We have sent notice to collectors and civil surgeons and have demanded a detail report on same.”

What can be done to help these women on that she said, “Firstly, these women are not getting proper environment to work. And secondly, the honorable government should provide proper facilities to these women so that they wouldn’t have to go through this kind of surgery.”

When asked what the government should do, she replied, “The government should take this issue seriously and form some norms. Also they should conduct counseling session for these women to help to understand their problems.”

The coalition of Maharashtra government consists of parties like Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in which Raut handles a slew of portfolios including PWD, tribal welfare, women and child welfare, textile, relief and rehabilitation.The leader also requested the chief minister to take the needed measures to ensure that women labourers are not forced to put their lives at risk to earn their livelihoods.

The labourers are migrating from several western districts like Beed, Osmanabad and Sangli with the hope of supporting their families by working as labourers in the sugarcane fields. A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure which removes the uterus. Hysterectomies are performed by either through their abdomen or vagina. Some can be done laparoscopically or with robot-assisted technology. The side effects, patient might experience after the surgery. The women can feel the pain at the incision site, swelling, redness or bruising at the incision site burning or itching near the incision and numb feeling near the incision or down their leg.

Dr Baliram Dhondiram Parsewar said, “There are no side effects after performing uterus operation, only the woman can’t get pregnant after uterus surgery. Side effects happen if the ovary is removed. Also, the woman feel hot and cold and her bones get weakened. ”

In India, minorities are safe and have equal voices as the majority does

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

December 26, 2019

D ue to the political scenario prevailing in India, minorities are safe and have equal voices as the majority does. Here, everyone is punishable under Blasphemy law. If we look into history of India in 1953, Tamil reformer EV Ramaswami Naicker smashed an idol of Lord Ganesha in public at the Town Hall maidan in Tiruchirapalli. Naicker, who was angered by the caste system of Hinduism, made a speech announcing his intention to do this before breaking the idol. Veerabadran Chettiar, an offended Hindu, filed a case against him under two laws. Section 295: Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years.

Section 295-A: Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or both. The Tiruchirapalli magistrate dismissed the petition. On the first charge, he said that simply because the mud figure resembled Lord Ganesha, it cannot become an object held sacred. He accepted an offence was made out on the second charge (295-A), but that law required government sanction for the case to be registered which had not come. He dismissed that also. The petitioner appealed. The sessions judge dismissed the appeal. He agreed with the magistrate saying that the idol was the private property of those who broke it.

The matter went to High Court. The judge said that the broken idol did not come within the scope of “any object held sacred by any class of persons”. An idol in a temple or one in a religious procession would, he clarified, but not any object resembling a deity. Even a toy in such a shape would otherwise qualify as being sacred. No offence was made out, the judge said, and dismissed the appeal. The case was later referred to the Supreme Court. On August 25, 1958, Justice BP Sinha said that the High Court was wrong to have imported meaning into the words “held sacred”. It was not necessary for the object to have been worshipped for it to be sacred. For instance, the Bible, Holy Quran and the Guru Granth Sahib were also objects held sacred. Sinha asked the judiciary to be circumspect in such matters and consider the feelings and religious emotions, irrespective of whether or not they share those beliefs, or whether they are rational or otherwise, in the opinion of the court. However, after making these observations, Sinha then dismissed the appeal saying the matter had become “stale” since five years had passed. What his observations did was not to set a precedent, which would have happened had the case been dismissed on merit.

Two aspects were important here. First, a tolerance for offences against God shown by India’s lower judiciary. Second, and this is from Sinha, a reminder that such offences are likely to have consequences and therefore should not be encouraged. On April 20, 1960, the Allahabad High Court fined a man, Khalil Ahmad, for costs of Rs1,200 after he was sued for getting his books released. He had written texts praising Yazid and Muawiya saying that they had a place in heaven according to Hanafi consensus. The state then seized his books. The judges cited Justice Sinha’s observation in a ruling against him. There are not many blasphemy cases reported in India. In my years as a Sessions court reporter in the 1990s and most of the case studies in legal volumes refer to events that happened 50 years or more ago. I would attribute this to a generally high tolerance in the population for the other’s faith, and a pragmatic and alert police force and judiciary. What is different in Pakistan?

Incidentally, Naicker, the idol-smasher was also the founder of the Dravidian movement that produced both of Tamil Nadu’s main political parties, DMK (Karunanidhi) and AIADMK (Jayalalitha). Naicker’s successors converted an anti-Brahmin movement into a powerful political force that now does not seek to offend. The AIADMK chief Jayalalitha was a Brahmin and both parties are inclusive. Naicker’s act is all but forgotten today and seen as political not religious. We see many political party leaders and workers making derogatory comments about each other’s religious faiths but they just render an apology after outrage by people and get scot free. Whereas a common man or a citizen of this nation gets prosecuted under judicial provision. Criminalising criticism of religion is also difficult to reconcile with guarantees of freedom of expression and freedom of religion contained in such widely embraced documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Fundamental Rights. It also has been demonstrated that blasphemy laws are more likely to be enforced against religious minorities than adherents of a majority faith. Equally disturbing, blasphemy laws are being repackaged as prohibitions on “hate speech.” Over the years there has been a campaign led by some Muslim nations to have the international community condemn “defamation of religion.” This rhetorical sleight of hand allows defenders of blasphemy laws to portray them as protections for persecuted believers rather than the enforcement of a theological orthodoxy.

Thankfully, India does not have a blasphemy law which punishes an individual for criticising the concept of GOD or religious beliefs and no individual can be punished for leaving his/her religion or converting to another religion. Apostasy is not punishable in any way, but can be used as a ground for divorce (does not automatically lead to). Missionaries and Dawah groups are having a heyday in India. And we have communist parties too. Hinduism is India’s dominant religion Being polytheistic and pantheistic does not have the concept of blasphemy and laws pertaining to religion and blasphemy are absent in the Indian constitution. While India has no laws that specifically prohibit blasphemy, Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code has been used as a blasphemy law. There have been widespread calls in India to repeal this regressive British era code. India is a multiracial, multilingual, multi religious country, where people of all hue and colour are living together in peace. This uniqueness, harmony, unity in diversity is our well-acknowledged characteristics. We have to preserve it.

We have already witnessed our great country being mercilessly and quite meaninglessly divided on the name of religion and anyhow survived the holocaust caused by religious differences and hatred. We can’t risk large scale dissension on religious lines among any section of the society by any way intruding, introducing, imposing, influencing their customs, beliefs, practices or hurting their sentiments. Majority has to accommodate, compromise, sacrifice sometimes for minority. Incidentally, minority is no longer a minority going by its growth and size. It constitutionally enjoys equal footing and has a major say in policy matters with wholesome participation and contribution in all spheres of lives. Religion is still a major influence though its utility, credibility and relevance are often questioned. However, it is something eternal and personal. In our democracy, everyone has the freedom of belief and no one should try to criticise or interfere into it. We all talk about universal religion but the time is not ripe yet. Even small things are sometimes grossly highlighted and misinterpreted by certain elements and they unnecessarily become the cause of communal tensions and violence. A system works on certain permissions and prohibitions. The law in its place serves its purpose at present.

(With Inputs from various agencies)

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

After BJP’s Jharkhand poll loss, saffron hues shrink from India’s map

By

Faheem Usmani Qasmi

-

December 26, 2019

Bharatiya Janata Party setback in Jharkhand may have kept the bigwigs like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and political maverick Amit Shah out of the limelight but they sure have reasons to break a sweat. With the latest loss at the state-level political game, the BJP has been reduced to mere 35 per cent of the national landscape as compared to a whopping 76 per cent it commanded over in March 2018.

The BJP has been riding a roller coaster of political triumphs and defeats for the past five years. From holding power in only seven state assemblies in 2014 to a staggering 21 by 2018, the BJP swept the nation with the Modi wave. But the BJP’s luck did not shine in its favour in 2019 as well. Even as the Modi government has made a historic comeback in the Lok Sabha elections, the state-level politics continue to test the BJP.

Now it became very clear that state politics, leaders, and issues are totally different from the center ones as the BJP is being rejected by the people in state after state. Only six months ago, Jharkhand had given a favourable mandate to Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha election, but in assembly election, people definitely judged the BJP as a party and Raghubar Das as the head of a BJP government. Both failed in popular mandate in Jharkhand.

Question is why Jharkhand discarded the BJP and Raghubar Das despite PM Modi making a frantic effort with comments like, “those (opposing the government and resorting to violence over Citizenship Amendment Act) could be identified with their clothes”? Polarisation did not work for the BJP in Jharkhand.

Political pundits are coming up with several reasons that BJP has failed to get as victory mark in Jharkhand. The very first reason is that now the people of every region realized that it is a local leader who can be their voice in government and they understood that only the name of Modi would no longer fulfill their stomach.

Also the arrogance of Raghubar Das –the first non-tribal CM of Jharkhand, led the party to a miserable blow in the state. Many videos have gone viral which show Mr. Das yelling at commoners and officials in the last five years.

Moreover, the anger of tribals also contributed to the BJP breach as though tribal vote share is less than one-third, Jharkhand emotionally remains a tribal state, where the image of Raghubar Das government became of one that is anti-tribal in nature.

In 2014, the BJP-led alliance had won 13 out of 28 assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. Even in the Lok Sabha election, the BJP won three of the five seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand. However, two of these victories came with very slim margins.

This time around, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won more than 20 of these seats – a clear case of tribals moving from the BJP camp to the JMM side.

Mob attacks against Muslims and Dalits by vigilant groups also played a role in changing the narrative against the BJP that did nothing to ensure safety and security of the common people. There have been more than 20 lynching deaths in Jharkhand in the last two years only. At least 11 of these victims were Muslims, most of whom were targeted by cow vigilante groups.

So, now the BJP must realize that national issues or divisive politics will no longer serve its purpose particularly in the states because the situation people are suffering from all over the country is so disastrous. In every sector, people are facing problems, youth are jobless, economy is declining, farmers are dying, women are insecure, and minorities are being deprived of their rights. These are the issues that must resolved at the very first step.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 26 December, 2019

By

Web Team

-

December 26, 2019

A tribute to Atalji

Kudos to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for dedicating two remarkable public welfare and utility schemes in the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the great leaders 95th birth anniversary. The projects – one connected to ground water and the other easing transportation, enhancing tourism and national security are truly milestones in our nation’s progress. Both the schemes have been named after the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee one of the greatest visionary leader the country has seen.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana, a scheme aimed at improving groundwater management will help in supplying water to every house hold. Prime Minister said the issue of water was very close to Atalji’s heart.

Under Atal Bhujal scheme, the government will promote Panchayat led ground water management and behavioural change with primary focus on demand side management. The central government scheme stresses on the need to use technology to prevent wastage of water in various spheres, including agriculture. The Union Cabinet had approved Rs 6,000 crore for the implementation of the scheme over a period of five years. The scheme aims to improve ground water management through community participation in seven states. With rapid growth in industrialisation and urbanisation it has become a must to manage ground water in a diligent and technical way. The PM also named Rohtang passageway as Atal Tunnel to mark the 95th birth anniversary of former prime minister.

The decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken on June 03, 2000 when late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. The foundation stone for the access road to the south end of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002. The 8.8-kilometre Rohtang Pass tunnel is the world’s longest tunnel which is above an altitude of 3,000 metres .The tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres and save crores of rupees in transport costs. It has world class amenities and will be one of the safest tunnel to travel. Besides enhancing tourism influx it will also enhance national security transportation.

M Pradyu

Yet another petal falls off the Lotus

BJP is dethroned in Jharkhand after losing Maharashtra only a few days back. NDA led by BJP won the Parliamentary elections a few months back with ease but local factors dominate State elections and clearly people are unhappy at the ground level as the policies enacted by the Centre are either not followed at the State level or not understood by the people.

Jharkhand debacle means a jolt for the BJP in Rajya Sabha which means GST and other reforms cannot be carried out smoothly. Prime Minister undoubtedly need to rethink on many policies that affect the common citizens who are least concerned on international matters where Modi’s focus has been all this while and it is the bread and butter apart from a shelter over their head which affects people primarily. Time to nurture the Lotus for PM Modi as new petals would re-emerge if efforts are taken to nourish the aspirations of the citizens in the days to come.

S.N.Kabra

BJP loses power in five states

The BJP has lost power in five States since last year as an alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal crossed the half-way mark when votes of the Jharkhand Assembly election were counted on. BJP lost power in the fifth state within a year despite thundering win in Lok Sabha polls. Leaders blame lack of allies, unpopular chief minister and local issues.

A Abuzar Bajpatti

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Man arrested for harassing, stalking teen in Pune

By

Web Team

-

December 26, 2019

A 50-year-old man identified as Raju Patigar was arrested by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police for sexually harassing, stalking and threatening a college student in Pune’s Dehu road area. The man was arrested on late Friday night after a 19-year-old college-going student filed a complaint against him for harassing her and threatening her life.

According to the police officials, the teenager filed a complaint against her neighbour Raju, who had allegedly harassed her while she was on her way to college. Talking on the subject, senior police inspector Manish Kalyankar of Dehu Road police station said, “She was walking to her college located nearby when the incident occurred. Raju happens to be her neighbour. The incident happened around two days ago, but the girl told her mother about it only on Friday. A case was registered and he was arrested.”

As per the victim’s complaint, the incident took place at around 11 am on Tuesday, while she was on her way to college. In her complaint, the victim said that the accused, who works as a labourer followed her on foot and held her hand. He even tried to pull her, but she resisted. The teenager said that the man asked her to go out with him.

But when she resisted, the man threatened her, post which the teenager pushed him and ran back home, the officer said. The victim also said that her family and the accused have a history of fights over the use of space between their respective houses.

The Dehu Road police have booked Raju under Sections 354 (a) (sexual harassment), 354(d) (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Sambhaji Bhide calls Hindu society ‘napunsak’

By

Afternoon Voice

-

December 25, 2019

A move that may anger a lot of Hindus, controversial right wing leader Sambhaji Bhide has called the Hindu society impotent when it comes to nationalism. So much so, he also said that expecting nationalism from Muslims in India was a ‘stupidity’.

When AV spoke to Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha leader Dhansingh Suryavanshi he said, “Our organisation supports Sambhaji Bhide. He takes stand in national interest. Those who are protesting against CAA and NRC and are feeling insecure in India should go to Pakistan. India is a safe nation for everyone.”

Elaborating his point, Bhide also stated, “Like an infertile person is of no use for reproduction, similar traits are shown by the Hindu society when it comes to national interest. We lack the understanding about national interest.”

Further Bhide went on to inform that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and former prime minister Manmohan Singh had demanded the CAA in the past. Why are they opposing the same now, he asked.

Adv Virender Ichalkaranji, National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad said, “The statement which he made I guess its from out of the anger for inertia in the Hindus. So that cannot be held as a criticism directly that has to be taken as anger by a teacher against students. I think the Hindu will not be offended by his statement. Because so far I know him this kind of statement might come only because of anger. It is not the case he has abandoned his Hindu principles.”

Bhide who heads the Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan is an accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case. He further said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) binds Indians, contrary to the false perception being created by some people.The CAA grants Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim refugees escaping from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Introduction of the amended law has drawn massive protests across the country with critics terming it as “anti-Muslim and majoritarian” legislation. When a similar act is practised in 187 countries in the world, then why not India should have a similar Act?” he asked.

“Hindus seem not very keen on the CAA. Though most of the Muslims were originally Hindus, they are now opposing the CAA. Expecting nationalism from Muslims in India is stupidity,” he said, adding that certain political parties are also appeasing such people for their vote bank politics.”Indians are self-centred people. They have failed to understand what is good for the country. This new Citizenship Act is very good for our country,” he added.

Bhide expressed surprise as to why were the educated people spreading misinformation against the CAA. “I feel that they are doing all this out of selfishness,” he stated.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that Sambhaji Bhide has insulted Hindus through statements made by him. There is no link between religion and nationalism and for that no No Objection Certificate is required from anyone.

By Ashish Mitra

Pakistan’s Blasphemy law has created a climate of vigilante violence

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

December 25, 2019

Pakistan’s Blasphemy law stems from Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (6th October, 1860) XLV of 1860. It states that whoever “defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to pay a fine.” This law is phrased in vague terms therefore violating the principle of legality and is often used to level false accusations on people from religious minorities. Asia Bibi is a notable example of a person against whom such a violation occurred. Victims of these false accusations are often presumed guilty and can be convicted without substantive evidence. Independent human rights organisation Global Human Rights Defence receives a number of cases each month from the representatives of victims of the blasphemy law. According to the 2012 United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) annual report, “The government of Pakistan continues to engage in and tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief.

The USCIRF has designated Pakistan as “country of particular concern” since 2002. The report argues that “The country’s blasphemy laws used predominantly in Punjab but also nationwide, targets members of religious minority communities and dissenting Muslims and this frequently results in imprisonment. The USCIRF is aware of at least 16 individuals on a death row and 20 more serving life sentences. The blasphemy law along with anti-Ahmadi laws that effectively criminalise various practices of their faith has created a climate of vigilante violence. Hindus have suffered from the climate of violence and hundreds have fled Pakistan for India. Farahnaz Ispahani who was the media advisor to the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2012 has blamed the successive Pakistani governments of pursuing a “slow genocide” against minorities to shore up their political base. These clauses can be grouped into two categories – the anti-Ahmadi laws and the blasphemy laws.” There is widespread popular support for these laws in Pakistan and that two prominent critics of these laws, Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, were assassinated in 2011.

Hundreds of Christians are among the accused – at least 12 of them were given the death sentence for blaspheming against the Prophet in Pakistan. Mass anti-Christian violence occurred in the 2009 Gojra riots and in the 2013 Joseph Colony riot and the 2013 Gujranwala riot. Anti-Shia violence includes the February 2012 Kohistan Shia Massacre, the August 2012 Mansehra Shia Massacre and the particularly deadly January 2013 and February 2013 Quetta bombings. The Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan was targeted in the similarly deadly May 2010 attacks on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore. A survey carried out by All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement Pakistan’s revealed that out of 428 Hindu temples in Pakistan only around 20 survive today and they remain neglected by the Evacuee Trust Property Board which controls those while the rest had been converted for other uses since 1990. However, in November 2019, the government of Pakistan started restoring process of 400 Hindu temples in Pakistan. After restoration, the temples will be reopened to Hindus in Pakistan. Pakistan has various religious minorities.

According to the 1941 census of India, there were 12 million non-Muslims in the provinces that today form Pakistan. During and after Pakistan’s independence in 1947, about 5 million Hindus and Sikhs emigrated with Punjab alone accounting for migration of 3.9 million. 14.2 per cent of Pakistan’s total population including Bangladesh was non-Muslim minorities according to 1951 census. In 1951, the non-Muslim minorities population was 3.44 per cent in Pakistan while in Bangladesh, the non-Muslims had a majority share comprising 23.20 per cent of the total population in Bangladesh. After the partition, non-Muslims formed about a quarter of East Bengal’s population and 14 per cent overall. By 1997, the percentage of Hindus remained stable at 1.85 per cent in Pakistan while Bangladesh has witnessed a decline with Hindus migrating from it because of insecurity due to fear of persecution, conflict, communal violence (as a result of newly-created Bangladesh’s assertion of its Muslim identity) and poverty.

The percentage of Hindus in Bangladesh had dropped to 9.2 per cent by 2011 with non-Muslims accounting for 10.2 per cent of the population. Much of the decrease in minorities of Pakistan has occurred due to the events around the partition, the wars of 1965 and 1971. Various causes like religious violence and forced conversions are attributed as responsible for decline of minorities. Forced conversions and marriages represent a significant threat to underage girls in Pakistan. Around 1000 girls belonging to religious minorities were estimated to be forcibly converted every year according to NGOs. In November 2019, Pakistan formed a parliamentary committee to stop the act of forced conversion in the country. According to Western religious freedom and human rights monitoring groups, religious minorities face severe discrimination in Pakistan.

(With Inputs from various agencies)

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Biggest myth in cosmetic industry is to chase ideal face

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

December 25, 2019

Dr. Anshuman Manaswi, a board certified cosmetic and plastic consultant who has more than 15 years of surgical experience. He is considered to be a pioneer of some innovative techniques of breast reconstruction and genital reconstructions. He is proficient in cosmetic procedures like liposuctions, breast reductions and augmentations, facial implants and face lifts.

Having graduated from the prestigious medical school, JIPMER, Pondicherry, India Dr. Manaswi did his post-graduation in plastic and cosmetic surgery from the Mumbai University.

Not only this, Dr. Manaswi has presented scientific research in national and international conferences and has contributed to many scientific publications and journals of repute. His work has also been admired by his peers.

Here, Dr. Manaswi gets candid with Editor-in-Chief Dr. Vaidehi Taman and shares his inspiration, myth about beauty, plastic surgery and many more…

You are an award winning successful doctor and cosmetic surgeon.What inspired you to enter the beauty industry?

Apart from being a doctor, I am an artist and thinker too. I love to sculpt and help people who suffer from some type of complexes because of their looks. Their smile after the change is blissful and inspiring.

As a cosmologist / cosmetic surgeon, what are those biggest myths about beauty that you want to clarify?

The biggest myth is to chase the ideal face and in the process, to forget smiling and laughing.This increases the face value manifold. Laughter also hides your structural flaws.

How do you deal with a popular myth prevalent today that products containing natural ingredients are better for skin?

The only way is to educate people and tell them that a known devil is better than an unknown devil (laughs). If we know the biological ingredients in a product, we can know what are its effect and side effects.

Recently many deaths occurred due to liposuction.Tell us how safe is it?

That’s not true. Liposuction is one of the safest procedure / surgery.

A catastrophy may occur in any surgery due to allergy etc on which the doctor has no control. But deaths are very rare. Important is that we must choose a plastic surgeon for the procedure and not any other doctor. In India, the regulations are not clear with non-plastic surgeons also getting into cosmetic procedures. Would you let anybody else touch your brain except a neuro surgeon? The analogy is clear.Your safety is also in your hands to an extent. For this you have to choose a proper specialist.

What is the biggest difference between non-surgical weight reduction and a surgical way of losing weight?

The natural ways of exercise and diet restrictions are best to lose weight. For MORBID (Life threatening obesity) Bariatric procedures like Bariatric surgery, Intra gastric balloon etc. are good.

For losing fat from some areas (which is essentially reshaping) Liposuction is the best. NON SURGICAL FAT LOSS therapies like Ultrasonic Lipo, Cool sculpting Lipo etc are neither effective nor safe. Not safe because their side effects have not been studied in detail.

Is it affordable for a common man?

Of course. Also we have many companies that offer soft loans for cosmetic surgeries.

Who should undergo such treatments?

Anybody who feels that looks are affecting their physical, mental or emotional well-being should consult a cosmetic expert.

HERE I MUST SPECIFY THAT IF A SURGERY IS REQUIRED, VISIT A PLASTIC SURGEON.

Beware, there are Quacks and un-qualified people in the market in plenty.

Besides, tell us the do’s and don’ts of surgical beautification?

Do some research, ask questions to your cosmetic surgeon. Listen to the advice of the doctor. Your doctor usually knows better than your acquaintance.Don’t be fixated on an idea and know the limitation of each procedure.

What are the risks involved in such procedures?

All depends on the procedure. Discuss this in detail. Usually these procedures are very safe in trained hands.

How much desired change can be guaranteed by doctors?

There are no guarantees but only improvements. And usually the improvement is tremendous.

Any identity crisis issues after facial alternations?

Occasionally yes, if lot of changes are done. Most of the people do not have any issues.

How do you look at these surgeries as craving for look more beautiful or need of circumstances?

Both! Societal pressures, professional compulsions and marital issues are the main reasons why people undergo these procedures. But the desire to look good is inborn in all of us. Isn’t it! That’s why we wear good clothes even!

Have you ever faced awkward situations from patients?

Yes, many times. One such incidence was when a girl came for nose reshaping along with her ‘to be mother in law’. Her nose was decent, but the mother in law wanted some improvement.