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Establishing the roots of education at a young age - Neev

othrox15@gmail.com (Forum Gandhi) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:39:29 +0530

Education is the base of any child's bright future and it is the right of all children in spite of the conditions that they may have to endure. Keeping this thought in check, 18 year old Priyanka Vasant started a NGO - 'Neev'. She came as the Santa Claus on Christmas last year in the lives of the underprivileged children living near the station of Vile Parle. She instantly became an important part of their lives.

A student of second year BMM from UPG college (Vile Parle), Priyanka Vasant loves kids and has always wanted to do something for them. As she remembers, “I was in 8th standard when I told my Hindi teacher that I wanted to get associated with an NGO or open my own NGO.”

Being the only daughter of her parents, she was always pampered and lead a very comfortable life. She never had to ask for anything from them and this thought made her realize that, unlike her family there are many children and parents who cannot give their little angels a life like hers. Therefore she decided at the age of 16 that she would want to help these children in some or the other way. It was not an easy task though. Her parents thought that she was too young for it, but her mother often supported her. She was determined and believes “don’t let your age be a restriction, there is no good age to start helping.”

Finally at the age of 17 and with the aim of doing some charity work as she did since she was 10 years old, with only the help of her friend, Shikha Chawla, she went ahead with the first event of Neev on Christmas. She took gifts, cakes and toys for the kids in the huts near Vile Parle station. She says, “I wanted to be their Santa and the kids responded so well that I knew that from now on there is going to be no stopping, it is going to be for Neev because it’s easy to help sometimes but taking an initiative is something we need more and more people to do.”

Gradually, her parents understood her love for these kids and started supporting her. She then started teaching these kids every Sunday and they became so fond of her, that they would wait for her every Sunday. Initially, she had 11 kids and usually Priyanka and her friend would teach them. But later on, more of her friends came to know about her cause and started joining hands with her. In just 6 months time, now she has 36 kids, 30 volunteers and counting. They now teach these kids languages like English, Hindi, and Marathi and also solve their doubts from their school. They also teach painting, craft, manners and etiquettes and teach how to take care of the nature.

Surprised by the name ‘Neev’, we asked how she came up with such a beautiful name, to which she replies “One day I was just talking to my mother and she asked me what would the name of the NGO be? I was determined to keep the name as Khwahish, but I don’t know why, I just happened to say Neev, as if it was like an intuition that I got. So that was it when we decided Neev.”

Earlier she invested all the money single handed and with some help from her parents. Later on she started selling the boxes, envelopes, pen holders, bookmark holders and other such creative stuff made by her and also started collecting old clothes, unused books and stationery from people, which she distributes them amongst the kids.

She dreams of Neev being spread across the country, lending a helping hand to the needy children in the next few years. For the near future, she wants to adopt as many areas as possible. “We invite anyone and everyone to join hands with us in any way possible and we would try and give our best and helping them in any way possible.” she says.

Bharat Bandh over hike in fuel prices

othrox15@gmail.com (Forum Gandhi) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:00:27 +0530

A ‘bharat bandh’ was called on Thursday by the BJP led NDA and left parties. Protests were held to re consider the fuel prices which were raised by Rs. 7.50 per litre earlier this week. According to reports, Buses were burnt, rickshaws refused to ply and all the shops were forcefully closed down by the party workers and some of them got injured during the protests. All of this led to a lot of damage to property,money of the government and common people . Finally the government reduced the prices by Rs. 1.60 per litre. Even though the party says that they were fighting for the common man’s benefit yet a huge loss was incurred because of the ‘bandh’. Due to this ‘bandh’, people suffered a lot and this was evident in the story of 50 year old Mrs Kapoor (name changed) a resident of South Mumbai.

The start to a new beginning

othrox15@gmail.com (Disha Khemchandani) — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:51:45 +0530

With a dimpled smile and an expressive personality, he strikes one as a ‘crowd winner’- but in this case there is more than meets the eye. And it is not a “happy” story. Harrish Iyer has come out on top - battling traumatic challenges in his past, and is now out, to help prevent others from experiencing what he has. His is a story of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) , and has gone from Victim to Survivor, as he shares his story with those who will hear it. His first encounter was when he was 6 and a half years old, sexual abuse at the hands of a male relative. This abuse continued till he was 18 years old - and on multiple levels - Sexual, physical and psychological.

In a study conducted by Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India in collaboration with Prayaas, Save The Children and UNICEF, it came out that two out of every three children were physically abused. In the 13 states where the study was conducted, it was found out that 69% children were physically abused of which 54,68% were boys. It was also observed that children were abused by members of their own family . The study showed that . 88.6% children were abused by their parents.

When asked whether he could tell anyone about his plight, Harrish says, “Children do not have the right words, they do not have the power of language. Firstly, my abuser actually told me that no one would believe me. I tried telling my mother, she said that this happens only with girls.”He says that he was extremely shy of sports but enjoyed dramatics because he would be playing another character and could express. A big difference can be made if sex education is included in school curriculum's. Chandni Parekh, a social psychologist who conducts workshops on sexuality education and sexual abuse says, “If we continue to disallow sexuality education by withholding information about sex and the possibility of sexual abuse, as well as information about reproduction and disease, we put all children at risk.”

She further adds that, “Refusing to talk about sex does not mean that children are safe, that nothing bad will happen to them. Only by opening up the discussion about sex, and beginning to talk to children from a young age, will we ever be able to protect them from abuse. Ultimately, it will only be when sex and sexual abuse are commonplace topics of conversation will perpetrators be held accountable. Only then will our society ever truly be able to prevent one of the most traumatic things that a human being can experience.” Suchismita Bose who is the director of an NGO, The Foundation says that it is important to create an open channel of communication wherein the child can talk about issues related to sexuality, even talk about what private parts are. They should not feel inhibited but should know where the boundary is. She further adds that if the child confides, the parents should know how to deal with it. She speaks of a case wherein a servant abused a girl and her mother found out. The mother completely broke down and could not deal with the disclosure, which in turn affected the child.

At times, children can overtly build a strong façade and portray that they are extremely strong and can deal with the trauma. Abuse cannot necessarily be in the form of contact but can also be non-contact. Suchismita Bose speaks of a case wherein a grandfather made a hole in the bathroom door to peep at the child taking a bath. She says that such cases become difficult to prove, many cases of non-contact abuse go unnoticed. Meanwhile, a bill to protect children below 18 from sexual abuse has been passed in the Lok Sabha which was earlier cleared by the Rajya Sabha. It ensures speedy trials and special courts will also be set up. The accused can be given a sentence up to life imprisonment. There is a provision for in camera trial as well. False complainants will also be dealt with within this bill.

The government has taken a step forward with the approval of this bill to deal with the issue of child sex abuse which shows that the future is not bleak and that there is hope

Faces behind the “Froth and Haze”

othrox15@gmail.com (Rutika Yeolekar) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:29:53 +0530

As exciting as interviewing a band sounded I felt butterflies in the pit of my stomach. But then again surrounded by the music of serenity that the Upvan Lake created, I was in for a surprise , when I actually met these four fun-loving guys who were die-hard musicians and part-time comedians ,I could actually feel my fear evaporating into the placidness of the lake .For some Classic rock music is the purest form of noise one could create but for the others it is the very crux of their survival ,It drives them to express themselves. A very indispensible part of their personality. This is exactly what the members of “Froth and Haze” say music is to them .Here’s their story in their own words.

Members 1.Amey N. Gawand-Vocals 2.Sumedh Gupte-Drums 3.Parth Mahajan-Rhythm Guitar 4.Anish Raul-Lead Guitar 5.Smit Hazare-Bass Genre- Classic Rock/Blues/Fusion

Interview of Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui

othrox15@gmail.com (Rohan Popere) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:46:22 +0530

Me: What was your feeling after getting the Best Actor Award at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF)?

Nawazuddin: I was very happy to have been awarded as the Best Actor for the film ‘Dekh Indian Circus’ at the NYIFF. I would like to say that the credit for this award goes to the director of the film, Mangesh Hadawale.

Me: Why did you select the special character of ‘Jethu’ in the movie?

Nawazuddin: When I was told to do the character of Jethu, who is mute, i found it interesting as I had not done such a character before in my life. So I decided to act in this film and do something new.

Me: How did you manage the change in the weather during the shooting of the film?

Nawazuddin: When I was shooting for this film, it was the winter season and most of the shooting was done in the night. My costume was very simple. It was looked like the typical Rajasthani ‘Dhoti’ and ‘Jacket’.

Me: What do you have to say about the local people? How was your experience working with the Director? Nawazuddin: I was very happy while working with the director, Mangesh Hadawale. He is very simple, brilliant and a free minded person just like a friend. About the people, see, it is very simple to work or act with the co-actor because they know something about acting, the film, the story, etc., but it is very difficult to co-ordinate with the surrounding local people as they are not aware of the film and the story. So I was just giving a reaction to their action.

Me: How did you feel while acting with ‘Ghumrooo’ and ‘Paani’?

Nawazuddin: First I will congratulate those Kids. I would like to say that they were selected from local boys and girls. They are unfamiliar with acting but they performed their character very well.

Me: What was the most difficult scene in this film for you?

Nawazuddin: It was not difficult, it was challenging for me. The role of ‘Jethu’ was very challenging to me because he was not only the mute person in this film but also from the ‘Rabari’ community and to express the feeling of such a person, who does not have sufficient money to take his children to see a circus.

Me: Tell me about your upcoming movies.

Nawazuddin: My nine films are coming in this year.

Me: Would you like to give any message to the youth?

Nawazuddin: Yes, complete the work which you have accepted, otherwise do not accept it and do not forget your home, city, state, nation from where you have come.

A tete-a-tete with Mangesh Hadawale

othrox15@gmail.com (Rohan Popere) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:40:36 +0530

Today was a great day for me as I was in conversation with Director, Mangesh Hadawale. He is known for his movie, ‘Tingya’, which won the Dadasaheb Falke Award for best film.

Dekh Indian Circus, his second directorial, was presented by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali. This film has been awarded by the Busan International Film Festival in 2011 and given the Golden Plaque Best Feature Film at the International Children’s Film Festival of India 2011 in Hyderabad.

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Jethu) and Actress Tannishtha Chatterjee (Kajro) received the awards for Best Actor and Actress at the ‘New York Indian Film Festival’ (NYIFF) June 2012, for their exceptional work in the film.

Musica Paradiso

othrox15@gmail.com (Rutika Yeolekar) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:27:41 +0530

It’s a musicians dream to have everything you need for a performance under one roof, and this dream materializes in the form of Musicians Expo that is organized almost every year in Bombay. With the largest dealers from all over the world showcasing their products that range from audio systems, lighting to fog machines and speakers etc. If this weren’t enough, all that they offer is showcased through live demonstrations for example, stage equipments are all arranged on a live stage set up right in the middle of the exhibition, which is possible through tie-ups with various companies from Japan, China as well as Australia and it is organized by Diversified communications.

When you enter the arena you would notice many people carrying their musical instruments or wearing the T-shirts of their favorite bands or artists, every person radiating their love for music. Though the purpose for visiting the exhibition may differ, but the one thing that connected all those attending this event was their “Love for music”. There were separate units where workshops were conducted. The last day witnessed a workshop on Live Mixing, and Performance Arena where artists like Loy-Ehsaan and Bands like Parikrama performed. On a commercial level, this becomes a platform that is provided for various music companies offering new-found technologies to tie-up with each other and it is also a good source of entertainment for all its visitors. Performances and events like the War of the DJ’s created a competitive and transcendental atmosphere. Techno savvy people were also in their own version of heaven. Yamaha had brought in a sound mixer with a dual SPX built with its unique features, Harman international had many of its high-tech Audio systems and new products which explored the new dimensions of sound.

When you get all worked up and awestruck by this musical wonderland and need a break, there is a cafeteria where you can chill out and enjoy the music that’s playing outside. When we came out of the exhibition centre I heard a song that takes my breath away every time I hear it and just like the children who were smitten by the piped-piper’s tunes, I could feel myself being pulled to the place where it was playing. There I was listening to “Hotel California” on high definition speakers of Lloyd Lee Company which produced Nx Audio systems.

I almost dragged myself out of there when I learnt from a friend that the stage set up inside the exhibition centre had laser waterfalls. The difference between last year and this year was that there were less stalls. There were lectures held on monitoring array speakers also they had invited Haribhai Vishwanath, but this year the management seemed to be more organized with no unnecessary sound barriers.

Amardeep and Gaurav both students who are interested in sound engineering said “We attended this exhibition 3 years ago and have been attending it since its been a wonderful experience.” Rajas Naik who studies dubbing and sound mixing wished there could be more workshops and lectures. I also met one of the demonstrators from Kolkata called Dan Pitey who works for Live N Loud who said its an excellent experience. “You attend it once and you feel like attending it every year, Its addictive.” he added.

In the end it’s every musicians’ muse. Especially for upcoming artists, its almost like a chocolate cake. With commercial activities being the base, entertainment delivered in the form of nuts and cherries and education and information being the icing on the cake. Though I ate the last bite I knew already what I would like to name it and that is “Musicians moose”oops sorry “Musicians muse”

Aamir’s ‘Satyamev Jayate’ on a rolling spree

othrox15@gmail.com (Ketki Modak) — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:10:46 +0530

Bollywood’s perfectionist Aamir Khan boosted the confidence of people through his recently aired television show ‘Satyamev Jayate’. The actor who made a debut in the television world got an overwhelming response from viewers everywhere across the country. The show revolves around social causes the first one being, female foeticide. The impact of the inaugural episode was phenomenal as the show brought out various cases from different parts of the country. The show also has taken broadcasting rights for Doordarshan channel which ensures that the show will even reach the audience in the rural sector. Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said that, she was happy with the show and that it was making an impact on the viewers. The initiative taken by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan to reach out to the problems faced by people was commendable.

‘Nick of Time’ is a love story worth falling for…

othrox15@gmail.com (Radhika Chugh) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:57:53 +0530

The book ‘Nick of Time’ by Komal Mehta is something that just happened to me. While strolling in a bookstore in New Delhi, I decided to pick up the book with no expectations of how the book would be. However, I was just blown away by it. This book has been beautifully written and I read it in less than 24 hours of buying it. There are so many things I love about the book, but here are the few things I loved most. The first would be the immense characterization. The three characters have been beautifully laid out. There is a lot of detail on what they think and why they think about what they do. I could feel every emotion the characters was feeling, I was drawn into their lives, into the situations. I gasped with them and cried with them too. I could completely identify with them and their dilemma.

The emotions, confusion, love and the friendship, are all contemporary issues which I see everyone around me deal with. I love how the narration changes from each character’s point of view. A bit hard to grasp in the beginning but works wonders. The pace of the story telling is brilliant, neither too slow nor too fast. The flow is beautiful and it seems you are living a movie. It is smooth and the transitions are beautifully done. Every aspect of the emotion from anger to anguish to deep love and pure bliss has been portrayed in the book with so much ease. The reason why I love this book is because it deals with love and relationships.

It is a book for every person who believes in love - man or woman. It’s about dealing with love inside you and outside. Love is a very powerful emotion and capturing it can be very hard, but Komal Mehta has managed to do it beautifully. An aspect of the book which has taken me by surprise and which I cannot get over is the expression and feeling of love and longing from Vicky’s point of view. I have never read such true emotions coming from a man in a book this beautifully. Keeping a calm and cool composure while living in complete anguish and trauma inside is not something you would see men being portrayed as. Edward Cullen has some serious Indian competition.

The situations in the book are in context and it is a love story I have fallen in love with. All in all, the book is vivacious, compelling, heartfelt and mesmerizing. It takes you on a beautiful journey on finding your passions, living your dreams and most importantly believing that miracles happen. A beautiful read for anyone who believes they are special. The youth, especially fans of romance such as ‘Twilight’ and Nicholas Spraks novels, have a reason to rejoice since ‘Nick of Time’ is a serious Indian contender that deserves all our support and love.

The City of Joy celebrates

othrox15@gmail.com (Tulika Bhattacharya) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:23:41 +0530

Kolkata goes wild as they welcomed their IPL champions of 2012

Kolkata, 29th May: On Tuesday, cricket-crazy Kolkata witnessed a rambling home crowd; a contented Shah Rukh Khan and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in high spirits as the city welcomed the new IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders with sweets and gold chains amidst complete chaos. The craze had begun right after KKR beat the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings on Sunday to clinch their maiden IPL title after four years of failure. The town was painted purple to commemorate KKR’s victory and watch the King of Bollywood and his Knights celebrate with KKR’s victory procession commencing from South Kolkata’s Hazra at 11.07 am, stopping at more than three more places before reaching the Writer’s Building, where the team were greeted by Didi and her cabinet, with the skipper, Gautam Gambhir handing Banerjee the IPL trophy.

King Khan apologizes to Mumbai Cricket Association

othrox15@gmail.com (Ketki Modak) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:17:46 +0530

SRK was very happy and this can be attributed to the Kolkata knight Riders victory in the DLF Indian Premiere League 2012. Post the presentation ceremony, King Khan apologized for his behavior at MCA (Mumbai cricket association). The brawl took place after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians match, where Shahrukh Khan had abused the MCA officials. Soon after which MCA officials along with the secretary Ratnakar Shetty lodged a complaint against the actor. The complaint was lodged at Colaba police station. The matter began because the children were asked to leave the stadium by the MCA official in a rude manner which infuriated Shahrukh Khan. He also alleged that the official had manhandled these children.