Our Quest Magazine

Save The Quest & Our Quest Cover Story | 1 Analysing the Disability Bill 2013 Content Writers: In Focus | 7 Gender Discourse In Depth | 9 Change : Indeed the need of the hour!!!Project Eye Quest Vaibhav Arora Insight | 13Volunteers Priya Gaba Importance of Meditaion & Education Soumya Dayal Shubhangi Verma My View | 15 Tanushree Jain Disguised Intellectuals Vishal Event Report | 17 Sanskriti Shreya STQ at Antardhwani Vaishali STQ s Project Cure India Design Team:Public Relations Head Monthly Special | 21 Social Evil Eradication and The Required Youth Perspective

t was a moment of profound happiness when the first edition of “Our5 | My Opinion Quest” magazine was published. Now, there lies an air of excitement inTeacher s Plight every two months among the members of our team who work for the8 | Just Saying magazine. The whole idea was to reach the mass, especially the youth toIt s My Right spread out the ideology of “Save the Quest” and this idea was thus turned11 | Through Their Eyes into reality through this magazine. “Our Quest” aims to be among the firstEducation: Miles Apart, Miles Different few or maybe the only magazine which caters to the issues of educationalEducation for The Differently Able reforms and empowerment of differently-able people. With a team of people14 | Personality who were different, unique and passionate about the mission in their own Stephen Hawkings: A Brainbox mesmerizing way, produced this magazine in collaborated effort. They feed16 | Biopic on revolutionary ideas, stories, articles , technology, journalism, art, people,Wo Padhna ABCDE... se nahi BLACK se shurukaregi research , communities and expression and how all of these things come to-19 | Poem Section gether to influence social change . Life on Wheels “Our Quest” magazine is the mouthpiece of Save the Quest organization Could You? Sun Inside My Heart and this organisation was formed by like-minded individuals who arrived Older & Wiser independently at the fouls and flaws of the Indian education system and also22 | In Continuation... the issues related to disability and decided to move forward together to bringITechnical Education In India: 2 about changes in them. “Societies are built in classrooms”- this has struck a deep chord with all of us at STQ. STQ strongly believes that education will be the game-changer for the future of our country and will enable the gen- eration with a level-playing field, so that everyone is competent and charity is no longer required. This is the revolution which we have, this is the dream we strive to achieve. Education in India is more like books that students are supposed to rote learn. The practicalities of what we are taught are hardly ever impressed upon us whereas, we at STQ promote that kind of education in which we strive to include pragmatic, holistic, flex- ible and above all , quest based way of learning and educating the students which gives freedom of knowledge. The organization foresee that with our collabo- rative efforts “Our Quest” will become the most authentic voice in the issue of educational re- forms and the facilities that are a need for people with disabilities .This publication is a product pre- pared by the students, about the students and for the students. The specialty of our magazine is that we give our readers a first hand and personalized view of the differently-able people and the ap- proaches of educationists themselves. If we look over our shoulder, we are proud of where we’ve been. But the real excite- ment lies ahead. This winning team of newly promoted people has just one mission: to bring you the best of our ideology at Saif Ahmad Khan STQ and Our Quest, in every issue.

CoverStory Objective: The primary objective of this research paper is to analyze the pros and cons of the bill with special reference to the proposed reservation policies for persons with disabilities. Introduction: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill was meant to be an enactment to codify India’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which it ratified without reservations. There was a committee set up in 2009 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, headed by Sudha Kaul, to draft a bill to this effect. Like the UNCRPD says, the committee included different people with disabilities – across disabilities – to draft this bill. The draft bill of 2011 was submitted to the ministry, and in response to that or otherwise, the ministry released a draft bill in 2012, both of which are on the ministry’s website. The 2012 draft is not as comprehensive and inclusive as the 2011 one, and there were certain serious issues raised before the ministry on the notification of the 2012 draft. Thereafter, the draft, apparently still in its 2012 format, went to various cabinet ministries, and then circulated among states. Some version of this bill was cleared by the Cabinet in December 2013. Following that, organizations of persons with disabilities, confident that the 2012 draft was intact, began protests for the speedy introduction and passage of the bill. These protests were largely led by groups in Delhi who had better access to information. Some pockets of regional groups demanded information on the contents of the bill. They remained unanswered. Meenakshi B of the Disability Rights Alliance, Tamil Nadu, followed up with the ministries and the general passage of the bill, and she was told the bill was “top secret”. Vaishnavi J, one of the founders of The Banyan, also received similar cryptic answers. Nearly 30 million people in India are grappling with one or other kind of disability. Given these huge numbers, one would have expected governments and policymakers to proactively address the concerns of the differently- abled people, if not to prioritise them. The ground reality however belies such optimism. For decades, advocacy groups have been raising the concerns of the differently-abled people — demanding the rights due to them as this country’s citizens. Time and again, petitions have been sent off to successive ministers and prime ministers of successive governments, demonstrations have been staged outside different ministries, hoping in vain to draw the attention of indifferent governments to the community’s concerns. Recently, over 15,000 differently-abled people from across the country, gathered in the hub of Delhi, demanding the incorporation of crucial amendments in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The amendments are an attempt to bring India in line with the 21st century un- derstanding of the rights of persons with disabilities as captured in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified by India. Ironically, India was among the first countries to ratify the conven- tion. That was seven years ago. Nothing since has materialised by way of aligning the bill with the UNCRPD. The amended bill that the government has tabled in the Rajya Sabha is a diluted version of the legislation the Social Justice Ministry earlier put up on its website. The bill’s critics have accused the government of reneging on the amendments that were put together after years of nationwide consultations with advocacy groups. Activists workingwith differently-abled people maintain that the present legislation is not in sync with the several drafts that werewidely deliberated during the pre-legislative process.Based on the vital amendments, the bill, for the first time, would have been a rights-based legislation. Its focus ontransforming the meaning of disability expanding its definition from the existing medical framework to a social one.The amendments included hiking the quota of government jobs from three to five per cent and underlining the needto make private companies responsible for creating a friendly workplace environment for employees with disabilities.1|

CoverStoryThe present bill, however, reflects very little or nothing of the original ideas which shaped the amendments. Ifanything, the legislation now works against such an idea. In a newspaper column, authored by Amita Dhanda,head of Centre for Disability Studies in Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law, wrote:For instance among other regressive provisions, by allowing plenary guardianship, the bill denies people with psy-chosocial disabilities the right to make their own life decisions.For decades, the community of persons with disability has patiently awaited a rights-based legislation. But is thisthe bill they have aspired for? On the eve of the general elections barely a couple of months from now, the gov-ernment wanted to push through the Disability Rights Bill, regardless of its adverse implications for those it ismeant to serve. For the community, it’s a tough call. They could reject the legislation that is so terribly out ofsync with their aspirations and settle for a weak amended bill. It’s unlikely that the incorporation of a few pro-gressive clauses would improve the quality of such an ill-drafted bill.Salient features of the bill :The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014,defines for the first time the meaning of disability and ex-tended it from seven to 19 categories. It includes sickle cell disease, thalassemia and muscular dystrophy besidesautism spectrum disorder, blindness, cerebral palsy, chronic neurological conditions, mental illness and multipledisability. The reservation quota has been increased from three per cent to five per cent. Earlier, the reservationwas to be distributed in ratio of 1 per cent each for physically, visually and hearing impaired, but the proposedlegislation will extend the quota by 2 per cent - covering two new categories like mentally disabled and multipledisabilities.A National Commission for Persons with Disabilities will also be set up with statutory powers, besides settingup a National Fund for Persons with Disabilities.The new Bill provides for stringent punitive measures under which anyone violating the provisions could facefrom six months to five years in prison and a fine from ‘10,000 to ‘5 lakh.The Bill will replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Partici-pation) Act of 1995. Rights activists have given mixed reception that several provisions have been droppedmaking the Bill ineffective.The Centre has maintained that the Bill is in consonance with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons withDisabilities, which India signed in 2007.Reservation in higher educational institutions31.(1) All Government institutions of higher education and other higher education institutions receiving aidfrom the Government shall reserve not less than five percent seats for persons with benchmark disabilities;(2) The persons with benchmark disabilities shall be given an upper age relaxation of five years for admissionin institutions of higher education.Identification of posts for reservation32. The appropriate Government shall–(i) identify posts in the establishments to be reserved for the persons with benchmark disability; |2

CoverStory (ii) review and update the list of identified posts, taking into consideration the de- velopments in technology, at periodical intervals not exceeding five years. Reservation 33.(1) Every appropriate Government shall reserve in every establishment under them, not less than five per cent, of the vacancies meant to be filled for persons or class of persons with benchmark disability, of which one per cent, each shall be reserved for the persons with following disabilities,- (a) blindness and low vision; (b) hearing impairment and speech impairment; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability and mental illness; (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deafblindness in the posts identified for each disabilities: Provided that the appropriate Government may, having regard to the type of work carried on in any department or establishment, by notification and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in such notification, exempt any establishment from the provisions of this section. Explanation: For the purpose of this section, the computation of reservation of vacancies for the persons with benchmark disabilities shall be computed on five per cent, of the total cadre strength. (2) Where in any recruitment year any vacancy cannot be filled up due to non-availability of a suitable person with bench mark disability or for any other sufficient reasons, such vacancy shall be carried forward in the suc- ceeding recruitment year and if in the succeeding recruitment year also suitable person with disability is not available, it may first be filled by interchange among the five categories and only when there is no person with disability available for the post in that year, the employer shall fill up the vacancy by appointment of a person, other than a person with disability: Provided that if the nature of vacancies in an establishment is such that a given category of person cannot be employed, the vacancies may be interchanged among the five categories with the prior approval of the appropriate Government. (3) The appropriate Government shall by notification, provide relaxation of upper age limit upto five years for employment of persons with bench mark disability. The Cabinet on 6 February, 2014 approved the proposal of the Department of Disability Affairs to incorporate amendments in the proposed Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, which are:- - Definition of person with disability in terms of interaction with barriers also; - High support needs person enabled to take independent and inform decision also; - Definition of low vision will be notified by the Government; - The appropriate Government to take necessary steps to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with dis- abilities; - No person with disability will be discriminated on grounds of disability; - Appropriate Governments to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others, in all aspects of life to have equal rights as any other person before law; - Recognizing legal capacity of person with disability, limited guardianship would be the norm, to enable the person with disability to take joint decision with legal guardian; - Person with disability would also have the right to appeal against the decision of appointment of legal guardian;- Disability Certificate to be valid across the country;- Educational institutions funded and recognized will have to provide inclusive education for children with disability;3|

- The appropriate Governments to constitute to expert committee with representa-CoverStorytion of persons with disabilities for identification of posts for Government employ-ment for persons with disabilities;- Review period shortened from 5 years to 3 years in case of identified posts;- 5 per cent vacancies reserved for persons with disabilities will be computed against the total number of vacanciesin the cadre strength;- National Commission and State Commission will have power to exempt any post in an establishment from thepurview of reservation for persons with disabilities;- For greater coverage and employability in Government sector, the appropriate Governments to prescribe relaxationfor upper age limit for employment of PwDs;- National Commission shall formulate and enforce regulations.Criticism of the billThe Nalsar Law University, legal consultant for the committee which drafted the Disability Rights Bill of 2011,announced that it was dissociating itself from the bill approved by the Union Cabinet, as it had no resemblance tothe original draft.Vice-Chancellor of the University Faizan Mustafa called the bill a “breach of trust” and an “act of impropriety”on part of the Central government, and alleged that it was sought to be passed in secrecy without consultationsThe bill does not match the draft displayed on the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,and lacks the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) rat-ified by India.The bill negated the benefits of the existing law as interpreted by the Supreme Court, by restricting the definitionof the ‘establishments’ only to the institutions aided, funded or owned by the government, and excluding privateinstitutions. Further, the bill uses the term ‘identified posts’ in relation to job reservations for the disabled,thereby empowering the government to exempt any industry just by a notification.The approved bill does not have any mention of a separate tribunal or regulatory authority to redress the griev-ances of the persons with disabilities and their families, as envisaged by the 2011 draft, Prof. Mustafa alleged.Amita Dhanda, professor in Law from the university, who had been active in drafting the original bill, notedthat even while increasing the quota to five per cent instead of the existing three, and the number of disabilitiesto 19 from eight, the bill does not override the existing laws which prevent persons with certain disabilitiesfrom contracting or taking up employment.Instead, it says the bill’s provisions are in addition to the existing laws. Hence, all the laws which hitherto havebeen exclusionary of the persons with mental disabilities will continue to be in force despite the latest enact-ment.The existing bill does not address some important issues and a few provisions that it contains are even discrim-inatory in nature. “For instance, the bill does not give a child with disability the choice to decide if she can joinspecial school or regular school. Not just that, the political participation of a person with disability ends withvoting.“The bill cannot assign some jobs for people with certain disabilities. They have to give a detailed explanationand specify the degree of disability that allows or disallows each individual from taking up any job.“Under the Bill, reservation for persons with disabilities has been increased from the current three per cent tofive per cent. However, this is restricted to establishments, and the term establishment is defined as the govern-ment, or companies established by the government. It does include any private companies, and so, there is noonus upon them to provide employment,” said Meenakshi Balasubramanian, a member of the Disability RightsAlliance (DRA).Also, the provison to clause 2 under section 33 of the Bill could deny people a fair chance at reservation. “Anestablishment can, if it gets permission from the appropriate authority, switch between disabilities for reservation,if the nature of vacancies is such that a given category of person cannot be employed. So theoretically, an estab-lishment can fill up its five per cent with just visually-impaired people. They may not even have to considerthose with cerebral palsy,” said Amba Salelkar, of the Inclusive Planet Centre for Disability Law and Policy.The Bill has evoked strong criticism from some activists who have called it discriminatory and regressive. Forinstance, activists said one section states the Bill will not override any other law in |4

MyOpinion Guest teachers’ controversy overnment is all about princi- Recently the elfin issue of contractual and emotional at the turn of events. ples and the first principle is, teachers became haywire in many re- They had words with Rahul Gandhi never act on any principle. gions when people from various re- on 14th jan 2014 and with the CMKudos to the revolution, reformation gions joined hands against a single few days before that as well but alland renaissance which is viral now-a- power. On 22nd Feb, 2014 Save The meetings were futile atleast untildays within the population of our Quest’s Research Team including now.Among them 3000-4000 guestcountry. Their calm disposition has Priya, Shubhangi, Vaibhav, Sonam, teachers sat in in front of haryana’smorphed into raging inferno, they Aritro,Martand went to “Jantar Man- CM residence at dhak khana, pantnow understand the true meaning of tar Protest Area” to interview guest marg, Haryana.democracy. With all the grandiloquent teachers who have resorted the Fasting for about 14 days was muchpromises and top-drawer offers bring- method of fasting to death and start- of a herculean task for them for noing out the stolid debased repurcus- ing from 9th Feb they stuck to their medical help was provided , peoplesion, its clear that the government and firmness of purpose until 22nd feb were obviously nauseatic with theirmalpractices work hand and glove. and for that puropse they started 20- stomachs lurching out of starvation. Their were mothers who carried their 25 rallies in delhi- shavers and men who had to take care rohtak route but of their families on one side and fight to no avail. Vaib- for his right at the very same time. hav and Shub- The pelting rain did not make the hangi took the work any more easier and hindered initiative of inter- the working of all the more perturbed viewing Rajendra scenario. On the surface level, the Shastri, The story is as simple as hiring of teachers Head. He seemed and chucking them out once their con- dejected tract terminates. However the story has holes in it, big enough that even a herd of buffloes can pass through it. The first and foremost is their ap- pointment , they were selected through an underhand arbitrarily handpicking manner which ram- shackles the entire framework of our constitution where the law-makers5|

MyOpinionthemselves become law-breakers. Ac- According to news, on 21st february of Guest Teachers in Dakshina Kan-cording to the touchstone of Articles 2014, hundreds of guest teachers took nada, Udupi and Kodgau Districts,14 and 16 of the Constitution of India procession against government. They said from this academic year on-Equality before law and Equality of snarled up and thundred against gov- wards, guest teachers could teach foropportunity in matters of public em- ernment. They seem determined to a total of eight hours in three days aployment are the norms which should continue the protest along with their week. They were allowed to teachbe followed. Throwing these guide- families and relatives as well.. There only in one college. Their salarylines to the winds , they have not only was a collective discrepancy against ranged between Rs. 8,000 to Rs.disregarded the merit of a person but Hudda Sarkar. The protestors in Ya- 10,000 per month. Earlier, the teach-also formed a lalapalooza of misgov- munanagar initiated a cortege of Arun ers were allowed to teach in two col-ernment. Malik to project their frustation. leges and would earn double theThe other gainsay is the non-regular- Chandigarh witnessed protestors on amount than they would be able to inisation of their contract . Their career an undying hunger strike in the last the current academic year. As per thetrajectory seems to have taken a major twelve days. Incentives such as incre- University Grants Commission guide-detour . The crisis they face is of un- ment in salary, extra leaves and being lines, guest teachers should be paidemployment, the fear of going for in- considerate towards transfer problems Rs. 25,000 a month. secretary of theterviews at a mellow age where new and others were offered. However State association of guest teacherstalent seeps in every day, the fear of these people seem to choose profes- said the government had shanghaiedwandering aimlessly flunking in the sion over obsession, finally rejecting the teachers to go on an indefinitetask of being bread-winners to their the colossal attraction to the material- strike by ignoring their demands.family, hovers and haunts them like a istic world. In Bhivani, effigies of Rules , corruption and materialisticmoving black cloud. As per estimates, Bhupendra Singh Hudda were burnt gains seems to be the three corners ofthere are over 10,000 guest teachers in public while in Sirsa , effigy of a sharp-edged triangle. The benignand another 8,000 temporary teachers, Ashok Tanwar was burnt in the open. issue has taken a gargantuan leap ofwho have been hired on contract by In kurukshetra , funeral procession of subject. A society needs flexibilitythe Delhi Government. The least they state government was carried out. with stability. There’s no need of emp-ask for , as for now, is the renewal of Also proceedings outisde finance tying the coffers in the name of thetheir contracts so that they are not ma- minister, Harmohinder Singh’s resi- development of Third World when werooned jobless once their term ends. dence took place. In kethal , effigy of don’t know how and where the treas-Meanwhile the government can rum- P.W.D minister ,Randeep Surjewala ure is drained.mage for a plan or scheme to enroll was burnt and his house was sor-them on a permanent basis rounded by active protestors. Not only |6“Our government decided to hire this , but New Delhi saw the phase ofguest teachers as the appointment processions approaching it again withprocess through the subordinate serv- people going for protestation outsideice board is lengthy and time-taking. Jantar Mantar. In Fatehwad ,peopleOur government was exploring the displayed their hostility openly bymechanism of regularising them ei- burning effigies of CM, Agriculturether by moving a Cabinet note or for- Minister and Rahul Gandhi.mulating a policy. Though we did not Madhava K.B., president, Associationinclude it in our election manifesto,we were determined to regularisethem,” said Mr. Singh, who was theDelhi Education Minister when theguest teachers were hired.The quake has ended , its time for theaftershocks. The aftermath of thisshenanigan was seen in the assortedregions playing out in the same man-ner. Thus again we saw a perfect ex-ample of Unity in Diversity

InFocus Discourse A woman is human. She is not better, wiser, stronger, more intelligent, more creative, or more responsible than a man. Likewise, she is never less. Equality is a given. A woman is human. ender discourse is nothing provided with the proper one because a superior power and to show there but stereotypical approach of it is believed that educating females power , men do evil things such as our society towards so called is an economic waste in a way that rapes, violence , eve teasing , forced“male” and “female”. Stereotyping of someday she will leave her parents abortions etc. Women has to face dif-roles has deep roots in the human and will become another man’s. The ficulties at each and every level ofmind. It may have originated in the fact is that females care more of their life. When she is a small child she isearly primitive tribes, as they strug- families and later on they are discrim- asked to give her toys her favorite be-gles for the control of territory, the inated not only on the basis of educa- longings to her brother and herphysical strength of males was con- tion but also on the basis employment brother is given more priority by hersidered very important. But unfortu- , decision making ,etc. The pervasive parents. When she grows up she is re-nately, the domination continues even discrimination against females occurs stricted from going out late, wearingin modern times. Gender determina- in every segment of the society – short clothes, making friends etc.tion is done before the birth of the homes, schools and colleges , compa- When she becomes a wife she is ex-child. Where male-dominated soci- nies , in politics. pected to serve her husband and hiseties have preference for boys which family... Whenever we pinpoint to-leads to killing of the girl child in the Biggest example of gender discourse wards general public the wordwomb itself. Female are denied the exists in our Bollywood itself, “MANkind” is used wherein it showsright to education and many facilities wherein actresses are treated as an ob- the superiority of men over women.in many countries, even today ! At ject to satisfy the needs of Man. Theywork she has to perform her duties are asked to do item songs, strip there There is a need to take action againstequivalent to her male counterpart. clothes and entertain the public by Gender inequality instead of merelyBut the return she gets is lower than doing things which is not at all needed an eye wash. And could be achievedwhat the males get. In rural as well as for entertainment. only through educating women andsome urban area she is exploited by empowering her. She is a caregiverthe MAN of her house, he abuses her, In our Holy Epic book “Ramcharitra and a homemaker. She not only givebeats her, exploits her and treats her Manas” it is mentioned that “‘Dhol, birth to child , lactates her baby, edu-like a mere object. They dream of a Gauwnaar, Shudra, Pashu aur Nari; cates them and empower them as abetter life as compared to their coun- Sakal Tadan ka Adhikari’ [drums, un- good citizen of a nation and family.terparts but continue to survive under civilized illiterates, lower castes, ani- To emerge her as a powerful force indiscriminating conditions. The issue mals and women are all fit to be the society we need to end the genderof women’s inequality is not limited beaten]” this states that the discrimi- bias. There is a need to considerto India alone; it is an international nation and biasnes is prevailing from women equal to men. Equal sharingone. It has been the part of the culture the ancient times. Earlier women of responsibility and a harmoniousof the european countries since very were asked to marry a mid-aged man partnership between women and menlong. There are certain laws formu- at age of 16 just for “DAHEJ”. There are necessary for well being of theirlated by the european union that pro- is buying and selling of women still family as well as the society. Sharedmotes sexism . Even in there ancient prevailing in our society carried on power and responsibility betweentimes women were not allowed to from generations. Women doesn’t get women and men at home, in thetake part in political activities and the respect from her family and the workplace, at national and interna-they didn’t have the right to vote. society. There is a male dominating tional levels would help to create a society prevailing in the country harmony within the socity. WomenIn various countries , females are ei- wherein women is not treated equal to should not underestimate herself andther denied of education or are not men. Men are considered as should take stand for her own needs.7|

JustSayingIT S M Y RIGHT! isability is a complex term commitment towards its citizens in- minority community, the hurdles they and it is understood as a re- cluding those with disabilities to pro- face, their needs and requirements to- striction or inability to per- mote a life with equality, freedom, gether to help them in growing aboveform an activity in the manner or and justice and dignity as guaranteed their disabilities not as a token ofwithin the range considered normal by the Constitution. Since that is the charity but as a right that should befor a human being, mostly resulting prior motto and spirit of our constitu- provided to them.from impairment (ICIDH 1980). tion why leave the people with dis-Presently, most individuals with dis- abilities out of the ambit of equal The international scenario regardingabilities in India have not been for- treatment and opportunities? There is disability has changed. It has shiftedmally identified and even among a need to change the perception of the from largesse-based perspective tothose who have been identified, the society towards persons with disabil- rights-based perspective. Certainly, itmajority are excluded by the rest of ities so that they can lead a better life is the right of every person with anysociety. As a result, individuals with with equal opportunities at their dis- type of disability to demand the facil-disabilities are not offered the same posal and effective access to rehabili- ities, the right treatment, opportunitiesopportunities as people without dis- tation measures. According to the data and a dignity just like any non-dis-abilities. To fully understand the chal- collected in the Census 2001 , over 21 abled. The world is changing towardslenges that individuals with million people in India are suffering the disabled and the world of disableddisabilities are facing within the In- from one or the other kind of disabil- is also changing at a rapid pace and sodian society there is a need to ac- ity. Among the various disabilities the are the aspirations and expectations ofknowledge that these barriers are records show that the disability of people. Advances in medical and sur-primarily rooted in religious beliefs, seeing 48.5% emerges as the top cat- gical sciences, breakthroughs in tech-cultural norms, and misinformation or egory and others are; movement nology, greater understanding of thea lack of information regarding dis- (27.9%), Mental (10.3%), speech causes of disability and improvedabilities in general. Indian constitu- (7.5%), and hearing (5.8%). methods of coping with it, increasingtion guarantees every citizen equality consciousness of civil rights and thebefore law and equal protection of Are what we doing as a state, a soci- emergence of people with disabilitieslaw and prohibits discrimination on ety or even as an individual really displaying skills and knowledge tothe grounds of “religion, race, caste, enough? improve their own lives, are some ofsex, place of birth”. However the ap- the factors which have contributed toproach towards people with disabili- The most significant barrier to inclu- the new thinking. It is now recognizedties has been that of welfare, as is sion for individuals with disabilities that the disabled deserve a dignifiedevident from Article 41 which says, in India is the rigid social structure status in society on the same terms as’The state shall, within the limits of its within the society. Where there is a the non-disabled. To provide themeconomic capacity and development lack of clear figure of people with dis- with what they need and have a rightmake effective provision for securing abilities in the country, there is indeed to demand for, is not charity or helpthe right to work, to education and to a lack of information and knowledge that the state or the society would bepublic assistance in cases of unem- regarding the disabilities and their doing towards them. It would onlyployment, old age, sickness and dis- needs among the society as well as in mean acknowledging their presenceablement’(Advani 1997). the state. There is a dire need to carry and living up to the spirit of being hu- out more and more sensitizing drives mane and just.A welfare state like India, has a to educate the people about this huge |8

Depth CHANGE: Indeed ThetrmesEthwtauiodhionvelhnnuaennceenskcsnitnaeaifatwwntnnouneigtdohrahddfnslanateamumIolepntnabyctnwyodlaioatthtlljwhutohglcioaiicitnesooutveusirsdtnoreierahettrnendshoieemhrnteiptnoehaanwoyeitdnonpokcdaomsfdpunaatosarhegtybtontlhbnardhf’oadooousatetuetisuucrcdftnt,lsrkgiotstmotatooghmihomonnnoetegefsaptcunse.otlilaes.weo.ydeSondrIoIzitedieacnuemkifnrlinlcumpe,etypaigasrfenileoltttadrdttehiisrvfrhotiscieIo,fewfaonwntfrrfsetendmteaecaadorm.riyeonseaaweFuskmndannntrpaihytactnoptrtoentehiddgmoahnmdsemisrri.rrenmeitfeemodthigscasry-ia--stshyt e question that came to my mind was – IwpagItipnsweThnnsaecehdrhasdduneirlyiseteaielrea,ealsdennfrelidsnwoacdeaspaDrteartoeasiihusnorgrdsana,onidinesutnosmneti,unschegndenPaeaadticlurostiatoiieinahnbrttofpftyateyaitounrat,nomhehlr,lcmajnelmceeaolaossidalafttuwoosiiirono,tndbcuso.rryuCtstrslomTtri,orehthnylghosgvlcegaoiiceoyuefanegfify,tfrlnesaoatywaotntgukhiu.snfcumrfryantOiieeredradtekioustduslnaneafnsduurodtononoicrafsbrtowdvmasomnovnlcitldKivoyiapeerkob,riekdedawepnirdmrsgloit,itiAfcesudhsoeaekk.ersaecnnfdnyOostsdimkboiapcorotuiawbfahoenfnrlsshlinuodl.itlnmeasrtoustuadotThsrootemrgn-aoaheftteg,h-ctee.-ya fWsMrtthtehtbtusurthhawahaipirsaaigritvevaie.rcnhtahraetyeefakin.kldttwumnl2hudSweltoge,eaaohudhtele1yrrecaotsa,a8aewhdtwevclnpii3vnneorewdlv5eonaghrua,hneyccsellorsiastdeuuseubnwlolettvhebataehhfsauevecdje.npurBarkeIdPatelglrborrheeleeraeiocldadnsthotdsionovegepsstInenedaothrnlthiqenodostwbcIudaeaifonhyBagehenfdata’reonthrdsinnshiatiuatcgiihmesb,isnnicesirwenisohdhaetnniahr,ahtcvcbtPta.ditoaiaaselheaoHttudlghdreanciInelebgrnuon,ioteraeadcsrudwsffmrryaa.noi,cIh,iattTtrdeniuwhiureonsc:hdlyan,hnttht,oi“tuolIoaoesImsIroipusaysnaihdnassrclnsahoeFshtfsdawveevpoetermaeoerb,-rs-,e9|

N EED of t he H our!!! Depth By: Pallavi GuptaProgramme (FYUP) introduced in Delhi Universityfor the current batch onwards.tieviyFiTnadmtawdnvtelheW.rYthehnegeelrotaeThnoaeedoweUuvnhiaedhtpydntsnetwityoPee.ulstssde,wsefcaboyhctaihsFoacuntesteatiynhohlhmhlotedwidttleteereitehnreiwtnhpmicgiaon,tbttnmoggalahlihiutsa.almtnetsesrtloigssTiauneisnuvtioctehtlihtaadcuicemnoivhvefssewetihrtufeunaooreeroneoerhnetteanwwarstasbefsestndtwlbrueafniealaietueaonhusl,nhvelsrtvlstrtsitstssoereahhoneeeoe.iwyrsniem,rdrnxnyWtygnyntctihtatthahttrebaofrlrehhwhhoyuaioarleoieeonpaetdetrdidoalguvntarulttcdusyrhlehohiltecrht.c.vsCsfepueepitaeostenyeaYoedCorndsnragdaroryemcghEcssyipisgthsFeanthnaueuusuweasvbYegtrctcmdmgiieeurbadhlvUpyastadsmeeetiaeilhmpsPeailntawinmsaihaerrnnn,newoetgasett1niieke!ssrjrvta2aitemmsoneeFneawsgtcndsoahogbaooatsateuawss,drofosmisgstcntsetuhlsi.aeod-testeteu-m,dtensyt-,-tsha-eyca‘cdwFseM3oawfsiiwteTuitmmotnsaeltigyihntiTenlIubhosoaailraonxyeyagdrpoluethdijontrnotyt,sasdeshilonsdek,ebeso,t,yvtrcmstenwegiasnnattupu.tIfiaytnahmbentsronntosotrnaWtiesfgste,e,adimwodwryff’hsatrotwce,wacsdicphitae“iginplaaottimchcnrtaeedOihtichfl.lthmepttohocscdoweotdsohidEantetegueeoec.mgbpmraar,tiersenfdorhessTiealrynsowcosevleocsyuooaltschtefltarnlsuiongrocepodnhihweyteenrntcdsuooayruegdoe.,aocdedohcehwt,erutr!yeAuttwaidiatdwa”inahotottbtlephnohgluohnsw,thdternenielensoiciegenweaAtidocnbiginhmlakrscenniernoeeuugreianohteoe,nhnifdfipsclmsytonsetnorntsdaiachieolapyeannrugksoneevlhiwoetuxslsliagrlmiisemeaoitotuatdleontpihtkydrKelnbobknsulmemniup,oemdbashbcosoedtnhcrrwsfoepiasaaoetuoyietaitntttotsldsonsupuokestbnpaaclgsheCewcyrreidshnlaheaunsdaohecr,atyhistrdaaetpcehlgaocguiarspuuieenarocracerhfodnnhmlocidmdeirgendanshinanngtldclsyruescpeiya.ingiaceabsn.astcisvjopPAtgilorslb,onueutanooiciiirAhisreulozaertndntobeaafys…lyiiaeuwruftdueelictoupaIeseldnittadsopescnncyoeisod.r,,ntcsrnreh,pd,errnehmeuelistdesrotdseirevr’eetrsttnoadseoacauacuthaaiaBe.n-ab.bt-ntticcslatnisAnifuhultd-aihtotoeunae---il,r--t-e- | 10

ThroughEyes : Miles apart, Miles different hey do not attend school not the number of rural students attend- makes learning all the way more easy because they are incompetent, but because they are deprived. ing schools is rising, but more than and systematic. A comparison of in-They do not show interest towards ac-ademics not because they are ‘brain- half of the students in fifth grade are frastructure of private schools andless’, but because they are treated tobe ‘different’. They - yes the students unable to read a second grade text government aided schools is disheart-of the villages. Of those villages inwhich according to Mahatma Gandhi, book and are not able to solve simple ening. With led projectors being usedlives India.Talking about the olden times, educa- mathematical problems. Not only this, for the ‘urban’ learners, a black boardtion was a word of the big mouth. Il-literacy was increasing at an alarming the level of math and reading is fur- and chalk is an achievement in therate and people belonging to the lowereconomic strata or the rural dwellers dgwleoiahlvraaralcajeseslcvgkevAtksccahacaeehortitsntomcneh-oo.enofdcvoeerSioumielrmlsfsntesrmsacaupgs,richcbdasaeaiictiocenelnrndoebiuoiniyttnsislltlirsttsaoshaegishhencnstreaieooak.nuactonfanghbchrsfacgdTeoteotbimoedtnmihauncovvgfereltepiiroadyfnatorauovnisgnfeasrstpeso.tsmenretrtlrWriodadntdulebholcumenucciaemedctthhtesheuauiwaassnctrtclcvliuohteeokoahuedrfitnootnaicbishtf.vpoohi-aodiaenplrlnseno-rd-i- classrooms of villages. Students ofnever had a bent towards gaining government schools have no access toknowledge or being called educated. computer education or co-curricularThey were never even made to realize activities due to the lack of facilities.the importance of education and so They still have to walk miles to reachthis weed named illiteracy went on to a place which gives them anythingdigging its roots deeper in the society. but not basic understanding in theBut before it could spoil the whole name of education. All these discrep-system, it was controlled. The govern- ancies make them lose interest in ac-ment started focusing its attention to- quiring knowledge. Even if thewards educating the citizens and system of the private schools luresbringing about an increase in the lit- them, financial constraints are a rea-eracy rate. But unfortunately, the son big enough to leave them unedu-whole of this focus got concentrated cated.in one direction and the other mouths The present situation doesn’t call outare still left to be fed.There is no denying the fact that the a need to change the curriculum sincenumber of schools and other educa-tional institutions has taken a good ther declining. And this gives the the rural students cannot understandleap and the government has formu-lated a lot of policies to bring about a gist of it- there is a huge gap. Gap English. It is just the grooming whichchange in the standard of education.But since majority of India’s popula- when t comes to private and govern- lays down the foundation of a stu-tion lives in rural areas, they undoubt-edly need special attention. Especially ment schools, gap when it comes to dent’s career. Good, responsible,when The Annual Status of EducationReport (ASER) says that even though teachers and simply, gap in the entire ‘urban-like’ teachers who understand11 | education system. the problems faced by the students of The teachers do not report on time the rural areas keeping in mind their and then gradually, so do the students. bringing up and the power to grasp Even though the government has set can help change the past for a better up a permanent body known as the future. But with the increasing discov- NCT i.e. the National Council of eries of loopholes in the already torn Teachers, the efficiency seems to be result sheet, we are left wondering! missing. Some schools are still run by Wondering about the economic a single teacher and if the teacher is growth, social order and overall de- absent, it’s a holiday. But in the velopment which seem nearly impos- schools of urban areas, the scenario is sible without educated human totally opposite. There seems to be a resource and also an equally treated perfect student-teacher ratio which workforce.

Through Eyes For The Differently Able By : Sanchya Aggarwal Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability toclimb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. he Oxford dictionary defines National Policy for persons with Dis- weakened by their prejudice about ‘disability’ as a physical or abilities, 2006. disability. “If the daughter’s disability mental condition that limits a But the problem remains that there’s is revealed, the sisters won’t get mar-person’s movements, senses, or activ- no one to keep a check on the proper ried”, said Bahadur, a villager of Ja-ities. Fortunately, we live in a utopian working of such policies. For in- hangirpuri. And the attitude is not onesociety where Disabled People are stance, the Section 46 of the Disabil- bit better in metro cities.now DIFFERENTLY-ABLED ities Act, 1995, states that in order tomasses. create a physical- barrier free environ- However there are people who careCensus 2011 has revealed that 26.8 ment for disabled persons, the appro- and wish to make a difference. Themillion people in India suffer from priate governments or local equal opportunity cell set by the Uni-disability of one or the other kind, a authorities shall, within the limits of versity of Delhi in 2006, is a step for-major portion of which are young stu- their economic capacity and develop- ward towards sensitizing people aboutdents-The future of India Persons ment, provide for:with disabilities experience the problems of disability. Itinequalities in their daily * Ramps in public building prevents students from dis-lives, and have fewer oppor- * Adaptation of toilets for wheel criminating someone on thetunities to access a quality ed- chair users grounds of disability. It en-ucation that takes place in an * Braille symbols and auditory sig- sures a barrier free access toinclusive environment. As nals in elevators or lifts all buildings of Colleges, De-per records, only 2% of the * Ramps in hospitals, primary health partments, Libraries, Hostelstotal disabled population is centers and other medical care and and Offices of the University.educated. It is therefore nec- rehabilitation institutionsessary to make Education Sadly it remains powerful only on It is high time that people ac-Policy for students with spe- PAPER. cept DISABILITY as a DIF-cial needs mainstream. The authorities blame it on people for FERENT-ABILITY. It is not a providing misleading data thereby disease. It is not something that oneThe educational landscape for stu- preventing strong implementation of had control over or what they chose.dents with disabilities is undergoing such policies and the people are “That child cannot see” “poor he”!vast changes. The Government of But did he have a choice? What weIndia had launched Scheme of Inclu- need is more realistic and efficientsive Education for Disabled at Sec- policies, a concrete mechanism forondary Stage (IEDSS) from the year implementation of these policies. A2009-10, to enable all students with more established group of people whodisabilities, after completing eight do not shy away for fighting for theiryears of elementary schooling, to fur- rights. A more caring government andther pursue four years of secondary nation who understands the needs ofschooling in an inclusive and enabling its people and is willing to provideenvironment. Furthermore we have them with what they ask for.The Disabilities Act, 1995 and the | 12

InSight Meditation Osho has said that because of this state of innocence, of artlessness, the peace of mind is lost somewhere. non-mind-ness, often children can spontaneously fall into a state of med- in Education This is where arises the need for med- itation. He further added, \"Children itation.“Osho says, nowadays chil- should be taught to meditate -- how to dren are taught from the biginning to remain calm, serene, silent; how to struggle and become more ambi- reach the state of no-mind”. Children tious”. Indeed this is where the soul can learn to accomplish this very, very and mind loses track of what matters quickly. Every home should have a more and what not from the very scheduled program to help children starting of the journey of his life. move into silence. And that will only Sharing his insight, Osho says \"As we be possible, when you, as parents, start educating the child’s intellect, we also practice with them. A daily hour should also teach him meditation. Just of sitting silently should be compul- as the child comes to understand sci- sory in every home. One should even ence, he should simultaneously un- do away with a meal if necessary, but derstand religion. As his head grows an hour of silence must be observed brighter let his heart also grow full of at all costs. It is wrong to call that light. Let him not grow up only to house a home where an hour of si- know about, let him grow up also to lence isn’t observed daily. It cannot be. Let it not be only his possessions even be called a family\". that grow, let him grow too! Let not Osho recommended certain ways of only his exterior expand, let his inte- meditating for children: riority also have a depth, just as the trees rise up in the sky but their roots Tell the children to close their eyes go deep underground. The deeper the and then start speaking gibberish -- roots go underground the higher the any meaningless sort of sound. One tree rises in the sky.\" Meditation ba- sound will lead to another, just start sho defined meditation as sically helps children in learning how anywhere. As they gibber they can let “When you are not doing to connect with their inner-self, in- their bodies move -- maybe their anything at all, bodily, men- cluding their imagination and the real hands want to move, or their body tally, on no level- when all activity essence of who they are. Meditation starts swaying, dancing, or jumping has ceased and you simply are, just gives young children power over their up and down. And they can do it as being, that’s what meditation is.\"One thinking and their emotions, not by loudly as they like. cannot do it neither one can practice repressive self-control, but by en- Let them do this for 10 minutes. Af- it; one can only aim to understand it. hanced self-understanding and self- terwards they will have quieted down, Thinking is an action, concentration acceptance. become centered inside. And you will is also an action, and contemplation is feel terrific! also an action. When you are not Children are closer to the state of in- doing anything and you are just at nocence more than the adults around Children enjoy this very much be- your center, utterly relaxed -- that is them. Unfortunately the society cause they get a great kick. Parents meditation. This phenomenon is gain- which is a unit of individuals com- never allow their children to whirl. It ing a lot of popluarity these days and prising of people playing various is not good: they should be allowed - is gradually turning into a trend. what roles such as parents, teachers or - rather, encouraged. And if you can we need to ponder about is , do we re- priests, are conditioned with beliefs make them aware of inner whirling ally know what meditation is and if it and ideals. They tend to use their also, you can teach them meditation anything more than a mere trend? minds just for practical reasons; not to through their whirling. They enjoy it Meditation teaches the person to man- philosophize and plan and to create because they have a bodiless feeling. age complicated situations. Since life problems. They are more in touch When they whirl, suddenly children today is very fast-paced and the soci- with their bodies, with their contact become aware that their body is ety has become utterly materialistic, with the earth and are down with ma- whirling but they are not. Inside they the soul gets lost somewhere, terialistic pursuits. feel a centering which we cannot feel 13 | so easily, because their bodies and souls are still a bit apart; there is a gap.

Stephen Hawkings school’s boat club. After graduation, he went to Cambridge to study for his - Stephen Hawkings PhD. He was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21 while studying cosmol- bove is one of the thoughtful father was a medical researcher who ogy at Cambridge University. He was devastated by this news and realiza- lines of the supernova of had specialized in tropical diseases. tion of not completing his PhD made him more worried. He crossed his T’s physics world. While most of Stephen‘s father wanted his eldest and dotted his I’s to earn his PhD. He poured himself into his work and re-us are busy singing blue about petty child to go into medicine, but from an search. At one such moment of dis- tress he recalls “My expectationsthings in life this man is busy formu- early age Hawking was interested in were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been alating theories which leap beyond rel- science and the sky. His mother no- bonus.” Despite his debilitating ill- ness, he has done ground-breakingativity, beyond quantum, beyond the ticed this, when he used to spend his work in physics and cosmology which has helped to make science ac-big bang and dance of geometry that time staring at the stars. Stephen al- cessible to everyone. He won many accolades for his com-created the universe. Despite the dis- ways had a strong sense of wonder. mendable work in physics and cos- mology. He won Gold Medal of theappointment which his disability ac- She remembered \"... I could see that Royal Astronomical Society (1985), the Paul Dirac Medal (1987) and,companied Hawking managed to the stars would draw him.\"Born in the jointly with Penrose, the prestigious Wolf Prize (1988). In 1989 was alsoovercome his disappointment and family of thinkers he enjoyed math named as a Companion of Honor by Queen Elizabeth II. He also workedhence inspired youth throughout the and science. for disabled with eleven other lumi- naries who signed the \"Charter for theworld. His thoughts and principle are Early in his academic life Hawking Third Millennium on Disability\" which called on governments to pre-ubiquitous to which everyone is ac- was recognized as bright though not vent disability and protect disabled rights. In 1999 Hawking was awardedquainted through his books. an exceptional student. At one point the Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society. HeHawking was born on January 8, during his high school years, he was expressed support for the legalization of assisted suicide for the terminally1942, the 300th death anniversary of third from the bottom of his class. But ill. We are all different – but we share thethe famous scientist Galileo in Ox- Hawking focused on pursuits outside same human spirit. Perhaps it’s human nature that we adapt – and survive.ford, England. Though a science of school; he loved board games, and Stephen Hawking stands as the exam- ple of the indomitable spirit which isprodigy he was born and bought up he along with a few close friends cre- not effaced by troubles and problems in life. He serves as the best exampleby Isobel Hawking who was the first ated new games of their own. At the to all those who are let down by their problems in life and give up to situa-lady to age of 16, Hawking, along with sev- tions. Despite a disability Hawking has emerged as a science revolution-attend Oxford University in the eral friends, constructed a computer ary who has given ground breaking theories on universe and time. Mind1930s—in an era where out of recycled parts for solving and time which are the most rudimen- tary and instrumental tool in anythingvery few women rudimentary mathematical equa- and everything one does are both used and worked upon by Hawking.got into this tions. | 14university. He was called ‘Einstein’ inHis his school by students and teachers owing to his hard work. His sub- ject of interest was math but oxford didn’t offer a de- gree in Math at the time due to which he chose Physics and Chemistry. For him, his course- work was a cake walk. He enjoyed classi- cal music and loved being a member of the

MyDisguised Intellectuals (Through an IITian’s Pen) eople say that Indians possess As a result, we always have a reason to work hard. I see talented and smart an intellectual prowess that or someone to blame for our short- brains around me everyday but I am people from no other country comings. For example - we always sure a lot of that talent will go to itsdo. Ever wondered what could have have the Chief Minister to blame for grave untapped, because of so calledbeen the basis of that analysis? What the increasing crime rate against ‘lack of opportunities’, ’lack of time’,unit of measurement for intelligence women instead of accepting the fact or again ‘bad luck’.was used to come to this conclusion?Was it the average national IQ level Why India lags in the race Once Mr. Narendra Modi said in anor the creativity level? Or was it the for the next Bill Gates or interview –“Never aim of beingnumber of graduates produced every Mark Zuckerberg? The an- someone, always aim of doing some-year or per capita income or maybe swer is simple. It is so be- thing or achieving a purpose. Andthe number of nobel prizes won each cause, we lack proper whatever you become in that processyear? What could possibly be the sci- motivation and the will to is fine.” These words really inspiredentific reason for this supposed con- work hard. I see talented me. One always needs to have ajecture? Since in none of the factors and smart brains around proper and powerful motivation. Thementioned above or the many others me everyday but I am sure ‘someone’ you aim to be can alwaysthat can be thought of, does India a lot of that talent will go change, but the ‘something’ you aimcome even close to being on the top. to its grave untapped, be- to achieve might last longer andBut here we shall not delve into the cause of so called ‘lack of stronger.We are so busy running afterhuge array of controversial answers to opportunities’, ’lack of money that we forget what we are re-this question. Let’s just leave it as time’, or again ‘bad luck’. ally here for. Students graduating withtonight’s food for thought. a degree in engineering in hand go for that we ourselves have turned into an MBA without even giving a careerBeing a student of engineering at an demons! We have the municipal cor- in technology a shot. And why is that?esteemed Institute, I come across one poration to blame for the empty wrap- Studies show that the most commonparticular question very often. Why pers of Lays lying in the gardens of answer is – better package. Some peo-does India not produce engineers like India Gate, when we all know where ple might say that they have no inter-Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg who they actually came from. Similarly we est in their field of study, I would justhave changed a whole industry for have a plethora of reasons (excuses) like to quote G.K. Chesterton –good? The truth is that there is no for our lack of success, ranging from “There are no uninteresting things,‘one’ and no ‘right’ answer to this bad schooling to a simple bad luck. In only uninterested people”.question. Some may blame our poli- case of this particular question statedcies, education system and the ever above, we have our well-planned ex- Forget the education system and ourexisting red-tape; others may blame cuses, instead of accepting the sheer lack of opportunities. As long as wethe lack of quality education, even fact that we just aren’t motivated and don’t change ourselves, or inculcateamongst institutes like IIT’s and hardworking enough. in ourselves some courage and the ca-NIT’s. But I would like to present a pability to take initiatives, I’m sorrynew dimension here, a look into the Why India lags in the race for the next but we are not making India anyvery basic roots of our thinking. Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg? The proud in the global market of successThe human mind has a tendency to answer is simple. It is so because, we or knowledge. I’m sorry but we aretrigger a defence mechanism when- lack proper motivation and the will not making India any brighter in theever something unacceptable/uncom- global scenario.fortable comes across.15 |

BiopicWo Padhna a bc de ... BLACK se shuru karegi! here is hardly anyone who heart. So I do understand the way something one will can ever forget the impact Michelle’s father behaves but I also never truly find out that the 2005 Sanjay Leela understand the ways of the eccentric but it’s easy to sayBhansali film ’black’left on the teacher. it was veryminds of the people. Many movies I didnt like Debraj’s way of teaching moving andused elements from ’black’in their but did like that it seemed to have very inspiring.movies and scripts. ’Black’gave me the desired result in the end. In fact It made memy first ever insight into not just the it was Debraj’s character alone appreciateworld of the differently abled but the which turned the audience from Michelle’s storyunquestionably easy life of abled sympathetic to empathetic which ac- and her strugglepeople’. cording to me is the required attitude and to the romanticIt is difficult to understand the life of when raising a child with different in me it also appe-the differently abled. What Rani needs and special care. It was her aled to my ideaMukherji projected in the film may teacher who motivated and inspired of a happy ending.have been close to reality but per- her to achieve her dreams. It took One of the most powerfulhaps not the reality itself. She did do her many attempts and many years elements of the movie washer research before she took this role of their life but even after all the how it stressed upon forcingand tried to do full justice to the role. hardships she did achieve her dream. the audience to stopIt is impossible for me to come The movie though was a commercial pouring sympathy andclose to knowing what it must be cinema but had a lot more meaning start investing inlike living in a world devoid of un- than any other regular movie. The empathy. Thederstanding, expression and more performances by Rani Mukherji as a acceptance of the societyoften than not, love. This world must differently abled person and was portrayed mostbe full of insecurity and desire and Amitabh Bachchan of the caring and gracefully and furtheras they say in the film itself, suffoca- understanding teacher were impact- preached empathy overtion. To be left alone in the infinite ful. Portrayal of the society was sympathy.depth of your mind that’s focused on most apt for the time where they ini-itself but with absolutely no sensory tially mock but at the end are |input, no way of release and with a amazed at her achievement. “I knowlingering sensation that all this is now that there is God... He is not ingoing to swallow you sooner than the Holy Spirit we pray to... He isn’tlater. written about in religious texts... HeIt is human nature to accept that is someone who is a part of ouryour child is differently abled and lives... Whom we live for... Becausethen leave them be to develop as of whom we live...”they may, only bringing them up out Now, whether or not the movie wasof the love and sympathy of your close to reality or not, it is some- 16

Event STQ at Antardhw ani 17 |

STQ’ s Project Event Report Cure India On February 9, 2014, volunteers from the ngo Save The Quest in collaboration with Screech Foundation and Jamia Charitable Trust organised a vaccination camp at aslum in Vasant Vihar, Delhi; as a part of the project ’CUREINDIA’. The project ’Cure India’ is a nationwide program toprovide free healthcare including free medication, surger- ies and vaccinations in order to make a ’Healthy India’. Hepatitis B is an infectious illness of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is known to be 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. The hepatitis B virus is risked to be developed in people working in healthcaresettings, by transfusions, dialysis, accupuncture, tattooe- ing, sharing razors, injections and toothbrushes with an infected person, travelling in countries where it is en- demic, etc. However this virus cannot spread by holding hands, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, kiss- ing, hugging, coughing, sneezing, or breastfeeding. Vac-cines for the prevention of hepatitis B have been routinelyrecommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as it can be prevented through routine vaccination. These organisations provided Hepatitis B vaccines to children below 12 years of age. This vaccine is given in a course of three doses, the second being given after one month of the first vaccine, and the third after six monthsof the first dose. At this camp the first dose of the vaccinewas successfully given to 300 children. The second round of the vaccine will be given in the month of March, 2014. Due to lack of awareness, a lot of people have not had their children injected with the Hepatitis B vaccine; and Save The Quest along with the Screech Foundation and Jamia Charitable Trust aim at providing this vaccine to children in slum areas all over Delhi. This first camp proved to be a successful one and the same is the hope for all the future events. | 18

PoemSection19 |

PoemSectionSUN INSIDE MY HEART OLDER AND WISER They tried to fool me, use me, school me, but all to no avail. My Holy Grail was the river side into which quite often I would slide to take a swim... Getting out of the habit was much easier than getting in and now I wish I had been schooled, not fooled by friends who didn’t care, that I, the pupil was not there. Eventually we all must learn, all must take our turn in class, Alas! I learnt it all too late and now a pensioner I wait outside the school gate for my grandchildren to leave their school, and they’re not fooling anyone, they’re being taught by one who knows that though the wayward wind still blows, it’s better being in a school than playing truant like a fool. | 20

Monthly Social Evil eradication and the hundred and twenty million of popula- brimming with energy and zeal to change the tion, a spiritual land and a fast grow- world but instead the youth is ignorant towards ing economy are what defines India, these practices and cultures prevailing in our very own society. The generation-Y is busier in- our motherland. Once considered as a backward dulging in social networking and partying rather and a third-world country, India is now making than spending some time to dwell upon the considerable progress in the modern world. Our problems prevalent around. country has left a huge impact on the global sce- We at NSS, IIT Roorkee truly believe that our society needs a change and various brilliant nario, be it the area of education, sports, eco- young minds from the country should work to- nomic growth, industrial development etc. gether to device strategies to counter these prob- lems. SANKALP’14 is aimed to achieve that But what seems a perfect fairytale is actually an change. SANKALP – a social convention- is over exaggerated version of some superficial one of the many initiatives taken by the institute to inculcate the very habit of social service things our people have succeeded in achieving. among the youth of the nation. Economic progress and lavish lifestyle doesn’t It would host various events ranging from guest necessarily describe a society’s state and so is lectures by eminent personalities to various the case with India. Once considered the bench- street plays to create awareness among the masses. The main objective is to provide a com- mark of hospitality, religion and values, the mon platform to NSS chapters and other so- modern Indian society has been facing the cially active groups in various institutes across the nation, to discuss the possibility of working stigma of various social evils. Ours is a society towards the betterment of the society, in an inte- where men are considered far superior than grated way. women in every field. Every 29 minutes a India is diverse in its culture, religion, beliefs woman is made a victim of domestic violence. and faiths. We have to look at a wider picture, to Children are forced to work at a tender age, draft a solution for the prevailing problems. We have to work in a unified manner for the uplift- women are forced into prostitution, and people ment of the society, and re-establish the idols, are discriminated on the basis of caste, class etc., which have long been demolished. Sankalp is a lakhs of people live under acute poverty and the humble effort to provide an opportunity for per- sonality development of the students through list is endless. These circumstances clearly de- community service. The need of the hour is to fine the dismal state of our society. inculcate among ourselves a feeling of being socio-economically responsible towards the na- So a natural question which arises is that who tion and this is how we will be able to boast of should be blamed for this. The answer is ‘WE’, our development and further steer our country towards the path of glory. the people who make a society and we are the cause that has led to tremendous rise in such heinous practices. Another question is who needs to cure it? The answer is the same. It is “we” only, who can end this menace prevailing in our country. The chunk of our country’s population is com- prised of people in the age group of 15-34 years of age. This youth population is supposed to be21 |

Continuation... Education IndiaFocus on Technical Unemployment nemployment is a recurrent Technical colleges are rated on the information technology and manufac- word these a days. It is this basis of their capability to place their turing -- are actually hiring fewer peo- nationwide crisis of employ- students in top companies. With such ple than before. This proves that thement that haunts people now and then huge number of engineering and percentage of quality technical col-specifically when the term is being polytechnic colleges, students usually leges is way too less than assumed inused in Technical sector. It has been find it difficult to settle for the right India.a proven fact that higher the educa- college.tional degree, higher is the rate of un- According to data from AICTE, the The quality of education in these or-employment. In the technical field, regulator for technical education in dinary colleges is not enough to getjust taking an example of a mechani- India, there were 1,511 engineering them placed in top companies. A re-cal engineer or a mechanic, electrical colleges across India, graduating over cent report acknowledges a qualityengineer or an electrician, computer problem: only 25% of graduates areengineers or a computer techni- 5,50,000 students back in 2006-07.cian, the figures suggest that it Fuelled by fast growth, especially in suitable for employment in theis easier to land a job for the lat- the such a huge outsourcing market, a offshore IT industry, and 64% ofter lot rather than the former, in raft of new colleges sprung up - since employers who have hired freshaccordance to their skills. Engi- then, the number of colleges and engineering/ technical graduatesneers after graduation find it graduates has multiplied but unfortu- are only \"somewhat\" satisfieddifficult to get a job of their nately the rate of unemployment has with their new hires -- or lesschoice. According to a survey gone down drastically in the technical than \"somewhat satisfied\" -- an-by Labour Bureau, the rate of sector. According to numerous esti- other way to say this is, onlyunemployment among gradu- mates, India trains around 1.5 million 36% of employers are fully sat-ates is much higher at 9.4%, engineers, which is more than the US isfied with the results of the In-than among the less educated and China combined. However, two dian engineering education.population at 3.9%. Thus, key industries hiring these engineersHigher your education, harder it Thus the problem of unemploy-is to land a job. ment which persists in India es- pecially in the technical sector isIndia, being a developing coun- due to the problems such as lacktry has got an edge over other of quality technical colleges andcountries, as the number of engineer- flaws in the mode of teaching.ing colleges in India outnumbers the The rate of production of engineers instatistics of most of the nations. But, India is much greater than any otherthe question is, is it a boon or a bane? nation but the quality with regards toDoes the increase in the number of their programming ability is a matterengineering colleges really matter if of deep concern. The fall in the com-they are unable to create employment petency standards of engineers andopportunities for their students? Opin- basic knowledge, conceptual under-ions and notions may differ but it is standing and application skills needsthe future of these students that is to be looked at and worked towardsbeing mocked at. Apart from few top so that the struggle to find the rightengineering colleges, the rest are con- engineers ends.sidered as equivalently ordinary. | 22