My Voice : Decisive Intervention

Every Sunday besides discussing on the main topic i.e. ‘Our expectations from the educated people and the educated system’ , we also raise a contemporary issue in our discussion hall and discuss comprehensively on that. The same theme comes out in the newsletter in the form of editorial. Besides on paper this subject matter is also put on our website- http://www.oxygenamovement.org/ .People can comment on the editorial on the blog.We are glad to announce a new scholarship scheme– ‘My voice: decisive intervention’. Under this scheme students have to comment on all the editorials of that month. They will be required to leave their name, class, e-mail address, school and location below their comment. They will also be required to vote the comment which they feel is the best. The comment should not exceed 100 words. The last date of filing your entry will be 20th of the concerned month. Their vote should be the last in the last line of the their write up.Out of all the comments, the top ten comments having maximum votes will be short-listed. Out of these, three best comments will be chosen (after personally contacting each student through internet) and given scholarship. This scholarship will amount to the student’s one month school fee. The votings would be clear and transparent as everything will be on the website/blog.This voting will be a good means to exercise your freedom of speech and thought. You can also know as to what others of your age-group feel on various contemporary issues.Through your comments and votes you can intervene in various problems/issues.The consensus drawn from the votes can prove decisive in making our system truly democratic as it entails an active participation of the populace. And an active participation of all the citizens is indispensable in shaping the future of the nation.

Thoughts, viewpoints and logics given by others may modify , clarify or even add a new dimension to your own viewpoint. Participatory role of young people is very important in a democratic nation like ours where the youth represents nearly half the population.

Oxygen... a movement view

19/10/2008

Ensuring good future to all children

It is rightly said that child is the father of man. As the fate of a seed depends on many extrinsic and intrinsic factors, so does the fate of a child depend on multiple factors.
To survive on this planet there are few` basic requirements. With the gradually sky rising prices and less avenues of development, upbringing of a child is becoming more and more difficult .Children need proper care and attention all the time. First of all there has to be security of nutritious food for children so that no child remains undernourished. If they are not given proper nutrition from the very beginning then they will not develop a proper immunity to fight diseases and infections. Since a good majority of our population does not belong to the affluent class so provisions have to be made to insure an efficient public distribution system. The state has to see that its people are getting at least the basic facilities. If the public distribution system is sound then there will be no child who goes to sleep with an empty stomach.
However if children suffer from any ailment despite of proper nutrition then there must be a strong infrastructure for healthcare. A lot more has been done but a great deal is still to be done in providing public health facilities. There has to be an extensive free vaccination programme. There is also dearth of such hospitals where treatment and medicines are free or available at a subsidized rate.
The next most important requirement for children is - quality education. Each child should rightfully get admitted to school where he/she can get education. Education should be such that each child becomes skilled and self-reliant. Education should aim at molding each child into a lamp that lightens his/her home and also the world outside. So we need to provide these three things to children to ensure them a good future.
Oxygen… a movement view

12/10/2008

Victory of good over evil

Indian culture is an amalgamation of many diverse cultures be it in terms of faith, food, dress, rituals, language or customs. It is a colourful land celebrating numerous festivities round the year. Though these festivals are many in number but each of them has its own relevance. The Durga Puja that is celebrated with great enthusiasm and ferver gives the message of the victory of good over evil. The deity who is worshiped during this festival is lordless Durga and her numerous incarnations. She represents all divine forces united against evil. It is believed that lordless durga killed various devils thus ending their reign of terror. This mythological event reveals that unjust actions against mankind can not be forgiven and are liable to punishment.

The devils who were killed by the goddess were symbols of evil, sin and darkness while the goddess represents goodness, justice and humility. The Goddess brought relief to all those who were oppressed and stuck to the path of righteousness and dharma. The festival also teaches us that truth always triumphs.

Many mythological events are associated to dussera which occured in different eras. According to Ramayan, lord Rama invoked the blessings of goddess Durga to kill the then reigning wicked-Ravana. Lord Ram killed Ravana on vijayadashmi. According to the epic Mahabharat, the pandavas returned from their exile on Vijayadashmi and revealed their true identity to the world. Hence Vijayadashmi or the day of dassera is significant in ways more than one.
Various rituals are performed during dassera which may seem irrelevant at a glance but they do have a logic behind which is for the benefit of mankind. For example the practice of being on fast partly or wholly helps in detoxicification of the body which otherwise consumes all kind of food. The burning of diya and incense sticks or performance of havan generates a positive energy around besides building a holistic aura in which one can meditate or concentrate on god. Through various incidences mentioned in our scriptures or epics we get the message that wrongdoings done to others are definitely bounced back and we reap as we sow. One who follows the path of righteousness is loved by god and the almighty himself will come to the rescue of such people. Truth may remain hidden at times but it never dies. The most important message that dassera unveils is that we all should respect women for she is vested with great power by nature and moreover she is the harbinger of life. We all must remember that the essence of dassera is not in just worshiping the mud idol but to respect the living soul that resides in all women. Therefore it is rightly said that “yatra nariyestu pujyente ramente tatra devta”.
Oxygen… a movement view

5/10/2008

Remembering Gandhi each day

As soon as we hear the word Gandhi, the picture of a person with round spectales on his face and wrapped in a dhoti appears in our mind.Though this person was cladded in the minimum but nevertheless he had unbeatable principles and undaunted courage. He was one man of this modern age who believed that truth always triumphs.He was a staunch believer of ahimsa and satyagrah. He with his vision played an eminent role in liberating our nation from the shackles of slavery.
He not only was a political leader but also a social reformer. He condemned the practise of untouchability and worked for the upliftment ofthe harijans.He preached no theory for according to his life itself was a message to people. This lean and thin had concentrated all the power in himself to change what was wrong and unjust. He adopted simple methods to convey and convince people of his thoughts and ideas.
He popularized khadi to weave the entire nation into a fabric of onenesss and unity.Khadi according to him was not only a symbol of simplicity but also a means of bread to the millions who form an integral part of our country.
Besides this he also propounded the theory of nayee taalim. According to this primary education should be free and compulsory. he proposed that children should be taught in their mother tongue and they should be given haath ki taalim that not only enhances their creativity but also give them a means of livlihood when required.
This great leader lovingly called bapu strived all his life to establih peace and harmony in addition to working for social justice and equality.
Today it sems that the essence gan dhian thought has faded.We have forgotten on what principles our freedom was attained. Bapu had dreamt of aprosperous and happy nation but unfortunately it has tsill ot been realized.His dreams can never be realized unless we don’t stop neglecting masses for the benefit of only a handful of people. Let’s not restrict Gandhian thoughts to one our two days but rather incorporate his values in our lives. An honest endeavour from our side will certainly bring drastic social and political reforms. Let’s imbibe ‘Simple Living and High Thiking’ in our lives and make our country the best place to live in.
Oxygen… a movement view

Child Rights

Every individual is born with some basic, inalienable rights that he/she shll not be deprived of. The UN convention on rights of child declared everyone below the age of 18 as a child.Like adults children too have some rights that are usually neglected by we adults who think that a child has got no right and should do as directed by parents or society. It’s pathetic that millions of children are exploited or harassed thinking them to be voiceless and a commodity of use. Most children are unaware of their rights which makes them susceptible to abuse and exploitation.
The major child rights include-
(1)Right to survival- life,health,nutrition, name & nationality.(2)Right to protection-against neglect, exploitation & abuse.(3)Right to participation- ie. right to expression, information, thought & religion.(4)Right to development- that includes right to education,care,lisure and gowth. Let us all create awareness about child rights among both youth & adults for a happier childhood.
Oxygen… a movement view