Discarding double standards

Barring a few people , the vast majority in our country experiences inequality and injustice. To stay in our race with time, we have devised new ways of dealing with different kinds of people. The most powerful of these tools is following double standards in our day-to-day life.Double standard in simple words means to have different set of rules to deal with different people pertaining to the same group. This can be easily understood with the help of a simple example. In a single family if there are two children- a girl and a boy and the family favours the education of the only the boy then it is following double standard in availing equal opportunities to them. If we wait and ponder then we will find that our vicinity is teeming with such examples. Be it school, college, office, home or social gatherings we have different masks for different people. In a single classroom the child who is tagged as topper seldom gets scolded by the teacher on not completing an assignment but on the contrary the child who is a mediocre is rebuked harshly for the same reason. People who vow of their integrity are found to follow double standards when there is disharmony in their preaching and their actions. After all what’s the reason that we so effortlessly use double standards in our day-to-day life. In my view there are two factors that persuade us to do so. The first one is greed that is inherent in us and the second one is our fear to stand alone if we follow the path of truth and righteousness. It takes courage to be true and fair in all our dealings. Double standards can satiate our greed and ego but they can never gratify us. Discarding off such differential approaches will surely lead to the establishment of a just society.

Oxygen ... a movement view

16/11/2008

'My voice: decisive intervention'

We are glad to inform you that Oxygen- a movement is starting a new scholarship programme - 'My voice: decisive intervention.' Every Sunday we raise a contemporary issue at our discussion hall and discuss comprehensively on it besides talking on the main topic. The points that come up during the discussion are summarized in the form of editorial of the newsletter of that week. This very editorial is also put on our website-www.oxygenamovement.org, so that it can reach to masses. Under this programme students will have to comment on all the editorials of that month (separately), on our website/blog. They will be required to leave their name, class, e-mail address, school and location below their comment. The comment should be in between 100-150 words. They will also be required to vote the comment which has been entered before their own comment and appeals them the most. Their vote should be in the last line of their write up. The last day of voting will be 20th of the concerned month.
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.
Through their comments and votes children can constructively intervene in various problems/issues. The consensus drawn from the votes can prove decisive in making our system truly democratic. 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 one's own viewpoint.
We believe that participatory role of young people is very important in a democratic nation like ours where the youth represents nearly half of the population. This programme will also inculcate responsiveness in students towards various social issues. And with this hope we will be implementing this scholarship programme from the month of November. We look forward with co-operation from you and an enthusiastic participation from your friends.

Sense of ownership: a must-be for everyone

We all have more or less joined the fray to be the owner of as many ‘material-possessions’ as we can. We always have it in our mind to acquire more and more. At one moment it seems that the world is ours but is it really so? If we really thought this world to be our family and had a sense of ownership for it then the world around us would be much happier than what it is now.We all take pride in owning a foreign bike or an expensive watch and take care that they remain in sound condition. Do we have a sense of ownership for our people? Why do we restrict our sense of ownership to few material manifestations? If we peep into our age-old culture then we will find that it is the land that propounded the theory of ‘Vasudhav Kutumbakam’. If this is our culture then why do we turn indifferent to our fellow beings? The reason is clear that the sense of ownership is fading within us with the passage of time. The missing of this very essential virtue is evident in the deepening rift between people, the burgeoning number of orphanages and old-age homes and the glaring hatred between various groups of people. If we really nurture this sense of ownership in ourselves then there would be less tension in our social set-up. Today when we see that we lack a sense of ownership and many of the grandparents are left alone to lead a melancholy life then having a sense of ownership for our country and people may sound funny. Its well said that home is the first and the best school any child. So it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to inculcate a sense of ownership in their children since the very beginning. We all live in a society and are inter-dependant on one another. If we lack this feeling of ownership then we will soon see this society fragmenting into small pieces each intriguing against the other.

Oxygen... a movement view

9/11/08

Student Forum : voicing the voiceless

There are many things regarding children which they themselves can understand better and hence can come up with the best probable solution. Children who so far have been considered as unproductive can turn into instruments of change. Children, who are not so very accustomized to the stereotyped ways of looking and understanding things can give new outlook to those things. Student forum came into existence today as an initiative of few students who believe that voicing the voiceless is their right and duty. Student representatives of about 15 schools attended the meeting and vowed that they will co-operate and work together for a better world. Though it has started with a small group of students , it is sure to get support of thousands of students across the nation.The many aspects of children and education which has been undermined so far will come to limelight with the efforts of members of the student forum. The forum also aims to act as a suggesting body, presenting new ideas and programmes for the all round development of students. The students would suggest their school management and also various other concerned authorities regarding various changes and modification that are immediately needed in our system. History is evident that when people have united and stood for a cause then they have achieved what was thought to be impossible. Now its time that students belonging to various schools join hands to solve the problems faced by them during their period of study. They will see that children are made aware of their rights and at no point their rights are denied to them. The forum will try to dissolve walls and create bridges between students making the environment conducive for building a better nation. They will also endeavour that the steps taken by them not only prove beneficial to them but benefit the society at large. Lets hope and work sincerely to transform this nebula of student forum into a water-ladened cloud that will bring relief to all of us.

Oxygen ... a movement view

2/11/2008

Deepawali for everyone

When lord Rama returned to Ayodhya along with goddess Sita after defeating the wicked Ravana then the people of the kingdom lit diyas to welcome their lord and to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Since then the people of this great nation have been celebrating this festival of light with great enthusiasm.
Deepawali is not just about lighting the lamps, decorating our homes, playing with firecrackers and relishing sweets. Rather this is a festival to forget all rivalries, befriending others and celebrating the victory of good over evil with the warmth of togetherness. In today’s scenario when so many people around us a aggrieved with something or the other then it becomes a collective responsibility to alleviate their pain. How can we feel happy and contented when our brethren are dying with hunger, ailing with diseases, fighting misery and living in hopelessness? Happiness multiplies and sorrow lessens by sharing, so let’s promote sharing. There are multiple problems persisting in our society which have to be disposed forever.
Let us lit the kindle of love and brotherhood this diwali and spread the message of goodness everywhere. If we are celebrating this festivity lavishly then lets not forget the neighbour next door.
Its not so that we will lose something by sharing, one certainly gets immense pleasure by spreading happiness. The meaning of sharing has been modified in modern context. Today ‘sharing’ means sharing with those from whom we can draw benefit. The meaning of sharing can be truly realized only when extend our help to a person in real need or someone is crestfallen. The very essence of any festival is to keep the goodness alive. Lets make a sincere concerted effort to combat all evils and make this place a better place to live in.
Oxygen… a movement view

26/10/2008