Ostracised even in death

I came across an article in the Hindustan Times yesterday that made realise something I had chosen to ignore. The bitter truth of the existence of uneducated, backward masses in our country and their sheer ignorance to listen to reason.

Asha Devi waited beside the body of her husband for two days but the villagers of Khaira in Bihar’s Dharbhanga district shunned her house. Neighbours murmured that if they stepped inside the house, they would contract a killer virus. The reason: Asha’s husband Surendra Kumar had been HIV positive.

The widow had to drag her husband’s body all on her own to the backyard of her house and cremate it with twigs and leaves she had collected.

This is the reality of a state where NGOs and government agencies spend hundreds of crores every year to spread AIDS awareness.The government’s slogan of ‘Fear HIV, not the HIV patient’ does not seem to have reached this tiny hamlet.

A few years ago, another family was boycotted at Hathuri village in Muzaffarpur district after four members died of AIDS. The villagers treated the family as a pariah until the government intervened.

All this goes on to show awareness alone won’t help. Attitudes must change too.

Don't...

Dont look into my eyes

I cannot meet your gaze

Dont take my hands in yours

I cannot keep my promise

Dont hold me in your arms

I cannot stay forever

Dont whisper my name

I cannot hear your voice

Dont caress my face

I cannot feel your touch

Dont tell me you love me

I'm not destined to love...

Happy Holi!

A shade of pink
At the break of dawn
To lift your spirits

A streak of yellow
Across the sky
To brighten your day

A touch of blue
In the breeze
To keep you fresh

A canopy of green
Above your head
To keep the sun away

Hues of red
Along your path
To spread the cheer

Take the plunge
Into the palette of life
Don’t stop at the rainbow!

Boo hoo!!

I’m not made for journalism. It’s a frightening thought, but after 3 years of trying to survive in this field, I have realized I’m not cut out to be a journalist. Fine time to think of that!! This last semester has been especially gruesome. In our freshman year, we thought we’ll have a fantastic, relaxed last semester. It’s only the project and internship…no exams! Vo to ho hi jayega! Sigh… Now I’m actually wishing that we had exams instead.

It all started sometime in October, when The Monster (refer: The teacher from hell) told us to think of a topic for our final semester project. We did. We came up with brilliant topics…none of which, however, appealed to her. Then, after much ‘soul-searching’ we told her to suggest one that does appeal to her. Big mistake. I soon found myself stuck with ‘Development issues in Jharkhand’. Jesus, that’s the last thing I wanted! I have searched high and low for some kind of sources that could give me some kind information so I can prepare some kind of project! Until now, the internet has been a darling! But unfortunately, my darling cannot get me interviews. And I have to put at least 3 of them. Whoop-de-doo.

And then there’s the internship. Somehow managed to get into Doordarshan and is it great or what! I have been, for some unknown reason, placed under the Sports beat. Two days, I have watched the India vs. England test match so closely, recording it on tape, logging every four runs, every six runs, every wicket and every mis-field. For 4 and a half hours at a stretch. By the time I got home, I hated TV and I hated cricket.

And the best part is, that my internship clashes with the period in which I have to prepare my project. And they say I’m lucky to get into DD and some even say I’m lucky to get such an ‘interesting’ topic for my project. If this is luck, give me disaster! And even after all this, I am so pig headed that I’m sitting here, blogging about it!! I gotta go....!