If you want a degree, you have to give an affidavit that the dowry will not be bought or given

 

If you want a degree, you have to give an affidavit that the dowry will not be bought or given

 It is true that the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, the rules enacted in 1985 and the Domestic Violence Protection Act of 2005 have benefited to a very limited extent and the laws have often been in favor of the perpetrators. That is why Kozhikode, Kerala and MG Universities have decided to take affidavits from students. Dowry will not be bought, will not be given. Students may see it as a joke and sign it. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that the dowry will be abolished. Not only the youth but also parents should sign such an affidavit. In the institutions we approach for various purposes, we usually sign some affidavits without even looking at them. This may become one of them. It is also said that those who enter the job at the university have to undergo disciplinary action if they demand a dowry.

Is it enough just at university? Would it be beneficial to increase the number of cases in the courts in future? Why can't the government issue a notification applying it to all  higher education institutions in the public and private sector, and the people appointed in  all government jobs? Can't the State Legislature recommend to the Center to scrape the old law of 1961 and bring in a strong law in line with present day needs? Or if the Government of Kerala has the power to do so, why not make a strong law that sets an example for other states?

The Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules of 2004 and the amendments introduced in 2021 are not effective. In addition to making it compulsory to register the marriage with the local authority, the inclusion of an affidavit giving details of gift given by the parents to the bride may also help in eliminating dowry disputes to some extent.

The Angel -A history based movie -review

 

The Angel –movie review

    The Angel is the real story of a double agent named Ashraf Marwan. Ashraf was the son-in-law  of Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser. The family, which included wife Mona and son, was in London. Ashraf was studying there. Nasser did not like Ashraf, who was addicted to alcohol and gambling. Nasser asked his daughter to divorce him ,but she disagreed. Ashraf, who knew  the internal secrets of the regime, planned to leak information to Israel for money and tried to contact the Israeli ambassador , but to no avail. Nasser was preparing for the Great War to reclaim the land occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. Nasser publicly ridiculed Ashraf's suggestion to leave the Soviet friendship and make friends with the United States. Nasser died of a heart attack shortly afterwards.

Arriving in Cairo, Ashraf obtained some crucial documents related to the corruption of the military chief and aid-de-camp Sami Sharaf from Nasser's room. Vice President Anwar Sadat later became president. He gave the president documents that could imprison Sami Sharaf and his associates who did not approve of Sadat. With that, Ashraf had become Anwar Sadat's favorite. It was during this time that Mossad , Israeli spy agency, contacted Ashraf tracking the  phone call he made to the Israeli embassy years back. That was the big turning point in his life. Ashraf becomes a double agent for leaking secrets to Israel. His nickname was Angel.

He has to work with a Canadian-Israeli Mossad agent known as Alex. Ashraf had given information on Sadat's move to seize the  Sinai Peninsula, but Sadat withdrawn the move  on both times. Ashraf’s  continuous efforts succeeded in making  Sadat  closer to the United States. Since  Ashraf's  information  went wrong for 2 times, Israel lost faith in Ashraf.  The defensive moves  on both time caused huge losses to Israel. They did not heed the third message of war. The war took place on the day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jews. Egypt made great strides in the Sinai province in an unexpected war. Many died. Eventually, with the intervention of the United States, both countries agreed for a peace treaty at Camp David . Then ,there were peace for long  40 years . Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin  received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

 

Mona  believed that Ashraf had a secret affair with Diana, a British actress who had helped Ashraf in espionages. Hence,she divorced Ashraf.  But Ashraf was completely loyal to Mona. Ashraf died in 2007 after falling from his flat in London. Ashraf, who has been responsible for a long time peace, is revered as the national hero of Egypt and Israel.

Directed by Arel Vromen, the film is scripted by David Aratta and story  by Uri Bar Joseph. Marwan Kenzari (Ashraf), Maisa Elhadi (Mona), Waheed Zuaiter (Nassar), Sasson Gabai (Sadat) and Toby Kebbell) were the lead actors. No doubt, it’s worth to see as a history based film.  It  is available on Netflix.

The big change in Indian railways is welcome

 

The big change in Indian Railways is welcome

 Indian Railways, which was started during the British rule and still employs a large number of people , transports the largest number of passengers and freight, is undergoing a major transformation.This big change in Railways is welcome move . It  will definitely  improve financial and functional ability of Indian Railways.  The Railway will  close down some institutions and merge some  others. The Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE), the Central Organization for Modernization of Workshops (COFMOU), the Center for Railway Information System (CRIS) and the Indian Railways Organization for Alternative Fuel(IROAF) are the major firms to be winded up. The Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will now handle the operations of the Center for Railway Information System. Railtel, the largest fiber optic chain, will now be part of the IRCTC. Rail Vikas Nigam to be merged with Indian Railway Construction Limited (IRCON). Schools run by the railways will be handed over to the Kendriya Vidyalaya or the state governments. Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareilly, Diesel Locomotive Works in Chittaranjan, Diesel Loco Modernization Works in Patiala ,Rail Wheel units at  Bangalore Yalhaka and Bel,Bihar  will be merged into Central Public Sector Enterprises. The Central University will be started by merging the Central Training Institute and the National Training & Transportation Institute. The Railways also aims to develop 125 railway hospitals and 586 health units with private participation.Railways launched an innovative programme titled Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojna ,which will give training to 50,000 youth in the age group of 18 to 35 over three years in electrician,welder,machinist and fitter trades. The training would be provided free of cost . Hopefully these changes will  be beneficial for a healthy and prosperous Railways in India. 

Sports sector must be freed from the shackles of politics

 

The sports sector must be freed from the shackles of politics

While winning 7 medals, including a gold, at the Tokyo Olympics and making a comeback in hockey is a blessing in disguise, but the infiltration of politicians in the sports associations  and years of such practices will, in all means ,adversely affect  sports and games in the years to come. Organizations and institutions in the field of sports should be led by those in the field themselves.

 At the same time, there is a need to provide world-class coaches and ensure international training. Instead of supporting the sportsperson just a few years before the International events , the government should adopt a mechanism  to find the talents at the early stages of their development and to adopt them and give training on an international standard is essential. The interest shown by the Orissa Chief Minister and Government in hockey is commendable. And it worked. After 1980, India won the hockey title once again.

It is also important to make  sports and games  a lifestyle of all citizens. It is  important for a healthy society. It seems that the new education policy will help to rid the children of the culture of bookworms in order to get higher employment opportunities. But , at the same time , many unpleasant reports  of political interference are constantly coming out. The move to harass Parvez Rasool, known as the Venus star of Kashmir cricket, is the latest. The BCCI's recently formed subcommittee is reportedly looking into whether Rasool can be nailed. The committee is headed by Brigadier Anil Gupta, a BJP spokesperson. Another member is BJP leader Sunil Sethi and the third is former cricketer Mithun Manhas. It is imperative that Government should  clean up organizations by eliminating politicians who are content to mentally abuse players in this way.

Caste census is a must for equality

 

Caste Census

India is truly a completely caste based society. Caste-based reservation exists in politics, government employment and education. Vote bank politics is so strong in India.Hence,political parties give weightage  to the powerful castes since independence. The voice of the weak is suppressed. Therefore, all political parties and powerful communities fear a caste-wise census. The seriousness of this is doubled when it is said that the last caste census in India was conducted in British India in 1931.

 It is in this context that the petition filed by a group of 10 including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Leader of the Opposition Tejaswi Yadav and local BJP leaders to  the Prime Minister for conducting  a caste census is relevant. One thing is for sure. There are many castes in India who are under-represented in politics, society, employment and education. The democracy that exists today will be complete if they too are properly represented. Only then can we think about the next step. The ultimate goal of Indian democracy is secularism and equality for all. If it is to be achieved within the next one hundred years, it must be given to those who have not been given equal opportunity by conducting a caste census.

There are many truths we know without the census. A general inquiry will show that some in the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Communities and Forward Communities get more reservation benefits and some less benefits. There are thousands of castes and sub-castes in the Hindu community of India itself. There are more than ten castes in almost every community, including Muslims and Christians. Finding all of them accurately is a historic mission. The central government must be prepared to take it. The government also has a mission to empower the economic  middle class  and the backwards in all castes by segregating them into economically advanced, less advanced  and backward. This historic mission can only be undertaken by the democratic parties with higher will power  and dedication as the organized castes will oppose it.