Category: ViewPoint

Smile Children, It’s Jai Ho

· 2 Comments ·

Children forget to live their lives in the role play cut to shape for them by others who have vested interest. The most recent example is the kids of Slumdog Millionaire. From slum to millionaire is a beautiful portrayal of aspiration, but not so when it comes to the characters in flesh and blood.

The starry nights from Oscars to Golden Globe to National awards and Filmfare is a fairy tale story for all those children of streets and slums. Their life goes for a further makeover with every opportunity that follows them. Whether they understand fashion or politics is immaterial, the children are part of every possible event. Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail of Slumdog fame not only walked the ramp with models and actors at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi but also participated as the prop for election campaigns.

The shutter bugs, as usual, are busy chasing their beats. Even when Azharuddin is beaten up by his father, it made to pages of the daily and reason for discussions in television.

Yet thanks to their nose for news, and unbiased approach, they managed to trace some “star” children who got recognition world wide and were out of sight all this while. Did anyone of us ever wonder what could happen to such children once they grow up?

A flashback. With millions of dreams and million dollar question in heart the children, who were part of the Oscar-winning documentary Born Into Brothels in 1995, walked the stage of Kodak Theatre to receive the prestigious Oscars.

It was also a once in a lifetime chance to change their lives.

Zana Briski, the director of the film, along with well wishers had offered to help these children. Currently while two of them are pursing education abroad, others are educating themselves living in India. Ironically Preeti Mukherjee who decided to return, today lives to tell the real story as a sex worker. It is very unfortunate to see her join her mother in the profession.

Though Zana has been upset that she could not rescue the kid, “At this age, I have a flat, a laptop, costly phones and plenty of money. What do I lack?” Preeti has been quoted saying.

It is no surprise then to find the children of Slumdog still living in anticipation even if their schools have closed door on them for their non-attendance. They have got a second chance – Rubina and Azharuddin have been awarded scholarships for free education, a noble attempt by a self-help group.

“I want to make full use of this opportunity and study hard and when I grow up I want to become a successful actor like Salman Khan.” That is Azharuddin’s dream.

For Pinki, the main protagonist of Oscar winning documentary Smile Pinki, it has been a journey from being a social outcast in her village to her acceptance. Back in school with many friends, it is difficult to even picture her with no friends and the truth that she was once ostracised and teased. “Today, she’s the star.”

It is almost a month since the Oscars. However, the media has not let the fever die. The news chasers, in the process, has unknowingly hit upon information that really needed some follow ups. Perhaps their efforts can be a turning point.

Stars have reasons to shine, and a future that can strike gold. These children are reaping the timely benefits that are coming their way. Like most, even these children are innocent and naïve. Long term plans are still under wraps. Who decides their future, would remain unanswered. However, one can only hope that Rubina, Azharuddin and Pinki are not in the yet another making of victim of circumstance.

Secure Your Valentine Financially

· 2 Comments ·

v-pic-gold

Valentine’s Day has turned out to be one of the best phases at the time of economic slowdown. If Cupid’s arrow has struck the right chord of love, there are better ways to ensure financial security for a lifetime than just a V-Day special momentary gift.

From financial strength to financial security, the various practical investment practices can permanently bind the hearts for ever.

Of course, winning your partner to listen to you is in your hands. But before you start going ahead with your wise investment plans, do a complete homework to be aware and well informed about the various available investment resources. Also as a novice, taking help from investment consultants is very essential. The final call will be any day yours.

“Where to begin” finds answer in trying out the time-tested investment avenue. “Gold is best suited for occasions like these, as it results in a successful marriage of investment objective and consumption needs,” suggested financial advisors.

Gold as an investment has been resorted by the wealthy families world over for centuries because they are portable as well as compact. “With uncertainty in the stock market and decline in the US dollar, investors are taking a fresh look at gold as an investment option. Gold works as a perfect hedge against investment in other assets,” experts explained.

“In fact, when other investments take a beating, gold investment tends to stabilise.”

There are banks offering gold coins. Other than that, Gold ETFs and gold deposit schemes floated by jewellery houses too fit the bill. Not far in the market, India Post, in association with World Gold Council and Reliance Money, is planning to launch a gold accumulation plan, which facilitates the purchase of small quantities when investors have the money during a particular month.

Indeed, most financial planners recommend gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) to physical gold. “The savings start right from the purchase stage. All sellers, including banks, charge a commission on the actual gold price. This can be 1-5 per cent.

“In case of an emergency, the real value of gold cannot be realised. Banks don’t buy back, they only lend against it. Jewellers buy it at a discount. Gold ETFs have none of these problems,” experts explained.

In comparison to buying jewellery, a gold fund or ETF would be a better option as it has shown steady returns even during the most uncertain times.

Going beyond gold, there are other ways to secure for life. A health or life insurance policy for your loved ones, mutual funds with monthly or yearly returns, or even the monthly income scheme with post offices are a marriage of two souls to financial well-being.

“Like the sale schemes being offered by retailers across the country, the stock market too is in discount mode, with several large-cap stocks being available at extremely low valuations.

Moreover, the ongoing tax-saving season provides you with an opportunity to help your spouse plan his/her taxes as well. An equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS) with a good track record would be the ideal choice, as its lock-in feature would eliminate the chances of making withdrawals before three years.”

The underlying cause for many couples to take the extreme step to separation or divorce has for ages been the aspect of money and wealth. Financial security not only ensures a safe relationship, but also a healthy family reunion. V-Day is only an open invitation to think for a better tomorrow, if still you are not sure.

Chapter of Life: Action and Reaction

· Leave a comment ·

There are days in your life when nothing seems to be going the way you had planned and wished. There are days in your life, when your patient self gives away to the hurt words and actions of others. There are also days when you feel torn apart and you end up saying thing, which you should not have said. There are thus some days when you end up hurting somebody through words or actions even if you did not intend to do so. These are just your frustrations that you may have found an outlet for.

By the time you realise what had happened, equations in relationship often undergo change, forever. And the time that you missed never comes back. Still life, sometimes, gives a second chance.

Yet the best option is always to keep a check on yourself, before you even give yourself a reason to regret and wait for a second chance. My personal experience has done wonders.

– A deep breath to invite calm

It is very difficult to get a clear picture of a situation when emotions like anger and tears arrest you.
Have you ever wondered how you react when your boss calls you into his room to tell you that your performance has not been remarkable, especially at the time of recession? Some react instantly, some stay calm. For sure it would not be a laid back attitude as you know that the current economic situation has also turned more demanding from a performance point of view.
Of course you cannot ignore it. Also, the more you think about your boss’s remark, sleepless nights and a temperament to harm others with words will take more control of your otherwise friendly and calm nature. It is not easy to forget but still you can move over such situations – beginning by taking deep breaths. This would calm you down, and prevent an ugly display of emotions, war of words and wrong decisions.

– A second to think

When situations are not fine, emotions very easily shroud your thinking process. However, by taking a second to think will instantly prevent you from simply surrendering yourselves to the rule of feelings and sentiments. “I’m right, and you are wrong” would soon give way to, “May be I went wrong somewhere, I’ll get back to you”.
In case, if it is your boss who gave you a trimming down session, you would think about the probable reason for the boss’s reaction. Also, instead of bad mouthing and sulking, you would begin thinking of working on target achievements.
You need not run away from situations; or think of “I quit because he said so”.
A second to think can make a whole lot of difference.
– A word it takes to make or break
It is best to avoid any conversation when you cannot think well, especially when you are a victim of emotions. At such a time there are more chances of speaking out those words and things that are hurtful, display aggression, arrogance and animosity. The end result would be nothing but shocked friends, colleagues and dear ones. When you calm down, you will be equally ashamed of yourself and your actions.
As children you might have hurt your parents several times. Once you acknowledge your mistake, or in some cases the parents help you correct your ways, everything is back to normal. And you remember not to repeat the mistake. The parents forgive you and continue to love you as always. However, imagine such a situation with your boss? It becomes really embarrassing coming back to the office after you create a sticky situation.

– A sorry comes to rescue

“I’m sorry,” “I apologise,” “I regret my action”. These are some of the word combination you resort to sort out an issue. It means a lot if you genuinely mean it.
I remember leaving sorry notes on my father’s table. The boss also appreciates if you say sorry for your action. But you have to give your bloated ego a reality check to understand the practical demands of life.
In fact, often it is our ego at work that causes trouble in a generally peaceful environment. Therefore, do not expect anything in return for the sorry that you said to someone.

– A dislike, to adjust to

It is not necessary that you like everybody whom you come in contact with. Every person has a unique individuality. Your may like some, love others and hate few. But when living in a society, be it home, school, college or office, you have to learn to master the art of adjusting to your dislikes too. For instance, you do not like the way a particular colleague gossips, writes mails to top boss with cooked up office stories and situations that did not exist. Unfortunately the person shares the office space with you.
Every day you have to see and be with the person though you hate to do so. Therefore, you become rational. Since it is impossible to change a person, you decide to adjust and concentrate on work.

An article on life that you typed on computer is easy to correct or delete by pressing the keys or mouse button. In real life, you do not often get a chance to undo your emotions, words and actions, once it is expressed. As an ordinary human being, you are bound to make mistakes and sometimes break relations too; next time think before you act.

Published in ezine.com

India Wakes to Chinese Make

· Leave a comment ·

The association of Chinese products and Indian market is a long story. History has witnessed material import from China, especially Chinese silk, making way into silk industry. Chinese sarees are not new to Indian woman and so are the Lord Ganesha idols, electronic goods and toys. The six months ban imposed on import of toys from China is a direction taken to protect the domestic industry; a much needed step on the part of government to help the survival of various struggling domestic and cottage industries in India.

Indeed, the Chinese goods have become the current fad everywhere, especially for its low pricing. However, import of Chinese fabric has not struck the right chord with the saree industry.

In fact, sarees, unique to its Indian roots, is today a part of international culture, with blend of foreign material in an Indian connection. But it made news when silk sarees, especially Banarsi, the undisputed queen of every woman’s wardrobe, saw the weavers on a protest march last year as the Chinese sarees, a cheap imitation of authentic Banarsi, enjoyed better sales.

Named after the holy city of Varanasi or Banaras, this exclusive Indian treasure, is today facing the tunes of social and economic change. Though the finance minister has given India an assurance that we belong to secure zone, the industries have started facing the heat. The still ongoing economic crisis is fast spreading its tentacles to every form of business, choking the profit makers.

“Business of Banarsi saree has come down due to economic recession around the globe in many ways. Because all the fabrics made here are luxury items. All those who purchase these are the ones who are rich, either from India or from abroad…. People, who buy the stuff eventually, are affected by this financial crisis. And therefore, this influences us,” said Maqbool Hasan, a Banarsi saree exporter in a news report.

Rich in traditional and Persian motifs, brocades with intricate designs created from gold and silver thread, once upon a time Banarsi sarees found a world wide platform during the rule of Mughals.

The rulers, known for their flamboyance, encouraged silk weaving to that of the cotton. The glorious history survives through some of the traditional patterns and designs that are hard to duplicate; and a saree lover has a variety to choose from, be it pure silk (katan), organza (kora) with zari and silk, georgette, or shattir.

Little wonder then that the millions of people in the city are dependent on saree weaving, which is a kind of cottage industry in Varanasi. These traditional families of weavers burn their midnight oil to make the saree from home.

The poor, mostly illiterate weavers have to confront many a situation to weave the prestigious sarees. From the moneylenders to the climate and the availability of raw material to the laborious working conditions, everything has an impact on the physical and mental state of about 15 lakh people in the Banarsi saree industry.

The specialty of Banarsi saree is, in short, the skilled labour that is as distinct as the place itself. The rest of raw materials, including zari, silk and dye are imported from other places.

Interestingly, the raw silk used for weaving Banarsi sarees has always had a foreign connection. Earlier, it was Japan and now China has taken over the reign. Raw silk is not only imported, but also smuggled and sold in the black market.

Despite the fact that Karnataka and Gujarat have taken over as the primary providers, Chinese silk is still giving a tough competition. According to a 2007 news report, raw silk from China is thought to contribute up to 50 to 60 per cent of the sari-weaving market in Varanasi.

Similarly, when the weavers or artisans are spending days together to weave a saree, powerloom owners have made things simpler with computer-assisted copying of designs. They are producing cheap imitations of original Banarsi at various places. To add to the misery, these imitation sarees are said to be enjoying better profit margins.

With the sale of sarees going down and rising inflation making things difficult for the suppliers to meet the demands, artisans are feeling the heat in their sole profession.

“The business is not doing well. We work for 15 days and often there is no work for another 15 days. Initially, the labour charge was Rs 500 and today, it is only Rs 400,” said Javed, a weaver.

The struggle for existence has taken a toll on such weavers.

Instead of testing their patience further, they have opted for alternate means of livelihood. While some are working at construction sites and as rickshaw pullers, others are migrating for better job prospects.

Thanks to globalisation, Indian goods have better exposure internationally; nevertheless, the doors have also let in scenes of insecurity.

The Indian handloom and cottage industries have emerged stronger after every unwarranted crisis for years and the past sows seeds of hope for the Banarsi saree industry. The decision to ban Chinese toys may be just the first step, but it also goes to show that domestic industry still holds primary concern. It is easy to find skilled labour, but maintaining the tradition needs attention and care.

Published in:Merinews.com… A Merinews Pick…
India wakes up to Chinese make by Deeya Nayar-Nambiar