Protect Hindus
Amnesty Internatiional Urges Bangladeshi Government

In the wake of a wave of violent attacks on the country’s minority Hindu community, international rights group Amnesty International has urged the government to give them better protection.
Over the past week, activists taking part in strikes called by Islamic parties have vandalised more than 40 Hindu temples across Bangladesh. Scores of shops and houses belonging to the community have been burned down, leaving hundreds of people homeless, said a press release issued by the group on Wednesday.
“The Hindu community in Bangladesh is at extreme risk, in particular at such a tense time in the country,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Bangladesh researcher. “It is shocking that they appear to be targeted simply for their religion. The authorities must ensure that they receive the protection they need.”
Faiz continued, “All political parties in Bangladesh should condemn any violence against the Hindu community and instruct all their members and supporters not to take part in such attacks.”
The victims told Amnesty International that the attackers were taking part in rallies organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Jamaat, however, has publicly denied any involvement in violence against the Hindu community.
The latest attack took place on Wednesday at Daudkandi in Comilla, where a Hindu temple was vandalised and burnt down.
One of the victims told the rights group that on February 28, his family’s village at Rajganj Bazar in Noakhali was set on fire by people taking part in a Jamaat-staged strike.
“They moved into our properties and set fire to 30 of our houses. Seventy-six families were living in these houses. They also set fire to our temples,” the victim said, requesting anonymity out of concern for his safety.
The authorities have provided temporary accommodation to the affected families, he said. The families had lost almost all their belongings to theft or destruction in the violence.
Another victim said a group of about 100 young men holding banners in support of Jamaat looted and damaged four shops at Satkania in Chittagong and vandalised a Hindu temple in the village on Saturday.
Bangladesh’s Hindu minority makes up eight percent of the population and has historically been at risk of violence from the Muslim population — including during the independence war in 1971 and after the general elections in 2001, said the press release.
“Given the obvious risks the Hindu minority faces in Bangladesh, these attacks were sadly predictable. We urge the authorities to take note of the violence and act to prevent further attacks,” noted Faiz.
Tensions have been running high in Bangladesh in recent weeks as Jamaat and Shibir have called strikes and protested against the international crimes tribunals, which have found some of its senior members guilty of crimes committed during the Liberation War.
Protesters have also been involved in violent clashes with police, who have used tear gas, rubber bullets or live ammunition against them. At least 60 people have been killed, mostly by police fire, but among the dead are also several policemen.
“While there are credible reports that police firing may have followed violent attacks against them by protesters, police use of excessive force cannot be discounted,” Faiz said.
BJP DEMAND:
In Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament, main opposition BJP yesterday demanded that an all-party delegation be sent to Bangladesh to assess the “atrocities on Hindus” by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Tarun Vijay (BJP) said, “Hindus are subjected to severe atrocities…. They are being killed, forced to take refuge in India and their abandoned properties are seized after being declared wasteful.”
He lauded the Shahbagh movement, saying it was a display of secular democratic forces and the fact that all Hindus, Muslims and Christians were Bangladeshis.
Ravi Shankar Prasad of the BJP said it was a “violation” of human rights in Bangladesh and demanded a response from the government.

Courtesy: The Daily Star

Bangladesh Government Examining Laws For Ban On Jamaat

 ~~Dipu Moni tells envoys no plan to deploy army now

Jamaat-e-Islami, party leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, has
been sentenced to death for allegedly commiting atrocities
during 1971 war. Photo, Courtesy: The News Tribe

The government was scrutinising the laws to ban Jamaat-Shibir, as their terrorist and militant activities had wreaked havoc across the country, said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday.
“There have been strong demands from different quarters for banning the politics of Jamaat and its student wing Shibir,” she said.
Briefing foreign diplomats at the her ministry in the evening on the recent violence and atrocities by Jamaat-Shibir and their allies, Dipu Moni said the government was not thinking of deploying army to tackle the ongoing violence.
She said the government was also investigating whether there was any funding for the terror acts.
Meeting sources said ambassadors and high commissioners of Russia, Canada, the UK and the Philippines raised several questions on the ongoing situation.
Talking to reporters after the diplomatic briefing, the foreign minister said the diplomats had enquired mainly about three things — plan to ban Jamaat, possibility of army deployment and funding behind violence and its source.
On deployment of army, she said, “It seems the situation does not require it. But the government will take whatever steps necessary to protect the lives and property of the people.”
Dipu Moni said the foreign diplomas while asking the questions implied that there had been a huge funding behind the Jamaat-Shibir violence and if so, what had been the source, and also whether the government was investigating that.
“There have already been a lot of discussions on the matter in public domain and some independent researchers are working on it,” she added.
Emerging from the briefing, German Ambassador Albrecht Conze expressed grave concern over the loss of lives and property.
“The loss of innocent lives and public and private property is a matter of great regret,” he said, adding, “In the rundown of election in 10 months, I don’t know how this country can sustain, as in the coming months 10 verdicts and 13 appeals will happen. If the appeals are rejected, there will be more violence.”
The German ambassador said constitutionally available options were the best way to resolve the problems.
British High Commissioner Robert Gibson also expressed worry about countrywide violence and deaths.
Meanwhile briefing the diplomats, the foreign minister hoped that the international community would appreciate a new paradigm being set by Bangladesh to conduct the trials of 1971 war criminals and a strong sense of national ownership.
She said the government remains open to any constructive and legally feasible suggestions to ensure further international standards in the trials.
Dipu said the international community should also react to the fabricated propaganda run by the Jamaat-Shibir and their allies that the International Crimes Tribunals had been an excuse to politically undermine and persecute leading Islamist leaders and thinkers.
“It is unfortunate that such a false and malafide notion had gained some sympathies within the political circles and media establishments of some of our friendly countries without delving into the antecedents of the accused and the convicted criminals,” she said.
Dipu said, “We have seen how such misguided demonstration of support in certain foreign countries has been used by the Jamaat-Shibir to drive home their point among their local sympathisers about these trials being a pretext for political persecution only.”
The Foreign Minister urged all friendly governments to show respect to the popular demand for justice and join in their condemnation of those who have been found guilty of committing crimes against humanity.
Dipu said the difficult course of righting the wrongs that Bangladesh has taken up would not just signal an end to the culture of impunity but also have profound implications for opening up the possibility for justice for the genocides or ethnic cleansings in other parts of the world.
“’… our law enforcement agencies would maintain an uncompromising stance against any form of violence or terrorist acts under the pretext of political activities to save convicted criminals,” she said.
Dipu Moni said the government has largely been able to contain the spread of violence, which remains concentrated in certain identified pockets of the country.
“We have heightened intelligence operations and deployed additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces in the violence endemic areas,’ she told the diplomats.
The district administrations have started distributing relief to the affected families and households including those of the Hindu minorities.
“We believe that the strongest firewall against the Jamaat-Shibir violence has been built by our youth at the Projonmo Chattar in Shahbagh. Their peaceful rallies and demonstrations have stood in sharp anti-thesis and rejection to the path of violence, murder, arson and vandalism chosen by Jamaat-Shibir and their allies,” Dipu Moni said.

Courtesy: The Daily Star

Pomegranate juice most potent 'viagra' in boosting sexual desire
Men and women who drink a glass of pomegranate juice daily experience a surge in the hormone testosterone, which increases sexual desire in both genders, a new study has revealed

The study, by researchers from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, involved 58 volunteers aged between 21 and 64.

By the end of the fortnight both sexes had seen ‘significantly increased’ testosterone levels.

For men this affects traits such as facial hair, a deep voice and greater sexual urges.

It is also produced in female adrenal glands and ovaries, raising a woman’s sex drive and strengthening bones and muscles.

 As a side effect, increased testosterone can help raise mood and memory and even relieve stress such as ‘pre-match nerves’ or stage fright, said the study.

Previous research on pomegranate juice has found it full of antioxidants which can help ward off heart diseases and help blood circulation.

The superfood’s ingredients also help fight various forms of cancer, alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis and cure stomach upsets and even conjunctivitis.
Video: Foods to enhance sex life

The Edinburgh research measured testosterone levels, blood pressure and, using a scientific scale, levels of 11 emotions including fear, sadness, guilt, shyness and self-assurance.

Testosterone levels increased between 16 percent and 30 percent among the subjects, while blood pressure plummeted.

They also found that positive emotions rose and negative feelings fell.

Courtesy: Mid-Day

Why Hinduism Is Science-proof
~~Dipankar Gupta

God is often a witness in court proceedings the world over. This is especially so when statements are made under oath with a hand on a holy book. But only in India, God can be both witness and litigant. That Ram Lalla filed a case claiming property in Ayodhya would have surprised secular societies elsewhere, but in India it is routine and unremarkable.

From this it might be tempting to argue that Christianity is intrinsically rational while Hinduism is not. That is not strictly true. Both depend ultimately on faith and, indeed, this is true of all religions. If Christianity looks different today it is not because it is inherently more reasonable, but that science forced it to become so.

As Hinduism is an idol-centric religion, its core principles are of no consequence to science. Christianity is a creation-centric religion. This is why it had to oppose modern science which, too, is creation-centric. The latter has taken strong positions on how life began, how day became night, and how our beings are energised. This is what compelled science and religion to go on a collision course in the western world. From the 16th century onwards, they were like two monster trucks driving in opposite directions on a one-way street.

Hinduism was spared all this. It worships divine heroes who step in and out of this world. They marry, procreate, win wars, and also have their share of losing. But at the end of the day they have the last word which is why their lives should be emulated. Hinduism makes no dogmatic declaration on how humans appeared on earth or on whether the sun is stationary or not. In India, our gods have never been challenged by science as they are not concerned about matters of creation.

This is why Hinduism has never felt the need to take on Newton, Galileo, Humphry Davy or Darwin, nor even Aryabhat or the Charvakyas. On the other hand, under science's onslaught, Christianity was in a doctrinal mess. It had invested a lot in Aristotle-proofing the Bible, but that was beginning to fall apart. Adam and Eve and Noah's Ark soon began to appear as fables for the credible. Even our positioning on earth was now more about gravity than God.

Over time there were just too many bullets for Christianity to dodge. The Lutheran-inspired Reformation of the 16th century helped religion to make peace with science, but only after the Bible retreated on some of its principles. From then on Christianity had to accommodate reason in order to survive, but Hinduism never faced such compulsions. As it was idol-centric in character, faith in India could proceed unchecked by science; in fact, the twain need never meet.

Creation-centric Christianity could not ignore science. This is probably why, in retrospect, it was possible in Europe for the Renaissance to grow into the Reformation and finally into the Enlightenment. Protestant clerics soon became quite enthusiastic about science and believed with Michael Faraday that the work of God was just like science: neither irrational nor petulant, but orderly and dependable. Pascal from the Catholic side echoed a similar sentiment when he said that the Christian religion is not contrary to reason and, if it were, "our religion would be absurd, laughed at".

Many of the most remarkable western figures of science in the 17th and 18th centuries were trained by men of religion in their initial years. Humphry Davy was taught science in school by a Reverend J C Coryton; Robert Boyle by his village parson; Francis Bacon by John Whitgift, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury; Newton lucked in getting his lessons at home from his stepfather who was a minister and so did Robert Hooke from his father who was a curate. These scientists could now go to church and laboratory without a schism in their souls.

Indian Renaissance not only came 300 years later, but instead of questioning tradition it went about perfecting the Vedas. Thus, while the European Renaissance set the stage for the conflict between science and religion, no such thing happened here. Neither Swami Dayanand, nor Swami Vivekanand, nor the Brahmo Samajis are remembered for emphasising the scientific traditions of India's past. Their most durable contribution is their skilful copy editing of Vedic texts.

This is why Hindus are not worried if their religion is "laughed at" by secularists. Ram Lalla can be a litigant as Hinduism's idol-centric nature protects it against physical and exact sciences. For this very reason though, Hinduism often runs afoul of history and the social sciences as these disciplines take issue with the idolised lifestyles of Hindu gods and goddesses, and with the veracity of their corporal presence on earth.

Interestingly, while Christianity clashed with the physical and exact sciences in the West, in India, Hinduism has been threatened only by history and the social sciences. This conflict quickly takes on a political dimension as every layperson has a view on what is a good life. Social sciences, history included, thus lack the persuasive capacities of the natural sciences. If certain political compulsions arise, sociologists and historians can also be cast as subversive anti-nationals.

Consequently, the Hindu faith remains unchallenged by reason and Ram Lalla might even win his case someday.

The writer is former professor, JNU.

Courtesy: The Times of India

Terrorists threaten Kashmiri pandits, asks them to leave Valley

Government on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that Kashmiri Pandits have received threats from terrorists who asked them to leave the Valley.

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh replied with a “yes” to a question in Rajya Sabha on whether terrorists have issued a threat to Kashmiri Pandits to leave Kashmir.

“As per report received from the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a threatening letter/poster to leave Kashmir within a week was received through post by Secretary, Pandit Colony Sheikhpora, Budgam. The post, however, did not have any evidence or proof of its origin from any of the militant organisations.

“In this connection an FIR no 225/2012 under section 13 ULA Act 120-B RPC has been registered. Adequate security arrangements are in place in and around the migrant colonies to ensure safety of the Kashmiri Pandits,” Singh said in the written reply in the Upper House.

There are approximately 4,000 Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

(With inputs from agencies)

Courtesy: NITI Central

Reeling from shock
Afraid to go to school
~~Pankaj Karmakar, from Noakhali

The Thakur and Banikya children in front of their destroyed homes at
Rajganj of Begumganj in Noakhali. Shell shocked in the Jamaat-Shibir attack,
they are now too scared to go out of their homestead let alone to school.
Photo: Star

Residents of Begumganj upazila in Noakhali still could not get over the day of terror. All of them are on edge since some religious bigots swooped on a section of people on Thursday just because of their minority status.
The attacks on the Hindus were made here hours after the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee to death on charges of arson, rape, murder and forced conversion during the 1971 Liberation War.
Arnab Chattarjee, a class-three student of Thakur Bari of Rajganj union under Begumganj, wonders as to why his home was vandalised, his books were burnt and his family members beaten.
The entire area looks like a deserted place now. While visiting Rajganj bazar yesterday, this correspondent found almost all the shops on both sides of the streets shut. Hindu families have sent their young female members to safety. Children have stopped going to school fearing that they may be attacked on the way.
“They (attackers) will beat me the way they beat up my father and uncles,” said Arnab. Whenever he sees any stranger he cringes away.
“All my books have been burnt. What will I read now,” said Anni Bhattacharjee, a five-year-old girl of pre-primary class. She was seen crying and trying to bring together the burnt pieces of her books.
Like Arnab and Anni, children of Bhuiyan Bari, Mali Bari, Acharjee Bari, Aldinagar Banikya para, Kuri Bari and Kalirhat of Rajganj are struggling to come out of the trauma they have gone through.
Unidentified criminals damaged at least six temples, torched 36 houses and vandalised 40 others after looting those at Alampur and Aladin Nagar villages in Rajganj on the day.  Many of the seventy-six victim families accused the Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally BNP of the attacks but leaders of the parties’ district units denied the allegation.
The Hindus are now fearing further attacks while the Muslim population of the area are dreading arrests.
“The miscreants attacked my shop on that day (Thursday). Now, I have been keeping my shop closed to avoid further trouble,” said Pintu Kumar Kuri, owner of a jewellary shop at Rajganj bazar.
A restaurant owner Dulal Miah said police had picked up his son on Sunday though he was innocent. Later, police released Dulal’s son in the face of villagers’ demand.
“People fear mass arrest.”
Many families of the minority community are not letting their children and female members step out of their homes while some have sent their children to their relatives.
“My daughter is 16. A day after the violence, I have sent her to Noakhali town for safety,” said Sankar Bikash Majumder.
Meanwhile, some victims have brought corruption allegations over distribution of relief.
Deputy Commissioner Sirajul Islam refuted such claims and said relief materials were being distributed transparently.
“We are distributing relief materials according to the need of the victims — to repair their houses and bring those back to the previous condition.”
The district administration has donated a sack of rice, 5kg of pulses, 5kg of potato for each of the families that came under attack on Thursday and 50 blankets, 160 bundles of tin-sheet and Tk 4.80 lakh for all.
Besides, Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, general secretary and MP of Noakhali-4 constituency, donated Tk 3.80 lakh.
Administrator of Zila Parishad has promised to donate Tk 6 lakh for repairing the six temples and Tk 50,000 for each victim family. Gandhi Asram Trust in Noakhali has bought clothes and cutlery for victim families.
Two cases have been filed in connection with the incident, accusing 71 by name and at least 1,500 others unidentified. As many as 28 were arrested till 6:00pm yesterday, said Syed Mohammad Ahasanul Islam, office-in-charge of Begumganj Police Station.
In a new development yesterday, a Hindu temple was set on fire at Lakhirpar village, Kotalipara of Gopalganj district, said Tota Mia, officer-in-charge of Kotalipara Police Station.

Courtesy: The Daily Star

Jamaat continues attacking Hindus

Jamaat-Shibir attacks on Hindu community and their temples continued in different parts of the country yesterday creating widespread fear among general people living unprotected in rural areas.
Reports of arson, vandalism and physical assaults on members of Hindu community and also on Awami League activists have been rampant since Thursday, when the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had awarded death penalty to Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee.
Yesterday in Khulna, more than 300 Jamaat-Shibir and BNP acitivists brought out a procession from Chad Ali Bridge in Amadi Bazar area of Koyra upazila around 10:30am, during the BNP-called hartal.
Locals said the focus of the procession suddenly turned to Dhopapara, an extremely poor locality with predominantly Hindu population traditionally making a living on washing clothes. Within minutes, eight houses belonging to Hindus were set ablaze. While the Hindu men, women and children ran for safety, the attackers looted whatever they could put their hands on.
The attackers soon swooped on to nearby Amadi Bazar. They broke into eight to 10 shops belonging to local Hindus and looted them before being dispersed by Border Guard Bangladesh and police personnel around noon.
Meanwhile, the attack left a woman and a young man injured. They were admitted to the local health complex.
Amiya and Apurbo Das, who lost their home in the attack, said neighbours had tried to douse the fire but their thatched house stood no chance. Others who lost their houses to the arson include Subodh Das, Kartik Das and Sona Das. Each of the victim families had more than one thatched house. The attackers also torched a prayer room set up inside a house.
“We do not know what to do and are living in fear of further attacks,” said Apurbo Das. Locals said the attackers also unleashed violent assaults on several residents.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khairul Kabir of Koyra Police Station said they had arrested two Shibir activists from the area. “Two to three houses were torched and looted and about eight shops were looted during the attack,” said the OC.
Superintendent Golum Rouf Khan of Khulna police said BNP and Jamaat-Shibir men had set fire to thatched houses and a semi-concrete structure, and vandalised shops belonging to local Hindus.
The ploy in which attacks on Hindu temples and idols were executed, bear striking similarity in most cases throughout the country.
At Rotherpar village in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat, religious fanatics entered the Sree Sree Shoshan Kali Mandir [temple] some time early hours yesterday and vandalised the temple smashing the idol of goddess Kali.
President of the temple committee Subhas Chandra Roy said they had lodged a written complaint with the police and it was now up to the law enforcers to take action.
At Lakhirpar village under Kotalipara upazila in Gopalganj, zealots set fire to a temple of goddess Kali on Monday around 7:45pm. The fire partially gutted the temple and destroyed four idols of the goddess. The arson instantly drew protests in the area.
Kotalipara police detained five suspects in this connection.
In Natore, Jamaat-Shibir men are strengthening themselves in the border areas of Lalpur upazila where Awami League activists and members of the Hindu community are living in fear.
On Monday evening, Jamaat-Shibir men in a bid to spread further panic set fire to a temple of Shoair village under Singra upazila and destroyed the Hori Protima [the idol of god Hori].
Isahaq Ali, secretary of Lalpur upazila unit Awami League, said Jamaat-Shibir men were capitalising on the innocence of the villagers through anti-minority propaganda.
“The situation is such that we cannot even go to the border areas of Char Jazira, Horir Char and Gorgoria where on the one hand, gangs of Jaamat-Shibir rule and on the other, outlaws roam around at large,” said Isahaq Ali.
In Chittagong, Hindu temple Sarbajaneen Magadeshwari Mandir at East Rupkania of Satkania upazila was torched early yesterday. Sukumar Nath, a local resident, said the arson took place around 2:30am.
“We woke up by the sound bamboos cracking in fire and witnessed our holy temple burn to ashes,” said Nath, adding, “We do not know who did it.”
Sub-Inspector Nazmul Alam of Satkania Police Station said the pattern of all the arson attacks leads police to suspect that Jamaat-Shibir fanatics had been involved in the act. Since Thursday, Jamaat-Shibir men had wrecked havoc in the area, mainly targeting the Hindu community.
The fanatics have changed their tactics for attacks on the state mechanisms. In Jhenidah, Lalmonirhat, Satkhira and elsewhere they shielded their attack force by luring rural women and children in the front line of the processions with religious propaganda.
In Uzirpur upazila of Barisal district, miscreants tried to set fire to Guthia Sarbajaneen Kali Mandir [temple] under Guthia union early yesterday.
President of the temple committee Sudhir Malakar said some miscreants had thrown burning torches of straw and tree branches inside the temple and fled the scene.
The fire died automatically as the branches and straw were not so dry but yet it partially damaged the fences said Sudhir, adding that they had informed the local upazila parishad chairman of the incident.
Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain of Uzirpur Police Station said a general diary had been lodged with them and that they had visited the spot and started investigating the arson attempt.

Courtesy: The Daily Star

Govt in a fix over lowering age of consent to 16 years

The government seems to have tied itself in a knot over its proposed move to reduce the age of consent for sex from 18 to 16 years in the new criminal laws (amendment) bill that will replace the February 3 ordinance on rape laws.
 

Sources said the women and child development (WCD) ministry is likely to veto the move on the ground that it is in variance with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 – passed by the Parliament in May last year – which had fixed the age of consent for sex at 18 years.

“The Parliament just ten months back had passed the landmark legislation to protect children under 18 years from sexual abuse. The reason to not reduce the age to 16 years was to protect child victims from being put to trial and lead to his/her re-victimisation.

“Now, this very purpose would be diluted if the age of consent is reduced to 16 years,” said a senior WCD ministry official.

Officials said the ministry, which has the mandate to frame policies related to children, was not taken on board while deciding to reduce the age of consent for sex to 16 years in the new criminal laws (amendment) bill. “Our views were not taken. Nobody contacted us,” said the official.

In the original Criminal Laws (Amendment) bill, the age of consent for sex was fixed at 18 years.

But on Tuesday, under pressure from women activists, the government agreed to reduce it 16 years. This was also one of the recommendations of the Justice JS Verma panel.

The decision to fix 18 years as the age of consent for sex in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 was based on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development headed by Oscar Fernandes.

In its report submitted in December 2011 the committee had said that the issue of age of consent for children below 18 years should be treated as irrelevant as including element of consent would put the focus on the victim at the time of trial and lead to his/her re-victimisation.

Courtesy: The Hindustan Times

Wives duped and dumped by "holiday grooms"

For many Indian and Pakistani women, the chance to marry a foreign husband, and a possible new life in the West, sounds like a dream come true. Often, the reality is all too different.

A foreign husband of Asian origin is considered a catch in India and Pakistan. Families associate it with improving their status in the society. And the women dream of fairytales in England and the US.

As far as many women from poor backgrounds are concerned, a marriage with a foreign national is the ticket to a better life. In reality, however, it turns into a nightmare for a significant number of them.

Sabah, the 24-year-old mother of a 14-month-old boy, was abandoned by her husband and is currently being supported by the local authorities in Britain.

"My husband's family proposed to me through a marriage bureau in Lahore," Sabah told DW.

"They seemed very nice and we soon got engaged. Six months later, the family came back to Pakistan and we got married and in the same month I conceived a child." It was only seven months after the marriage that Sabah finally got a visa and traveled to meet her husband in London.
View of London (Photo: Martin Keene/PA dpa) The dream of a new life in the West is alluring to many

Upon her arrival, Sabah was harassed by her in-laws and husband for more dowries as payment for the marriage. Locked as a prisoner in her own home, she says that even phone calls to her parents were monitored.

She was abused and treated like a maid, being forced to do all the chores in the house even though she was carrying a baby. "My husband did not even accompany me to the hospital for my health check-ups. He was not even with me in the hospital on the day I delivered our son."

Wife Dumping:
Sabah was not deported. She was taken back to Pakistan on the pretext of introducing their son to the extended family and relatives. Once there, she was persuaded to let the son accompany her husband for a day trip to the relatives. That very day, her son was abducted by her husband and taken back to London.

Hundreds of women like Sabah have fallen prey to the same strategy.

Sabah fought a tough legal battle to get her son back. Now divorced, she lives in a one-bedroom flat in London with her son. She is still fighting a legal battle to get childcare support from her ex-husband.

An estimated 50,000 women in India's central Punjab province alone are facing the same dilemma. Rani Bilkhu, director of the UK women's support organization Jeena International, told DW that figures about the number of cases in which children were involved were unavailable.
"We went to India on a fact-finding trip and we found out that British and Canadian men are increasingly abandoning their wives in India, especially in the Punjab," said Bilkhu. "All these women traveled abroad on spousal visas. Once the husband decides that he no longer wants the marriage, the spousal visas of the women are revoked."
A bride waits to perform rituals during a mass wedding ceremony in Kolkata (Photo:Bikas Das/AP/dapd) While it's a happy ending for some brides, the story is not always a joyful one

These women are considered social outcasts in their countries. "Because of the social stigmas related to honor and shame, women don't want to make a big deal. They think that their husbands will eventually come back to them." said Bilkhu.

Help from the embassy:
The British embassy in Islamabad and the UK consulate in Mirpur, Kashmir, give advice to the women who want to return to the UK on matters such as where to stay, which organization to contact, and also help them with travel documentation.

The dream of a new life in the West is alluring to many

"We will always offer assistance which is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case," a British Foreign Office spokesman told DW.

Despite the help available, many women do not take advantage, Anne-Marie Hutchinson, an internationally-recognized English solicitor dealing with such cases, told DW.

"In the UK, the High Court has identified the issue and will make orders to assist but, as the victims are overseas, its very hard for them in practical terms to get help and get legal advice. Often they are in remote areas and have no money."

"The spouse from overseas is normally dependent on the husband and his family for their immigration status, thus giving him complete control," said Hutchinson. "They often put up with abuse because of fear that they will be deported."

Young Asian men living abroad are often coaxed into marrying girls by their families while they are on a holiday in their home countries. Activists say that most of these "holiday grooms" are raised in a Western environment and are not open to the idea of marrying a woman who is very traditional, but they often relent and give in to their parents' wishes. However, many never take their new brides to the West.

Bilkhu explains "There are many diverse reasons for this behavior, such as coercion, forced marriage by the groom's family, sexual desires, and sometimes even financial gain."

Financial benefits:
The British government has to deal with men who misuse the welfare system by claiming benefits for their wives, which they have already dumped.
A visa (Photo: BronzeVIsa © alexskopje) Many brides are reliant on their husband and his family for their immigration status

British politician Baroness Shreela Flather is an outspoken critic of such behaviour. "Some men have multiple wives living with them," she told DW. "The wives are registered in separate households by these men so that get money for each of them."

In India, two laws have been introduced to combat the issue of abandoned wives and multiple marriages, including the Compulsory Registration of Marriage Act for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians).

"This first of its own kind law would tighten the noose around fraud marriages, as it would be mandatory for the NRIs to register their marriage, complete details about their lives abroad and their address in India," Indian public relations minister Bikram Majithia said.

In Indian Punjab, the Prevention of Human Smuggling Act makes it compulsory for travel agents to register with Punjabi authorities. Meanwhile, the Punjabi government has cracked down on hundreds of overseas grooms invoking legislation that allows for the confiscation of the passport if a person has criminal proceedings pending against him.

Courtesy: DW.DE

Little opposition to death penalty in Japan

While executions in other countries arouse heated debates on the morality of the state killing a human being, there has been no such discussion in Japan, despite current court rulings allowing the procedure.

Japan's Supreme Court has dismissed a final appeal by a man convicted of being involved in the deaths of four men in 2004 and confirmed that 38-year-old Reo Ito should be executed.

Ito beat and suffocated two of the men, who were fellow members of a team of fraudsters, after discovering that they had been trying to steal money that the group had illegally obtained. He then inflicted injuries on the other two men that were sufficiently severe as to lead to their deaths.

The judge in the case ruled that Ito's crime had been "cruel and brutal" and that he displayed "disregard for human life."

Ito becomes the 131st person on death row in Japan, bumping the figure up again after it was reduced one week previously with the execution of three men.

Kaoru Kobayashi, 44, was hanged after being convicted of kidnapping and killing an elementary schoolgirl in 2004. Masahiro Kanagawa, aged 29, had been found guilty of a series of random killing in 2008, while 62-year-old Keiko Kano was executed for the murder of a bar owner in Nagoya in March 2002.

Speaking at a press conference after the deaths of the three men, Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki explained the reason why he had signed the approval orders for the first executions since the right-of-center Liberal Democratic Party was voted back into power in December.

"Atrocious crimes"
Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) 'These cases involved atrocious crimes,' said Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki

"All these cases involved atrocious crimes that stole previous lives for selfish reasons," he said.

"These cases involved atrocious crimes",
said Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki

A cross-party group of politicians filed a protest with the government and said the Justice Ministry was failing to provide information about the death penalty - including the fact that more nations are abolishing capital punishment - and stifling debate on the issue.

The protest was hardly mentioned by the local media, which dwelled on the grisly nature of the crimes the three men committed.

"I think it was the right thing to do because those men had all taken a life and this punishment is the law in Japan," said Kanako Hosomura, a housewife from Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. "I'm a mother and when I read what one of them did to a little girl, it makes me so angry.

"If I were that girl's mother, I would want him to be executed as well."

Support for the death penalty has remained consistantly high in Japan, with recent polls indicating that more than 80 percent of the public supported the execution of people convicted of particularly heinous crimes.

"The concept does not appear to upset too many Japanese and a lot of them are of the opinion that if someone commits a heinous crime, then they deserve the death penalty," said Tom Gill, a professor of anthropology at Meiji Gakuin University.

Sanctity of human life:

"The death penalty has been abolished and reinstated several times in Japanese history, but there seems to be less of a concept of the absolute sanctity of human life, particularly for someone who has taken another life," he said.

"And on top of that, there is also a tendency in Japanese society to write-off someone who has done something shameful."

Despite the widespread support for the death penalty here, there are human rights groups that are attempting to keep it on the political agenda.

"We have been calling on the Japanese government to introduce a moratorium on executions, to encourage a national debate and disclose more information on the use of the death penalty," said Sonoko Kawakami, a campaigner with the Japanese branch of Amnesty International.

"We also want a broader review of the criminal justice system to examine why so many wrongful convictions have recently been uncovered," she added. Activists claim that the use of confessions in securing convictions is a flawed system - in particular when police can hold and interrogate a suspect for up to 23 days without legal representation.

"I think there are several reasons that, when combined, keep public support for the death penalty so high in Japan," Kawakami told Deutsche Welle. "Firstly, the media exaggerates the stories to gain sympathy for the victims' families and encourage tough sentences.

Public unaware of details:
"I also don't think that the Japanese public really knows the details of how executions are carried out because the issue is not discussed," she said. "And I do not believe that many Japanese are aware that more than 70 percent of countries have done away with the death penalty or that United Nations resolutions have condemned the practice."

The European Union has reacted strongly to the latest executions, with Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, condemning the deaths.

"I deeply regret the execution of three death row inmates on February 21, 2012," he said in a statement. "The EU is opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and has consistently called for its universal abolition.

"I sincerely hope that Japan will consider a moratorium on executions while allowing a comprehensive public debate on this issue," he added.

But, with the Japanese government riding high in the polls and the public expressing little concern for the three men most recently executed, it appears that calls for debate of the issue will fall on deaf ears.

Courtesy: DW.DE

THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) BILL, 2012

Murder of Democracy and Gender Equality........

THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE(PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) BILL, 2012 (Excerpts)
A
BILL

(The amended Lok Sabha version)
to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for
matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS sexual harassment results in violation of the fundamental rights of a woman to equality under articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India and her right to life and to live with dignity under article 21 of the Constitution and right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business which includes a right to a safe environment free from sexual harassment;

AND WHEREAS the protection against sexual harassment and the right to work with dignity are universally recognised human rights by international conventions and instruments such as Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, which has been ratified on the 25th June, 1993 by the Government of India;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to make provisions for giving effect to the said Convention for protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace.

.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) ''aggrieved woman'' means—(i) in relation to a workplace, a woman, of any age whether employed or
not, who alleges to have been subjected to any act of sexual harassment by the respondent;

ii) in relation to a dwelling place or house, a woman of any age who is employed in such a dwelling place or house;

(b) ''appropriate Government” means—(i) in relation to a workplace which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly—

(A) by the Central Government or the Union territory administration, the Central Government;(
(B) by the State Government, the State Government;
(ii) in relation to any workplace not covered under sub-clause 

(i) and
falling within its territory, the State Government;
(c) ''Chairperson'' means the Chairperson of the Local Complaints Committee nominated under sub-section (
1) of section 7;
(d) ''District Officer'' means an officer notified under section 5;
(e) “domestic worker” means a woman who is employed to do the household work in any house hold for remuneration whether in cash or kind, either directly or through any agency on a temporary, permanent, part time or full time basis, but does not include any member of the family of the employer;
(f) ''employee'' means a person employed at a workplace for any work on regular, temporary, ad hoc or daily wage basis, either directly or through an agent, including a contractor, with or, without the knowledge of the principal employer, whether for remuneration or not, or working on a voluntary basis or otherwi0se, whether the terms of employment are express or implied and includes a co-worker, a contract worker, probationer, trainee, apprentice or called by any other such name.

## ''Sexual harassment'' includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely:—
(i) physical contact and advances; or
(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) making sexually coloured remarks; or
(iv) showing pornography; or
(v) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature;
(o) ''workplace'' includes—
(i) any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government or the local authority or a Government company or a corporation or a co-operative society;
(ii) any private sector organisation or a private venture, undertaking, enterprise, institution, establishment, society, trust, non-governmental organisation, unit or service provider carrying on commercial, professional,
vocational, educational, entertainmental, industrial, health services or financialactivities including production, supply, sale, distribution or service;
(iii) hospitals or nursing homes;
(iv) any sports institute, stadium, sports complex or competition or games venue, whether residential or not used for training, sports or other activities relating thereto;
(v) any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of employment including transportation provided by the employer for undertaking such  journey.

(vi) a dwelling place or a house 

## "Uunorganised sector'' in relation to a workplace means an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers and engaged in the production or sale of goods or providing service of any kind whatsoever, and where the enterprise employs workers, the number of such workers is less than ten.
## (1) No woman shall be subjected to sexual harassment at any workplace.
(2) The following circumstances, among other circumstances, if it occurs or is persent in relation to or connected with any act or behaviour of sexual harassment may amount to sexual harassment:—
(i) implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment; or
(ii) implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in her employment; or
(iii) implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or
(iv) interferes with her work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her; or
(v) humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

COMPLAINT

(1) Any aggrieved woman may make, in writing, a complaint of sexual harassment at workplace to the Internal Committee if so constituted, or the Local Committee, in case it is not so constituted, within a period of three months from the date of incident and in case of a series of incidents, within a period of three months from the date of last incident :

• Provided that where such complaint cannot be made in writing, the Presiding Officer or any Member of the Internal Committee or the Chairperson or any Member of the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the woman for making the complaint in writing:
• Provided further that the Internal Committee or, as the case may be, the Local Committee may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the time limit not exceeding three months, if it is satisfied that the circumstances were such which prevented the woman from filing a complaint within the said period.

(2) Where the aggrieved woman is unable to make a complaint on account of her physical or mental incapacity or death or otherwise, her legal heir or such other person as may be prescribed may make a complaint under this section.10.
Conciliation:
1) The Internal Committee or, as the case may be, the Local Committee, may, before initiating an inquiry under section 11 and at the request of the aggrieved woman take steps to settle the matter between her and the respondent through conciliation.

Provided that no monetary settlement shall be made as a basis of conciliation.

(2) Where a settlement has been arrived at under sub-section (1), the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall record the settlement so arrived and forward the same to the employer or the District Officer to take action as specified in the recommendation.
(3) The Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall provide the copies of the settlement as recorded under sub-section (2) to the aggrieved woman and  the respondent.
(4) Where a settlement is arrived at under sub-section (1), no further inquiry shall be conducted by the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be.

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 10, the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall, where the respondent is an employee, proceed to make inquiry into the complaint in accordance with the provisions of the service rules applicable to the respondent and where no such rules exist, in such manner as may be prescribed or in case of a domestic worker, the Local Committee shall, if prima facie case exist, forward the complaint to the police, within a period of seven days for registering the case under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code, and any other relevant provisions of the said Code where applicable:

• Provided that where the aggrieved woman informs the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, that any term or condition of the settlement arrived at under sub-section (2) of section 10 has not been complied with by the respondent, the Internal Committee or the Local Committee shall proceed to make an inquiry into the complaint or, as the case may be, forward the complaint to the police: 
• Provided further that where both the parties are employees, the parties shall, during the course of inquiry, be given an opportunity of being heard and a copy of the findings shall made available to both the parties enabling them to make representation against the findings before the Committee.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 509 of the Indian Penal Code, the court may, when the respondent is convicted of the offence, order payment of such sums as it may consider appropriate, to the aggrieved woman by the respondent, having regard to the provisions of section 15.
(3) For the purpose of making an inquiry under sub-section (1), the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 when trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents; and
(c) any other matter which may be prescribed.
(4) The inquiry under sub-section (1) shall be completed within a period of ninety days.

INQUIRY INTO COMPLAINT

## (1) During the pendency of an inquiry, on a written request made by the aggrieved woman, the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, may recommend to the employer to—
(a ) transfer the aggrieved woman or the respondent to any other workplace; or

b) grant leave to the aggrieved woman upto a period of three months; or
(c) grant such other relief to the aggrieved woman as may be prescribed.
(2) The leave granted to the aggrieved woman under this section shall be in addition to
the leave she would be otherwise entitled.
(3) On the recommendation of the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the
case may be, under sub-section (1) , the employer shall implement the recommendations made under sub-section (1) and send the report of such implementation to the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be.
## (1) On the completion of an inquiry under this Act, the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall provide a report of its findings to the employer, or as the case may be, the District Officer within a period of ten days from the date of completion of the inquiry and such report be made available to the concerned parties.
(2) Where the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, arrives at the conclusion that the allegation against the respondent has not been proved, it shall recommend to the employer and the District Officer that no action is required to be taken in the matter.
(3) Where the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, arrives at the conclusion that the allegation against the respondent has been proved, it shall recommend to the employer or the District Officer, as the case may be—
(i) to take action for sexual harassment as a misconduct in accordance with the provisions of the service rules applicable to the respondent or where no such service rules have been made, in such manner as may be prescribed.

(ii) to deduct, notwithstanding anything in the service rules applicable to the respondent, from the salary or wages of the respondent such sum as it may consider appropriate to be paid to the aggrieved woman or to her legal heirs, as it may determine, in accordance with the provisions of section 15:

• Provided that in case the employer is unable to make such deduction from the salary of the respondent due to his being absent from duty or cessation of employment it may direct to the respondent to pay such sum to the aggrieved woman:
• Provided further that in case the respondent fails to pay th0e sum referred to in clause (ii), the Internal Committee or, as the case may be, the Local Committee may forward the order for recovery of the sum as an arrear of land revenue to the concerned District Officer.

(4) The employer or the District Officer shall act upon the recommendation within sixty days of its receipt by him.

##  For the purpose of determining the sums to be paid to the aggrieved woman under clause (ii) of sub-section (3) of section 13, the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, shall have regard to—
(a) the mental trauma, pain, suffering and emotional distress caused to the aggrieved woman;
(b) the loss in the career opportunity due to the incident of sexual harassment;
(c) medical expenses incurred by the victim for physical or psychiatric treatment;
(d) the income and financial status of the respondent;
(e) feasibility of such payment in lump sum or in instalments.
## Notwithstanding anything contained in the Right to Information Act, 2005, the contents of the complaint made under section 9, the identity and addresses of the aggrieved woman, respondent and witnesses, any information relating to conciliation and inquiry proceedings, recommendations of the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be, and the action taken by the employer or the District Officer under the provisions of this Act shall not be published, communicated or made known to the public, press and
media in any manner:
Provided that information may be disseminated regarding the justice secured to any victim of sexual harassment under this Act without disclosing the name, address, identity or any other particulars calculated to lead to the identification of the aggrieved woman and witnesses.

DUTIES OF EMPLOYER

## Every employer shall—
(a) provide a safe working environment at the workplace which shall include safety from the persons coming into contact at the workplace

(b) provide assistance to the woman if she so chooses to file a complaint in relation to the offence under the Indian Penal Code or any other law for the time being in force;

(c) cause to initiate action, under the Indian Penal Code or any other law for the time being in force, against the perpetrator, or if the aggrieved woman so desires, where the perpetrator is not an employee, in the workplace at which the incident of sexual harassment took place;
(d) treat sexual harassment as a misconduct under the service rules and initiate action for such misconduct;
(e) monitor the timely submission of reports by the Internal Committe.

 ## (1) Where the employer fails to—
(a) constitute an Internal Committee under sub-section (1) of section 4;(b) take action under sections 13, 14 and 22; and (c) contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets contravention of other provisions of this Act or any rules made thereunder, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.
(2) If any employer, after having been previously convicted of an offence punishable under this Act subsequently commits and is convicted of the same offence, he shall be liable to—
(i) twice the punishment, which might have been imposed on a first conviction, subject to the punishment being maximum provided for the same offence:
Provided that in case a higher punishment is prescribed under any other law for the time being in force, for the offence for which the accused is being prosecuted, the court shall take due cognizance of the same while awarding the punishment;
(ii) cancellation, of his licence or withdrawal, or non-renewal, or approval, or cancellation of the registration, as the case may be, by the Government or local authority required for carrying on his business or activity.
## (1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or any rules made thereunder, save on a complaint made by the aggrieved woman or any person authorised by the Internal Committee or Local Committee in this behalf. 

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.
(3) Every offence under this Act shall be non-cognizable.

The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

Conclusion:  Only point which looks to me a little sane is that, "Every offence under this Act shall be non-cognizable"; otherwise the provisions of the acts looks draconian and easy to abuse. There is one clause, which says, "Punishment for false or malicious complaint and false evidence". The case of trying the girl/lady/women/female (or complainant), for "False or Malicious Complaint or False Evidence" will come only after the person wins the case.  But the sections are so, prejudiced and one-sided, that once a person is dragged into it, it would be difficult for him to escape the net, even if the case is false.
In such a circumstance, I feel, it would be prudent for any employer of a firm or owner of a sole proprietorship business, or the head of a family, etc.: NOT to EMPLOY women/girls/females/ladies, in the said concern, unless it is absolutely necessary, so that headache becomes less. In case of homes, one can use the services of male maid servants, instead of the ordinary female ones; if there is a male member in the house. In this way, the potential hazards of such act, which are purely based on VOTE BANK POLITICS of Political Outfits, is minimized. 

I am really disgusted at all the political parties who responsible for passing such a gender prejudiced act, which will further divide the gap between male and females. This act is dangerous and I am sure more and more innocents will be victimized by its sections.

Source: http://164.100.24.219/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/PassedLoksabha/144C_2010_LS_Eng.pdf

Pranab Mukherjee makes nostalgic trip to in-laws' home in Bangladesh

A Bangladesh air force helicopter carrying
the president and the first lady landed at
Narail town from where they took a drive
through the village roads up to Bhadrabila
village, some 9 kilometres away to be received
by their relatives. Photo: Aj Ki Khabar

NARAIL: (Bangladesh) President PranabMukherjee today made his maiden visit to the ancestral home of his in-laws where he was accorded a traditional reception meant for a 'Jamai' or husband of a Bengali woman.

"We received the 'Dadababu' (elder sister's husband) with 'Uuludhani' and 'mangal pradip' as he arrived with our sister Suvradi," a cousin of first lady Suvra Mukherjee told after the couple's private visit.

A Bangladesh air force helicopter carrying the president and the first lady landed at Narail town from where they took a drive through the village roads up to Bhadrabila village, some 9 kilometres away to be received by their relatives.

"Pranab Mukherjee exchanged pleasantries with his in-laws and enquired about their welfare. He knew many of them while his wife introduced him to several other relatives," ruling Awami League lawmaker from the constituency Fazilatunnesa Bappi told from the scene as she accompanied the couple.

Witnesses said the in-laws offered a golden chain to their 'dadababu' as a gift and a sari to their 'didi'.

During their 90-minute trip they visited a nearby Hindu temple and offered prayers.

The enthusiastic relatives entertained the high-profile couple with coconut water and traditional Bengali sweetmeats while a makeshift stage was erected at the premises of the household for their exclusive family reception.

The ancestors of Suvra Mukherjee migrated to India in early 1950s after the 1947 partition. However, she was born in Narail and did her early schooling in the town.

The first lady had previously visited her ancestral home once in 1995 along with her daughter.

President Mukherjee is in Bangladesh on his first overseas visit since taking office.

Courtesy: The Times of India

Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Shed those inhibitions, this is no time to be embarrassed. While some people may frown upon the idea of sleeping in the nude, keep an open mind as we discuss the benefits of sleeping in your birthday suit.

Natural pain reliever:

Clothes restrict blood circulation, hence shedding that artificial skin is good for stimulating the same. It helps in eliminating tension and discomfort from the abdominal viscera nerve region and even relieves waist pain. Those tight elastic bands do little good and hence should be loosened for a sound comfortable sleep. Medical research have shown that sleeping naked is good for those suffering from insomnia as it has a comforting effect on them.
Sebaceous glands stay happy:
Sleep is not a complete no-activity state. The organs are at work and so to improve their productivity it is important that we don’t put pressure on them by way of clothes. It is said that bare skin absorbs more nutrients than with clothes on. Going naked will streamline and accelerate the repair process of the skin. A healthy, uninterrupted air flow will help in the process. Sleeping naked allows the sebaceous glands to do their work best, which is sebum discharge and regeneration. This in turn helps in improving the metabolic rate of the body.
Protects privates:
That wet feeling can be a little discomforting in women and can increase the possibility of infection. Sleeping naked increases ventilation to these areas makes them comfortable and keeps them dry, thereby avoiding chances of fungal infection. For men, it has also been found to increase fertility by keeping the testes at adequate temperature and retaining the sperm quality too.
Enhanced lifestyle:
Tired or feeling uneasy? Try going naked! A hectic day at work at times makes it hard to get that sound sleep that we cherish. However, sleeping naked can ease the tension and help in giving you that adequate dose of sleep. It relaxes the body and helps in a comfortable sleep. As a result, people wake up refreshed and remain energetic all day along.
How to improve sleeping pattern:
Try and take a bath to be germ free. Make sure that the temperature and humidity in the bedroom is adequate, in order to avoid catching a cold. Transform that bed into something fluffy so that the drape feels good on your bare skin.
Though considered a taboo by some, the requirement of sleeping naked can be talked out with your spouse. People may ridicule the idea, but trust me they will soon be taking cues to get that comfort sleeping.

Courtesy: Yahoo.com

No case for the noose, really

Anil Dharker

Afzal Guru’s hanging and the clamour for death penalty for the Delhi gangrape heroine has brought to the fore the vexed question of capital punishment.
As most of us know, a Supreme Court judgment a few years ago decreed that the death penalty should be given only “in the rarest of rare cases”. But in a large country like ours, even such a restrictive edict results in sufficient numbers: at the last count, there were nearly 500 prisoners awaiting execution, some of them for years. In fact, in the last 17 years, only four people on death row have gone to the gallows. As you would expect, almost every convicted prisoner sends a mercy petition to the President of India, and most Presidents (for example Pratibha Patil), take no action till their term ends, passing on this particular burden to their successor. Pranab Mukherjee seems to have shown a greater awareness about the need for action, but even he cannot quickly clear the backlog.
Let’s forget the numbers for a while: the central question is whether the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment which the state has no right to inflict, especially since it does not have the ability to undo/reverse it. If you can’t give life, you can’t give death. This argument has won over most democracies in the world, especially the developed world where only the US has not banned it. But even there, 41 of America’s 50 states have done away with the death penalty.
There are several compelling arguments for not having the death penalty. First and foremost is its utter and complete irrevocability. DNA tests, now widely used in the West, have shown that a number of past convictions for murder have got an innocent man. So what does the state do to the man wrongly hanged? Say “Sorry”?
This was one argument which was used in the UK to do away with the death sentence. It’s an important point to keep in mind, especially when we consider that the quality of detection and police work, and the level of forensic tests available there are far superior to what we have in India. Many of our convictions are based on confessions, a terribly dicey area, especially because we know how they are extracted by the police. In the US legal experts are of the view that confessions should be invalid unless they are video-taped, but who is to say whether the tapes have been doctored or not?
Let us assume, however, that the Supreme Court’s diktat of “rarest of rare cases” rules out the death penalty for marginal cases where evidence is not clinching, so that when a man is sent to the gallows, the proof against him is water-tight.
Even here there are problems. The foremost amongst them is of inequity. How many cases have you heard of where a rich or influential man has been hanged? Some of the worst and most gruesome murders have been committed by well-off people, but they get away because they have the money to get the cleverest of lawyers, who at worst, will get a death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Often things do not even reach that stage: the well-connected murder suspect can bribe/threaten witnesses, can “influence” police investigations, or even get the prosecution to dilute its case. It’s the poor man, often relying on a state-allotted lawyer, who will face the hangman’s noose.
There are also the courts themselves. Different judges in different high courts have different ways of evaluating the “rarest of rare” decree. Some judges have been strict (the hanging judges), while others have been lenient (the bleeding hearts). Isn’t it likely that economic class, caste, even the look and deportment of the accused can unconsciously have a bearing on his punishment?
So, then, what are the arguments for the death penalty? One is obviously the “eye for an eye” argument: the enormity of the crime can only be punished by the maximum sentence. But didn’t Mahatma Gandhi famously say, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”? Besides, doesn’t this smack of a kind of revenge motivation? Notably in the Delhi gangrape, didn’t we all say “Hang the bastards”? But is revenge, never condoned in individual cases, befit a liberal democracy?
The deterrent effect is often cited in favour of the death penalty. Did it deter Afzal Guru? Or Ajmal Kasab? If there had been a mandatory death penalty for gangrape, would that have stopped the Delhi gang of six? If they had thought of the consequences at all, they wouldn’t have given in to their deranged lust in the first place. But if they had, they would likely have killed both the girl and her male friend to ensure that there were no witnesses to their crime. So whether it is terrorists or crimes of “passion”, the deterrence effect doesn’t really work. Even in other cases, where there is an element of cold-blooded planning in a murder and the deterrent effect should operate, the perpetrators carry on with their crime in the mistaken belief that they can hide the evidence.
On balance, then, there seems to be hardly any case for capital punishment. Instead what we need to do is define “life imprisonment” as jail till the end of the prisoner’s life. That would be time enough for most murderers to repent.

Anil Dharker is a Mumbai-based writer and columnist

Courtesy: The Asian Age

Pranab’s visit to Dhaka ill-timed

President Pranab Mukherjee receives a
ceremonial guard of honour during his
arrival at the Hazarat Shahjalal International
Airport, Dhaka Bangladesh on Sunday - PTI

Dozens of people have been killed in violent clashes in Bangladesh in recent days, including on Sunday, as our eastern neighbour battles with itself to discover its identity and soul. President Pranab Mukherjee has made Dhaka his first port of call since assuming office over seven months back — to underscore the importance this country accords to Bangladesh — and arrived in its capital on Sunday to a red-carpet welcome. And yet the wisdom of being welcomed during a major domestic upheaval in a host country appears questionable.
Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and external affairs minister Salman Khurshid had preceded Mr Mukherjee in Dhaka to pave the way for the state visit. But it still looks extremely ill-timed. Street violence was reportedly intensifying as the President’s special aircraft landed in the middle of a three-day strike call given by elements opposed to the Hasina Wajed government hosting India’s President.
No one could have known how things would turn out when Mr Mukherjee’s visit was being prepared by both sides. But the opponents of the ruling Awami Party could read it as a strong endorsement of the Hasina government, and resent President Mukherjee’s trip. India, for good reasons, has a strong bond with the Hasina government. But when circumstances do change, and Begum Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party returns to power at a future date, the timing of President Mukherjee’s visit may well be negatively recalled. Begum Khaleda’s decision on Sunday to cancel her planned meeting with Mr Mukherjee on Monday was, therefore, not a good sign.
The street fights, stabbings and killings taking place in Bangladesh over the past week stem from the political division in the country since its war of independence from Pakistan in 1971, which was midwifed by India. The Pakistan Army, with the aid of local collaborators who were chiefly from the Jamaat-e-Islami Party, had killed and raped millions of Bengalis. Forty-two years later, war crimes tribunals have been set up to try 10 individuals. Three of them have already been convicted. When Abdul Qader Mollah was given life imprisonment, thousands of young people favouring a secular and democratic society protested wildly at Dhaka’s Shahbag Square and demanded he be awarded the death sentence. Days later, Jamaat-e-Islami vice-president Delwar Hossain Sayedee was given the death sentence, and this was a signal for the Jamaat to go on a rampage across Bangladesh. Begum Khaleda has backed the Jamaat, her party’s traditional ally.
The current violent turmoil in Bangladesh relates to its past and to recent judicial pronouncements, but also to competition between the idea of a secular public space and Islamist ideologues. India, a friend, should be careful not to be made a target by any quarter.

Courtesy: The Asian Age