Celebrating strength of women

We celebrate the strength, beauty and resilience of the Indian woman to stand up and shine against all odds.

The week begins with International Women's Day (March 8) and our office is abuzz with all the specials which were being prepared for the big day and have gone live today. It has been an effort to present a holistic outlook - Women in the news, an attempt to find out many women among the millions who have gone unnoticed with our online survey and an attempt to find out how that industry which has enthralled millions has dealt with the portrayal of women - yes, we are talking about the portrayal of women in Bollywood.

The media is also full of lists of women achiever's in various fields.

We celebrate the strength, beauty and resilience of the Indian woman to stand up and shine against all odds in a society where men still consider it their prerogative to beat up women and many women quietly bear it as a thing that is acceptable.

But even as we do that, in Jammu and Kashmir, an atrocious new bill takes away the right of women to live life the way they choose. A new bill, the Permanent Resident Bill passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, disqualifies women from their status as permanent residents of the State if they marry a non-resident. It will deprive women of the right to own and inherit immovable property, get government jobs and other privileges if they marry "non-State subject."

The bill cuts into the rights of the Chief Minister's own daughter as well as two daughters of former chief minister of Jammu Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah. It also once again denies the right to former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir GM Bakshi's grand-daughter who had fought against this bill when it was enacted way back in 1927 by Maharaja Hari Singh.

Prominent women's groups have vociferously and rightly raised their voices against this bill and one hopes their concerns will be redressed soon with both the Congress and BJP also opposing it.

India back on tourist itinerary

In the capital, the Mughal Garden at the Rashtrpati Bhavan (President's House) is open once again to public view. In contrast from last year, there is one new addition this year. A hut kind of resting lounge in the backdrop of the fountain in the lovely garden where we are told the Prez has his morning cuppa and also comes to sit and soothe his senses whenever he has the time. It is mesmerising indeed, with the cool breeze and the scent of roses wafting in the air.

Though one really wishes the staff there had provided better means to access information on the Mughal Gardens and the new changes incorporated. But all said and done, it is a must see, especially in this weather.

The sprawling and colourful area is divided into the circular and the long garden with the long garden boasting of rare species of roses and pure and hybrid

Tourists have been flocking to other regions in India with the percentage zooming as compared to last year and the most favoured destinations have been - take a guess? Right at first go - Kerala, God's own country and Goa.

The fear of terror strikes among tourists is waning and they are back to exploring the myriad facets of fascinating India.

Net Bites
While we grow by leaps and bounds on the internet, forever experimenting with new things, let me take you back to the days when it was new in India and it was the in thing to talk about how net savvy you were at social dos. One gentleman asks of the other: "So, do you surf (as in surfing the net)?" The other, quite puzzled at the query, replies: "No, I use Nirma."
("Surf" and "Nirma" being the names of a popular washing detergents in India.)