Fiona Vaz

After being a teacher for two years and a viewer of the show Roadies on MTV (for several years, yes I am embarrassed), I have a few things to say.

Every time I watch the show – right from the time of auditions to the final episode – I ask myself: What are the children watching?

The episode I am watching right now (doesn’t matter which one, almost all of them are the same) has had me whip out my laptop and write this because I am so concerned about our kids. The show has 3 main characters (excuse my primary school English vocabulary- I don’t know what they are called outside the Balbharati!); Raghu, his twin brother and the host of the show, Rannvijay. There are a bunch of participants all vying to become the “Roadie”.

The crux of the programme is adventure, I think. How a group of adventure loving people come together, become friends (some do share warm friendships), compete and win. But something on the way has gone very wrong. In every episode participants have to perform on a supposed ‘adventurous’ task or bear some outrageous consequence for non-performance. They might engage in dirty politics, form friendships only for as long as they serve a purpose, harbour mistrust, grudge, and jealousy, use expletives and sometimes even physically lash out at a person. Intermittently, a disclaimer runs across- they might as well be on the safer side.

When thousands of youth from all over the country apply to be a part of the show I wonder what has brought these kids here. Are we okay with these youth (those who are above 18 years of age while there are plenty more who nurture dreams of being on the show or watch it passively) learning things that we actively want to stay away from or might even scorn at?

When a participant does not have a criterion to vote someone out, Rannvijay (the host remember?) helps out by suggesting that someone whose style or make up is not good can be asked to leave. Should I then teach my 9 year old Sumila, that tomorrow she stands no chance because she is not “attractive”? Or should I teach the 49 other kids in my class that it is okay to shun Sumila on a very shallow pretext?

The Roadies are always scared of Raghu and his twin brother whenever they appear (out of the blue!)- and why not? The way he screams his skull out, I freeze too. So maybe I should teach my little Bikram that it is completely acceptable when his dad screams and beats him up. When my kids bully each other, hit, kick, punch, or use abusive language (they absolutely do not) should I say that that is the only way they can look tough? Or when Dharmik knows how to solve his Math problem maybe I should tell him to hide his book from Omesh or better still- encourage him to teach Omesh the wrong way to solve it because malice is going to get him really far. Or should I teach them that they should help their classmates only if they are willing to share their lunch in return, just like how the Roadies ask for a bike instead of a vote. Or maybe I should tell them, that as soon as they pass their grade twelve exams after they have learnt how to read, write, and change the world with love, that they should fill up an application form and stand out in the sun for about 8 hours only to be humiliated by three people who believe that they have conquered the world. Would the three ever realize that the ones who they are humiliating, in the guise of making them tough (oh what social service!) are the ones because of whom the show is running?

Now maybe some of you might tell me that my ideas are out-dated- I watched MTV when I was 15 and today the world is different- it is tougher and more competitive and not a big happy family where we help each other grow and nourish our souls with them. Or maybe you will tell me that the show works for youth who want to become models or celebrities overnight- and therefore maybe, I should return to class and tell Gaurav that there is no need to become the Prime Minister of India, anymore, he can now choose to be a star at the cost of his self esteem.

I know there are many things wrong in this world- Roadies is just one show and just a show at that- there are so many others equally bad or worse. I am no media guru. I don’t understand TRPs, film content, trends, society or money.

What I do understand, and understand really well is that children learn, anything- that’s an occupational hazard- I believe that every child is capable of learning. Like I said, I am no media analyst, I am a teacher. And a very worried one at that.

I believe that this world can be better for our children and I try to change it. Anything that humiliates, cripples, and induces fear and doubt needs to be changed.

“kaam chal raha hai, main sapne nahin bata raha hoon”

Narendra Modi, the man with a 12.8 percent agricultural growth in the ‘non-agricultural’ state of Gujarat, who is also the Chief Minister of the state, in a well-delivered speech, has implied the importance to solving teachers’ woes in India and ensuring maximum respect and salary for them in the coming years. (The Speech)

His is an inspiring and a visionary move that aims to being back to the nation Her glory in the field of education.

You, the readers, must know that teachers are paid a pittance in this country. Teachers in the finest of schools and colleges in Mumbai, a metropolitan city, fight and crib about respect and income. Narendra has ideas and he has already put them in place.

• Good education–not on the basis of good infrastructure, but a good teacher.

Infrastructure and technology are the results of human thought and endeavour. No infrastructure in this world can make up for the importance of a good teacher. Students in Bihar qualify for the Indian Administrative Examinations and the Armed Forces Entrance Examinations—often without electricity and regular clean drinking water. In Mumbai, at the several expensive, laptop-a-day schools, oh… and many of them ‘International’, you will meet lousy students backed by lousy teachers.

• Knowledge, not just skill.

“Skill gets the job but knowledge makes the job.” Henceforth, when I am required to explain to my acquaintances the importance of the oft-ridiculed Gujarati-Marwari-Jain penchance for business, I shall use this line.

Knowledge employs skill. For instance, to have the knowledge of the various styles of music, resulting in a synthesis, calls for skills of people trained in a genre and a style (gharana).

Subsequently, skill must develop knowledge. And knowledge is not the bookish knowledge currently supported by the Indian education system. Hence the importance of the speech. It is interlinked. Good teachers would impart good knowledge, practical knowledge, that would call for skill, thereby guaranteeing employment.

The speech further mentioned that China has 50000 skill development courses. India’s Prime Minister had announced 500 such courses for India. Gujarat alone has started 2000 such courses. We should work towards skill development; “a boy working on Petroleum pipeline must have the requisite skill and knowledge to do so.”

• Teacher Training and Education

The speech mentioned briefly that there will be a familial crisis in India; families are breaking down and hence there is a need for ‘children’s university’, that will empower children. I don’t know exactly how, but it must have to do with care for neglected and abandoned children, something USA needs, and very urgently.

The Chief Minister said that the common wish of all wealthy and poor people is education for their child. ‘My child must have the best education.’ Hence, we must make it a mission to produce good teachers in India. Gujarat, as I learned, has started ‘The Indian Institute of Teacher Education’ that should be as good as the renowned Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

The Chief Minister started his speech with the need to recognise that India will have 65 percent young people in the next ten years. Of course, this generation can be useful for the country and the world if there are teachers to guide them. Good teachers.

An issue so often considered and then neglected has now gained national importance for India. And there is one state already on the path towards securing India’s future.

Kartikey Sehgal
(Rated Mature)
A relation between ‘media writing about rape and society reading about rape’.

1. Media Covers Rape

The media knows all about rape. How it happened. When it happened. How many and what they did. If they are connected to someone powerful. What was the girl wearing. The time. If she was alone. Should she be alone. If she shouted. If she was gagged. Her sisters or brothers. The family of the rapist. And much more.

Newspapers give front page preference to many rape stories. News channels cover almost every rape story in detail; they have half hour modules for rape and crime stories.

However, this intensity and inquisitiveness is lost during the ‘non-rape’ times. Politicians and policy makers are not hounded for information on how they plan to prevent rapes.

The media—as it seems—does not even realise that education is a factor in reducing crimes. Education—confidence—self-assurance—dignity—respect for self and others. It is interested only in ensuring punishment for the perpetrators; a step anyway guaranteed by the courts.

It does not disturb the policy makers to open libraries and schools in villages. It does not stand outside their government-sanctioned homes and ask questions on the same.

‘Sir, after the last crime, what have you done to ensure that the youth of the village/city/Delhi does not indulge itself in sex crimes?’ No. This doesn’t happen.

Instead, details of the most sordid aspects of the crime are reported. Lectures on sex crimes are printed in newspapers and news channels add background music to an enactment of the crime.

The media reports a rape. And in its heart it knows that the next one will come soon. It is prepared to ‘cover’ it.

2. Society Reads Rape

The media covers rape because society loves to read about rape. The repressed (even non-repressed) men of cities and villages love the sex part of the rape. They may condemn rape but they want to know about the intercourse. They want to read about the setting; whether it was a lone room or an abandoned building.

This may not be unhealthy; the ‘excitement’ of reading about the rape is simply the body telling you that it wants sex. It does not imply that the reader is wicked and wants to rape.

Excessive fascination with rape related stories could be a sign of boredom and massive repression. No parks or gardens, minimal interaction with the opposite sex, religious tensions—all these could lead to a sense of loneliness and boredom. But this does not mean that the repressed individual would commit crimes. He could, instead, shy away from society and women.

However, certain individuals are not able to distinguish between their body’s demand for sex and the pleasure derived from reading rape stories. They may equate pleasure with rape. They may go out of their way to obtain information on sex crimes.

Such individuals form the primary audience of newspapers and news channels who write explicitly about rape. The media writes about and shows sex-crime stories keeping these individuals in mind. They should push for education (as written above in part one) so as to minimise sexual confusion in such individuals. So that they don’t go on to commit sex crimes.

This doesn’t happen. Media feeds on the rape obsessed individuals who in turn feed on media.

Kartikey Sehgal

Many people pursue higher (master’s) education without thought

We often study to stay away from our passions*. Studying is comfortable and acceptable for parents as it lives up to their ideal of coping-with-the-west. Pursuing activities other than the hobby of studying makes them terrified and often violent. They are not proper parents in the sense that they will not encourage the child to do what his heart desires. Any extra-curricular activity must be an appendage to the ultimate goal of a money-making and a respectable profession, the latter being ordained by the sect of similar-minded people in a society.

Indian parents’ obsession with studying is determinant of a slave-mentality. It tells the kids that the only way you can measure up to the rich western nations is through studying. The foreigners, of course, can successfully take up professions that use their skills and wisdom and are not reliant on rote-learning.

Indian parents are not comfortable in sending their children to art schools, music schools and sports schools. The prevailing top-notch universities cater to a small minority of students many of whom rely on rote-learning to clear the tough entrance examinations. Our generation of parents and grandparents didn’t make many outstanding universities; another determinant of the slave mentality.

I shall now move to the scenario of a student enrolled in a master’s degree at some university. He has just bought himself two years of security; the parents would feel he is doing something worthwhile, never mind that their child is wasting his time in a course he doesn’t swallow with distinction; as long as there is some food on the table.

The boy, of course, would be confused during his studying time at the university, popularly referred to as education. Would he have time to first search and then pursue his passions considering he would be spending time learning things he doesn’t like? He could experience a feeling of guilt for being untrue to the textbooks and hence untrue to the expectations of his parents. Should he find a career in what he is learning—a seemingly safer option—or should he leave aside the pressures and pursue what he wants.

I think again of the first sentence.
We often study to stay away from our passions.

* in reference to master’s courses at universities

About the personal and cultural disintegration of a tribal village

There is a small tribal village in India. Malathi belongs to this village. The women here are happier than women in Delhi.

After puberty, Malathi was inducted into the village dormitory where she learnt weaving, knitting and other arts from the elder women and men. She also learnt the art of love-making through practice. By the time she was out of the dormitory, she was sexually and socially confident. Unlike the city girls, Malathi and her friends did not face ‘growing-up problems’ or ‘attitudinal disorders’ that lead you to the psychologist.

Sure, she did not study like the city girl. Many city girls read about USA and China and Russia. They attend ballet dancing classes and sing beautifully. Then they fall in love and depend and sometimes cut their wrists. Or they grow serious, laugh a little and are praised by the society for their “focus”.

“She is such a focussed girl. You must be like her”

The tribal girls, instead, focussed on happiness. They were natural, as God or aatman or nothingness made them. Whenever they felt that they were losing this natural state of being, they let out their pent-up psychological tensions till they were satisfied.

One evening, Malathi’s friend was feeling gloomy. Malathi asked her to sing and dance in the moonlight. At some distance, a young sociologist observed the girls and wrote in his diary that the tribals needed civilization.

Moving on; the tribals were thrilled when condoms were introduced in their society. The procedure of using this balloon-like thing was better and easier than their traditional methods. New tradition! Progress. Happiness. Much Joy.

“Promiscuity”, noted the young sociologist who would soon be a leading writer.

Of course, the tribals needed progress and new tools and new money. But all that did not dictate their happiness. In the coming sentences, the government will take away their land and relocate them and some religious groups will force their religion on them and spoil the tribal life. But let it be known that happiness-essential to live-was a characteristic of these tribals. And now I proceed.

Malathi and others refused the new religion. They were tortured. Some tribal men and women attacked the preachers. They were branded as savages. Promiscuous savages. Some were arrested, some ran away from police. And some women were raped. Etc… The regular.

Malathi’s male friend, one of her lovers in the dormitory, who had happily welcomed the introduction of condoms, went to Delhi/Mumbai for job and money. His land was taken away by police/government/religion.

Without education, he struggled. He had lived like a king in his village. Here he was dying. Before his death, he scribbled in his book… “tribal society progress… same life plus education. Preserve….”

Some other tribal men grew accustomed to city life. They saw that women here, even the rich ones, were treated like money. There was no dormitory here for them to relax. Instead, there were open brothels. The tribal men laughed. And perhaps they grew mad.

Something major happened to Malathi in the village. She got raped. Rapes didn’t happen in tribal socities. Very few. But Malathi didn’t mind. She coped well. That sex education!

The boy who raped her cried when he was told about his crime. This is his story:

The village dormitory was shut down by the police/preachers/government and instead of the dormitory, the boy was provided religious lessons. Women are bad, or they are inferior. Man of the house. Sex is sin. God is great. Tch..tch… very confusing to him. Then he went to town to look for a job. Here he was told that he is ST/SC/Adivasi/ABCD. He laughed at the official’s “stories” and was, therefore, suitably thrashed by him. With no money for hospital care, he went to a village where all women covered their head with dupattas or burqas when they saw a stranger amidst them. Until one woman tore a part of her dress and covered his wounds and gave him water and gave him food.

Stupid woman. Didn’t see her husband watching her. Didn’t realize that what she tore was not just the sleeve but a large part of her blouse. The boy smiled at the husband and told him that that nothing is shameful and that all humans were born equally… the husband pulled the wife inside the hut. Three days later he divorced her by saying, “I divorce you” multiplied by three.

The boy went back to the village. He was told that he suffered because he had forsaken God. The boy was hurt, angry, confused…he was a boy after all. Didn’t you wonder why I have been calling him “boy”?

With rising psychological tensions and insecurities, he raped Malathi just to prove to himself that he was a man and that he existed.

The village elders, in consultation with Malathi, forgave him because he was really suffering… the boy met Malathi, cried and apologised, promised to get back on track…the elders reminded the boy of his tribal education and the pride of the village… Malathi forgave the boy… The Women Rights Association stormed into the village, met Malathi and told her that men are pigs… the police arrested the boy and tortured him… the boy hung himself on a tree.

The preachers photographed the boy hanging from the tree. They pointed at him. This is what will happen to you if you don’t listen to God.

The young sociologist, now older, came to the village with some journalists.

No food, no electricity.
These tribals are against development.
Women are promiscuous.
No culture.
They have always been unhappy…

Boom … boom … as soon as he heard the last sentence, he threw the smuggled bombs at the sociologist…  “Eminent sociologist killed by tribal terrorist”

As he was being dragged away, he called out to Malathi.

“Daughter, try not to pick arms, but continue our struggle. Remember our happy times. Get education and write about it. We were happy once daughter. I love you”

Kartikey Sehgal

The Pope should listen to adult actor Belladonna’s idea to curb paedophilia. The actor has stated that “Church clergy are at a crisis because they get no real street-level sex education but are expected to ply the streets to deliver their spiritual message.” The actor’s insistence is noteworthy because the Roman Catholic Church has for long been under the scanner for regular and repeated child sexual abuse.

The Pope was in Australia recently for the World Youth Day, an event promoted by the Roman Catholic Church, where he offered a few lines of apology for the sex crimes. The media, present to cover the Pope’s address stated that “The Pope has failed to apologise or even tackle the issue of paedophile priests…”

The Pope and other senior priests have not mentioned about measures and solutions to prevent the crimes attributed as ‘evil’ by the Pope. Probably no other individual or organisation can get any respite with such an incomprehensive adjective to a hurtful activity.

The Pope’s comrades and fellow spiritualists, expected to be responsible and wise, are neglecting the issue and hoping for a short public memory. The father of two daughters who were raped by a catholic priest has been subtly told by a senior priest to stop ‘dwelling on old wounds’. His daughters Emma and Katie were repeatedly raped between 1988 and 1993 by a priest at the Melbourne primary school. The younger daughter Katie turned to alcohol and was hit by a car at 15. She is now under 24 hour medical supervision.

Most of us may expect the church and the government (that supports the clergy) to offer financial compensation to the embittered family for their medical expenses. But the Foster family fought an eight year legal battle with the church to claim compensation.

For a family that has lost everything young, it mustn’t be very pleasing to hear the senior priest talk mostly about positive aspects of the World Youth Day. It mustn’t be inspiring to hear the Pope talk about environment for the future generation.

The senior priest told the reporters that most people were focusing on the positive aspects of the event “rather than dwelling crankily as a few people are doing on old wounds”.
The other daughter of Foster, the other ‘old wound’, 26 year old Katie, committed suicide this year.

Since the Church has never been able to address the problems bravely, they should seriously consider Belladonna’s advice to let priests watch pornography. It is highly probable that the little sexual gratification that the priests derive from the videos would prevent them from harming minors. The actor has also offered to help formulate some exercises for the priests to help them deal with sexual tension and stress. This is a commendable and intelligent proposal from a person who is known for her hectic schedules as a director and an entrepreneur of adult films.

Following her example, we could announce some immediate measures for the Pope to follow.

It would be a good gesture if the Pope met the families of the victims and apologised. Avoiding pomposity, he should accept any law suit filed against him and be present in the court if required. He should refrain from asking his juniors or colleagues to speak on his behalf. He should be accessible to the families and regularly ask about their welfare.
This, however, sounds too utopian a task for the Pope.

The Pope has met only two men and two women abused by the clergy. He did not meet Foster who has repeatedly sought an appointment with him. He is yet to speak to Foster whose predicament has saddened and angered people across nations.

Conclusion

Belladonna has offered 300 adult films to the Catholic church in Australia for distribution to priests. The church should immediately accept the films and thank the actor for her services. It would be wonderful to see children return happy from the church.