<p>Karnataka heads to polls on May 12. Counting of votes and announcement of results will take place on May 15. In the run-up to the elections, here are five issues that dominate politics in the state.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Both parties are taking no chances with the state, considered by the BJP as the gateway to the South. Karnataka is under Congress rule and stands in the way of BJP’s agenda of Congress-free India.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Here are five issues that will dominate the political landscape in the state.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Law and order: </strong>The issue is one where the Siddaramaiah government finds itself on the backfoot. Rationalist and leading scholar MM Kalburgi was shot dead at his home in 2015. His wife has written to the Supreme Court stating that she is not satisfied with the probe being conducted by the state police and wants a Special Investigation Team to investigate her husband's death. Journalist Gauri Lankesh, a critic of right-wing ideology, was killed outside her home in Bengaluru in 2017 but the case has not been solved yet despite the arrest of a suspect Naveen Kumar. Investigators have said that there is a similarity in the killings of Gauri Lankesh and of Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar, rationalists and vocal critics of the Hindutva agenda. Forensic reports confirm similar weapons were used and shootings were carried out by assassins on motorcycles but the cases remain unsolved. Several lynchings of BJP and RSS workers have been reported in the state recently. Incidents of sexual harassment and molestation during New Year celebrations in Bengaluru were reported for last two consecutive years. “In Karnataka, there is ease of doing murder,” Modi said in Bengaluru, in an apparent reference to the spate of murders that have taken place in recent months in coastal Karnataka and Bengaluru.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Farmers' suicides:</strong> As many as 3,515 farmers have committed suicide between April 2013 and November 2017 in Karnataka. From April 2015 to April 2017, as many as 2,514 suicide cases were reported. The highest number of suicides (1,483) were reported during 2015-16. A majority of these suicides have been because of drought and farm failure as per the statistics provided by the State Agriculture Department. The government has taken steps that include asking banks not to force farmers to repay their dues and turn their short and medium-term crop loans into long-term loans with the waiver of interest. It has also registered cases against moneylenders who lend loans at exorbitant interest rates. However, the government has been accused of failing to solve the agrarian crisis.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Kannada pride:</strong> The issue of the primacy of Kannada or Kannada Swabhimana has developed into a strong movement and is also expected to take centrestage in the elections. The Railways had to incorporate Kannada in tickets of trains plying within the state, the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru had to introduce Kannada in flight information display boards, Lufthansa, British Airways and Dragon Air started announcements in Kannada in Bengaluru-bound flights. This constituency of youngsters, led by mostly software professionals, under the banner of Banavasi Balaga and Kannada Grahakara Koota cannot be ignored. The Siddaramaiah government has caught on to the popular sentiment and is trying to introduce Kannada to be incorporated in passports used in Karnataka. Even more surprising was his decision to moot a separate Kannada flag, justifying it as the comeback of federalism. The flag has already been approved by the cabinet and will now be sent to the Union home ministry for its approval.The BJP, on the other hand, is an advocate of "one nation" and believes it will lead to divisive tendencies. The JD(U) has stayed away from this discussion.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Corruption: </strong>Both the Congress and the BJP have dubbed each other as "the most corrupt". PM Modi has called the Siddaramaiah government the "10% government" where no work or project could take off without paying a commission to the Congress. Modi accused the Congress of being involved in multiple scams including buildings, transfers and sand. The Congress has accused former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government of presiding over the mining scam when it was in power in the state. Siddaramaiah has also been accused of nepotism. His son Yathindra Siddaramaiah's company Matrix Imaging Solutions was allegedly awarded a tender to set up a pathology laboratory inside the premises of the government-owned super-speciality Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Siddaramaiah's rivals have stated that the deal violated the code of conduct for ministers.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Politics of religion and caste: </strong>The BJP and the JDS have traditionally relied on religion and caste dynamics. However, in a major surprise political move ahead of the assembly elections, the state cabinet in March decided to recommend to the Centre according separate religion status to the numerically strong Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community. The move was seen as an attempt by the Siddaramaiah government to cut into the vote bank of BJP, as Lingayats/ Veerashaivas are considered the party's traditional supporters. Lingayats, a middle caste, comprise around 15 per cent of Karnataka's population, and dominate politics in the state. A section of the community has been seeking the status of a separate religion as distinct from the Hindu religion.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The BJP has reached out to the Vokkaligas, who are believed to be the second largest caste group in the state after the Lingayats and who form the support base of the Janata Dal (Secular), a regional party run by Vokkaliga strongmen like former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. The Congress party, with leaders like DK Shivakumar, has also got the support of the Vokkaligas.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The Dalits are the third most important caste group which is why Siddaramaiah has tried to woo them through the AHINDA (acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) movement.</p>


Both BJP and Congress are taking no chances, considered by the BJP as the gateway to the South. Karnataka is under Congress rule and stands in the way of BJP’s agenda of Congress-free India.

Karnataka heads to polls on May 12. Counting of votes and announcement of results will take place on May 15. In the run-up to the elections, here are five issues that dominate politics in the state. Both parties are taking no chances with the state, considered by the BJP as the gateway to the South. Karnataka is under Congress rule and stands in the way of BJP’s agenda of Congress-free India. Here are five issues that will dominate the political landscape in the state. Law and order: The issue is one where the Siddaramaiah government finds itself on the backfoot. Rationalist and leading scholar MM Kalburgi was shot dead at his home in 2015. His wife has written to the Supreme Court stating that she is not satisfied with the probe being conducted by the state police and wants a Special Investigation Team to investigate her husband's death. Journalist Gauri Lankesh, a critic of right-wing ideology, was killed outside her home in Bengaluru in 2017 but the case has not been solved yet despite the arrest of a suspect Naveen Kumar. Investigators have said that there is a similarity in the killings of Gauri Lankesh and of Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar, rationalists and vocal critics of the Hindutva agenda. Forensic reports confirm similar weapons were used and shootings were carried out by assassins on motorcycles but the cases remain unsolved. Several lynchings of BJP and RSS workers have been reported in the state recently. Incidents of sexual harassment and molestation during New Year celebrations in Bengaluru were reported for last two consecutive years. “In Karnataka, there is ease of doing murder,” Modi said in Bengaluru, in an apparent reference to the spate of murders that have taken place in recent months in coastal Karnataka and Bengaluru. Farmers' suicides: As many as 3,515 farmers have committed suicide between April 2013 and November 2017 in Karnataka. From April 2015 to April 2017, as many as 2,514 suicide cases were reported. The highest number of suicides (1,483) were reported during 2015-16. A majority of these suicides have been because of drought and farm failure as per the statistics provided by the State Agriculture Department. The government has taken steps that include asking banks not to force farmers to repay their dues and turn their short and medium-term crop loans into long-term loans with the waiver of interest. It has also registered cases against moneylenders who lend loans at exorbitant interest rates. However, the government has been accused of failing to solve the agrarian crisis. Kannada pride: The issue of the primacy of Kannada or Kannada Swabhimana has developed into a strong movement and is also expected to take centrestage in the elections. The Railways had to incorporate Kannada in tickets of trains plying within the state, the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru had to introduce Kannada in flight information display boards, Lufthansa, British Airways and Dragon Air started announcements in Kannada in Bengaluru-bound flights. This constituency of youngsters, led by mostly software professionals, under the banner of Banavasi Balaga and Kannada Grahakara Koota cannot be ignored. The Siddaramaiah government has caught on to the popular sentiment and is trying to introduce Kannada to be incorporated in passports used in Karnataka. Even more surprising was his decision to moot a separate Kannada flag, justifying it as the comeback of federalism. The flag has already been approved by the cabinet and will now be sent to the Union home ministry for its approval.The BJP, on the other hand, is an advocate of "one nation" and believes it will lead to divisive tendencies. The JD(U) has stayed away from this discussion. Corruption: Both the Congress and the BJP have dubbed each other as "the most corrupt". PM Modi has called the Siddaramaiah government the "10% government" where no work or project could take off without paying a commission to the Congress. Modi accused the Congress of being involved in multiple scams including buildings, transfers and sand. The Congress has accused former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government of presiding over the mining scam when it was in power in the state. Siddaramaiah has also been accused of nepotism. His son Yathindra Siddaramaiah's company Matrix Imaging Solutions was allegedly awarded a tender to set up a pathology laboratory inside the premises of the government-owned super-speciality Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Siddaramaiah's rivals have stated that the deal violated the code of conduct for ministers. Politics of religion and caste: The BJP and the JDS have traditionally relied on religion and caste dynamics. However, in a major surprise political move ahead of the assembly elections, the state cabinet in March decided to recommend to the Centre according separate religion status to the numerically strong Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community. The move was seen as an attempt by the Siddaramaiah government to cut into the vote bank of BJP, as Lingayats/ Veerashaivas are considered the party's traditional supporters. Lingayats, a middle caste, comprise around 15 per cent of Karnataka's population, and dominate politics in the state. A section of the community has been seeking the status of a separate religion as distinct from the Hindu religion. The BJP has reached out to the Vokkaligas, who are believed to be the second largest caste group in the state after the Lingayats and who form the support base of the Janata Dal (Secular), a regional party run by Vokkaliga strongmen like former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. The Congress party, with leaders like DK Shivakumar, has also got the support of the Vokkaligas. The Dalits are the third most important caste group which is why Siddaramaiah has tried to woo them through the AHINDA (acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) movement.

Five issues that will dominate Karnataka Assembly elections

<p>When it comes to preparing for board exams in India, students need to enjoy the entire process of studying for exams rather than emphasising on the end result only. Sadly, these exams are more about getting high marks rather than learning to think on one's own and applying what is learnt. This can only happen if students pick subjects for which they have aptitude and parents do not pressurise them to take up certain subjects like maths or science.</p>

<p>What is needed is a change in the approach to the exams by many teachers and parents who put unnecessary pressure on the child to come first, be among the toppers or score 90 per cent. Instead, students should be encouraged to put in their best effort and not bother about the end result. But the result is in turn linked to very high cut-offs in colleges which puts pressure on the students to rote memorise rather than focus on concept building. High cut offs in turn are linked to the inflated marks caused by the moderation policy of state boards where they give extra marks if students of a particular region have not done well. It is hoped that in the years to come, the CBSE and the state boards will chalk out an agreement whereby the&nbspmarking system is uniform throughout the country and students of a particular board are not at an advantage or disadvantage.</p>

<p>The flip side of these exams is stress, anxiety, nervousness. These need to be tackled and managed in a healthy way and not be allowed to overpower preparation for the exam. The decision to dispense with the 10th board exam was taken after an increase in suicides by students but the exams have been reinstated now. The CBSE Board has started counselling service for students to deal with their anxiety. Since anxiety typically peaks just a month before the board exams, these counselling services are usually started in February. In my view these services should be started two years before the board year, from 9th standard itself so that students have a channel to vent out their stress and anxiety.</p>

<p>Should board exams be abolished? Not in my view. Between being bored of studies and the boards, I would prefer the latter&nbspthan having nothing to strive for, no exam as a benchmark, no healthy competition. Board exams are a motivator for students. They can help the board to assess aptitude of students for a particular vocation later on. Discontinuing the exams can lead to the development of an attitude of indifference among students. Healthy competition is good and helps in motivating students to put in their best effort.</p>

<p>There should ideally be an overlap between building concepts and questions included in the board syllabus and in competitive examinations such as medical and engineering exams to prevent unnecessary pressure and burden on students. This will also reduce the scramble to take special coaching for competitive exams. Instead, the syllabus can be reduced by upto 50 per cent if required and the time taken to build concepts and application-based learning.</p>

<p>Emphasis should be on the pursuit of excellence rather than simply memorising and rote learning. This was precisely the reason why Einstein chose to drop out of school at the age of 15. He found it difficult to pursue the subjects in which he was interested in the rigid environment of school. He would have thoroughly agreed with Mark Twain, who himself was not educated beyond elementary school and who famously remarked, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education".</p>

<p>Boards are not sole criteria of measuring talent or success. Everyone cannot be a topper and it is not necessary those who are toppers will do well in life later on. Happiness cannot be tied to one exam. A change in attitude is required among those teachers and parents who pressurise students to become toppers. There are many cases of students committing suicide or becoming depressed if the result is not favourable. Educators should instead motivate disheartened students with success stories of those people who didn't necessarily score high marks in school but did well in life later on.&nbsp</p>

<p>As the famous song from "3 Idiots", the coming of age drama and satire on the pressures of the Indian education system, goes, in the end students should be told that "All is well."</p>

<p>(<em>Disclaimer:</em> <em>The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL</em>)</p>


Sadly, these exams are more about getting high marks rather than learning to think on one's own and applying what is learnt

When it comes to preparing for board exams in India, students need to enjoy the entire process of studying for exams rather than emphasising on the end result only. Sadly, these exams are more about getting high marks rather than learning to think on one's own and applying what is learnt. This can only happen if students pick subjects for which they have aptitude and parents do not pressurise them to take up certain subjects like maths or science. What is needed is a change in the approach to the exams by many teachers and parents who put unnecessary pressure on the child to come first, be among the toppers or score 90 per cent. Instead, students should be encouraged to put in their best effort and not bother about the end result. But the result is in turn linked to very high cut-offs in colleges which puts pressure on the students to rote memorise rather than focus on concept building. High cut offs in turn are linked to the inflated marks caused by the moderation policy of state boards where they give extra marks if students of a particular region have not done well. It is hoped that in the years to come, the CBSE and the state boards will chalk out an agreement whereby the&nbspmarking system is uniform throughout the country and students of a particular board are not at an advantage or disadvantage. The flip side of these exams is stress, anxiety, nervousness. These need to be tackled and managed in a healthy way and not be allowed to overpower preparation for the exam. The decision to dispense with the 10th board exam was taken after an increase in suicides by students but the exams have been reinstated now. The CBSE Board has started counselling service for students to deal with their anxiety. Since anxiety typically peaks just a month before the board exams, these counselling services are usually started in February. In my view these services should be started two years before the board year, from 9th standard itself so that students have a channel to vent out their stress and anxiety. Should board exams be abolished? Not in my view. Between being bored of studies and the boards, I would prefer the latter&nbspthan having nothing to strive for, no exam as a benchmark, no healthy competition. Board exams are a motivator for students. They can help the board to assess aptitude of students for a particular vocation later on. Discontinuing the exams can lead to the development of an attitude of indifference among students. Healthy competition is good and helps in motivating students to put in their best effort. There should ideally be an overlap between building concepts and questions included in the board syllabus and in competitive examinations such as medical and engineering exams to prevent unnecessary pressure and burden on students. This will also reduce the scramble to take special coaching for competitive exams. Instead, the syllabus can be reduced by upto 50 per cent if required and the time taken to build concepts and application-based learning. Emphasis should be on the pursuit of excellence rather than simply memorising and rote learning. This was precisely the reason why Einstein chose to drop out of school at the age of 15. He found it difficult to pursue the subjects in which he was interested in the rigid environment of school. He would have thoroughly agreed with Mark Twain, who himself was not educated beyond elementary school and who famously remarked, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education". Boards are not sole criteria of measuring talent or success. Everyone cannot be a topper and it is not necessary those who are toppers will do well in life later on. Happiness cannot be tied to one exam. A change in attitude is required among those teachers and parents who pressurise students to become toppers. There are many cases of students committing suicide or becoming depressed if the result is not favourable. Educators should instead motivate disheartened students with success stories of those people who didn't necessarily score high marks in school but did well in life later on. As the famous song from "3 Idiots", the coming of age drama and satire on the pressures of the Indian education system, goes, in the end students should be told that "All is well." (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: The board exam journey should be more important than the destination

<p>When it comes to preparing for board exams in India, students need to enjoy the entire process of studying for exams rather than emphasising on the end result only. Sadly, these exams are more about getting high marks rather than learning to think on one&#39;s own and applying what is learnt. This can only happen if students pick subjects for which they have aptitude and parents do not pressurise them to take up certain subjects like maths or science.</p>

<p>What is needed is a change in the approach to the exams by many teachers and parents who put unnecessary pressure on the child to come first, be among the toppers or score 90 per cent. Instead, students should be encouraged to put in their best effort and not bother about the end result. But the result is in turn linked to very high cut-offs in colleges which puts pressure on the students to rote memorise rather than focus on concept building. High cut offs in turn are linked to the inflated marks caused by the moderation policy of state boards where they give extra marks if students of a particular region have not done well. It is hoped that in the years to come, the CBSE and the state boards will chalk out an agreement whereby the&nbsp;marking system is uniform throughout the country and students of a particular board are not at an advantage or disadvantage.</p>

<p>The flip side of these exams is stress, anxiety, nervousness. These need to be tackled and managed in a healthy way and not be allowed to overpower preparation for the exam. The decision to dispense with the 10th board exam was taken after an increase in suicides by students but the exams have been reinstated now. The CBSE Board has started counselling service for students to deal with their anxiety. Since anxiety typically peaks just a month before the board exams, these counselling services are usually started in February. In my view these services should be started two years before the board year, from 9th standard itself so that students have a channel to vent out their stress and anxiety.</p>

<p>Should board exams be abolished? Not in my view. Between being bored of studies and the boards, I would prefer the latter&nbsp;than having nothing to strive for, no exam as a benchmark, no healthy competition. Board exams are a motivator for students. They can help the board to assess aptitude of students for a particular vocation later on. Discontinuing the exams can lead to the development of an attitude of indifference among students. Healthy competition is good and helps in motivating students to put in their best effort.</p>

<p>There should ideally be an overlap between building concepts and questions included in the board syllabus and in competitive examinations such as medical and engineering exams to prevent unnecessary pressure and burden on students. This will also reduce the scramble to take special coaching for competitive exams. Instead, the syllabus can be reduced by upto 50 per cent if required and the time taken to build concepts and application-based learning.</p>

<p>Emphasis should be on the pursuit of excellence rather than simply memorising and rote learning. This was precisely the reason why Einstein chose to drop out of school at the age of 15. He found it difficult to pursue the subjects in which he was interested in the rigid environment of school. He would have thoroughly agreed with Mark Twain, who himself was not educated beyond elementary school and who famously remarked, &quot;I have never let my schooling interfere with my education&quot;.</p>

<p>Boards are not sole criteria of measuring talent or success. Everyone cannot be a topper and it is not necessary those who are toppers will do well in life later on. Happiness cannot be tied to one exam. A change in attitude is required among those teachers and parents who pressurise students to become toppers. There are many cases of students committing suicide or becoming depressed if the result is not favourable. Educators should instead motivate disheartened students with success stories of those people who didn&#39;t necessarily score high marks in school but did well in life later on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the famous song from &quot;3 Idiots&quot;, the coming of age drama and satire on the pressures of the Indian education system, goes, in the end students should be told that &quot;All is well.&quot;</p>

<p>(<em>Disclaimer:</em> <em>The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL</em>)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


When it comes to preparing for board exams in India, students need to enjoy the entire process of studying for exams rather than emphasising on the end result only. Sadly, these exams are more about getting high marks rather than learning to think on one's own and applying what is learnt. This can only happen if students pick subjects for which they have aptitude and parents do not pressurise them to take up certain subjects like maths or science. What is needed is a change in the approach to the exams by many teachers and parents who put unnecessary pressure on the child to come first, be among the toppers or score 90 per cent. Instead, students should be encouraged to put in their best effort and not bother about the end result. But the result is in turn linked to very high cut-offs in colleges which puts pressure on the students to rote memorise rather than focus on concept building. High cut offs in turn are linked to the inflated marks caused by the moderation policy of state boards where they give extra marks if students of a particular region have not done well. It is hoped that in the years to come, the CBSE and the state boards will chalk out an agreement whereby the marking system is uniform throughout the country and students of a particular board are not at an advantage or disadvantage. The flip side of these exams is stress, anxiety, nervousness. These need to be tackled and managed in a healthy way and not be allowed to overpower preparation for the exam. The decision to dispense with the 10th board exam was taken after an increase in suicides by students but the exams have been reinstated now. The CBSE Board has started counselling service for students to deal with their anxiety. Since anxiety typically peaks just a month before the board exams, these counselling services are usually started in February. In my view these services should be started two years before the board year, from 9th standard itself so that students have a channel to vent out their stress and anxiety. Should board exams be abolished? Not in my view. Between being bored of studies and the boards, I would prefer the latter than having nothing to strive for, no exam as a benchmark, no healthy competition. Board exams are a motivator for students. They can help the board to assess aptitude of students for a particular vocation later on. Discontinuing the exams can lead to the development of an attitude of indifference among students. Healthy competition is good and helps in motivating students to put in their best effort. There should ideally be an overlap between building concepts and questions included in the board syllabus and in competitive examinations such as medical and engineering exams to prevent unnecessary pressure and burden on students. This will also reduce the scramble to take special coaching for competitive exams. Instead, the syllabus can be reduced by upto 50 per cent if required and the time taken to build concepts and application-based learning. Emphasis should be on the pursuit of excellence rather than simply memorising and rote learning. This was precisely the reason why Einstein chose to drop out of school at the age of 15. He found it difficult to pursue the subjects in which he was interested in the rigid environment of school. He would have thoroughly agreed with Mark Twain, who himself was not educated beyond elementary school and who famously remarked, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education". Boards are not sole criteria of measuring talent or success. Everyone cannot be a topper and it is not necessary those who are toppers will do well in life later on. Happiness cannot be tied to one exam. A change in attitude is required among those teachers and parents who pressurise students to become toppers. There are many cases of students committing suicide or becoming depressed if the result is not favourable. Educators should instead motivate disheartened students with success stories of those people who didn't necessarily score high marks in school but did well in life later on. As the famous song from "3 Idiots", the coming of age drama and satire on the pressures of the Indian education system, goes, in the end students should be told that "All is well." (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

<p>Yes, Women&#39;s Day is relevant in India in terms of the potential it has to bring about a change in the mindsets and attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But in my opinion, the celebration is overrated. In a country where there are female foeticides, dowry deaths, where women do not have access to schools, toilets and sanitary napkins, women&#39;s day is superficial.</p>

<p>Women&#39;s day needs to come as a movement from within the country, like in the West where it began as a movement of advancing the cause of women&#39;s suffrage or the right to vote. We have still been unable to achieve reservation for women in politics, necessary because of centuries of gender inequality. The Woman&#39;s Reservation Bill, which aims at reserving 33 per cent of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies, lapsed because the Lok Sabha didn&#39;t vote on it.</p>

<p>The so-called privileged women are not that privileged after all when it comes to prejudices and biases.</p>

<p>Women&#39;s participation in the boardrooms is skewed, as is their remuneration. Many are still sidelined at their workplace after pregnancy. Most expecting women bump into the glass ceiling, a commonly-used metaphor used for describing the invisible barrier that hinders the advancement of women up the corporate ladder.</p>

<p>Women need to be given greater flexibility and options like work from home if required. I know of a woman who had a miscarriage, joined back work after surgery, and was told by her manager that she was on &#39;vacation&#39;. This is a serious prejudice and illustrates the insensitive attitude of some. The Maternity (Amendment) Bill introduced in 2017 is a shot in the arm for the female workforce and will mitigate some of the challenges faced by them.</p>

<p>The bias begins right from childhood when a boy&#39;s education is given more priority than a girl&#39;s. If it comes to choosing between whom to send to school, the boy is usually given preference. Child-rearing practices need to change to overcome gender stereotypes. As does the education system- in many places, girls are typically depicted as confined to the domestic sphere, while boys are shown in occupational and outdoor roles.</p>

<p>This Women&#39;s Day, I wish for Indian women to be empowered which implies more freedom, liberation, inclusion, sensitisation of society towards problems of women, and greater role in decision making whether at the workplace or at home.</p>

<p>The increase in the number of divorces in the country is a sign that women are learning to stand up for themselves. The Triple Talaq bill is yet another pathbreaking piece of legislation introduced by the government that will go a long way towards empowering Muslim women.</p>

<p>We need to change mindsets and perspectives towards women and overcome and challenge biased and non-inclusive behaviour. At home, women need to take more decisions from choosing which serial to watch to have an equal say in what to buy and where to live. At work, women need to take on greater leadership roles, be in charge of things and prove the biases towards them are incorrect.</p>

<p>There are some women CEOs, cabinet ministers and industrialists who have made the journey from the kitchen to the corridors of power and are role models worthy of emulation. Here&rsquo;s more power to all women in the years to come as they soar to greater heights and reach their full potential.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;</em></p>


Some women have made the journey from the kitchen to the corridors of power. Yet many do not have access to schools, toilets, and sanitary napkins.

Yes, Women's Day is relevant in India in terms of the potential it has to bring about a change in the mindsets and attitudes towards women. But in my opinion, the celebration is overrated. In a country where there are female foeticides, dowry deaths, where women do not have access to schools, toilets and sanitary napkins, women's day is superficial. Women's day needs to come as a movement from within the country, like in the West where it began as a movement of advancing the cause of women's suffrage or the right to vote. We have still been unable to achieve reservation for women in politics, necessary because of centuries of gender inequality. The Woman's Reservation Bill, which aims at reserving 33 per cent of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies, lapsed because the Lok Sabha didn't vote on it. The so-called privileged women are not that privileged after all when it comes to prejudices and biases. Women's participation in the boardrooms is skewed, as is their remuneration. Many are still sidelined at their workplace after pregnancy. Most expecting women bump into the glass ceiling, a commonly-used metaphor used for describing the invisible barrier that hinders the advancement of women up the corporate ladder. Women need to be given greater flexibility and options like work from home if required. I know of a woman who had a miscarriage, joined back work after surgery, and was told by her manager that she was on 'vacation'. This is a serious prejudice and illustrates the insensitive attitude of some. The Maternity (Amendment) Bill introduced in 2017 is a shot in the arm for the female workforce and will mitigate some of the challenges faced by them. The bias begins right from childhood when a boy's education is given more priority than a girl's. If it comes to choosing between whom to send to school, the boy is usually given preference. Child-rearing practices need to change to overcome gender stereotypes. As does the education system- in many places, girls are typically depicted as confined to the domestic sphere, while boys are shown in occupational and outdoor roles. This Women's Day, I wish for Indian women to be empowered which implies more freedom, liberation, inclusion, sensitisation of society towards problems of women, and greater role in decision making whether at the workplace or at home. The increase in the number of divorces in the country is a sign that women are learning to stand up for themselves. The Triple Talaq bill is yet another pathbreaking piece of legislation introduced by the government that will go a long way towards empowering Muslim women. We need to change mindsets and perspectives towards women and overcome and challenge biased and non-inclusive behaviour. At home, women need to take more decisions from choosing which serial to watch to have an equal say in what to buy and where to live. At work, women need to take on greater leadership roles, be in charge of things and prove the biases towards them are incorrect. There are some women CEOs, cabinet ministers and industrialists who have made the journey from the kitchen to the corridors of power and are role models worthy of emulation. Here’s more power to all women in the years to come as they soar to greater heights and reach their full potential. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why the journey from kitchen to corridors of power is so difficult for women

<p>Here are some interesting fun facts you might want to equip yourself with before you witness all the action on Hollywood&#39;s biggest awards night on Monday (India time).</p>

<p>1. The very first ceremony in 1929, a private affair, was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The ticket to the event cost just $5.</p>

<p>2. The Oscar statuettes are not gold and are just plated in gold. They are mostly in bronze.</p>

<p>3. Bob Hope has hosted the most Oscar shows - a whopping 19 times between 1939 and 1977. He famously quipped at one event, &quot;I think they ought to give me an Oscar just for attendance, don&#39;t you?&quot;.</p>

<p>4. Whoopi Goldberg made history as the first African-American to host the Academy Awards in 1994. She was also the first woman to host the Oscars solo.</p>

<p>5. The phrase &quot;And the winner is...&quot; was discontinued at the 1989 Oscars and replaced with &quot;And the Oscar goes to...&quot;</p>

<p>6. The producers of the show have been imposing a a 45-second limit on speeches since 2010. Anyone straying past that mark is drowned out by the orchestra. If he/she still continues, there are reminders on the teleprompter and if even that doesn&#39;t work, the microphone cuts out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>7. The Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held has 3400 seats.</p>

<p>8. The Only Oscar to Win an Oscar is Oscar Hammerstein II who won the award for Best Original Song for The Last Time I Saw Paris from the movie Lady Be Good (1941).</p>

<p>9. Meryl Streep holds the record for the winner of most Oscar nominations - 21 including for this year&#39;s &quot;The Post&quot;. Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson hold the runners-up record with 12 nods each.</p>

<p>10. The winner of the most Oscars in a lifetime is Walt Disney with 26 awards from 59 nominations.</p>


The very first ceremony in 1929, a private affair, was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The ticket to the event cost just $5

Here are some interesting fun facts you might want to equip yourself with before you witness all the action on Hollywood's biggest awards night on Monday (India time). 1. The very first ceremony in 1929, a private affair, was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The ticket to the event cost just $5. 2. The Oscar statuettes are not gold and are just plated in gold. They are mostly in bronze. 3. Bob Hope has hosted the most Oscar shows - a whopping 19 times between 1939 and 1977. He famously quipped at one event, "I think they ought to give me an Oscar just for attendance, don't you?". 4. Whoopi Goldberg made history as the first African-American to host the Academy Awards in 1994. She was also the first woman to host the Oscars solo. 5. The phrase "And the winner is..." was discontinued at the 1989 Oscars and replaced with "And the Oscar goes to..." 6. The producers of the show have been imposing a a 45-second limit on speeches since 2010. Anyone straying past that mark is drowned out by the orchestra. If he/she still continues, there are reminders on the teleprompter and if even that doesn't work, the microphone cuts out. 7. The Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held has 3400 seats. 8. The Only Oscar to Win an Oscar is Oscar Hammerstein II who won the award for Best Original Song for The Last Time I Saw Paris from the movie Lady Be Good (1941). 9. Meryl Streep holds the record for the winner of most Oscar nominations - 21 including for this year's "The Post". Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson hold the runners-up record with 12 nods each. 10. The winner of the most Oscars in a lifetime is Walt Disney with 26 awards from 59 nominations.

Oscars 2018: 10 fun facts about the Academy Awards

<p>It is a question that the protestors who want the film &quot;Padmavati&quot; to be banned must first ask themselves before they take extreme steps, such as vandalising the film&#39;s sets in Jaipur or suggesting that the acclaimed director is tried for distorting history on grounds of treason.</p>

<p>The question is can somebody be tried for treason because he took inspiration from a work of fiction.</p>

<p>The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is reportedly based on the 1540 fictional piece &quot;Padmavat&quot; by the famous poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. The poem is a tribute to the valour of Rani Padmini, wife of the Rajput ruler of Mewar, Ratan Singh. In 1303, Alauddin Khilji, a king of the Delhi Sultanate, laid siege of the fort of Chittor.</p>

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<h5>The poem Padmavat states that Alauddin Khilji started the campaign to conquer Chittor motivated by his desire to capture Rani Padmini who committed Jauhar (self-immolation) along with other women to save their honour.</h5>
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<p>The Padmavat states that Alauddin Khilji started the campaign to conquer Chittor motivated by his desire to capture Rani Padmini who committed Jauhar (self-immolation) along with other women to save their honour.</p>

<p>Interestingly, the accounts prior to the &quot;Padmavat&quot; that describe Alauddin Khilji&#39;s Chittorgarh conquest make no mention of the queen.</p>

<p>Historian Amir Khusrau, who accompanied Alauddin Khilji during the important historical event, and records it in &quot;Khaza&#39;in ul-Futuh&quot; makes no mention of Rani Padmini. Later accounts of Rani Padmini are all adaptations of the &quot;Padmavat&quot;. Most modern historians have rejected the authenticity of the legend around Rani Padmini.</p>

<p>Rajput community leaders, several members of the BJP in the state and various right-wing organisations, including the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha and the Bajrang Dal have asked for a ban on the film, alleging that the filmmaker has distorted historical facts regarding Rani Padmini.</p>

<p>Their objections are to an alleged dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji which the film&#39;s director has repeatedly denied.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has refused to stay the release of the film and said that the Central Board of Film Certification or the censor board follows guidelines and considers all aspects before granting a certificate to any film.</p>

<p>The filmmaker is yet to take the approval of the censor board, a process which routinely takes 21 days.</p>

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<h5>A legislator of a political party has problems with the fact that a Rajput queen is dancing in front of everyone which he says is completely against Rajput culture and pride.</h5>
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<p>The Rajasthan government&#39;s suggestion is to set up a committee to examine the facts. Even if historians are invited to be committee members as suggested by some, it implies that another body will take over the functions of the censor board and this will set an unhealthy trend.</p>

<p>A legislator of a political party has problems with the fact that a Rajput queen is dancing in front of everyone which he says is completely against Rajput culture and pride.</p>

<p>&quot;The legendary queen (Padmavati) has been reportedly portrayed in a bad light (in the film). Rani Padmavati never danced, rather all women from royal families lived a very dignified life and whenever they felt that their chastity is in danger, they would jump into the fire, so that nobody can touch them. Rani Padmavati was one of them,&quot; Raj Purohit, chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra assembly said.</p>

<p>Is it really so? It is disappointing that a representative of the people, who should be open minded and carries a responsibility to be progressive has raised such objections. He is in all probability referring to the song &quot;Ghoomar&quot; from the film which features Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, dancing before the king and members of the palace. Instead, the queen should be lauded for her initiative (in the film). There is nothing vulgar in the way she is dancing. It is quite tastefully done.</p>

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<h5>Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly said that there is no scene in the film that can hurt the sentiments of the Rajputs.</h5>
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<p>Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly said that there is no scene in the film that can hurt the sentiments of the Rajputs.</p>

<p>In fact, the trailer repeatedly talks about the valour of the Rajputs. Phrases like &quot;Rani Padmini is our pride and honour&quot;, &quot;The one who never gives up and fights the enemy till his very last breath is a Rajput,&quot; &quot;One who accepts all challenges and emerges victorious is a Rajput&quot; feature in the trailer.</p>

<p>I am slightly disappointed by the fact that a brilliant filmmaker as Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been focussing on regressive themes in his last few films. Let us hope he has not glorified the practice of Jauhar. Rani Padmini allegedly committed self-immolation during the siege of Chittor.</p>

<p>Mr Bhansali&#39;s previous film &quot;Bajirao Mastani&quot;, which was also accused of distorting historical facts but ultimately released across India, highlighted the love triangle between Bajirao Peshwa, his wife and his mistress. Perhaps the filmmaker could feature more socially progressive and relevant topics in his films that would help India transition from a developing society to a developed one.</p>


Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been focussing on regressive themes in his last few films but he can't be tried for committing treason for taking inspiration from a work of fiction

It is a question that the protestors who want the film "Padmavati" to be banned must first ask themselves before they take extreme steps, such as vandalising the film's sets in Jaipur or suggesting that the acclaimed director is tried for distorting history on grounds of treason. The question is can somebody be tried for treason because he took inspiration from a work of fiction. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is reportedly based on the 1540 fictional piece "Padmavat" by the famous poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. The poem is a tribute to the valour of Rani Padmini, wife of the Rajput ruler of Mewar, Ratan Singh. In 1303, Alauddin Khilji, a king of the Delhi Sultanate, laid siege of the fort of Chittor. The poem Padmavat states that Alauddin Khilji started the campaign to conquer Chittor motivated by his desire to capture Rani Padmini who committed Jauhar (self-immolation) along with other women to save their honour. × The Padmavat states that Alauddin Khilji started the campaign to conquer Chittor motivated by his desire to capture Rani Padmini who committed Jauhar (self-immolation) along with other women to save their honour. Interestingly, the accounts prior to the "Padmavat" that describe Alauddin Khilji's Chittorgarh conquest make no mention of the queen. Historian Amir Khusrau, who accompanied Alauddin Khilji during the important historical event, and records it in "Khaza'in ul-Futuh" makes no mention of Rani Padmini. Later accounts of Rani Padmini are all adaptations of the "Padmavat". Most modern historians have rejected the authenticity of the legend around Rani Padmini. Rajput community leaders, several members of the BJP in the state and various right-wing organisations, including the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, the Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha and the Bajrang Dal have asked for a ban on the film, alleging that the filmmaker has distorted historical facts regarding Rani Padmini. Their objections are to an alleged dream sequence between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji which the film's director has repeatedly denied. The Supreme Court has refused to stay the release of the film and said that the Central Board of Film Certification or the censor board follows guidelines and considers all aspects before granting a certificate to any film. The filmmaker is yet to take the approval of the censor board, a process which routinely takes 21 days. A legislator of a political party has problems with the fact that a Rajput queen is dancing in front of everyone which he says is completely against Rajput culture and pride. × The Rajasthan government's suggestion is to set up a committee to examine the facts. Even if historians are invited to be committee members as suggested by some, it implies that another body will take over the functions of the censor board and this will set an unhealthy trend. A legislator of a political party has problems with the fact that a Rajput queen is dancing in front of everyone which he says is completely against Rajput culture and pride. "The legendary queen (Padmavati) has been reportedly portrayed in a bad light (in the film). Rani Padmavati never danced, rather all women from royal families lived a very dignified life and whenever they felt that their chastity is in danger, they would jump into the fire, so that nobody can touch them. Rani Padmavati was one of them," Raj Purohit, chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra assembly said. Is it really so? It is disappointing that a representative of the people, who should be open minded and carries a responsibility to be progressive has raised such objections. He is in all probability referring to the song "Ghoomar" from the film which features Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, dancing before the king and members of the palace. Instead, the queen should be lauded for her initiative (in the film). There is nothing vulgar in the way she is dancing. It is quite tastefully done. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly said that there is no scene in the film that can hurt the sentiments of the Rajputs. × Sanjay Leela Bhansali has repeatedly said that there is no scene in the film that can hurt the sentiments of the Rajputs. In fact, the trailer repeatedly talks about the valour of the Rajputs. Phrases like "Rani Padmini is our pride and honour", "The one who never gives up and fights the enemy till his very last breath is a Rajput," "One who accepts all challenges and emerges victorious is a Rajput" feature in the trailer. I am slightly disappointed by the fact that a brilliant filmmaker as Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been focussing on regressive themes in his last few films. Let us hope he has not glorified the practice of Jauhar. Rani Padmini allegedly committed self-immolation during the siege of Chittor. Mr Bhansali's previous film "Bajirao Mastani", which was also accused of distorting historical facts but ultimately released across India, highlighted the love triangle between Bajirao Peshwa, his wife and his mistress. Perhaps the filmmaker could feature more socially progressive and relevant topics in his films that would help India transition from a developing society to a developed one.

Padmavati row: Much ado over a piece of fiction?

<p>The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers this Diwali (October 19) began with a bang (no pun intended) but ended in a whimper.</p>

<p>We talk about &quot;judicial activism&quot; but this is a classic case of the top court being constrained to take action, on a petition filed by three infants after the alarming rise in pollution levels and smog which enveloped the national capital last year on Diwali.</p>

<p>On October 13, the court refused to modify its earlier order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.</p>

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<h5>The administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali.</h5>
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<p>&quot;It&#39;s just an experiment for one year, we will take stock after that,&quot; Justice A K Sikri, who heard the case today, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-refuses-to-lift-ban-on-firecrackers-in-delhi-ncr-says-its-an-experiment-for-1-year-22393">was quoted as saying by WION</a>.</p>

<p>The judge said its 2016 order suspending the licences &quot;should be given one chance to test itself&quot;.</p>

<p>Far from activism, the Supreme Court ban stopped short of altogether banning the bursting of firecrackers. The administration in Delhi and the National Capital Region issued directives to the shopkeepers to stop selling firecrackers. But the administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali.</p>

<p>The results were there for everyone to see. While pollution levels, which were &quot;very poor&quot; just 10 days prior remained at &quot;very poor&quot; on the night of October 19, they shot up to &quot;severe&quot; the next day, the Central Pollution Control Board reported.</p>

<p>The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city on Diwali glowed red, indicating a &quot;very poor&quot; air quality as the volume of PM2.5 and PM10 sharply rose from around&nbsp;7 pm.&nbsp;The&nbsp;state-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)&nbsp;estimated the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10, ultrafine particulates which are up to 30 times tinier than the width of a human hair, at 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre at around&nbsp;11 pm.</p>

<p>The 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 424 and 571 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) the next day, much higher than the safe limits of 60 and 100. PM 2.5 can travel through the respiratory tract and reach the lungs causing short-term respiratory ailments such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and sneezing. They can also worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and heart disease.</p>

<p>Real-time pollution data was alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee&#39;s (DPCC) RK Puram monitoring station recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 878 and 1,179 micrograms per cubic metre at around&nbsp;11 pm. The pollutants peaked after&nbsp;midnight, surpassing the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 more than 10 times. The monitors stopped working after&nbsp;midnight, suggesting that the pollutants had gone through the roof.</p>

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<h5>Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward.</h5>
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<p>The Air Quality Index (AQI), a barometer for measuring air pollution, was above 400 in most places in the National Capital Region (NCR) the next day. It was at a &quot;hazardous&quot;&nbsp; 978 in New Delhi&#39;s RK Puram area. US embassy&#39;s pollution monitor also recorded &quot;hazardous&quot;&nbsp; with the index scoring an alarming 878, which the mission considers &quot;beyond its air quality index&quot;, which ends at 500. On Diwali, the AQI improved from &quot;severe&quot; (431) in 2016 to (319) &quot;very poor&quot;, the Central Pollution Control Board reported.</p>

<p>A &quot;very poor&quot; air quality implies that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI will turn &quot;severe&quot;. An AQI level of 0-50 is considered &quot;good&quot;, 51-100 &quot;satisfactory&quot;, 101-200 &quot;moderate&quot;, 201-300 &quot;poor&quot;, 301-400 &quot;very poor&quot;, and 401 and above is &quot;severe&quot;.</p>

<p><strong>The way forward</strong></p>

<p>Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. We have the police for keeping crime in check, the traffic police for fining those who violate traffic rules. Perhaps, a similar law-enforcing mechanism on Diwali could be implemented.</p>

<p>China recently set up an &quot;anti-smog police force&quot;. Perhaps, something similar may help us breathe a little easier.</p>


Stringent action such as enforcing an 'anti-smog police force', is required to check air pollution during Diwali

The Supreme Court ban on firecrackers this Diwali (October 19) began with a bang (no pun intended) but ended in a whimper. We talk about "judicial activism" but this is a classic case of the top court being constrained to take action, on a petition filed by three infants after the alarming rise in pollution levels and smog which enveloped the national capital last year on Diwali. On October 13, the court refused to modify its earlier order banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR. The administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali. × "It's just an experiment for one year, we will take stock after that," Justice A K Sikri, who heard the case today, was quoted as saying by WION. The judge said its 2016 order suspending the licences "should be given one chance to test itself". Far from activism, the Supreme Court ban stopped short of altogether banning the bursting of firecrackers. The administration in Delhi and the National Capital Region issued directives to the shopkeepers to stop selling firecrackers. But the administration allowed those people who have already purchased firecrackers to burst them on Diwali. The results were there for everyone to see. While pollution levels, which were "very poor" just 10 days prior remained at "very poor" on the night of October 19, they shot up to "severe" the next day, the Central Pollution Control Board reported. The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city on Diwali glowed red, indicating a "very poor" air quality as the volume of PM2.5 and PM10 sharply rose from around 7 pm. The state-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) estimated the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10, ultrafine particulates which are up to 30 times tinier than the width of a human hair, at 154 and 256 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm. The 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 424 and 571 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) the next day, much higher than the safe limits of 60 and 100. PM 2.5 can travel through the respiratory tract and reach the lungs causing short-term respiratory ailments such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and sneezing. They can also worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and heart disease. Real-time pollution data was alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) RK Puram monitoring station recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 878 and 1,179 micrograms per cubic metre at around 11 pm. The pollutants peaked after midnight, surpassing the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 more than 10 times. The monitors stopped working after midnight, suggesting that the pollutants had gone through the roof. Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. × The Air Quality Index (AQI), a barometer for measuring air pollution, was above 400 in most places in the National Capital Region (NCR) the next day. It was at a "hazardous" 978 in New Delhi's RK Puram area. US embassy's pollution monitor also recorded "hazardous" with the index scoring an alarming 878, which the mission considers "beyond its air quality index", which ends at 500. On Diwali, the AQI improved from "severe" (431) in 2016 to (319) "very poor", the Central Pollution Control Board reported. A "very poor" air quality implies that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI will turn "severe". An AQI level of 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401 and above is "severe". The way forward Stricter laws and stringent enforcing mechanisms seem to be the only way forward. We have the police for keeping crime in check, the traffic police for fining those who violate traffic rules. Perhaps, a similar law-enforcing mechanism on Diwali could be implemented. China recently set up an "anti-smog police force". Perhaps, something similar may help us breathe a little easier.

Diwali pollution: Too little too late?

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Chandni Prashar

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