Give Me a Chance

'Give Me a Chance' is about how there are so many talented people in the world, but since some don't have as high a status as others, they don't get equal opportunities as those who do. All they need is a chance to prove to the world what they can do.
The question here is, is this world is run by friendship or by status? By capability or by cash? By talent or by money?

Director & scriptwriter: Ananya Sen
Editor: Shrey Gupta
Cinematographer: Sumer Rai
Cast: Bailu Khanna, Romikant, Viraj Bahri
Producer: Dreaming Child Productions

This movie was awarded the Special Mention by Jury Award in the 18th International Children's Film Festival India which was held in Hyderabad in November 2013 under the category Little Directors.

Panama Boons Leak

The recent leak of 11.5 million documents from the database of Mossack Fonseca & Co., the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm, referred to as ‘Panama Papers’ has caused chaos in the realm of politics. Yet, it might not be as bad as it sounds.

These documents have records of many influential leaders and wealthy individuals who have managed to ‘keep their personal financial information secret in offshore tax havens’ away from the eyes and knowledge of their respective county’s governments. Amongst the personalities named are Pakistan’s Prime Minister, President of Ukraine, son of Egypt’s former president, six members of UK’s House of Lords and family members of China’s supreme ruling body-amongst others.

This was the earthquake. Aftershocks followed.

Mr Sigmundur Davíõ, the Prime Minister of Iceland, resigned after information about the possession of a secret offshore account worth millions of dollars by his wife emanated from the documents leaked from a Panama-based law firm. United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, too is under scrutiny.

Despite the pandemonium in the aftermath of the leaks, the Panama Papers have shed a new light on corruption. Earlier, African countries were consistently ranked low on the Corruption Perceptions Index; but now, it’s become clear that the aforementioned problem plagues the international community. Further, it also proves that money laundering is not limited to the government, but is an act by individuals and Multi-National Corporations as well.

Why this is beneficial to nations, in spite of the mayhem caused, is because citizens can now make an informed decision about who will lead their country- would it be a hypocrite who claims to fight what he feeds on, or an emerging body that will grow with the ruins of the earlier ruling party.

In an effort to clean up, public figures have sworn to take matters seriously and pass laws to counter their disparagement. There will be pressure for tax reform, and the same laws would be strengthened until the dent in their reputation is mended- if that is possible.

Runway to Development

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” –Ralph Marston

Today we see trees being cut down, and buildings emerging in their stead; this is termed as development. But with this new era of technology, the disastrous toll industrialization is taking on the environment cannot be neglected. Thus arose the concept of sustainable development (SD), with the stratosphere as the core concern. However, the very implication of the word ‘sustainable’ contradicts the notion of development, resulting in a world acclaimed oxymoron.

While sustainability refers to the ability to be maintained at a certain level, advancement refers to progress- to a change. This combination is an artistic and utopian vision, but perfection is never tangible. Excellence creates a passion for faultlessness, but this quench for supremacy can never be fulfilled. Therefore, present visionaries strive for utilizing our resources to their maximum potential without affecting the environment, but the earth’s reservoir has to be allowed to leak water for it to be used.

Furthermore, we cannot always predict the consequences of our actions until it’s too late; global warming wouldn’t have been a concern at present otherwise. Ergo, what is considered ‘sustainable development’ today may end up being our hamartia tomorrow. 

When asked about his thoughts on SD, Wolfgang Sachs replied, ‘Development with a capital D has for 40 years meant economic development. But in as much as development means giving a boost to GNP, development is intrinsically incompatible with sustainability.’ In countries with low economic growth, an image of SD is used to put wool over other people’s eyes, while in reality, factors such as poverty and overpopulation cause a sunken GDP growth rate rather than an overpowering environmental concern.

On the other hand, some may argue that the words are two sides of the same coin, for in an ideal world, the two should go hand in hand. Here, a holistic approach to development has been appraised as opposed to the economic definition, which is purely concerned with the Gross Domestic Product. Poets and artists laud the environment as the cradle of human civilization- it may even be so- but advancement needs to be measured, and the socially accepted way to do so is in monetary terms.

If we aim to give our successors a better world, it cannot be without any loss. The duality of yin and yang, which forms the yin yang symbol, strikes a balance in this realm. Inspecting history through a looking glass will prove that the postulation of equilibrium is an established law of nature.

In recent times, the question has changed from ‘Is development possible without tarnishing the environment?’ to ‘How to achieve sustainable development?’ If plenipotentiaries sought to answer the former question first, they’d realize that you cannot accelerate and apply the breaks at the same time; development cannot occur with the mindset of sustainability.  That being said, the clutch is an independent wedge; hence controlled development is the runway to success.

Fighting the Fight Against Racism

Do we really need to fight racism? Probably. But by asking this question, are we not accepting the existence of the aforementioned social evil? When everything, each opinion, said around us is ingrained in our minds, we unconsciously tend to incorporate those biases into our attitude.

Everyone has values and beliefs that they unquestioningly accept, and these morals govern their personalities. The Illusory Truth Effect dictates that if you repeat things often enough, you tend to believe they’re true. We see the same advertisements everyday, hear politicians promise the same things each day, and see people repeat the same opinion on social media daily. It seems too simplistic that repetition can be persuasive, but that’s what psychological studies prove. ¹

Growing up in the 21^st century, one would be told countless tales of racism in history, and explained how it should remain a matter of the past and not the present. But that is exactly the hamartia of this system- by being told to treat everyone equally, you’re acknowledging the presence of a social hierarchy, affirming that people deserve to be treated according to their ranking in society.

Consider the example of Amadou Diallo, a 23-year old immigrant from Guinea to the United States of America. In 1999, four New York City policemen, while on patrol, saw a young ‘black’ man standing on the stoop. When he fidgeted with his pockets, they thought he looked suspicious and shot him with 49 bullets. While he was reaching for his ID, they thought he was taking out a gun, killing an innocent man in the process. ²

There is a thin line between deliberate discrimination and unconscious prejudice. Our implicit bias affects the way we talk and interact with others in a very real, yet unconscious, way.

Hence by having various organizations and numerous movements aimed at countering racism, we are actually telling people not to behave in a certain way. But in doing so, the past social hierarchy is reiterated.

Now arises the conundrum regarding how racism can be countered. While there is no clear panacea to this issue, it is the attitude of the people that needs to be changed. Yet, this solution is much more complicated than it sounds. When you claim to be ‘non-racist,’ your mind focuses on countering anything that is in the least bit xenophobic. However, this results in something called ‘positive discrimination,’ a term that, despite its oxymoronic combination, is in fact a reality.

The existence of reservations for SCs and STs in government schools and jobs is a result of this phenomenon. It takes form in your everyday life too, only you don’t realize it.

A man won’t crack controversial jokes in front of a Muslim because of the conventional image formed of the mentioned sector in the minds of society. Similarly, comments on a person’s physical appearance won’t be passed simply due to the stereotypes revolving around them.

Positive discrimination could be cited as a constructive impact of racism, yet, this still reminds people of our common past, and the prevalence of a dominator and a subject.

While the chains of bondage don’t hang on people’s hands anymore, there will always be invisible handcuffs limiting not the scope, but the respect one gets, and hence, their view of themselves.

Sources:

1.     http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/12/the-illusion-of-truth.php

2.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P0iP2Zm6a4

Yes, my thighs move when I walk.
Yes, my crooked teeth show when I talk.
Yes, my hair doesn't reach my hips,
My hips, which are fat like my lips.

My hands are quite massive,
And my body not so attractive.
My feet too big for my shoes,
And my figure not fitting societal values.

Yes, my stomach isn't flat,
Nor am I pretty like the school brat.
But I know I'm still beautiful,
Beautiful... like an angel.

-A Regular Teenage Girl

India's Lotus: Neerja

September 7th, 1963: A child was born.
September 5th, 1986: A national hero died.
February 19th, 2016: Her story was shown to the world.
Yes, I just came back from the theatres, having watched a movie which has impacted me beyond measure. I'm not saying that I'll be saving the world, but my mind is now prepared for that. And that's the first step towards actually becoming Superman.
For those who still haven't guessed, I'm talking about Neerja Bhanot, a mere 22 year old who lost her life after her plane was hijacked. But the story isn't over there. With her great presence of mind, and even more importantly, with her compassion and bravery, she saved three hundred and fifty nine lives.
359. Out of 379, she saved 359 lives.
She didn't think about herself when she opened the emergency door and evacuated the plane. She could've been the first to run out, but like a captain to his ship, the air hostess stayed and ushered people out. And yes, she got shot while protecting three children. And yes, she died.
True to her name, Neerja was like a blossoming lotus. She was in a situation of dirty water, but she was the flower that enhanced the pond. She took charge, and she stood out from the rest.
The reason I'm writing this is not to promote the movie (which is undoubtedly beautiful), but to spread the very reason this film was made: to inspire people. Neerja didn't have any gadgets like Iron Man, or even an Adamantium shield like Captain America. But she did share some of their qualities. She was scared, but despite the circumstances, she felt a moral responsibility to her duty, and a loyalty to her fellow travellers. And that's why today, the Neerja Bhanot Bravery Award is one of the most prestigious awards one can be presented with.
All I'm trying to say, is that we can't be Spiderman, because that's fiction. But we have in us what it takes to be Neerja Bhanot, because she's a reality. Let her story inspire you. It has definitely changed me.

As she connected her first phone to the charger, her best friend promised to wait.
It's been 3 years. But the teddy bear is still in the cupboard.