Article 377 should be abolished

Section 377 should be abolished

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code states that- “Whoever voluntarily has carnal
intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be
punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for
a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
”Homosexuality is a kind of sex as heterosexual and bisexual are but according to
article 377, we do not entertain the sex other than heterosexuals. Ninety
percent of our society either thinks homosexuals dirty or something abnormal but it
is not. As heterosexuals are normal with the same concept homosexuals are. This is
not a psychological disorder or there is nothing like to take medicines, this is
not a disease at all.
It is ever-present since birth, slowly when the child grows up, and realizes the
desires of sex or when the sexual hormones start working at teenage then he
realizes his gender.
We usually confuse ourselves in differentiating between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’.
Gender is our identity that is how we identify ourselves as in male, female, or
transgender on the other hand sexual identity is something which is based on our
feelings, desires and attractions.
If heterosexuals are normal and natural to us then why not homosexuals? What
abnormal things do we see in them? Is it only because we feel that it is against nature although those people are not aliens?
I want to conclude with the fact that nature has made all of us, we are no one to
decide anything whether something is against or for nature until and unless
something which affects the individuals.

VOX POPULI

Q. What is your point of view on changing the surname of women after marriage?

1. Name: Sampa Sarkar

Age: 44

 

No, women should not change their surnames because personally I think that the surname that I pursued by birth, i.e. my father’s surname, cannot be changed within a day, I think its better to keep both the surnames because the woman is now the core member of both the families. Officially changing the surnames of the women will led the problems for their carrier.

2. Name: Sayan Ray Chowdhury

Age: 21

 

It's just a practice which is followed everywhere in this country except some north eastern parts of the country. But there is no definite ground as to why this is the practice, perhaps this is done to signify married couples.

3. Name: Aparna Das

Age: 63

 

Most of the women change their surnames, even I did mine, but in today’s generation they hardly do. I think women should keep both the surnames, so that they do not have to sacrifice their fathers’ surname and can make in-laws their own.

4. Name: Sananda Chakraborty

Age: 20

 

According to the Indian culture Indian women change their surname historically and this has been well accepted in the society from ages. It helps in assimilation of the two different personality of two families to fill it one. If two different title continued by the bride and groom people may get confused by their relation and may require to explain again and again to convince the relationship and the main problem will be faced by children because they will be confused that which surname should they continue and it will help them to transform their contact to connection.

5. Name: Nandini Samanta

Age: 20

 

I have a totally unbiased view towards this. This depends on the woman actually, if she wants to keep her family name or start a new family altogether by taking her husband's name.

6. Name: Shalini Daw

Age: 20

 

After marriage the women shouldn't change her surname. If she does, somewhere her own identity is lost. Before the marriage, she’s been an individualility, that identity shouldn’t be lost just because she’s married.

Section 377 should be abolished

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code states that- “Whoever voluntarily has carnal
intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be
punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for
a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
”Homosexuality is a kind of sex as heterosexual and bisexual are but according to
article 377, we do not entertain the sex other than heterosexuals. Ninety
percent of our society either thinks homosexuals dirty or something abnormal but it
is not. As heterosexuals are normal with the same concept homosexuals are. This is
not a psychological disorder or there is nothing like to take medicines, this is
not a disease at all.
It is ever-present since birth, slowly when the child grows up, and realizes the
desires of sex or when the sexual hormones start working at teenage then he
realizes his gender.
We usually confuse ourselves in differentiating between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’.
Gender is our identity that is how we identify ourselves as in male, female, or
transgender on the other hand sexual identity is something which is based on our
feelings, desires and attractions.
If heterosexuals are normal and natural to us then why not homosexuals? What
abnormal things do we see in them? Is it only because we feel that it is against nature although those people are not aliens?
I want to conclude with the fact that nature has made all of us, we are no one to
decide anything whether something is against or for nature until and unless
something which affects the individuals.

Music is a universal language. Everyone in the world can relate to it. For better understanding, if we compare Music with food, Music and food are so similar, if we take rice and give it to a Japanese, he might come up with sushi, and the same rice is given to a South Indian he might come up with dosa. So the flavour and the recipe changes according to the culture, but the basic element is the same. Similarly, Music and its basic elements are universal throughout the Globe but what matters is interpretation.
Now about Indian music, you all might be very well aware of Bollywood and Indie-pop music but the spiritual and contemplative essence of Indian culture that India is known for is very well represented through Indian Classical Music in India, unfortunately, the common man knows very little about Indian Classical Music.
Basically, music is divided into three parts- Swara, Taal and Nritya.
Swara/Sur has its origination from the frequency of natural sounds. The category includes the sounds of any living organisms, from insects larvae to the birds' chirps. The sound of waves, rain, the harvest, the thunders, the lightning.
What is unique in Indian Music is that a distinction is drawn between Music of God and the Music of people. The music of people is what we now call as folk music and music of God is called Classical Music.
Indian Classical Music has evolved a long time in History. In the Vedas, we find the first description of the Swara which came from the Omkar or ‘Om’. Then there come different forms of Music like Dhrupad. Dhrupad is a kind of tedious or slow and it has a dedication to strong emotions. Dhrupad gaiki has evolved into Khayal Gaiki. Khayal is nothing but Dhrupad in new texture, movements or with some new adorns. Khayal basically means to sing at your own will and create your own path within a set of disciplines and boundary conditions.
Now to popularize our Indian classical music or to promote the famous Indian Classical Music we need strengths from the youths of India Today. How will our children grow the taste until and unless we make them taste the culture?
We should gradually but firmly establish music into every child, now whatever he does later that is a different issue altogether, but we don’t teach them to listen to the Indian Classical music. Music is not only a journey, but people must also be patient enough to listen to music, do reyaz and only then it can be understood.
But youngsters now a day is not listening to classical music is a gross misconception in itself. I represent myself to this generation and I love classical music more than western and Bollywood music and I refuse to take this statement about nowadays. Nowadays has always been bad! Even during the era of Tagore, people have probably said that youngsters nowadays wouldn't amount to do anything! Today we look at it as the Golden era. The part we don’t understand we end up judging it. There must be things that kids nowadays don’t understand. How much are we trying to explain them? Instead, we are saying classical music is not everybody’s cup of tea.
Therefore in order to understand or get the taste, there are nowadays many international societies which are actively working for the promotion of Indian classical music like SPIC MACAY, Society for the promotion of Indian classical music and culture amongst the youth. Or we can organize some interactive sessions in schools or colleges or awareness camps. But the basic development should start from home.

A very famous Danish Author, Hans Christian Andersen once said,

“Where words fail music speaks”

By nature’s own will, humans have been gifted with a voice and words and there is one and only one

way to express, i.e. by words. Though we may feel that kinesics is also a way to communicate, it

is an acquired quality.

From a tender age I wondered, what can music speak when words cannot?

In search of linguistic justification for such a statement, though never intended to find any, I

travelled time. Well, not with Doraemon’s time traveller but with the ticking clock to find the

answer.

Let me tell you, I am a person from a not so modern urban town. I grew up with parents, without a

sibling but with lots and lots of ethics and life skills. As the age-old tradition of my town, I was made

to indulge myself into different types of extra-curricular activities. The list started from recitation,

drawing, indoor sports and it went on. At first, I always took deep interest but every time

interests faded away leaving a dull look on my parents’ face. As the list built up, I got introduced to

another very fascinating subject. Yes, that is my topic, MUSIC. The list stopped here. I don’t know

how and when my interest in this art grew and eventually, like evergreen trees, it became an

integral part of my life.

As I mentioned earlier, my wonder question- What can music speak which words cannot? Initially, I

did not wonder so much about it but when this evergreen plant seated its roots deep in my heart,

these flowers of wonder pondered. Initially, I asked my guide about my question. He explained to me in

very simple language;

“It is something that comes from the heart. When you will grow up, you will understand it by

yourself”

These words meant nothing to me. I am such a fool that I went for some linguistic justification for

somethings that words cannot express. Wow! Being disheartened, I went in seclusion to learn about

it. In those coming years I tried a lot. Firstly, I thought musical proficiency is what it counts. Later, I

tried various techniques and styles just to express something which cannot be written or spoken.

This failed journey continued till I was 20, when one fine evening, while I was singing, a girl sitting

just beside me silently disburdened her tears. Don’t get me wrong. It was never my intention. I

continued to sing and she continued to cry. When I finally stopped, I gently asked her why she was

crying. She said that she didn’t know why at all tears were rolling down but she was feeling heavy

and now that those tears have rolled out, she was joyous once again. She just hugged me. And yes, I

could feel her pounding heart.

Emotions! Yes, music can trigger emotions. How? With very fine accuracy of pitch, some voice

modulation, some volume controls and my pounding heart which was keeping up to beat too in her

presence throughout time.

Emotions as abstract nouns can always be written but in the ability to make it feel, words fall apart.

Then, the role of music, drama, dance and other art forms is realised.

Even if I write a thousand lines, it wouldn’t be enough to express what music speaks when words fail.

Thus, experience good music. If tears roll down or smile reappear, know that music has spoken to

your soul and promised to become your best friend in good, bad or worse days to come.

Every single of us knows something about the families. We are all someone’s child, therefore has experienced parenting. And also many of us are a parent and have our children. The position of the parent is the highest in the world, as it is the one place in which we learn and exercise the greatest unselfishness. But as a human being, we are all familiar with expectations. Expectations laid on us to succeed in life, expectations at work-not to fail, the expectations for parents- eat healthy food, prepare our children healthy meals every day, read books at night and excel at the work at the same time. And therefore, the expectation which is filled with thoughts, hopes, duties and tasks behave like a raindrop getting bigger bigger and even bigger before it falls. And then what do we do? Without noticing we transfer all the expectations that we have on our children. The paradox is that more than anything in our lives we want our children to be happy. We fear judgement, we fear disappointment, we fear failure so on and so forth that it becomes a constant matter to be worried and stressed as parents. Today, we expect a kindergarten student to do what the students of standard five or six do at their age. A neuroscientist has also found that chronic stress triggers long-term changes in brain structure and function. Children who are exposed to chronic stress are prone to mental problems such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders later in life. The most important thing that parents should ask themselves what kind of memories do we want for our children- at home, schools, everywhere. Is our parenting founded on our kindness and generosity? Or is our parenting founded on criticism and hostility? Kindness makes our children feel loved not the degrees we hold, not the number of after school activities we take them to every day or home-works we check. A child needs a stable pleasant atmosphere to grow, to create a joyful and loving atmosphere. Of course, there will be somebody else on the street who’ll be trying to do something else with them. Those influences are always there, one should not protect them entirely from those things because someday they have to go out. Children don’t need a stress free life. Moderate or good stress such as studying hard and learning new skills build a more resilient brain. And if the question of children being lazy comes then the fact is a human being is born creative and curious. We all have seen babies who never give up on walking. No matter how many times they fall, they get up as many times as needed. They do so because they don’t fear failure. We grown-ups impose our meaning of failure to our five-year-old child. We must allow themselves to enjoy their carelessness of life. Hug your child, smile, bite your tongue if you are mistaken. Even, it's okay if we come back late from work, it's okay to be frustrated, being tired, angry, it may rain if we plan for an outing and they’ll understand. But what we must be concern about is what do we want our daughters and sons to remember after ten or twenty years. Teach your children to ride a bicycle, to giggle if they cook some food and it get spoil, have difficult conversations, laugh today if you have gotten angry yesterday, teach values and teach that its okay if they don’t have plans for life, plans will evolve, whisper “I love you” more often than you think you should. I would like to end up with the timeless words of wisdom by the prophet Kahil Gibran on children, “ Your children are not your children They are the sons and daughter of life longing for itself. They come through you, not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.”