Deaths behind bars

Rise in custodial deaths besmirches India's human rights record

It is sometimes hard to digest the fact that a peace-loving nation like India can be so unkind and cruel to its own prison population. It is indeed hypocritical for a nation to espouse the virtues of being kind and forgiving and yet mete out the exact opposite qualities to those spending time in its prison cells. Statistics bear out this grim reality. In the decade during 2000-2010, more than 14,000 deaths in police custody and in prisons have been reported, according to the National Human Rights Commission. The NHRC records further reveal of 417 casualties in police custody and 4,285 casualties in judicial custody over the last 3 years. Also, the NHRC has recorded endless cases of torture and sexual harassment – 1,899 torture and sexual harassment cases in police custody and 75 alleged cases of rape by police personnel over the past 3 years. Among Indian states, Assam tops the list of being home to such alleged mishandlings and custodial deaths, a fact that has been admitted even by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in its official statement.

The shielding of errant policemen by their political masters is one of the reasons encouraging this trend of rising police atrocity towards prisoners. To prevent this malignancy from spreading further India should not only ratify the UN convention against torture it should also become a signatory to the treaty. Being clubbed with the violent autocratic states of sub-Saharan Africa, like Comoros and Guinea-Bissau, which too have not ratified the UN convention, damages India's reputation of being a nation that cherishes the civic freedom of its citizens. The reason for India's recalcitrance in signing the convention is hard to comprehend, but it's probably due to the reservation of state governments, especially in strife torn areas, that has inhibited India from giving its assent.

But the lack of a substantial anti-torture law allows the misuse of state machinery and violates the rights of victims. A strong reform against human rights violation, complying with UN guidelines, must oversee government functioning over prisons.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles

IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman

ExecutiveMBA

Some Like It...Chilled!!

Monojit Lahiri examines the reason behind Bollywood’s – and audiences – new fascination for the Horror Film!
MONOJIT LAHIRI | Issue Dated: June 21, 2013, New Delhi
Tags : Bollywood | Horror films | Bees Saal Baad | Gumnaan | Ramsay Brothers | Raaz | Darna Zaroori Hai |


Close your eyes and go back to your childhood – a winter night securely tucked in bed with cuddly warm blankets, one small bed lamp and your favourite grandmom narrating a ghost story that sent shivers of excitement and fear of the unknown that still stays with you! Why? What is it about the ghost story, the paranormal and the horror tale that is so seductive, enticing and thrillingly scary that its an all-consuming virus?  Irrespective of age, gender or social strata, this brand remains a matchless, unbeatable must-hear/read/watch!

In Bollywood, the horror film has mostly been a sub-brand/genre, receiving neither the attention nor the respect given to other mainstream fare.  It was a niche category for a niche audience, sometimes cutting loose to register a big success.  Film historians believe that the 1949 Ashok Kumar-Madhubala starrer Mahal was the first really scary movie emerging from Bollywood.  Other super-duper successes between the 40’s and the 60’s include Bees Saal Baad, Gumnaam and Bhoot Bangla.  In the 70’s Ramsay Brothers – who were to own this space – unleashed Do Guz Zameen Ke Neeche.  Raj Kumar Kohli swooped in, blending horror with fantasy with Nagin and later Jaani Dushman. Darwaza, Jaadu Tona, Aur Kaun, Saboot, Gehraiyee, Red Rose, Guest House followed.  The 80’s came with their own horror stories – Ramsay Brothers’ Puraana, Saamri, Veerana, Tahkhana, Dak Bangla, Puraani Haveli, Shaitan Ilaaka, Bandh Darwaza.  Interestingly the products of the 80’s relied less on ghosts and more on titillating/sex scenes.

In Hollywood, Psycho, The Omen, The Exorcist, The Shining were big-time chiller-thrillers along with hit TV American shows like The Vampire Dairies, True Blood, Fear Files and Haunted Nights, categorically proving that there is a huge vacant spot in our psyche that is reserved for cinematic encounters of the spooky kind!  In other words, paying money to be terrified is the name of the game!

What do these movies – and genre – offer that is so special and unique?  Psychologists insist that it has to do largely with the aphrodisiac called fear!  They believe it is about making forays into our curiosity about the unknown which has always been a territory where trespassers can enter only at their own risk.  This fear makes them uneasy and on the edge and this sparks the excitement!  Its like a roller-coaster ride, a terrifying scream-fest that you wouldn’t miss for anything, right?  Its like that indescribable anticipatory build-up to that ‘bang’ moment that you are so desperate to experience, when buying the ticket to the film.  Iconic storyteller of this genre, Stephen King, believes that “horror movies provide psychic relief because outright madness is extended so rarely to us.”  Closer home, psychiatrist Dr. Harish Shetty reckons “the grotesque fantasy of a human being is entwined with his vicarious pleasures and then the visuals and sound effects all put together results in a heart-pounding suspense that is irresistible – be it a TV show or movie.”

In year 2013, while we are continents away from the Ramsay brand – dilapidated, haunted mansions, creaking doors, spider webs and eerie background score –sophisticated and new-age updates in this genre keep haunting us!  Some recent examples are Ragini MMS (inspired by the 2007 American supernatural horror film Paranormal Activity) which went down so well with audiences that it reportedly recovered its costs within two days of its release!  Haunted (a 3D horror film), Ram Gopal Verma’s Bhoot, Kaal, 13B, Bipasha-starrer Raaz, Verma’s Darna Zaroori Hai and later Darling followed.  Very recently, the Nitin Mukesh-Sonal Chauhan starrer 3G, Bipasha-Nawaz Siddiqui starrer Aatma and Ek Thi Daayan have joined the list.

When you pull back and see the big picture, you realise that this genre is definitely an idea whose time has come. Bollywood is forever looking for new buttons to push, cash cows to milk and themes to invade that get the moolah. 

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles

IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman

ExecutiveMBA

Does watching phoren serials instead of desi ones make you feel superior

Monojit Lahiri probes this seldom-discussed English–Vinglish issue.

“Angrez gaye lekin lakhon chamche chodh gaye!” lamented a colleague’s wife recently. When pressed to elaborate on this broadside, she responded with disturbing enthusiasm.  “Bhai, aisa hai, despite the Brits leaving India over six decades ago, uska imperial and feudal impact abtak raha. Fair n’ lovely rules through the assertion of the angrezi language in business, industry, trade and commerce and Corporate India, and the fascination for phoren/phirang models is clearly visible in every area of influence. We can keep yelling about how the ‘phir bhi dil hai Hindustani’ template has never been stronger, but fact is, in places where it counts, English and the phoren influence definitely counts. Ek (how do I explain) subliminal, unspoken but easily transmitted signal of superiority is flashed”. Our blank faces prompted her to focus on the specific reference to context.  “Take TV serials. Today the Hindi serials – Balika Vadhu, Uttaran, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Madhubala, Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha are hugely popular across all strata of viewers, especially womenfolk.  However, there remains a distinct group of people – my college going kids included – who may not blatantly laugh or mock this content, but definitely consider it vernace, low-brow, populist and un-cool. ‘Oh god, Mom, how can you bear this crap, with its corny, gharelu melodramatic twists and turns and those over-dressed behenji-types going on and on and on’ is what my daughter  - once  in half amused / exasperated tones – blurted out. I had no answer but to weakly smile… and continue watching.”

The lady’s comment touched a chord and struck a spark. Wasn’t this true of everything connected with one class of people in India?  Bollywood and Hinglish advertising booming is all very well as is the pride and assertion of your national language and mother tongue, but somewhere, the angrez chhaap still does hold its own, six decades after the phirangs were handed their hats and walking sticks and shown the door, right? “Absolutely true! I completely understand the lady’s predicament simply because my nephews and nieces are always making fun of me watching those ghatia Hindi and Bengali serials”, admits 40-year-old, Kolkata-based housewife Alpana Sen. Sen goes on to say that since she lives in a joint family in North Kolkata, she vastly enjoys the world that these serials flesh out in the company of her mom-in-law, army of sisters-in-law and servants. The timings of these serials – in terms of day and schedule – are sacrosanct and nothing and nobody can come between her and those characters during those magic hours! “My nephews and nieces watch those weird English programmes like Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Two and a Half Men, Dexter… and beg me to join them. I tried but, frankly, couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying while these kids were doubling up with laughter! Am I a desi ganwaar or are these kids totally westernised and disconnected from basic Indian reality?”  20-year-old Varun Khanna, however, doesn’t agree. The Mumbai-based college kid reckons it’s a clear question of choices. “I come from a middle class Punjabi home. My dad works in a multi-national bank while my mom is a housewife. My paternal grandparents stay with us, so we are pretty grounded and traditional … and hey, despite being a Mumbaikar, my Punjabi is not bad.  However, these TV serials really get me! I don’t know what my mom and grandmom (poor Dadaji is also often forced to join them) see in those crazy programmes.  So corny, unreal and regressive! The ones my pals and I love, like Friends and Two and a Half Men are really ‘wow’!”  Varun is quite cool (although not overtly crazy) about Bollywood stuff, but prefers angrezi fare anyday.  “It’s not about snobbery or feeling superior, but tastes and liking, I guess. I can’t bear to sit through that stuff that mom and dadi so thoroughly enjoy for more than, like, two minutes.”

Fact is, it’s not value-judgment, but many things that are at play here. For one segment, the angrezi chhaap does spell superiority, whether you like it or not. Be honest… in a social gathering, office meeting, club, party or even your home, doesn’t a firang’s presence make a difference? When he/she places a hand on your shoulders, converses with warmth and interest, embraces or shakes your hand before leaving (or is Mmmuaah!) with promises of meeting again – doesn’t it make you feel real good and special?  Also (touch your heart before admitting), doesn’t it psychologically make you feel superior and don’t your friends suddenly look at you with envy and admiration?  Chill, because it’s natural. To most middle-aged (forty plus) middle-class Indians, this social intercourse will be special because of the neo-colonial mindset and conditioning as also the rarity of these interactions. After all it’s not like meeting a Chaddha, Singh, Subramanian, Chatterjee, Khan, Kapoor, Khanna, Saxena or Mahapatra, is it?  To women, it’s likely to have a greater impact. “My NGO activities connect me with lots of foreigners, many of whom come across for a meal or coffee.  My kitty party friends can’t make up their minds between being bitchy and catty or doubly cute to grab an opportunity of an intro to them. Complex to hundred percent hai! explains Delhi-based Parul Agnihotri, aged 42. For the Friends/Raymond new-age gen, children of a globalised, liberated and consumer-driven India, however, there is little awe but lots of immediate and appreciative connect. They embrace this new age with no baggage and hence are free from the shackles of complex, intimidation or pressure. Siliguri or Sydney, Jamshedpur or Joburg, Madurai or Manhattan, Lucknow or London, kids appear to be more open and cool to a globalised space and subsequently less hung-up or obsessed with things desi. A direct result of this is their close connect with things phoren and distancing from the world of Indian TV serials. Explains Social Commentator Deep Sanghvi with superb analytical insight, “It’s not about for or against a certain kind of content and nor is it about superiority and inferiority. It’s simply a generational thing, born out of the milieu and environment one grew up in. Research has indicated that the remote of the TV in Indian households is invariably glued to the hands of the (housewife, ma-in-law, aunt) women.  Now, since most need to chill once the chores are done, what better than enter the world of the multi-layered serial, which is cleverly and strategically programmed to play to the gallery.  Do they give a damn about the snooty brown saabs who pooh-poohs their programmes?  Not one bit because zillions (in whichever part of the world these serials play) wait with breathless expectations each day/night as the amazing, viewer-friendly stories, characters and situations unfold as only they can! As for the other lot – the vocal, anglicised minority – two things happen. For the older lot, it is usually an affectation, a fake posturing to indicate their affinity to the West, be indulgent and patronizing to local stuff and hope that this projects them in a slightly different or hatke superior way than the hoi polloi. Mostly it falls flat because phonies are usually caught out soon enough!  The Gen Next have never expressed their superiority angle while staying away from their mom’s beloved weepies. They have only indicated – with varying degrees of emphasis – their complete disconnect and dislike of the material.  That’s it!”

Read more.....

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2013.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri

and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles

IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman

ExecutiveMBA