Happy Ending to Anna Hazare's Fast

Today, at about 10 am, Anna Hazare, a Gandhian and a relentless campaigner against corruption in India, ended his high-profile 12 day fast by having fruit juice and honey at the hands of two small girls at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, the capital city of India.

I do not wish to elaborate on the incidents that happened during Anna Hazare's 12 day long demonstration as the whole world was watching the coverage of the agitation taking place not only at Ramlila Maidan but also throughout India.

But I would very much like to comment on two fact that emerged emphatically in these days: First, it is absolutely true that each countries Supreme Bodies that are elected by the people of the respective countries have the sole right to frame laws but it is 'more' absolutely true that if these Supreme Bodies do not deliver on the long cherished wishes of people for enactment of a certain law, then it is the right of the common people to compel these bodies to enact the same law by launching a peaceful and non-violent campaign.

The second thing is that while one hand the Indian people have shown the whole world in a clear manner that a developing country like India is quite capable of solving its internal issues in a peaceful and non-violent way, on the other hand many developed countries have failed on the same count.

Bail Pola

Today is Bail Pola in Maharashtra. This festival is celebrated to show respect to the bulls who toil for the farmer throughout the year. Though this festival is celebrated on large scale in the state of  Maharashtra in India it is also celebrated in one or another form all over India.

On this day, the bulls are not only given full holiday from their work but also they are decorated in many different ways and taken out in procession in villages and cities along with musical accompaniment.When the procession comes to an end these bull are taken to their respective homes or farmhouses and they are fed with many food delicacies. Only after the bulls are fed then the members of the respective families have their special dinner especially prepared for the festival.



Bail- Pola (Festival for Bulls)



The festival ends in the evening after the bulls are fed and tied to their tethers in the shed. But the preparation for the festival starts right from the morning of the day of the  festival.In the morning the bulls are taken to nearby rivers or stream which are full of water at this time of the year and are thoroughly rubbed and washed. Then they are again brought to their respective farmhouses and are decorated in many eye-catching and fascinating ways. Their bodies are splashed with many colours; their horns rubbed and smoothed and coloured ; festoons tied to their horns; garlands of flowers put around their necks.No efforts are spared to make them as beautiful and attractive as possible.

Late in the afternoon they are taken into procession throughout the villages or towns along with musical accompaniment. The procession continues late in the evening then the bulls are taken to their respective farm houses.

Lately, the number of this species is decreasing rapidly thanks to the increasing use of automated farming technology. Some people even fear that the day will not be far when one would have the privilege of watching these animals only in pictures.

A Tribal's Life

I am a member of the Bhil tribe from the Nashik district of the Maharashtra State of India. Though the life of tribal people is very carefree but at the same time they have to face a lot of adverse situations in their lives. My mother tells me that when I was  about 2 years old, the economic condition of the tribal people was so miserable that almost all the womenfolk of this tribe have to go out to work to help meet both ends meet because it was not always guaranteed that the menfolk had permanent work.So whoever woman had small children they used to tie slings of their old sarees in their huts and administer some type of medicine to the small children so that they can remain in a state of stupor until they return from work in the evening as the work they went to do was not such that they can take small children with them.