A landmark moment for the happy and gay

The Indian mainstream media was busy preparing lead stories, that were to be made for July 4th, the American Independence day. So was the entertainment industry occupied with planning for parties, events, campaigns, promotions, sales, and all that is 'page3' for the same reason: Celebrating freedom!




But, all that changed with a landmark judgment by the Delhi High Court... July 2nd 2009, will go down in the pages of Indian legal history. 'July 2nd' will mean much more to Indian sexual minorities than what 'July 4th' means to Indian media.


Provisions under the Section 377 of Indian Penal Code criminalized consensual homosexual acts of adults in private. The Delhi High Court struck down this controversial section saying it violated the fundamental rights of life, liberty and equality.



Gay rights activists, lawyers and the sexual minority community across Indian sub-continent held celebrations to mark this occasion. In Bangalore, the celebrations were held at United Theological College. Here, I share with you all, the moments from that event I was witness to. A piece of history I must say.




By the way, to all my American friends... Happy Independence day:-). To all the partying crowd in my city, enjoy the Indian cocktails on Saturday night;-). But, do spare a thought for the sexual minority community who have been fighting a long battle for equality.

Cheers,
Nishant
P:S For rest of the other photographs, please visit the set on flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelling_writer/sets/72157620753060559/

Notes From the Field : Chikungunya

Notes From the Field

- Nishant Ratnakar

Date: Monday, 11th May, 2009.

Place: D J Halli near Bangalore.

At a locality known as Moulana Compound:

"Have any health officials visited your locality since the outbreak?"

"No Sir. You are the first outsider to have stepped in here since we noticed the disease in our Compound"

That was the reply given to me by a resident of Moulana Compound at D J halli, Bangalore. Residents of this locality that houses around 60 to 70 families, say that at least one person in every house here shows symptoms of Chikungunya disease. "My four children also have developed Chikungunya" , says Waheeda who herself is recovering from Chikungunya. The families here live in typical matchbox like houses with most of them dependent on daily wages. Salaam, an auto driver, has not been able to earn his livelihood for over 8 days since he was affected by the disease. Most people including Salaam in entire D J Halli seem to be complaining about severe joint pains and high fever. Their mobility is restricted due to the joint pains.

Across DJ Halli:

"Any idea how Chikungunya spreads?"

"Sir, I think it spreads through air. See, it quickly spreads among relatives in the house and neighbors."

"Sir, there has been mixing of sewage and drinking water since longtime in our area. People are getting infected by drinking this contaminated water. Look, the color of water in this tumbler is almost grey."

"We don't know."

"I don't know."

"I saw on TV about disease spreading through pork in America. But we don't eat that meat."

It was a pity to know that most people on the streets of D J Halli have no clue about Chikungunya. The carrier of the virus that causes this disease is a mosquito. Very few people I met at DJ Halli actually were aware about it. As I walked along the main roads and gullies around DJ Halli looking for people showing symptoms of Chikungunya, I could spot stagnant water pools - the breeding ground for mosquitoes - almost everywhere. Nothing seems to have been done with regards to creating awareness about civic issue in these areas. The authorities have denied (at least when I was covering the story) the outbreak of Chikungunya in DJ Halli and have blame private doctors for creating what they termed as 'exaggerated news' about outbreak. The truth can only be revealed by time. But, if not Chikungunya, there is something spreading here. Everyone is showing same symptoms : High fever and severe joint pains.

At a local hospital near D J Halli:

A woman was being administered IV fluids. Her doctor says, "The blood tests revealed that her platelet count was low. This confirmed an infection and symptoms are of Chikungunya. the actual confirmatory tests of Chikungunya costs around 1500 rupees in any of the city labs. But, most people arriving here including this patient are not in a position to spend so much. Hence, based on the symptoms, the doctors start the treatment. The cost of medicine for the entire duration of treatment is also slightly expensive. Also, Chikungunya patient needs to rest a lot for speedy recovery. But some of the patients here are breadwinners of the family and are daily wage workers. So you can understand the situation I hope?"

I guess 'Right to good health' isn't covered under any of the fundamental rights provided by Indian constitution. But, don't the Directive principles of the State say that state should work towards reducing economic inequality as well as inequalities in status and opportunities. Sixty plus years since India became a free nation. how much have we achieved in reducing inequalities in access to health care? Do our political parties have this as a priority or even have a reference to this in their respective election manifestos?

Caught Between Colored lines

A man sleeps between two colored lines marked by authorities inside a temple complex at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Bangalore, the silicon city of India is witnessing many infrastructural works like new airport, metro railway system, flyovers, underpass and road widening, with the idea to sustain the growth and development of the city. But for all these projects it has to acquire private lands of citizens. This has resulted in stand off between the state and citizens and the pattern seems to be replicating across the country with creation of special economic zones (SEZ).

Seen here are photographs showing th result of acquisition of portion of houses and temples at Bhavaninagar, Bangalore to widen roads and build an underpass. The work came to a temporary halt with residents protesting while a temple portion was brought down by the auhtorities. In these scenarios, authorities usually come to homes and shops without issuing any notice and draw colored lines marking the portion of the house that will be acquired. Sometimes multiple lines get drawn due to unprofessional surveys. Residents who are caught unaware have no say in the amount of compensation, if at all any, given by the state and have limited time to relocate and rehabilitate.

Right to property was originally a fundamental right as per Indian constitution. But the 44th amendment to Indian Constitution in the year 1978 relegated it to a mere legal right. This put any dispute arising between state and citizens with respect to the acquisition of private property by state, out of the jurisdiction of any courts. This allowed the state to acquire any land for any purpose without compensation. As a result, in today’s India there is no real right to private property and no protection against government land acquisitions.

Portion of the ring road near a traffic signal at Bhavaninagar that has now been dug up to create an underpass and requires further widening of road.

Portion of a temple that remains at Bhavaninagar after it was demolished by authorities for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

A man walks looking at what is left of a temple that was demolished at Bhavaninagar by authorities for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

A man stops and looks at what is left of a temple that was demolished at Bhavaninagar by authorities for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored lines marked by authorities inside a store at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored lines marked by authorities on the walls of house that was still under construction at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored lines marked by authorities on the passage walls leading into a house at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Paintings of Hindu gods left behind by a business house at Bhavaninagar after the premises vacated in a hurry due to portion of the shop getting acquired by state for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Children look inside an empty store at Bhavaninagar that formerly housed a rice trading business. The premises was vacated in a hurry due to portion of the shop getting acquired by the state for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored lines marked by authorities on walls of the houses in a bylane at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

An old lady stands next to the wall of a Anganwadi - a government sponsored child care and mother care centre - at Bhavaninagar, that is dotted with colored lines marked by authorities for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored line marked by authorities on the wall of a small store at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

Colored line marked by authorities over window of a house at Bhavaninagar, for acquisition of property for building of Kaderenahalli underpass.

A modern Skyscraper apartment in distance contrasting with a garbage filled dugup ring road at Bhavaninagar speaks about the state of infrastructural projects in the city and rest of the country. Bad project planning and management is coupled with the clashes between citizens and the state over acquisition of property for public purpose.

Vatal Does another one

Everybody in Karnataka seems to be cashing in on Valentine's day and moral policing issue. How can you leave Mr Vatal Nagaraj behind? The man who has ridden over a bull, a cycle, and even attempting to dirty governor house walls:D.


Here he was with his latest antic. His act did surprise most of us today. Usually known for publicity stunts supporting hardliner thoughts. Today he was taking a dig at the latest entry into moral policing camp, Mr Pramod Muthalika and his band of Shree Rama Sene.


Background to the below set of photographs... Muthalik camp had threatened young lovers that if they were spotted on the streets on valentines day, then they would forcibly be married off.


Thursday, 12th February 2009: Politician Vatal Nagaraj conducted a mock wedding of two donkeys namely Rati and Manmata at the Legislature House premises. The wedding took a dig on Pramod Muthalik and Rama Sene stand on opposing Valentines day and their threat of forcibly marrying off unmarried couples spotted on Valentines day. Vatal said that young couples should feel safe in Bangalore on Valentines day.

The Doc of small things

The doc of small things

Originally uploaded by travelling writer

My photos for Malvika Tegta's article on Dr G Venkatesh, a man whose passion lies is in robotics....... taking robotics to all age groups...

published in DNA, Bangalore edition. 25th Jnauary 2009, page 14.