Bengaluru: Poor women in Indias villages are more likely to take up jobs if their wages can be deposited into their bank accounts and they can be trained in digital banking, a September 2019 study by the US-based National Bureau Of Economic Research (NBER) has concluded. This eases patriarchal social norms and increases empowerment among the one section of Indian society with the least labour market experience, it added.

If poor, rural women can control their access to wages through bank accounts and receive adequate training for handling it, they are more likely to join or continue in the labour workforce in India, the study found. It also helped in accommodating changes in gender norms on women going to work: The study found that women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs, they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work.

Researchers used randomised control trials (RCTs) to study the effects of channelling womens wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), into their individually controlled bank accounts, and not the account of the head of their family, typically a man.

Women who received digital wage deposits as well as the training to use their bank accounts, were found to be working more, as we said earlier, in both jobs generated by MGNREGS and the private sector. This increase occurred even though the market wage remained static.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state government and the rural development ministry in socially conservative areas in the northern pockets of the state--Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur and Shivpur.

Despite robust economic growth, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 37% in 1990 to 28% in 2015, making Indian women some of the least employed in the world, the study noted. Indias growth trajectory, and the well-being of its population, will depend on how well it uses public policy to lower barriers to female employment, it said.

Policy, when appropriately designed, can empower women in homes and even dilute common patriarchal norms, said Charity Troyer Moore, co-author of the study and director for South Asia Economics Research at The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.

By working with women to open accounts, training them on how to use the accounts, and linking those accounts to NREGS so they could receive their wages as mandated, we see important improvements in womens financial activity, paid work--especially in the private sector--and views on women and work, she said.

India ranks low on gender parity

While global gender parity will not be attained for 100 years, India has fallen four spots to 112 among 153 economies since 2018, as per the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Report 2020.

The economic gender gap runs particularly deep in India, the report noted. Only one-third of the gap has been bridged. Since 2006, the gap has gotten significantly wider. Among the 153 countries studied, India is the only country where the economic gender gap [ranked 149th] is larger than the political gender gap.

Only one-quarter of women, compared with 82% of men, engage actively in the labour market (working or looking for work)--one of the lowest participation rates in the world (145th)--and estimated female income is a mere one-fifth of male income, which is also among the worlds lowest, the report noted.

Indias gender issue is a jobs issue--womens overall well-being has fallen as access to work outside their homes has declined, and especially as women move out of agriculture in rural areas, said Moore. There is a multitude of challenges to helping women access employment, but increasing demand in sectors that suit womens practical circumstances seems to be key here.

Many of the policy efforts undertaken to support women focus on their specific role as a household caregiver or mother. Though important, it should not be given at the expense of other efforts, like hiring more local women to serve in frontline work to support their communities development, and encouraging employment for young women who are out of school and not yet married, Moore added.

Empowerment for socially constrained women

The study conducted randomised control trials in 197 gram panchayats. And in 67 of these, womens bank accounts were linked to their MGNREGS wages and provided basic financial training to ensure they understand how to use their accounts if they decided to work. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014, prior to the start of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana targeting Indias unbanked population. Follow-up surveys were then conducted in 2015 and 2017.

The study then compared outcomes for women who only received bank accounts (accounts only) with those who additionally received direct deposit of MGNREGS wages and bank account training (direct deposit and training).

Low levels of engagement with the formal banking sector beyond simple withdrawals and deposits by women and marginalised communities suggest that universal account ownership does not necessarily translate to financial inclusion or the ability to use banking services effectively, IndiaSpend reported on May 17, 2018. In 2015-16, 53% of women used a bank account in their own name, according to the fourth National Family Health Survey data.

The intervention found long- and short-term benefits in the group. Three years after the intervention, women used their accounts more frequently and more women were able to go to a bank to operate their accounts.

Women living in gram panchayats where training was offered to operate bank accounts worked more, as we said earlier, than those who only had individual bank accounts opened for them.

Further, the impact was more among women who had least or no work experience--in the study, those who had never worked for MGNREGS. These women have been classified as socially constrained to reflect that they are less likely to work, less empowered, and that their husbands are more likely to oppose female work.

The transfers to individually controlled bank accounts empower women to assert themselves in their families, the authors surmise. So giving a woman better outside options to the status quo may help her bargain and assert her preferences, which can result in increased mobility, said Moore.

Three years later, in 2017, socially constrained women reported an increased ability to spend and greater freedom to move about. After three years, their empowerment score was increased, effectively closing the empowerment gap between constrained and unconstrained women.

Gender norms and mobility

The study found that, compared with women who were given only bank accounts, those women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work, the study reported.

Gender norms became more progressive in families where women controlled their wages, the study found. The actual norms (average personal beliefs about women and work) of women who received direct deposit and training were more progressive than those of women in accounts-only areas. Also, on average, the community was more accepting of working women.

Although husbands actual norms remained unchanged, perceived norms among men in the community were significantly liberalized, with greater perceived acceptance of working womens husbands, suggesting that women may in part be held back from working by mens misperceptions of the stigma they would suffer, the study said.

There are signs of womens increased decision-making and financial independence, but that does not necessarily come at a cost to men, said Moore. The results on decisions hinge around whether women report higher involvement in either deciding or helping decide how to spend money and whether to work outside the home--so an increase in womens power here would not necessarily mean mens influence declined, since they could be making more joint decisions.

Policy implication

The study is significant for programmes such as MGNREGS which aim to include and empower women through employment, offering them equal wages, the study says. Policies that cause women to increase engagement with those outside their families are likely to change social norms, especially as more conservative men change their beliefs about the consequences of adopting or accommodating progressive behaviours.

One thing our study didnt speak to is that limited mobility also reflects individual and household concerns about safety and violence against women, which are valid concerns, said Moore. This is where policy can play an important role. It can work to ensure public spaces are safe and open to both men and women, she added, to improve responsiveness to reports about harassment and violence, and to be responsive to womens inputs on these issues.

(Paliath is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

We welcome feedback. Please write to respond@indiaspend.org. We reserve the right to edit responses for language and grammar.

Bengaluru: Poor women in Indias villages are more likely to take up jobs if their wages can be deposited into their bank accounts and they can be trained in digital banking, a September 2019 study by the US-based National Bureau Of Economic Research (NBER) has concluded. This eases patriarchal social norms and increases empowerment among the one section of Indian society with the least labour market experience, it added.

If poor, rural women can control their access to wages through bank accounts and receive adequate training for handling it, they are more likely to join or continue in the labour workforce in India, the study found. It also helped in accommodating changes in gender norms on women going to work: The study found that women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs, they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work.

Researchers used randomised control trials (RCTs) to study the effects of channelling womens wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), into their individually controlled bank accounts, and not the account of the head of their family, typically a man.

Women who received digital wage deposits as well as the training to use their bank accounts, were found to be working more, as we said earlier, in both jobs generated by MGNREGS and the private sector. This increase occurred even though the market wage remained static.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh state government and the rural development ministry in socially conservative areas in the northern pockets of the state--Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur and Shivpur.

Despite robust economic growth, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 37% in 1990 to 28% in 2015, making Indian women some of the least employed in the world, the study noted. Indias growth trajectory, and the well-being of its population, will depend on how well it uses public policy to lower barriers to female employment, it said.

Policy, when appropriately designed, can empower women in homes and even dilute common patriarchal norms, said Charity Troyer Moore, co-author of the study and director for South Asia Economics Research at The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.

By working with women to open accounts, training them on how to use the accounts, and linking those accounts to NREGS so they could receive their wages as mandated, we see important improvements in womens financial activity, paid work--especially in the private sector--and views on women and work, she said.

India ranks low on gender parity

While global gender parity will not be attained for 100 years, India has fallen four spots to 112 among 153 economies since 2018, as per the World Economic Forums Global Gender Gap Report 2020.

The economic gender gap runs particularly deep in India, the report noted. Only one-third of the gap has been bridged. Since 2006, the gap has gotten significantly wider. Among the 153 countries studied, India is the only country where the economic gender gap [ranked 149th] is larger than the political gender gap.

Only one-quarter of women, compared with 82% of men, engage actively in the labour market (working or looking for work)--one of the lowest participation rates in the world (145th)--and estimated female income is a mere one-fifth of male income, which is also among the worlds lowest, the report noted.

Indias gender issue is a jobs issue--womens overall well-being has fallen as access to work outside their homes has declined, and especially as women move out of agriculture in rural areas, said Moore. There is a multitude of challenges to helping women access employment, but increasing demand in sectors that suit womens practical circumstances seems to be key here.

Many of the policy efforts undertaken to support women focus on their specific role as a household caregiver or mother. Though important, it should not be given at the expense of other efforts, like hiring more local women to serve in frontline work to support their communities development, and encouraging employment for young women who are out of school and not yet married, Moore added.

Empowerment for socially constrained women

The study conducted randomised control trials in 197 gram panchayats. And in 67 of these, womens bank accounts were linked to their MGNREGS wages and provided basic financial training to ensure they understand how to use their accounts if they decided to work. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014, prior to the start of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana targeting Indias unbanked population. Follow-up surveys were then conducted in 2015 and 2017.

The study then compared outcomes for women who only received bank accounts (accounts only) with those who additionally received direct deposit of MGNREGS wages and bank account training (direct deposit and training).

Low levels of engagement with the formal banking sector beyond simple withdrawals and deposits by women and marginalised communities suggest that universal account ownership does not necessarily translate to financial inclusion or the ability to use banking services effectively, IndiaSpend reported on May 17, 2018. In 2015-16, 53% of women used a bank account in their own name, according to the fourth National Family Health Survey data.

The intervention found long- and short-term benefits in the group. Three years after the intervention, women used their accounts more frequently and more women were able to go to a bank to operate their accounts.

Women living in gram panchayats where training was offered to operate bank accounts worked more, as we said earlier, than those who only had individual bank accounts opened for them.

Further, the impact was more among women who had least or no work experience--in the study, those who had never worked for MGNREGS. These women have been classified as socially constrained to reflect that they are less likely to work, less empowered, and that their husbands are more likely to oppose female work.

The transfers to individually controlled bank accounts empower women to assert themselves in their families, the authors surmise. So giving a woman better outside options to the status quo may help her bargain and assert her preferences, which can result in increased mobility, said Moore.

Three years later, in 2017, socially constrained women reported an increased ability to spend and greater freedom to move about. After three years, their empowerment score was increased, effectively closing the empowerment gap between constrained and unconstrained women.

Gender norms and mobility

The study found that, compared with women who were given only bank accounts, those women who received digital deposits and training were more likely to hold female work in high regard. Although their husbands did not change their personal beliefs they became less likely to report that husbands suffer social costs when their wives work, the study reported.

Gender norms became more progressive in families where women controlled their wages, the study found. The actual norms (average personal beliefs about women and work) of women who received direct deposit and training were more progressive than those of women in accounts-only areas. Also, on average, the community was more accepting of working women.

Although husbands actual norms remained unchanged, perceived norms among men in the community were significantly liberalized, with greater perceived acceptance of working womens husbands, suggesting that women may in part be held back from working by mens misperceptions of the stigma they would suffer, the study said.

There are signs of womens increased decision-making and financial independence, but that does not necessarily come at a cost to men, said Moore. The results on decisions hinge around whether women report higher involvement in either deciding or helping decide how to spend money and whether to work outside the home--so an increase in womens power here would not necessarily mean mens influence declined, since they could be making more joint decisions.

Policy implication

The study is significant for programmes such as MGNREGS which aim to include and empower women through employment, offering them equal wages, the study says. Policies that cause women to increase engagement with those outside their families are likely to change social norms, especially as more conservative men change their beliefs about the consequences of adopting or accommodating progressive behaviours.

One thing our study didnt speak to is that limited mobility also reflects individual and household concerns about safety and violence against women, which are valid concerns, said Moore. This is where policy can play an important role. It can work to ensure public spaces are safe and open to both men and women, she added, to improve responsiveness to reports about harassment and violence, and to be responsive to womens inputs on these issues.

(Paliath is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

We welcome feedback. Please write to respond@indiaspend.org. We reserve the right to edit responses for language and grammar.

Shreehari Paliath - Shreehari is an electrical and electronics engineer and had a brief stint at the National Aerospace Laboratories, Bengaluru. He has a master's degree in development from Azim Premji University, a post-graduate diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, and as a writer has reported on enterprise IT and water, the latter at Arygham, a non-profit that works on such issues.

View post:
Women More Likely To Work If They Can Control Their Earnings: Study | - IndiaSpend

LETTER | The Association for Community and Dialogue (ACID) appreciates the Human Resources Ministry's efforts in empowering technical and vocational education training(TVET) by developing a more relevant new policy in implementing TVETS agenda in line with industry needs.

This was outlined in the ministry's 2019 achievement report to strengthen the various sectors led by minister M Kula Segaran.

The empowerment of TVET education is unprecedented and the ministry should be commended for its efforts. This is also in line with the spirit of C 142 of ILO convention on human resources development.

While the efforts of the ministry are laudable, it is also vital to understand that TVET education by itself will not bring about the needed transformation in the education landscape of the country if there is no integration between technical training, social context and work ethics.

Integration results in having an effective and dynamic work culture.

I have come across students who graduate from TVET colleges, lack a proper understanding of what it takes to succeed in their chosen vocation. This entails an attitude of a long-term commitment to career development and the importance of interpersonal, communication and coordinating skills which has the elements of emotional and spiritual intelligence.

Being a human resources practitioner, I have come across young graduates who are very technically inclined but unable to express their knowledge well, besides not being able to recall instances of behaviours that resulted in problems being resolved or job well done that attracted good comments from superiors or teachers.

There is also the absence of general knowledge on current events in the country and how they could use such knowledge to improve themselves and the organisation they are in.

There are also issues related to grooming and inflated resumes about personal attributes that reveal little about practical work excellence. When I was in the UK last year, I had the opportunity to meet young people who were part of non- governmental organisations.

I was surprised to see young man and women aged between 24 and 27 heading departments in their respective corporate organisations, besides being part of NGOs fighting for causes dear to them.

In my conversation with them, I found a great deal of maturity that is shaped by knowledge beyond technicalities.

Therefore, it is vital that TVET education is integrated with character formation, social awareness and learning the social-psychological dynamics of an organisation.

It should be followed up with reflective learning based on experiential exposure that would test their character and social-organisational knowledge.

This is to ensure that students of TVET have a wider understanding of what it takes to succeed in their careers.

RONALD BENJAMIN is secretary the Association for Community and Dialogue.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

Read more from the original source:
The missing link in TVET education Ronald Benjamin - Malaysiakini

Mashable's new series Don't @ Me takes unpopular opinions and backs them up with...reasons. We all have our ways, but we may just convince you to change yours. And if not, chill.

Anne sees lights-on sex as a mirror, or a Mbius strip. The 24-year-old looks at her partner looking at her, looking at them looking at her...

This does not scare her. In fact, that's what makes lights-on sex hot in the first place.

Anne, who's an MFA student in New York, went on to tell me that lights-on sex has always been the norm for her. In a society heavily impacted by porn, it's easy to see why. Porn shows sex with the lights on, for obvious reasons.

"I didnt think lights-off sex was necessarily real I thought it was a teen-movie trope or a relic of the 50s," Anne said. "I watched porn from a young age and the majority of that is obviously lights-on."

Now, she sees lights-off sex as a turn off. It makes her feel like her partner does not want to see her body, as if they're doing some sort of shadowy activity.

My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to.

I am in the same camp as Anne. My first sexual experiences were lights-on, so that's what I got used to. I also watch porn, and no matter whether it's a glossy production or home video taken on an iPhone 10, the lights have been on. Even many movie sex scenes are lights-on because frankly, we need to see what's going on!

So, I never balked at it. I enjoy seeing my partner's body; I would not be having sex with them otherwise. And I assume they feel the same way about me. I can easily see what I'm doing, and what they're doing, and it just adds to the hotness of it all.

Now, having sex with the lights off almost seems utilitarian, or like we both have something to hide.

As I had talked to others and had new partners, however, I soon learned that not everyone thought lights-on sex was hot. In fact, some seemed downright afraid of it.

While Anne and I have been comfortable with having sex with the lights on since our sexual awakening, many people have the opposite experience. Given our Puritan, body-image focused society, it's easy to deduce why.

"Having sex with the lights off can stem from several personal and societal factors," said Adina Mahalli, a certified relationship consultant and sexual health expert at Maple Holistics. These factors can range from body image struggles to societal taboos originating from religious beliefs.

"Sex is seen as a sin in Catholicism and sex in many religions is seen as something that shouldnt be done recreationally. Shame in an act will make you not want to see well while participating in it," Mahalli continued.

Everything is on display.

Holistic sexuality coach Christie Federico explained that having the lights on adds an element of vulnerability to the act. Sex is vulnerable to begin with, and having the lights on can amplify those feelings. Everything is on display. Even eye contact during sex can make people uncomfortable.

"There's a fear of 'What will this person see if they look that deeply?'," Federico said, "A fear of not being good enough."

These are just some reasons why one might be hesitant to have lights-on sex. Frank, a 22-year-old software engineer in New Jersey, compared it to an old cheese or fermented fine wine. He said, "It is an acquired taste that needs not only getting used to but conscious pre-planning or thinking about." Frank said he liked having sex with the lights on when he was "proud" of himself and proud to be with his partner.

Given that having the lights on can amplify one's insecurities, having a supportive partner could help make it easier. That was the case for Alice, a grant writer from Oregon. "I started with lights-on sex when I met my current boyfriend, who is very into body worship and praise," she said. "I'm heavy, and I have some confidence issues, so I found it a little uncomfortable at first."

It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall.

Alice's partner gave her compliments and "sweet talk" that she said "smoothed the transition" for her, and now she finds light-on sex empowering and loves to be seen.

And there are other benefits, too. It can increase intimacy and connection with your partner and can lead to better sex overall. Mahalli noted that humans are visual creatures, and during sex you can go off of subconscious visual cues.

Also, plainly, you get to see your hot partner better with the lights on, and that is, uhh, hot.

That's one reason 22-year-old Sonia prefers lights-on sex. "I enjoy seeing my hot partners, and I like being seen by them in return," she said.

For those who want to feel that same level of empowerment and intimacy that lights-on sex can bring but are not sure where to start, here's some advice.

Start with the lights dimmed not fully on, but not fully off either or in natural light, so something like morning sex or an afternoon delight. "Dimmed light sex can set a more sensual mood than having the lights on full, while still allowing both parties to see everything that is going on," Mahalli said.

If you want to go a more woo-woo route, Federico suggested "eye gazing" or "soul gazing." Couples can sit or lie next to each other and stare into each other's eyes. This is an exercise aimed to make you more comfortable being seen, but with clothes on first.

If your hesitations have to do with body image issues, you may need to do separate work before embarking on a lights-on journey. There are a lot of ways this could be done, either on your own or with the help of a mental health professional.

Federico suggests spending more time lounging around naked to get comfortable with yourself and telling yourself positive affirmations. Something that's helped me is unfollowing social media accounts that cause me to compare my real-life body with someone's (often Photoshopped) photos; you can even replace them with more body-positive accounts if you'd like.

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once.

The goal here is not to love yourself immediately; asking yourself to unlearn decades of body hate in an instant will backfire quickly. Take it slow. "A better goal than working toward loving every single inch of one's body is working toward simply accepting it as is, even if you don't love it," Federico said, "And remembering that your worth isn't determined by your appearance whatsoever."

Ultimately, lights-on sex is something to try at least once. If you are afraid or if you have and you didn't like it take a look and examine why. Is it because of your body-image? Is it because of awkwardness between you and your partner? The reason is probably beyond the bedroom entirely. It may take time to figure out and worth through but it may send ripples of benefits in your life including but not most importantly improving the sex you have.

Doing it with the lights on might feel awkward at first but sex, especially with a new partner, is naturally awkward sometimes. You are learning about your partner's body and they are learning yours, and it is not meant to be perfect.

"Lights on feels like an aid to the treasure hunt," Anne said. "Lights on feels like sharing. It feels like consent. It feels like bearing witness."

And, if you really want to, you can just close your eyes.

Excerpt from:
Here's Why Sex Is Better With The Lights On - Mashable India

By: Express News Service | Pune | Published: January 16, 2020 3:55:02 am The Indian Medical Association (IMA)

The Indian Medical Association announced a non-violent movement, to be held on March 20, wherein a march will be taken out from Sabarmati Ashram. Nearly 25,000 members of the IMA from all over the country will participate in the procession, sources said.

The decision was taken in a meeting held on January 12, an official statement from the IMA said on Wednesday. According to Dr Avinash Bhondwe, president of IMA, Maharashtra, the state unit has announced its plan for the event.

IMA Maharashtra has 210 branches, located in every major city, town and small taluka across the state, with a total of 43,500 members. All members will be contacted personally and sensitised about violence against doctors and hospitals, Dr Bhondwe said.

He added that medical students will be made aware of unfair and draconian laws by the government. Various social organisations, NGOs, rotary clubs, social workers and cultural associations will be informed about issues faced by doctors.

Doctors are pressing for legislation to prevent violence against doctors and the healthcare establishment. The bill was to be tabled in the current session of Parliament, but was withdrawn by the Union Home Ministry. With the draft legislation in public domain, the medical fraternity had expected that a law would be passed.

However, IMA expects that the government will not go back on its word in this regard, Dr Bhondwe said.

It has demanded a comprehensive solution to stop violence. The proposed law is only a deterrent. Adequate security and declaring hospitals as safe zones are part of the demands as well. Social determinants of violence also have to be addressed.

Addressing infrastructure and human resources inadequacy in public hospitals, as well as tax-funded schemes to purchase care from private hospitals have been cited as possible solutions.

Dr Bhondwe said if constitutional means fail to address the grievance, the profession will be free to launch its own defence at all costs.

For all the latest Pune News, download Indian Express App

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IMA to hold march from Sabarmati Ashram on March 20 - The Indian Express

People are the biggest adventure of all, and hitchhiking makes you need people, react with people and hopefully appreciate people. Coping with the difficulties forces you to depend on yourself, and grow in self-appreciation, too.

-Ed Buryn

In a recent column, When Depression Comes to Stay, I wrote, Perhaps in another column, I will share the details of the lost years that followed, the years spent hitchhiking around the country and Europe before coming back to Dayton to find a sense of family, purpose and meaning in a yoga ashram in the ghetto. And as promised (or warned), here it is

As I recounted in my previous column, I suffered my first bout of depression (or spiritual crisis) in 1973 when I was 17, which led me, in part, to seek relief, peace and solace on the road. I was part hippie with a little bit of hobo and gypsy mixed in. It is impossible to fully describe how exhilarating and liberating it felt to stand next to a highway with my thumb extended, completely trusting in the kindness of strangers to transport me to my next adventure, in some other town, state or country. Of course, it didnt always turn out well but I truly loved that life. It was a magical time life on the road a precious series of sacred, crazy and life-altering experiences that both astounded and confounded me and taught me more about the world than I ever learned in a classroom.

My spiritual guide for my vagabond life was Ed Buryn, a geeky-looking guy with glasses and a thick, black mustache and the author of two hitchhiking Bibles I grew to treasure in the early to mid-70s, Vagabonding in America and Vagabonding in Europe and North Africa. I didnt realize it until now, as I write this, but Ed also served as a kind of therapist. The words in his books were disguised as travel advice but they were really life advice; how to show up fully and completely within my own being, despite my heavy fear and sadness and step out into the world, vulnerable, courageous and alone. Depression tells us to hunker down and hide from the world. I refused. Thank God, I have always refused.

My original copies of Eds books burned up in the Carr Fire but thanks to Amazon, I secured a couple used copies in good condition. In the Europe book, we read, People are wonderful, and vagabonding is a way of personally proving it a way of getting to know people, and of knowing yourself. No adventure can promise more than that. In other words, trust others and believe in their essential goodness; trust the universe, but most of all, trust yourself. Be willing to fail. Never give up. Face your fears. Expect to be surprised, amazed and thrilled and you will be. And keep moving, because depression hates a moving target.

When we read Eds words, it is useful to connect with his underlying message or hidden meaning. When he talks about tourism or traveling, replace these words with living. Traveling is seen as moving from one physical place to another but also as a metaphor for our life journey of growth and what is required to make it meaningful. When he talks about vagabonding, please understand that he is talking about a special kind of traveling or living that is whole-hearted, curious, vibrant, open and authentic.

He wrote, This book tells you how to visit Europe as a way of blowing your mind and enriching your life. It says that tourism is bullshit unless you get involved. To do that, you avoid your travel agent like he was the cops, and go find out about the world by yourself, for your own self. Go as a wayfarer open to all experience; go as a courier over the map of Europe, bearing messages to your secret self.

According to Ed, Vagabonding is for people who want to be free and adventurous, yet realize it wont come too easily or without knocks. Youre not always certain how to go about it, either. Like any good psychologist, he recommends a specific state of mind that allows for new ideas and new experiences, for tolerance and humor, and insists that we must be willing to accept some discomfort, insecurity and risk. Amen to that.

Here is one of his best lines: Basically, you say yes to life, all of it, the whole spectrum, as opposed to the narrow sliver we get to be so content with. This advice is so essential, I could write a column on this alone.

Ed advises us to not live in the sterile confines of the mind, but to act decisively in the moment, committed to following through with whatever bold plan or adventure that grabs us and inspires us to dream. He wrote, We all have stuck in us deep somewhere a keenness for excitement, a savoring for the kooky, a leap-for-life outlook.

Continuing, The person who strikes off for himself is no hero, nor necessarily even unconventional, but to a greater degree than most people, he or she thinks and acts independently. The vagabond frees in himself (or herself) that latent urge to live closer to the edge of experience. Savor these words. Make them your friends.

Like Yoda, or someones idea of a mystical guru, Ed counsels us: Naturally, this can be a hard and heavy number at times, so your head better be ready for that too. Youll be unable to take it unless you understand that it has to be rough at times. Travel in general, and vagabonding in particular, produces an awesome density of experiencea cramming-together of incidents, impressions and life detail that is both stimulating and exhausting. So much new and different happens to you so frequently, just when you are most sensitive to it. A day seems like a week, a week a month. The total experience is stoning, and it psychically disintegrates you with its complexity and imagery. You may be excited, bored, confused, desperate and amazed all in the same happy day. Or hour. Its not for comfort hounds, sophomoric misanthropes or poolside fainthearts, whose thin convictions wont stand up to the problems that come along. One of the things to learn is that there is no right way for everybody to handle these problems; theres only your way. And you get better at it as you practice. Everybody, after all, makes their own scene.

I discovered that the value, utility and veracity of nearly every life lesson I learned from my parents, teachers or mentors could be tested on the road. It is the ultimate test track of life. Ed wrote, The right state of mind allows you to take one thing at a time and dig it. A vagabond learns this. You start really looking at places and reacting to people and finding out things for yourself. This opening-up and reintegrating process is one of the primary values of traveling independently, whether its to Europe or just into the future. You get the good vibes of experiencing meaningfully, of coping with fear and uncertainty, of becoming aware of the beauty ofthis world and your relationship to it.

In other words, many of us can go to sleep or go unconscious and miss out on our own life. This is impossible on the road. We must be wide awake and ready for whatever comes. It does no good to complain or resist. Existence is reduced to the essentials of what makes life worthwhile. When something moves, we must move with it or that opportunity is gone. It is maddening, mystical and free and we can all learn its lessons if we are ready. But we neednt worry because on the road, as in life, the chances keep coming, like that car as it passes by and pulls over, its bright brake lights glowing with the promise of a new friend.

My brother, Jim, 1974

Before my senior year in high school, I spent the summer hitchhiking around Ohio, visiting friends I had recently met at a state-wide, student council conference. And then one day, later that summer, on impulse, I asked my mom to drop me off on an entrance ramp for I-70 West. I was restless and bored and didnt really have a plan. I just wanted to move. I had tasted the vagabond life and I craved to experience more of its mystery and magic. Can the road call to us? It felt like it in those days.

I only had $15 and had barely stepped out of my moms car when my first ride showed up. His name was Bob Rubin, his favorite song was Donovans Catch the Wind and he was driving from Vienna, Virginia, the same little town I had lived in for five years in the 1960s. He was heading to San Francisco to go to college and I happily rode with him to Madison, Wisconsin to see his family before continuing on to the Black Hills of South Dakota. By then I was out of money and it didnt seem right to mooch off Bob any more than I already had. The only food I had was a bag of corn nuts and a few ketchup packets from McDonalds as I began thumbing my way back east.

Badlands, 1973

I only got as far as the Badlands that first day and that night was a rough one. It stormed hard and I sought refuge from the drenching rain beneath a school bus on a bed of gravel. I barely slept and the next day, I was hungry and exhausted and caught a ride with an old man (probably the same age I am now) heading back east on I-90. He said he was retired, divorced, and on his way to live with one of his adult kids in Minnesota or Wisconsin. And he was mean and grumpy. I was grateful for the ride but he was hard to like. Unlike most of my rides those days, he was not a happy guy, although he seemed to derive some enjoyment from being miserable. His backseat contained all his clothes, hanging neatly on a closet bar from one side of the other and he greedily drank out of a whiskey bottle as we sped along the interstate until he finished it and forcefully flung it into the grass-covered median strip.

We stopped for gas in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere between Kadoka and Okaton and the old man couldnt help making fun of the locals who were selling their junkie crap in yard sales in front of their homes. I was completely worn down by his negativity, my hunger and lack of sleep and I heard myself asking him, Why are you so cynical? I knew I was in trouble when he scrunched up his face and asked me what cynical meant. He really didnt know; and I realized I was about to insult the man who I was depending on for free transportation for the next several hundred miles; a cardinal sin that any hitchhiker knew was a rule of the road you must never break.

When I stammered out a reference to a person who is generally pessimistic and has a low opinion of humanity, he nodded somberly and informed me he had a sudden change of plans. He was clearly stung by the truth. He said he wouldnt be able to ferry me further as he would be seeking lodging in the very town he had happily disparaged a few minutes before. I knew he was lying, and he knew I knew, but it didnt matter. I can still recall breaking down and crying uncontrollably as I stumbled back to the interstate to seek my next ride, ashamed of myself for weeping as I said over and over, Big boys dont cry.

I persevered, found my way to Minneapolis to visit Chris, a girl I knew from high school before continuing to Milwaukee to visit my uncle Russ, aunt Amy and cousin Jeff. I returned home, and in January of my senior year, I celebrated my 18th birthday by skipping school for a few days (with my moms permission) and hitchhiking in the cold and snow from Dayton through downtown Chicago at rush hour until I finally reached Milwaukee again, to see Jeff play basketball for his high school team. I had discovered how good it felt to live adventurously and was addicted. After graduating, I kept escaping to the road in the summer of 1974, hitchhiking from Ohio to Florida to Virginia and back to Dayton for a David Bowie concert before doing all the same states a second time, this time with my brother. I couldnt get enough and wanted more.

Jim, kicking back on one of our rides, 1974

Once I returned home, my aimless existence continued. Instead of going to college like my parents had hoped, I got a job as a printers helper for half a year and saved up $1500, enough money to hitchhike through Europe and North Africa for five months (providing me with numerous lessons and perhaps, ample fodder for future columns).

Florence, Italy, 1975

And when I got back from Europe, I still wasnt ready for college, even though I was enrolled at Ohio University, had my dorm assignment, knew my roommates name and I went through orientation. I was still searching for something that I didnt find on the road and didnt think Id find in college. So, I dropped out before I ever went and instead moved into what some would call an ashram on the West Side of Dayton, Ohio called the Ghettos Palace Yoga Institute. My family thought it was a religious cult and I suppose it was from their perspective. But for me, I felt like I had a family again and our spiritual teacher or master, Wali Ahmed Sababu was as you might imagine: charismatic, mesmerizing at times and persuasive. I learned and taught hatha yoga, meditated daily and attended spiritual lectures every night.

I did eventually go to college while still living at the Palace and had one last hitchhiking adventure to see John, a high school buddy of mine, who was going to school at the University of Montana in Missoula in the summer of 76. We backpacked in the Flathead Indian Reservation, lost our topo map and wandered aimlessly for a couple days in the wilderness before finally catching a ride from some boaters on Lindbergh Lake who brought us back to civilization.

My friend John, 1976

I learned many lessons from my travels that are still with me to this day. For example, whether I was waiting for a ride in Germany or sitting on a park bench in Rome or walking down a winding, stone-walled road in Ireland, I learned to be present and experience the moment and all it contained and not as my mind wanted to make it. I learned to keep moving, to flow with and adapt to the challenges that constantly came my way. I repeatedly learned that wonderful things came after terrible things. A long, hot day of no rides in Francos Spain, for example, eventually led to a glorious encounter with a wonderful and kind soul who got me further down the road. And when the terrible things happened, and I had my share, I trusted I would survive and discover hidden benefits and blessings and I always did.

As Ed predicted, I met genuine and generous people every day who truly cared about me and my journey and sought to help. We traded books, food, wine, travel tips and spiritual insights. We gave and received kindness, trust and truth. As Rupert Spira states, When we feel friendship or love for one another, what we are actually feeling or tasting is our shared being. It is easier to know this on the road but nothing stops us (except our minds) from experiencing this wherever we are.

I savored simple things and required very little to be happy. As time went by, I needed less and less. I learned to be content in just being. I learned to believe in myself and fully accept myself as I was. This approach required faith and trust, not necessarily in a religion or God but in me. I read the Gita, a Zen text and the New Testament on a regular basis but knew each day, it was me I needed to trust in and believe in and rely on to get through.

At times, I was able to suspend all judgment, criticism, resistance, and blame and clear a space to be, just be, as if my true self was my constant breath, flowing in and out. I learned to be patient. The rides would come. And they did. The adventures were out there, like fresh fruit on a tree, waiting to be plucked. I didnt need to push the river. I learned to trust the currents as they came and went.

It is difficult, I know. This isnt always easy. My words could imply otherwise. I get it. Life on the road isnt like our normal work-a-day existence. I could never go back and do that all again. Im too old and its probably not as safe now as it was 45 years ago.

And like you, I still have my own mind to contend with. We have all been conditioned or programmed to think, feel and act in ways that dont always work. Meanwhile, something that isnt a thing doesnt change. There is this something more that is timeless, the ultimate truth of your being and mine. Call it awareness or consciousness, or simply being. If you get quiet for a moment, you can notice the noticer, observe the observer, be with that which you are. There are no words we can employ to capture it. It can only be experienced. It waits for us, as I write these words and as you read them. If we step back from our thoughts for a moment, we can touch that which we most intimately are and know that we are supremely well, regardless of what our minds tell us.

Life, itself, is the great adventure and as Ed said, the best parts of life are the people. Trust me on this, but more importantly, trust yourself.

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Depression Hates a Moving Target - A News Cafe

In the latest episode of Mangala Gowri Madve, Mangala is puzzled as she notices Soundarya and Balli in minister Rudra Muni's house. She grows suspicious over Soundarya's intentions and tries to alert Rajeev. On the other hand, seeing Mangala roaming around Rudra Muni's house, Soundarya enlists Balli's help to discreetly click pictures of Mangala. She intends to use those photographs to drive Mangala out of the house. Elsewhere, Rajeev disguises himself like a civilian and is seen outside the ashram for Subhash to arrive. He also commands Pandu and Kumar to stay alert. As the trio is vigilant towards the ashram, Rajeev notices an old man speaking to Sathyanna and grows suspicious over his unusual behavior. However, Rajeev's suspicious become true when the old man drag Sathyanna to a nearby vacant room. Upon learning that the disguised old man is none other than Subhash, Rajeev and his team gear up to attack him.

Link:

Mangala Gowri Madve update, January 16: Rajeev notices Subhash in the ashram - Times of India

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The Delhi police underlined the greater public interest and urged the anti-citizenship law protesters in Shaheen Bagh to cooperate and help dismantle 13A, a 2.5 km link between Delhi and Noida December is closed.

We appeal to the agitators at No. 13 A Shaheen Bagh to understand the suffering that the complete highway blockage will bring for Delhi and New York residents, seniors, emergency patients and school children. The matter was also raised in the Honble High Court, the Delhi police tweeted.

The demonstrators blocking of this particular road has gotten out of hand in the south and downtown Delhi. What has further exacerbated the traffic growl is that parts of Mathura Road near the Ashram intersection have been blocked from construction by the Public Works Department for an underpass.

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Traffic police estimate that the Ashram intersection, which was hit hardest by the 13A roadblock, carried nearly 3.5 lakh vehicles in the morning and evening rush hours. However, an additional charge of one lakh per day was added last month.

Despite the withdrawal of some organizers on January 2nd, the protests in Shaheen Bagh continued. From a replica of the India Gate with the names of those who died during the anti-CAA protests, through a model detention center to raise awareness, to graffiti and posters, the demonstrators used unique methods to express their rejection.

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To the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh, an appeal by the Delhi Police (India) - Daily Gaming Worlld

Data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) suggests that crime against women has increased in Haryana this year in comparison to previous two years, triggering concern.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Indian National Lok Dal have slammed the State Government over increasing crimes against women in the State. Referring to NCRB reports, the opposition leaders said that the Haryana has stood at third ranks in crime against women across the country.

The NCRB data shows that year by year, crimes against women in Haryana are increasing rapidly. Citing NCRB data, a Congress leader said that 9511 cases of crime against women were registered. This means about 26 cases of crimes were committed daily. This increased to 9839 in the year 2016 while 11,370 in 2017. However, the recently released figures of the year 2018 by NCRB reveal that in the year 2018, crimes against women have increased by 26 percent as compared to the year 2017.

In 2018, there were 14,326 crimes against women which is an average of 39 crimes against women were committed each day. If we talk about rape cases, according to the NCRB data, 1099 rape cases were reported in the year 2017. While the number of rape cases increased by more than 17 percent in the year 2018 compared to the year 2017. The rape cases increased to 1296 in the year 2018, they added.

Understanding the gravity of the latest data and to know and evaluate the actual status of the execution of centre and State Government sponsored schemes being operated for the safety, security and welfare of the women and children, the Haryana State Commission for Women has decided to conduct 10-day- long inspection drive from January 20 at Working Women Centres (WWCs), One Stop Centres (OSCs), Mahila Ashram, Safe Houses, Women Police Stations (WPSs) and other centres set up for Women across the State.

As per reports received from the Haryana State Commission for Women, the Commission received seven complaints of gang rape from various parts of the State. Seven complaints of gang rape include one such report received from Gurugram while two from Ambala; two from Kurukshetra; one from Bhiwani and one from Hissar.

As many as 99 rape cases from April 15 to December 15 which include 10 in Hisar, 13 in Panipat, nine in Mewat, seven in Bhiwani, six in Sirsa, seven in Karnal, five each in Sonipat, Yamuna Nagar and Mahendragarh. Seven complaints of gang rape have been reported which include two each in Ambala and Kurukshetra and one each in Gurugram, Bhiwani and Hisar. Moreover, the Commission had received around 150 complaints of sexual harassment of Women at work place from various parts of the State over the last six months.

Commission chairperson Pratibha Suman said that to provide fool-proof security and welfare for women, the central and state government have set up above centres in the State.

The State government has set up around 15 Women Working Centres and 15 Mahila Ashram to facilitate the women of the State. One Stop Centres which is also known as Sakhi is an ambitious project of the Union government under the Nirbhaya Fund for providing police, medical and legal help to women victims.

"OSCs have been opened in almost all the districts of the State. This centre resolves any issue related to distress and violence against women. It also provides integrated services and facilities at a single point, saving the victims from unnecessary harassment and delay caused by hassles involved", she said, adding this centre specifically deals with issues involving crime against women and minors, including rape, molestation, domestic violence, child marriage, child abuse, sexual assault, kidnapping and dowry complaints. These centres have own staff and infrastructure.

The Commission Chairperson said that women affected by violence are provided services like police assistance, medical aid, psycho-socio counseling, legal aid and temporary stay for five days under one roof in one stop centres set up across the State. These centres not only provide legal and medical aid, but also counsel the victim till woman recovers fully and fit for rehabilitation. It has board, lodging and food facility with adequate security. The victim has no need to go anywhere, even the police station, for resolution.She further said that the Women Police Stations have been formed in each district of the State to ensure safety of women and instill among them a sense of security and confidence.

Sources in the Commission, however, said that States one-stop centre for women Sakhi is facing shortage of staff, basic infrastructure, causing problems to victims of sexual assault, dowry and domestic violence. At many Women Police Stations, the number of women staff has not been deployed. At some place male police officers has been made in-charge of Women Police Station while at few places, SI or inspector has been given additional charge.

Under such circumstances, they could not focus on dealing the cases related women effectively.

The Commission Chairperson said that to know the actual state of these centres, team members led by Commission member would conduct surprise inspections during ten days of inspection drive across the State. After inspection, reports will be sent to the State Government for further action, she said, adding the team has been formed at Commission level and this exercise would be completed within ten days.

According to her, along with district level service authority member, she led a team conduct inspection of above centres in Rohtak while Vice-Chairperson of the Commission Preeti Bhardwaj in Gurugram.

The chairperson and vice chairperson of the Commission can inspect any centres of all the districts, she added.

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Crime against women increases in Haryana - Daily Pioneer

He (and his team) would carry a typewriter around on their village visits. At every hamlet, he would instantly issue an on-spot official decree to set up a government school & appoint teachers from among the educated in the village.

The year was 1942. The country was reeling under an extreme socio-economic crisis as a repercussion of the ongoing World War, and Mahatma Gandhi had just called for the Quit India movement.

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Around this time, a 21-year-old young man from Namakkal (erstwhile Salem) in Tamil Nadu was heading a student revolution at Madras, against the British authorities of Loyola College.

That man was TM Kaliannan. He would go on to become one of the signatories of the Constitution and is the only surviving member of the Constituent Assemly, today.

A powerful orator and an extremely passionate writer in English, Kaliannan had sowed the seed of nationalism and mobilised over 400 students to form the Tamil Zilla Students Association. Following this, the association hoisted the National Flag for the first time on the premises of Loyola College.

When the principal of the college refused to comply with the nationalistic demands of the protesting students, Kaliannan led an 8-member delegation to Sabarmati Ashram to meet with Gandhi, for advice on how to proceed.

Stay with me for ten days and follow my lifestyle, the Mahatma calmly advised the agitated man. After a peaceful 10-day stay at Sabarmati, Kaliannan felt he was already a changed personcalmer, respectful and more insightful than ever.

Gandhi instructed him to return to Tamil Nadu and complete his education before diving into mainstream politics. He agreed. Later, he would admit that the meeting with the Mahatma was a turning point in his life, driving the trajectory of his illustrious later years.

As Kaliannan stepped into his hundredth year on 10th January 2020, The Better India got in touch with his family to share his inspiring story.

His grandson Senthil took us on a walk down the memory lane, sharing unsung tales of his Ayyas patriotism, leadership and humanity.

Kaliannan was born on 10 January 1921 in the village of Akkaraipatti. He was later adopted by the Kumaramangalam Zamindar family and crowned as the legal heir of the enormous estate of Kasturipatti, spanning at least a few thousand acres.

He pursued his schooling from Tiruchengode and later joined Loyola College in Madras to pursue a degree in English literature. This is where he began to actively rebel against the British Raj.

His actions, especially the protest mentioned above, fetched him a prompt eviction notice from college authorities.

However, such was his transformation after meeting Gandhiji in the Sabarmati Ashram that the acting principal softened his stance and helped Kaliannan secure admission for a BCom degree at Pachaiyappas College.

After completing his college education, Kaliannan joined the Gandhi Ashram at Tiruchengode and played a crucial role in upholding Gandhian ideals among the people of Tamil Nadu.

He had joined the Indian National Congress in 1943. and when Dr Subramaniams seat in the Constituent Assembly of Independent India fell vacant after his appointment as a foreign ambassador, K Kamaraj proposed Kaliannans name.

He was soon unanimously elected as the youngest member of the Constituent Assembly, at the age of 27.

Ayya worked in close coordination with Dr Ambedkar, Kamaraj and Rajaji while drafting the prestigious Constitution of India. He was one of the signatories of the Constitution and now happens to be the only surviving member of the Constituent Assembly, informs Senthil.

Reminiscing about those days, Kaliannan often remarks, Those were better times. As politicians, all of us were honest and truly dedicated to our people. The curse of corruption did not tarnish our lives and work.

On 26th January 1950, the Constitution was officially adopted by the newly instated government, thereby turning India into a Republic. In the first Parliament of the Republic of India, Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister, and Dr Rajendra Prasad was appointed as the President. Kaliannan was also sworn in as an integral Member of Parliament.

The first general elections in India were held in 1952, and an air of festivity prevailed over the country.

Kaliannan fought for the MLA seat from Rasipuram constituency and won a sweeping victory. Over the next two decades, he also contested from Tiruchengode twice and emerged triumphant every time.

In 1952, when the Zamindari Abolition Act was passed, Kaliannan wholeheartedly welcomed the law and sacrificed around a 1000-acre portion of his inherited estate to help the poor and needy, reveals Senthil.

In 1954, Kaliannan was selected as the Zilla Board President of Salem, which comprised of the present districts of Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Namakkal.

When he assumed charge, Salem was plagued by illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and high crime rates. Children as young as five or six would be sent to earn their livelihood through goat-herding and cattle-rearing. A public school was a rarity.

Kaliannan Ayya knew that only education could uplift the state of his people. So, literacy remained at the top of his development agendas, says Senthil.

Between 1954 and 1957, he extensively toured the nooks and corners of Salem, setting up one school in every village he stepped in.

He and his team of officials would carry a typewriter around throughout their village visits. At every hamlet, he would instantly issue an on-spot official decree to set up a government schoolat a community area or simply in the open. He would also interact with the villagers, learn about their educational qualifications and spontaneously appoint around three to four teachers from among the school pass-outs in the village.

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This way, he managed to establish over 2000 successfully running schools in just three years, which in turn educated over one crore children. His mega educational revolution in the district even birthed eminent personalities like politicians, lawmakers and educationists from the district.

K Megraj, the present District Magistrate of Namakkal, idolises Kaliannan and visits him often to pay his respects. His efforts in the education sector are immensely laudable. His smart strategies and policymaking remain relevant to this date, he mentions

Tiruchengode, the native home of Kaliannan, is famous for the Ardhanareeswarar temple. The essence of the half female-half male deity inspired Kaliannan to aspire for gender equality in his state, and there are several examples to illustrate this.

At a time when a woman stepping out of the house was frowned upon in the society, he set up the Avvaiyar Kalvi Nilayam school for girls and donated land for free from his estate for its construction. The school remains a symbol of pride among the residents of Tiruchengode.

Alongside, Kaliannan also promoted higher education for women and set up many women colleges across Salem, including the esteemed institutionSri Sarada College for Women. He also donated the land for the same. He also opened over 200 public libraries in Salem and introduced the concept of mobile libraries in Tamil Nadu.

He was the one to build a 40-km long connecting road from Kolli Malai hills to the plainlands. Before that, the indigenous communities of Kolli hills had no access to education, health and other facilities. He was responsible for improving the connectivity in the area, says Megraj.

Elaborating on this context, Senthil shares how Kaliannans work on road-building went on to facilitate commerce and industrialisation.

The Kolli Hills road benefitted several lakhs of indigenous people. The mountain road, traversing through 70 hairpin bends, lasted for six decades without any need for repair.

Senthil continues, It was Ayya who linked the small textile-town of Pallipalayam to the growing city of Erode through the Pallipalayam bridge over Cauvery river. Today, Erode has flourished as a textile district, thanks to this one connecting bridge.

It was him who introduced the Village Mandis, a thriving symbol of Tamil Nadus rural economy, even today. The famous Salem Co-Operative Sugar Mills, India Cements factory at Sankari and the Paper Mills of Pallipalayam were all creations of Kaliannan, which employed over 10,000 people at that time.

The peoples leader also left his mark in the sectors of water and housing as well. Earlier, only the farmers from the Cauvery delta districts had legal permission to use Cauvery water for agriculture and drinking purposes.

Kaliannans persistent petitions resulted in a big victory for farmers in all riverine districts across the state when they were allowed to use Cauvery water. The construction of the East Bank Canal and West Bank Canal helped in irrigating over 45,000 acres of fertile land, leading a mini green revolution in the region.

Under Kaliannans tenure, Tiruchengode experienced one of the most excellent examples of town planning. He donated major portions of his estate to build over 300 houses for the homeless.

To boost the economy, hundreds of branches of regional rural banks were set up in residential areas, during his regime. He was later appointed as the Director of Indian Bank, following his retirement from politics.

After the sudden demise of his second son, Kaliannan gradually distanced himself from mainstream politics and focused more on humanitarian efforts, which he continues to date.

He donated large portions of his ancestral estate to uplift the underprivileged with homes, free health clinics and community marriage halls. He also showed an inclination towards spirituality and built many temples in the area.

Today, Kaliannan leads a reclusive life away from the cacophony of the city, surrounded by his loving family members. But, reading the newspaper out and out is an unmissable activity for the centenarian. Though he has long left behind his days of progressive politics, leaders from all parties and government officials still approach him for advice and guidance.

He never sends anyone away. He talks and listens to them even while eating, Senthil shares.

Like many, the veteran politician is upset about present political scenario of the country, which is shrouded by corruption and unrest. However, he believes that there is hope for things to change for the better.

The development of India since Independence has been quite commendable. However, the way dishonesty had seeped into the political fabric is adversely affecting our democracy. However, I am sure that people will learn through their mistakes, sooner or later. But, the price for that might be heavy on humanity, concludes the centenarian.

Also Read: Issurus Fight For Freedom: When a Small Karnataka Village Dared to Take on the British Empire

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Last Living Member of First Lok Sabha, 100-YO Helped Draft Constitution - The Better India

Ma Anand Sheela, Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult.

Ma Anand Sheela or Sheela Biernstiel, who lives in Switzerland, visited India last year, after 34 years. And one has to be living under a rock to not know who this very popular millennial icon is. The Vadodara-born was spiritual guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or Oshos personal secretary and the brain behind the ambitious Rajneeshpuram, a commune established in the 1980s in Oregon, USA, by and for his followers. A part of her controversial life of the 80s was captured in the Netflix series Wild, Wild Country. In the series, she comes across as a redoubtable stateswoman who hit international headlines with her grit, gumption and a sharp tongue

When I met her, I was greeted by a warm and soft-spoken person whose calmness was contagious. Was she indeed the skilful minence grise who kicked up a storm with her witty comebacks and provocative one- liners (remember: tough titties)? Whats left people in her owe is the fact that even back then, the 70-year-old had the guts to live life as she wanted to and totally own her story with all its vagaries, including prison time and controversies.

Read more: Ma Anand Sheela hasnt given Priyanka Chopra permission for biopic, says Alia Bhatt has the necessary spunk to play her

You all have to create your story and you have many ways to create it, says Sheela, who was in India for Sipping Thoughts and the NGO Humans for Humanity.

But living life on ones own terms is not easy, is it? Not easy is not a good excuse either... To not live life on your own way is a very coward way to live. I know millennials are not cowards, says the 70-year-old with conviction, adding, Life is tough, baby. Lifes not easy. You have to go through your crisis, dont look for easy, dont make it easy for yourself. Easy is for cowards. Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult. Whatever difficulty comes, say, Ah! I can do it. The resolute voice is back.

Ma Anand Sheela, Create a little paradise around yourself and beautify this lovely country that you are living in. Everyday take a few minutes off your social media, and clean up the city you are living in. Dont forget to go out and pick garbage from the streets.

She says, Stop looking for life to be easy. Be in the moment... just remain with yourself. Start living life... In the beginning, you go through a trial-and-error period. You look within yourself, what you want, and what you dont like what you dont want... Recognise your qualities and your flaws or weaknesses. Move towards qualities. If you are confused, just say yes to every opportunity and be positive. The choice is always yours. It happens that sometimes you choose the wrong, then accept the consequences.

But how does one stay calm in the midst of a storm, how did she manage it? I dont blame my crisis and catastrophes onto others. I take responsibility of my crisis, I try to analyse it understand it and I dont put my burden on others, she says. And if given a choice, would she change anything about her life? No she says, I can tell you I love my life.

Oh! We have to ask her, why is she not on Twitter? After the series, everyone tried to connect with her, and look her up on social media. I belong to the old generation, I dont understand this social media, I dont understand computer even today. For the work I am supposed to do, I have written down a few steps, and I go through those whenever I need to , she adds, I want to be myself. Social media is probably okay for you guys to occupy in free time and catch up with boredom, but for me, it is a really good time wasted.

Sheela, who runs nursing homes in Switzerland, Mauritius and Vietnam, has three sisters and two brothers.

Interact with author @ MedhaShri/Twitter

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Ma Anand Sheela: Lifes tough, baby; easy is for cowards - Hindustan Times