Bollywood Actress Chitrangda’s incident is an attack on womanhood?

Vikram Kapoor

Bollywood actress Chitrangda Singh has been highlighted by the entertainment section of most of the newspapers and online media in the recent times. The actress accused director Kushan Nandy of forcing her to lean on actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui repeatedly with her petticoat on. If sources are to be believed, the beautiful actress also claimed that the director uttered crass language as he was not satisfied with the shot of the heroine of his upcoming movie, Babumoshai Bandookbaaz.

 

Chitrangda who was also quoted saying that she walked out of the film also alleged that Kushan wanted her to re-shoot the intimate scene in a Bindaas manner, for which she said, “Who is a Bindaas woman? One who wears a petticoat and jumps on a man?”

Allegations, controversies and media acting as an image spoiling agency for the celebrities are daily affair in Bollywood, so being a public figure, a sports personality or carrying the tag of an actor or actress is not easy in India. If they are appreciated and loved by the fans, they are also the one who are most hated and criticized by the public if trapped in any controversy. 

Our country is full of talent, and creativity exists everywhere from a small village to big cities. So the god gift creativity cannot be just linked to one’s profession. Actresses coming from different backgrounds from small or big towns try hard to give bold and challenging performances before camera should rather be encouraged than being exploiting them. 

In the recent times, heroines like Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor and Rani Mukerji has been seen doing eye opening women oriented films like Mary Kom, Neerja and Mardaani that clearly depicted the outstanding success and courage of Indian women. Some of these kind of films may not have rocked the box office but they are the great source of inspiration and a must watch for all.

No matter who is wrong or right here but if the recent allegations by the actress is true then it’s a big attack on womanhood once again. If we would throw light on the heinous crime against women like ‘Sathi Pratha’ and ‘Women Foeticide’, and ‘Stoning of women’ in the past, to the present scenario of Rape and Human trafficking. Today, they are facing everyday issues like eve teasing, discrimination at work place, bad treatment with domestic helpers and many more.

It’s a high time now to uproot the antisocial elements who are not literate enough to respect women. The old generation should remember their sacrifices, the present generation should learn for their equal treatment so that the future generation will not tolerate any such crime against women in our society.

A Pious trip to Amritsar

Vikram Kapoor

It was the month of February when I got first opportunity to visit Amritsar in Punjab (The land of five rivers). We boarded the train from Delhi and it was almost night when we reached our destination. Unlike other destinations, our hotel was just 300 meters away from the Heavenly Golden Temple. The auto driver on our way to the accommodation provided us with a brief history about the temple also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib. 

Around 9 pm we entered the Gurudwara. With our head covered, we handed over our footwear to the Sevadars. All of us were curious to have a very first look of the Holy Shrine and as soon as we saw the illuminating golden structure, it was more than a dream comes true like an antique golden structure placed on an island. Its mesmerizing beauty and the feeling was all out of the world. No matter which religion you belong to, If your are here, you can enjoy the mental peace inside this religious premises.

The second day, a Pedal Rikshawala promised to take us for a tour in the city in just Rs 20 so fortunately we didn’t had to spend money on expensive cabs or any tourism vehicles to have a glance of Amritsar. 

The Sardarjee Rikshawala parked his vehicle outside the most famous eatery, Brother’s Dhaba and said, “Sahabjee, Pehle Pet Pooja, fir Kaam Dooja (First eat food then do all the work). Here, we had delicious Amrisari Kulcha with Chole, Yogurt and Pickle.

Our pedal journey then started towards the market from where we took some Amritsar made ladies suits. The city market is best for Punjabi Jutis ranges from wedding collection and other designer Jutis to the regular ones.  

It was a total twist in the trip when the two of us got down at Jalianwalah Bagh, the mass killing public garden where General Dyre ordered to shoot non-violent protesters and more than 1500 people killed at the incident.

The bullet marks on the walls and the huge well, now dried up is still alive and like other tourist destinations, this place is also open for Indians as well as foreigners.

After some photography with our DSLR, we further moved towards Gian di Lassi. You may have ditched many things in your life but you can’t avoid food once you are in Punjab. We were served with an extra large steel glass of thick Lassi topped with a big spoon of malai (fresh butter). Drinking the pure lassi was like having Amrit (a Holi water of Sikh’s) of Amritsar. The extra dose of sweet khowa burfi at the same lassi shop was like Sone pe Suhaga for us. 

After visiting these places in the city, our journey would have incomplete without seeing the Wagah Border’s ceremony that includes flag lowering and raising ceremony, cultural programme and Bhangra (a form of dance in Punjab). 

Now I was totally excited to see the other side of Pakistan so we booked a three wheeler to reach the Border which is almost 30 km away from the town. Once we reached and seated to see the Wagah border, we saw the gates of both the countries. Frankly speaking, it was nowhere less than watching the most awaited cricket match of India and Pakistan that only we Indian's can feel. 

I tried it really hard but it’s not easy to describe Amritsar in one word, it’s a blend of religion, culture, purity, history, tradition and just few reasons are not enough to visit the place, there is actually a lot more you will find once you visit the pious Amritsar.