The Scooterwalla Superhero

It’s funny how we all feel like the world is a place filled with mean people. Our inner instincts doubt every person we see on the street and every stranger who strikes a conversation seems to be a creepy person.

Today morning, I was running through a small muddy road while the rain drizzled over me. Suddenly, I noticed a pack of street dogs running in my direction. I freaked out and looked around me for help. The only person I saw was this guy on a scooter who was equally frightened. He was about to zoom away when he noticed me. Our looks said it all. I ran towards the scooter guy and we escaped the dogs. He left me on the next street so I could safely proceed with my morning routine.

I don’t know why I jumped on to a complete stranger’s scooter at that very moment but anyway that guy's gesture makes me believe in real life superheroes who can save you from a pack of dogs. ;)😂

Also, I couldn't even thank him for this! Just like a superhero he vanished into the rain😂😂

Abortions Laws in India

The past few months have brought back the abortion debate back to the table. It has been highly debated after the Alabama Abortion Regulation Law was passed in May. The two sides of the law include the “pro-life” and “pro-choice” activists. While pro-life supporters believe the few weeks old foetuses have legal rights, the pro-choice supporters strongly believe that a women has all the rights to control the life inside her body. 

Abortions have always been stigmatized around the world. Due to which many people still believe abortions are illegal and that they have major health risks. However, abortions during the beginning of pregnancy are extremely safe and are legal procedures. 

In India, Abortions are legal up to 20 weeks under five different causes. These clauses are

1. Life-Threatening Risk to the Woman

2. A child with critical physical or mental deformities

3. Rape 

4. Failure of Contraception

5. Negatively Impacts the woman's physical or Mental Health

To get a deeper medical picture of the debate, I decided to talk with Dr. Usha Menon, a reputed gynaecologist and obstetrician from Kasaragod Institute of Medical Sciences. She was delighted to help me out. 

“Today India’s abortion laws are extremely liberal and even allows women to have abortions without consent from their partners. Abortions below 20 weeks of pregnancy are today very safe procedures when conducted under proper guidance and expertise.”-  Dr. Usha Menon

The Indian Abortion Laws allow abortions within 12 weeks of pregnancy with the consent of 1 medical practitioner and require the consent of two medical practitioners, if the woman is anywhere between 12 and 20 weeks pregnant. For cases where the woman is over 20 weeks pregnant, the woman will have to get a favourable ruling from the court. In these cases, a medical board will have to certify that the abortion is safe and necessary. 

“Many other countries allow abortions even after 20 weeks legally. However, the risks involved in such cases will increase drastically. However, India should amend it’s abortion laws for pregnancies beyond 20weeks in cases were Lethal Congenital Anomaly of foetus is detected ”, says Dr.Usha. 

When I asked Dr. Usha Menon about her stance on the Abortion debate she was of the opinion that Child birth shouldn’t be something forced on anybody. It should be something the parent should be happy and delighted to be doing. 

I completely agree with her stance that raising a child in a life filled with hatred is a bigger sin than not giving birth in the first place. When children are bought into this world with hate, this will negatively impact the mental health of both the child and his/her parents. And will eventually lead to a vicious cycle of hatred. 

The stigma around abortions leads many people to bringing children into this world with hate. While many others try to get an abortion from unsafe places. In fact, nearly 60% of the abortions carried out in India are conducted without proper guidance. Abortions carried out in unsafe conditions are extremely dangerous to the health of the woman undergoing the procedure. As young people let’s spread awareness that motherhood is a choice and not a liability. 

Thanks for Reading! 

Should Item Dances be done away with?

Recently, we saw many actresses and producers including Karan Johar who came forward and said they would never do an item dance or even put one in movie’s produced by them. After this I started wondering what is so bad about item dances, because even yesterday me and my cousin sister had danced to a bollywood item dance song. 

My initial thought was isn’t an item dance an expression of female sexuality. However, after reading on Bollywood item dances and their lyrics, I have drastically changed my views on this. 

So what is the problem with Item dances? 

1. The lyrics of most of these songs are disgraceful and demeaning towards women. I started translating a few of popular songs and got to know how vulgar these lyrics were.

2. The very name of this dance as 'item dance' reducing the women performing to an object and objectifying her. It is almost equivalent to calling her a sex toy. 

3. Most of these songs have filthy and disgusting lyrics, however they are also certified by the censor board for viewership of all age groups.  

Another thing I came across when I started researching on this issue is that most of these songs are misplaced and seemed like an effort to include such a dance which didn’t fit the storyline in anyway.

It seemed like an effort to increase the revenues of the movie. Also another thing that surprised me is that most of these songs are performed by reputed heroines who themselves call them feminists. I find this ironical. What do you think?

Edited:

1. Also, after many viewers have started telling me that objectification is starting to happen with male actors also. I just have to say that objectification is wrong be it male or female. Human beings should be treated with respect.
2. I don't believe banning item songs are a solution. However, I don't think they're lyrics are appropriate or suitable for all age groups. Especially, since our censor board censors cuss words and gives films with cuss words an "A" certificate. But easily certifies movies with degrading item songs for a "U" certificate.