Pickyouropinion: BEST PERSON OF THE YEAR IN INDIA 2014

It is almost the end of 2014 now. Just over a week and 2014 will be bid goodbye and we will welcome 2015. A lot has happened in this year which has made this year significant and memorable one. Actors, politicians, scientists, cricketers, astronauts all have contributed equally to make this year a memorable one.

From Narendra Modi who led BJP to a sweep with majority of votes and ousted Congress to Kolkata Knight Rider’s second IPL win to Kailash Satyarthi’s noble peace prize win. Everything has made India equally proud. It will be difficult to decide who the person of the year is since everybody has contributed greatly in this year.

Last year person of the year was awarded to Arvind Kejriwal who had risen to popularity and also won people’s hearts after winning the elections in Delhi. Whether he can win it again or not is doubtful since his stint as the CM didn’t last more than 50 days and he left the citizens of this country is angst and disappointment.

In politics the name which has been reverberating in everyone’s ears throughout the year was Narendra Modi. He through his powerful speeches and his magnifying aura drew attention of all in this country. He was welcomed with majority of votes too.

In cricket too, Sachin Tendulkar retired this year and left everyone in tears and feeling of shallowness. Everyone realised that cricket will not remain the same anymore. He also launched his maiden autobiography which garnered support from all over the world making it the bestseller.

Virat Kohli who has now cemented his place in the Indian side has also won millions of hearts. He has improved a lot over the years as a batsman and now is doing equally good as a captain too. His aggression has not been liked by many but whenever he has played well, he has managed to win hearts every time.

In Bollywood, Aamir Khan contributed again with Satyameva Jayate by taking up the right issues and connecting to the people of this audience through television. His end of the year release ‘PK’ has received rave reviews.

Aamir’s acting has been appreciated a lot since he has played the role of an alien wonderfully. The movie raises a few questions of religions and our blind faith which has received equal amount of flaks.

Finally Kailash Satyarthi received the Noble Peace Prize of 2014 which has made the nation proud. He was awarded with a lot of respect. Kailash’s work on child labour and saving thousands of children from the trap of child labour made him immensely recognized. He has been working for this cause since many years.

Since there have been so many persons who have contributed equally well in their respective fields it has put us in a fix. You have to decide who truly deserves to win the ‘Person of the Year in India 2014’ award. So put in your votes in the link given below and choose your ‘Person of the Year in India 2014’.

Posted By: Karan Bhatt, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

ATAL BIHARI & MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA TO BE AWARDED ‘BHARAT RATNA’-A HISTORIC MOMENT

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya will be conferred the nation's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. This was announced on the eve of Vajpayee's 90th birthday and Malaviya's 153rd birth anniversary.

The announcement coincides with Vajpayee's birthday on December 25 which the government has already declared as the 'Good Governance Day'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP members, including LK Advani, will be present when the Bharat Ratna is presented to Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi as he won't be able to attend a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan due to ill health, a government official said.

The date for this hasn't been decided. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi also received the award at his home, in Pune, in 2009. However Modi moved the Bharat Ratna proposal to President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday evening.

The government had decided a while ago to give the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee, said the official cited above. "It was only looking for a fitting occasion and what better than his 90th birthday," the person said.

He said the government was also keen to bestow the honour upon Malaviya as he was considered a Hindu nationalist besides being founder of the Banaras Hindu University in Modi's constituency, Varanasi.

"Malaviya's grandson, Giridhar Malaviya, was a proposer of Modi when he filed nomination papers from Varanasi," the official said. A Bharat Ratna for Malaviya, who was Congress president in 1909 and 1918, also serves to show that the award is not dictated by political affiliation.

PM Modi tweeted: "Atal ji means so much to everyone.A guide, inspiration & giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya is remembered as a phenomenal scholar &freedom fighter who lit the spark of national consciousness among people. Country's highest honour to these illustrious stalwarts is a fitting recognition of their service to the Nation."

LK Advani of BJP said, “AB Vajpayee truly deserves the award as he had a blemish free tenure as PM.” Several other BJP leaders also expressed their pleasure on the development on social media.

The government steered clear of criticizing the previous UPA government for not bestowing the honour on Vajpayee. "The time and occasion is correct for the Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee and Madan Malaviya".

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna since its inception, including scientist CV Raman, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, singer Lata Mangeshkar and politicians C Rajagopalachari.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

PM NARENDRA MODI-ASIAN OF THE YEAR 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been named "Asian of the Year 2014" for being a "development-focused" leader who also fashioned an impressive victory for his Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the year's national elections.Under his leadership the nation also picked up the growth baton from China.

Despite being relatively new to the job, Modi had already made a mark on Asia, reaching out to neighbors and receiving national leaders including Xi Jinping of China and Tony Abbott of Australia.He also has had a highly successful visit to Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In January, he will receive President Barack Obama of the US, the first time that a US leader will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations of India.

Terming Modi, 64, as the first Indian premier to be born after the nation's independence, the paper said its editors picked him for a host of factors, notably his campaigns such as "Toilets before Temples" and "Make in India" that have energized India socially and politically.

If his "Make in India" campaign is pursued with friendlier investment climate and less rigid labour norms, it could fire the growth of this $2 trillion economy and the region at large, especially when China as number one is slowing and Japan as number two is in recession.

Also given its huge market, the travelers who fill up hotel rooms and cruise ships from Singapore to Sydney, its hunger for capital goods and commodities, a resurgent India will be a boon for the region and the world.

In the six months he has been in office, the country’s key stock index has treaded record highs. Investors are beginning to return to India. If a single person is responsible for this, it is Modi.

As much for Modi's performance as a growth-focused provincial administrator as for the promise of what is to come for India under his leadership, The Straits Times declares Prime Minister Narendra Modi Asian of the Year for 2014.

The editors also noted with satisfaction Modi's priority to build ties in India's much neglected immediate neighborhood, while promising at the Asean summit in Myanmar last month a new era of partnership to translate India's "Look East" policy into an "Act East" policy.

It was also said it was cognizant of the criticism and concern that has been voiced about Modi's handling of the communal violence that took place in Gujarat in his first months as chief minister. Also that Gujarat, under Modi, has had a healthy period of communal peace since, and adding his development focus, the emphasis on cleanliness and the protection of women are helping the vast nation focus on a better life and equal opportunities for all its citizens.

Editor Warren Fernandez said when President Xi and Prime Minister Abe were last year named joint winners; it was in recognition that they will be committed to fulfilling their national aspirations. At the same time, the award came with the call to both leaders to work together to lower tensions between their two nations and to consider a summit meeting and then the two finally shook hands and sat down together in November.

For the same reason,the award to Modi is as much a recognition of his record as a strong administrator who has propelled his home state, Gujarat, to global attention, as for the promise of re-energising larger India.

Modi has got India and the world excited about his country's prospects again.

He has given the people of India a renewed sense of direction and purpose, and there are hopeful signs that he is minded to using his strong mandate to good effect in one of Asia's major powers.

Posted By: Shreya Saraf, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

BLACK MONEY: AN OVERCOOKED ISSUE IN INDIA

Time and again politicians have come to the podium before and after elections and raised this overcooked issue.

The issue of bringing back black money to India and give it to the poor people. It is not a new phenomenon for politicians to use this issue in order to give mileage to their political prominence.

 

Black money has always been a point of debate everywhere. Swiss bank account holders from India wanting to avoid taxes hold their account in Switzerland.

The amount culminates to more than thousand crores. It is actually surprising that how it can take so long to penalize people who have been evading tax regularly. It doesn’t take very long when a common middle class man tries to evade tax and the IT department nails them within no time.

So it is only unfortunate and worrisome that powerful and rich people in this country can get away from anything. They can commit all sorts of crimes and still not get penalized for it.

The Modi government had been chosen into power with a strong mandate and full majority. They had a list of promises to make to the people of this country, which included bringing back all black money.

Now that the BJP government has managed to get the list of all black money holders in Swiss bank account and submitted to the Supreme Court, all Indians remain hopeful for a change which is waited to be welcomed for more than twenty years now. Government after government have come to power and played with the emotions of people, providing no results.

The SIT has been handed over the list of all the people who hold Swiss bank accounts. However the three names which have been revealed so far are Pradip Burman, director of the Dabur group, Pankaj Chimanlal Lodya, Rajkot based Bullion trader and Radha S. Timblo a Goa based miner and owner of Timblo Pvt. Ltd. Further investigations needs to be carried out and the SIT has been given a deadline of March 2015 by the Supreme Court to wind up this entire case.

We, the common middle class Indian, which comprises of the majority of population, can just switch channels and follow this story and hope for a change to come. A change, which has been due for long. We can only do our part and be less corrupt.

Value the money which we have and spend sensibly. At the end of it, all we can hope for is that we are not fooled again. The common man clings to this hope provided and will cling on to it for the rest of his life.

Posted By: Karan Bhatt, Campus brand ambassador Intern at: http://pickyouropinion.com

Biased media follows gender stereotypes

With such development in technology, people in this golden age depend on media to a great extent. It not only influences an individual's thoughts but have its effect on global society.

If we have a closer look at our society we find that those days are not long gone and no doubt, there is still oppression present for women by men and these men in power subsequently control the means i.e., media. A precise look at T.V. shows, children's toys and advertisements reveal that they marginalize and objectify women as merely being involved in household, incapable of competing and deceitful. Media also enrolls in it, how an ideal women should look like, through its adverts it creates a mold, which may be a women with extensively slim figure, and one who doesn't fit into it is forced to adjust one's appearance.

In 1995, T.V. Shows like, FRIENDS were broadcasted in Fiji, and study reveals that in merely 3 years from then over 11.9% of women were over the toilet bowl and bulimia, all because they wanted to look like those thin figured characters, it was not a choice for them but an only option. Also today, when half of the time child is awake he's introduced to the social world through media, it is high time to critically keep an eye on the depiction of gender in media. Media has its freedom and it is wrong to control free speech by any means, and in a country like ours where media has the freedom to produce anything without even the interference of government, we can't do anything except to censor what is being published.

"In mainstream media, stereotyping is a standard way of characterizing people." Though there are leading women but in media they are shown in a more bitter way than the male. For example, in BREAKING BAD, a woman's adulterous affair is shown to be bad and immoral whereas her husband being a drug dealer wins sympathy as he's working for his family.

Similarly while walking through a children's toy store we find in the boys' section full of superhero figures, while in the girls' section we see kitchen sets, odd-shaped barbies.

Moreover, the boys' toys are made more complicated and for girls' they are simply painted pink, just to show that boys are intellectually stronger than their counterparts, which is yet another stereotype that media follows. Also in comic books, which is a source of entertainment and is accessible to most of the public, we mostly have male superheroes if by chance we strike one or two lady figures their pictorial representation is done in such a way that they are shown sexually being over girly (over curves), same is the case with barbies.

This female inferiority becomes a source of cultural understanding for those who believe only on media for their connection to outside world and they find it absolutely right.

Possible solutions for it can be- firstly, a male should be from very childhood be educated about respecting women and that they are not someone who need to submit always. Next, workshops should be held in order to educate children maybe in fourth or fifth grade about puberty, color, different sexual orientations and sex, so they do not abide by wrong means and treat each other in a wrong way. Next, women need to unify to speak out about them being suppressed by the media representatives, social media can play a good role to fight back.

The media by whosoever it is controlled, brings out a figure of women as being weak, a commodity, an incompetent one. Media is setting an unacceptable appearance for women. It is also leading to the acceptability of women being inferior. Accurate positioning of women, women fighting back, and proper education may combat the following of gender stereotypes by media.

Posted By: Shivani Dalakoti, brand ambassador "MY VOTE FOR a BETTER INDIA" social initiative by "Pickyouropinion.com".

IMPORTANCE OF THOUGHTFUL VOTING

India is the world's largest democracy with current population of about 1.21 billion. The success of democracy and formation of responsible government is directly dependent on the voting power of the citizens. Elections form the bedrock of India. Since Independence, as many as 15 Lok Sabha's have been formed through elections, the first one being held in 1951-52. This time they are starting from 7 April 2014. The methodology of election is through universal adult suffrage, whereby every citizen of India over 18 years of age is an eligible voter in the eyes of the Constitution. But the question arises that are we voting? Are we utilizing this power at its best?

Voting is the best way to get one's opinions heard, as it allows one to select the candidate who best represents their views. Voting also helps democracy to prevail and if people didn't vote they would be ruled by someone who wouldn't necessarily represent them or have the country's interests at heart. So the need of the hour is not just vote but do thoughtful voting. Every individual can make a difference. The reason to vote cannot be over stated. One man one vote says a lot. It puts each person on equal footing. A vote from a rich person has the same power as a poor person. Young people have the same right to be heard as their elders.

In some cases nowadays people hesitated to vote. While others just vote because their family or friends have pleaded them in order to make their close ones win. In this year’s elections we need to change this scenario.  When a person does not vote, or votes without thinking then that individual citizen does not participate with the electoral process. What would happen if no one voted? Our democracy would end! Voting gives you the right and voice, to have the say, who will be the next most powerful leader in the world. It is the single most effective way to make your voice be heard. If you are not using this opportunity judiciously, you give away your right to influence the government overall.

Have we become a nation of low information voters whose knowledge is largely limited to media sound-bites and newspaper headlines? It must be every citizen's responsibility to determine if a candidate has kept his/her promises through knowledge of past performance. A question every voter must ask as he/she participates in this election: "Is this leader worth my vote?"

It can't be denied that the recent democratic experience in India has not been encouraging. For the past several years, India has been struggling with rampant corruption, unsure economy, and unclear foreign policy. Election after election has seen ineffective governments come to power that have done more harm than good. Therefore, we need to take a stand now. It is our duty as responsible citizens of India to make informed decisions and choose the best candidate from those presented. 

The success and failure of our state and nation lies in our hands, our responsibility is to investigate and elect representatives who are patriots, men and women who are willing to jealously guard the Constitution and who will continually put country over personal gain.

Posted By: Anam, brand ambassador "MY VOTE FOR a BETTER INDIA" social initiative by "Pickyouropinion.com".