A LAB JOURNAL OF THE PG STUDENTS OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION COMMUNIQUE CONCERN, COMPASSION, CONSCIENCE

VOLUME -11; | ISSUE - 02 | ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS) | AUGUST 2019 The world is sick, needs treatment fast! Deepitha Menon countries give women the same entirely reversed, so that people are estimates that some $26.2 billion is rights to land ownership; just 60 spared a grisly fate. needed by 2020: the 2018 amount BENGALURU: The world, as percent give women equal access available for the AIDS response we know it, is changing fast. And to financial services. And the gap 4. Poverty was approximately $7.2 billion almost everyone who is anyone is even greater for women in rural he 2019 global short of that figure.” acknowledges it in some way or the areas, women with disabilities, Multidimensional Poverty A day earlier, another news other. Be it new technology making indigenous women and older TIndex (MPI) from the UN report on the same site claimed: daily life easier to climate change women.” Development Programme (UNDP) “More than one in 10 children posing ever-increasing threats, here is a quick recap of what the United Nations (UN) — the one global body that many look up to as a beacon of hope — is saying Nation runneth on the hot-button topics, including its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable dry: Too many Development. people, very little 1. Population N Secretary-General water António Guterres said on (...continued in page 3 UJuly 11, World Population Day, that unlock opportunities for those left behind and help pave the way for sustainable, equitable and inclusive development for all.” This was part of the UN’s plan to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — tangible achievements that the UN puts forward from time to time to ensure that development reaches every corner of the world. Guterres said on the occasion: “For many of the world’s least Two-Third of India’s population lives in poverty Creative Commons developed countries, the challenges to sustainable development are 3. Climate change showed on July 11 that 1.3 billion — almost 20 million worldwide compounded by rapid population n International Labour people are “multidimensionally — failed to receive potentially growth as well as vulnerability to Organisation (ILO) poor” in 31 low-income, 68 middle- lifesaving vaccines in 2018.” climate change.” Areport released on July 3 income and two high-income It said: “According to a joint study He added: “Other countries suggested that heat stress at work countries. by the World Health Organisation are facing the challenge of ageing could cost the global economy The report pinpointed Sub- (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund populations, including the need around $2.4 trillion a year. Saharan Africa and South Asia as (UNICEF), 10 countries accounted to promote healthy active ageing The report, titled Working On A the homes of the largest number of for 11.7 of the 19.4 million under and to provide adequate social Warmer Planet, assumed that the poor people in the world — around and non-vaccinated youngsters in Are India’s protection.” global temperature would rise only 84.5 percent. the world, in particular Nigeria (3 minority He also said: “While managing 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of Meanwhile, an ILO report million), India (2.6 million) and these population trends, we must the current century. published on July 4 said data Pakistan (1.4 million).” communities also recognise the relationship “The impact of heat stress on gathered from 189 countries shows between population, development labour productivity is a serious roughly 300 million workers 6. Hunger vanishing ? and individual well-being.” consequence of climate change, earn around $7,500 per month. n July 15, another UN (...continued in page 5) which adds to other adverse In contrast, almost half of the report said: “After nearly 2. Gender-based violence and impacts such as changing rain world’s workers — around 1.6 Oa decade of progress, the problems patterns, raising sea levels and loss billion people — make just $200 a number of people who suffer from n July 16, Guterres of biodiversity,” said Catherine month, and the bottom 10 percent’s hunger has slowly increased over highlighted the dangers Saget, Chief of Unit in the ILO’s monthly earnings amount to just the past three years, with about Ofaced by women and girls Research department and one of the $22. one in every nine people globally across the world, saying that they lead authors of the aforementioned “They will need to work for 28 suffering from hunger today.” “still face enormous challenges to report. years to earn the same as the top 10 According to the UN’s State their health, well-being and human Then, the United Nations per cent does in a single month,” of Food Security and Nutrition rights.” High-Level Political Forum on said ILO economist Roger Gomis. in the World 2019, around 820 He said: “Violence against Sustainable Development (HLPF) million people across the world, women and girls affects one-in- in New York was on July 12 told 5. Health or almost 10 percent of the global three women worldwide.” He by the head of China’s Xiamen hroughout June and July, the population, were suffering from added that the number is higher Airlines, Zhao Dong, that the cause UN spoke on at least two big hunger, which is a far cry from the during conflicts and emergencies. of climate change is “[carbon] Thealth and disease problems world envisioned in the UN’s Zero Gadget-friendly A day earlier, the UN General emissions accumulated throughout across the world. Hunger SDG. Assembly (UNGA) President history,” and that developing On July 16, a UNAIDS report It said: “Income inequality children María Fernanda Espinosa said countries should not be punished showed that the global resources increases the likelihood of severe the world had no hope for global for this. dedicated to fight the spread of HIV food insecurity, and this effect is increase development if women’s problems He added that countries infections and AIDS outbreaks had 20 per cent higher for low-income were not addressed. designated as heavy emitters of declined by around 1 billion in the countries compared with middle- generation gap Espinosa, only the fourth carbon should “take on greater year leading up to that point. income countries.” (...continued in page 10) woman president in UNGA’s responsibility” to ensure that According to a report in the UN’s Thus, a lot has to be done. This history, said: “Just 42 percent of climate change is halted, if not official news website: “UNAIDS issue focuses on those actions. 02 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Activists face an uphill fight against human trafficking Sandya Sudhakaran recruited, transported, transferred different backgrounds. Their reason or harboured by means of threat, to be indulge in something might be BENGALURU: “My first time coercion, abduction, deception something completely out of their witnessing a transaction of a girl, or payments for the purpose of control.” no older than 14, in a brothel in exploitation in the form of sexual He explained how individuals Mumbai found me my life purpose. I witness first hand on a daily basis work, forced labour, slavery and vary according to their respective I decided at that moment that I will more. living conditions and spoke about always do everything in my power the sheer grit of many survivors She said, “The 3 most common the need of the hour that is to be to help those who are living in the types of human trafficking are incorporated while counseling bondage of human trafficking. It’s of who choose daily to overcome sex trafficking, forced labor, and drug abuse victims. He stated, been four years since and I’m still debt bondage. Forced labor, also “Everyone has a good side to them at it,” said Anugraha Goerge. the severe trauma of what has known as involuntary servitude, is irrespective of their involvement in George, a Housing and Economic the biggest sector of trafficking in certain activities. Since everyone Empowerment Specialist at Mosaic “been done to them. They are the most the world, according to the U.S. has a different background, mere Family Services in Dallas, Texas Department of State. Debt bondage posters and awareness classes will spoke to the Communique in resilient, strong, and unstoppable people is another form of human trafficking not make a change. We have to accordance with World Day against in which an individual is forced study the behaviour and past of Trafficking Persons, in the month I have ever met. They have taught me to work in order to pay a debt. those people and approach them of July. Sex trafficking disproportionately accordingly.” Mosaic Family Services is one that no amount of evil done to them can affects women and children and Anugraha George and among several other social service involves forced participation in Mohammed Harris are among organisations across the world hold back the indomitable spirit in them. commercial sex acts. countless other activists who working towards human welfare. George also elaborated on are involved in challenging yet While such institutions are at work, So, I’ll never stop fight for them.” the numbers released by The passionate programs that cater to they are headed and managed by a International Labor Organization abuse victims of different kinds. team of trained professionals such as — Anugraha George estimates that forced labor and George and Harris are hopeful for Anugraha George and Mohammed human trafficking is a $150 billion change and envision positivity for Harris. They are indeed a part of the industry worldwide. Mohammed persons who are largely indulging fraternity working to better lives Haris, is another activist against in dark acts. for many who are not quite living a who spoke to the Communique, George stated, “Although life they should be. in connection with drug abuse and addressing the issue at hand is George’s first encounter of a profit with only one transaction. As done to them can hold back the related activities. Harris spoke in daunting, I have hope. Countless transaction in a brothel, in 2015, long as there is demand, the supply indomitable spirit in them. So, I’ll the light of World Day Against NGOs, government agencies influenced her to be of help and will be created.” never stop fight for them.” Trafficking of Persons. throughout the globe are working to guide individuals out of vicious She elaborated on the conditions Mosaic Family Services He said, “Before we ridicule tirelessly to bring awareness to acts like trafficking. The scene that create vulnerability that provides transitional housing for a person according to practices the issue, to rescue, restore, and of somewhat a ‘lifeless’ looking making it easier for traffickers to survivors for a minimum of six they were involved in, we should reintegrate survivors who have 14-year-old sitting on a chair with recruit their victims. They are – months. They connect survivors understand that people come from fallen victims to this in our society.” every inch of dignity stripped poverty, fractured families, gender with their educational partners like off, took a toll on George. The inequality, and lack of education the local community college, or incident led her to be passionate among many others. local vocational training centres about working as an empowerment George commented, “I witness where the survivors could pursue to specialist. first hand on a daily basis the get a degree or a certification. The She said, “Unfortunately, human sheer grit of many survivors of organisation also helps connect trafficking has been projected to be who choose daily to overcome the them with jobs, weekly classes on a growing industry as traffickers severe trauma of what has been healthy living skills, job readiness, have figured it out to be a very stable done to them. They are the most financial literacy, and parenting. source of income. Humans can be resilient, strong, and unstoppable “Usually survivors choose not to sold over and over unlike drugs or people I have ever met. They have go back to their families and decide weapons as traffickers can make taught me that no amount of evil to start their life over. We help with relocation too,” said Anugraha. The organisation as a whole Facts provide wraparound services including legal services, counseling, • Trafficking is transporting someone into a situation of case management, emergency exploitation, it includes forced labour, marriage, prostitution shelter, transitional housing and and organ removal. economic empowerment. Although serving survivors of human • An estimated 20 million to 40 million people live in ‘modern trafficking is their main focus, they slavery.’ also help refugees and survivors of • Only about 0.04 percent of survivors are identified, a vast domestic violence. majority of cases go undetected. George explained what makes up • Traffickers make about $150 billion a year of which $99 trafficking—the act (what is done), billion comes from sexual exploitation. the means (how it is done) and the purpose (why it is done). People are US’s 3P paradigm to tackle human trafficking Wiki Commons

Myths versus the reality of human trafficking Administration of Children and Families 03 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Nation runneth dry: Too many people, very little water

21 Indian cities are expected to run out of groundwater by 2020 – including Chennai, Delhi, Benguluru, Hyderabad - affecting 100 million people; it is estimated that 40 percent of India’s population will have no access to drinking water by 2030. Has India waited a little too much to take action?

Chennai’s crisis: How a basic necessity turned into a luxury Reean Michael and banners decorating it. metropolitan cities of the country till reclaimed water bodies are largely addition, rampant disposal of a couple of decades ago. Following to blame. sewage waste and garbage inside Bengaluru : “Vantharai How did Chennai lose its water ? the age-old water conservation All three rivers and the canals, rivers and lakes in the city vazhavaikum chennai” as Chennai tradition of Tamil Nadu, Chennai Buckingham Canal are dry today over the years has worsened the is known which translates into ‘the Chennai and its outskirts had had nearly two dozen water bodies except for a few patches here problem. city that helps all who come here to more than 6,000 water bodies in the including three rivers and a British and there. Same is the case with It’s not all man-made, however, thrive’ is now India’s first city to run form of lakes and ponds, of which period Buckingham canal. Today, it wetlands. Reports say that wetlands with the monsoon getting delayed, out of water. Chennai had nearly only 3,896 now remain. In the city is reduced to half a dozen. such as Pallikaranai Marsh, and making the crisis worse. The two dozen water bodies including itself, around 150 such water bodies A study by the Anna University Pulicat Lake, Kattupalli Island, city has not seen rains for 200 three rivers and the Buckingham have disappeared. has found that Chennai has lost Madhavaram and Manali Jheels days at a stretch and, according to canal built during the British Raj Three rivers - the Cooum, the 33 per cent of its wetlands in and the Adyar Estuary Creek have reports, monsoon is not expected but now, it is reduced to half of Adyar, and the Kosasthalaiyar - the last one decade. During the been encroached upon to expand to bless the city for another three what it once had. The city now is flow through Chennai into the Bay same period, Chennai lost 24 per urban settlements. months. further alarmed after the central of Bengal. The Buckingham canal cent agricultural land, crucial for Successive governments, the The residents are dependent on water commission in a report stated connects all the three rivers. improving groundwater table. report states, have gone on to build the government’s tanker to provide that Tamil Nadu will face a rainfall North Chennai gets its water from The Centre for Climate Change highways, residential complexes them water for their daily purposes. deficit of 41 per cent till July this Sometimes they have to wait for year. two to three days, and in queue for The situation of Chennai has hours. However wealthy people become pitiful as the major manage to buy these tanks for a population is dependent on water higher price tankers and municipal supply for Chennai’s metro system has daily requirements of drinking stopped using air conditioning at water. The condition is worrying as its stations. Public toilets in places people have very scarce water even such as malls have also reportedly for daily needs like bathing and stopped functioning. sanitation. Bottle water prices are The policy of compulsorily at all time high and are selling at a installing rainwater structures in cost four times the normal price. If every building is helping the city preventive and sustainable actions cope with the crisis to an extent. are not taken for the future, experts The state government announced believe the situation will worsen a 220-km train that would run from every year and could result is water Jolarpettai to Chennai carrying becoming a luxury that only riches water every day. It will cost the Rivers run dry in several parts of the country can afford. IT sector companies Gourav Bhonsle government Rs 65 crore per day, . have asked employees to work reservoirs in Thamaraipakkam that conducted the study blamed and roads by converting water The government has also from home. Several restaurants and Minjur desalination plant. road construction - highways and bodies and one such construction reportedly issued an order to take up have shut down operations. The South Chennai gets its water from flyovers, airports and high-rises was done on the Nungambakkam traditional water body restoration city once known for its walls filled Veeranam lake and Nemmeli for depleting water resources lake during the 1970s to build a scheme and has allotted Rs 212 with colorful posters now has seawater desalination plant. in Chennai. These development monument called Valluvar Kottam crore for digging deep borewells, ‘don’t waste water’ bills, stickers Chennai used to be water-surplus projects were undertaken on dedicated to Thiruvalluvar. In according to reports. Residents believe Bengaluru, too, will feel the crunch soon Sudeshna Chakravarti 1990s attracting top firms such as the Communique on the looming the changing conditions of the city houses do not have piped water. Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Google. water crisis. He stated, “I have she has witnessed since after her Instead they rely on an army of engaluru popularly called Years of rapid urbanisation, a been staying in Bangalore for 14 arrival here. “my area changed privately-run tankers that draw the Silicon Valley, hub of swelling population and poor water years now. I have witnessed this gradually. The Whitefield area now water from wells which are being BIT industries, and multi- management systems have led catastrophic change in weather as has fewer trees, and more concrete. rapidly dug to ever deeper levels, variant start-up companies, is home to drying taps and falling ground well as its growth. Disproportionate Bangalore in general receives less inside and outside the city and to migrants who have settled in the water levels and filth-frothed lakes growth of people has led to severe rainfall. All of this in turn leads to deliver it to homes. city for job opportunities. The city that can burst into flames anytime. water shortage. Even drinking lesser water supply. My housing “In my apartment, a water tanker once also called the ‘garden-city,’ “Bangalore has transformed water is becoming expensive day society tries various conservation comes to fill water for 12 families also once known for its pleasant from being the city of lakes to the by day,” methods but it is never enough..” in the morning. The day the tanker climatic conditions throughout, is city of concrete. All the lakes are Sudipta, a software engineer at Mu While the sprawling city soars comes in late, all of us are late to now arrayed with tall buildings, now consumed by buildings and Sigma Business Solutions aid about with job opportunities, most of the our offices, and schools. So water tech parks, and high-end apartment. tech parks,” said Chandra Shekhar scarcity is something that actually Overpopulation has led to Raj, a retired engineer. Raj added, affects my family and our daily change and upgrade in living “My family started its business in routines almost every day”, said and working conditions. It has Bangalore and we migrated to this Padmaja who works in Microsoft. caused temperature to soar in city around 1990s. I have seen the Yudhaveer, a theatre artist, said, this one ‘cool’ city, due to traffic, IT hub change drastically.” “Even as the city struggles to pollution and several other issues. Raj reminisced about how this quench its thirst, high-towered The effects are seen as scarcity in Southern Indian city once brimmed residential condominiums and rainfall ultimately causing water with pristine lakes and lush gardens glass- and- steel office blocks sources to dry up and other issues. is now facing acute water shortage. sprout to accommodate an inflow The city is paying a hefty price It has started to affect most regions of migrants.” as a result of overpopulation with in the city, several times a week. An online report on the on-going Bengaluru now facing crisis due , He said, “Nowadays I have to water shortage in Bengaluru states to the depletion life sustaining depend on a tanker truck to deliver that the city authorities did not resource. The rise in numbers of water at my home and there is no prepare themselves well to go at people who have come in search of guarantee as to when the truck par with the speed of the city’s tech jobs and who hare residents have reaches my house.” boom and as such doesn’t have an increased, because of marketing Siddesh, an employee at a adequate plan for the city’s growing Water is now a luxury for many itself as a tech hub since the late private firm in Sarjapur, spoke to Creative commons water needs. 04 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Anything but water, cries Assam Gorima Basumatary Disaster Response Force (NDRF) driver in Lakhimpur whose house and the State Disaster Response just like many others’ house was BENGALURU: “I have left Force (SDRF) are working full submerged by the monsoon rains. everything and now only hope to time in the flood-affected areas, “If it is possible I shall find work find a better place to live, it is very The waters of Brahmaputra also here in Guwahati itself and settle difficult to migrate from one place. affected the Kaziranga, Manas permanently. It would be better I hope in my new home I will be National parks and Pobitora for both of my children and my safe. I am trying to go someplace wildlife sanctuary which made the wife.” Many other flood affected where the rain does not effect and situation worse for the animals who victims has the same things to destroy my home again,” Sonaram succumbed to higher lands. say. Assam has seen many floods Kalita says. Displacement of people due to before however nothing much has He is not the only one who holds these floods is a serious problem been done by the state government such views. While a part of the which shall stand as a major to avoid such disasters. Floods in country struggles with water crisis setback to the economy of Assam Assam is only getting worse every another would do anything to run in the near future. year affecting millions of peoples. away from it. Every year due to the Residents of the flood affected Purno Deka a flood affected monsoon rains millions of people areas explain how tragic it is for victim last year who has moved to are misplaced and left without them to leave their homes and guwahati said, “it is impossible to homes. The only solution according search for safer location to refuge stay there where you know there to the victims is to find a better for a temporary amount of time. is going to be flood if there is any place which in their opinion is the Most of the flood affected residents extra amount of rains. You work urban life. They seek to migrate to depend on their fields and crops hard and lose your home to the cities where there is lesser loss of which has been lost to the flood floods. What is the point?” Purno lives, homes and livelihoods. along with countless number of came to Guwahati last year with The monsoon rains that hit the cattle. The sole income of those his wife and Mother. “Floods affect state of Assam a few days back has led to serious floods all over the State which has displaced Flood in front of United Bank of India, Dibrugarh Branch thousands and killed approximately during the 2015 Assam floods ten people. The state of Assam gets Arunabh flood every monsoon and each year it only gets worse. This year the Assam floods have managed to displace more Rivers in Assam flowing than 14 lakh people in 25 districts of the state including Dhemaji, at dangerous levels Lakhimpur, Barpeta, Morigaon, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Assam submerged Pradip Nemane 1. Brahmaputra at Nimatighat in Goalpara, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Dhubri. Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and residents has been cut, pushing Guwahati also but not as bad as it Tinsukia, according to the daily them and their families to poverty. affects Barpeta.” 2. Disang at Nangamuraghat in flood report of the Assam State Most of the refugees seek to These are not the first times that Disaster Management Authority migrate and settle to better places victims have come to the cities or Sivasagar. (ASDMA). The ASDMA also or villages which are not seriously towns in search of better and more reports of running 234 relief camps affected by the monsoon rains. stable livelihood. Victims feel 3. Jia Bharali at N.T. Road crossing and 562 distribution centers in more Their only hope is to get better lives helpless as there is nothing that than 20 districts which has more for themselves and their families they can do to control the floods, Santipur. than 20,000 refugees. According where they do not have to worry their only choice is to look for 4. Puthimari at NH Road crossing in to the report 2,168 villages are about being displaced from their better places to settle. under water and more than 50,000 own lands. However to find new However it is not easy, problems Kamrup hectares of crop area has been lost land and to settle there is no easy like finding shelter, a source of to the flood. The Army is helping task. income and education for their 5. Beki at Road Briidge in Barpeta in rescue operations, the Border “If my brother was not here children. The donations collected Security Force (BSF) has been we don’t know where we would by different NGO’s to help the 6. Kushiara in Karimganj. called in for assistance in the border go,” Bhupen Das a flood affected flood victims has managed to help districts. Teams of the National resident said. Bhupen is an auto only half of the victims.

How to make contributions for Assam flood victims ? Direct transfer : Flood Statistics Account Holder’s name : Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Assam - 30 of 33 districts in Assams were Bank : State Bank of India (SBI) submerged in floods AC No: 35969660230 (SBI) - Estimated 42.87 lakh people in 4157 IFSC: SBIN0010755 villages have been impacted by the floods - 1,53,211 hectares of farm land have been PAN: AAATC4667K destroyed Paytm: - 90 percent of the Kaziranaga National Contribute at : https://paytm.com/helpinghand/assam-chief-minister-s-relief-fund Parik is inundated - 155 of 199 anti-poaching camps in the Google Pay: park are affected Open the app and swipe to the bottom of the screen - 70 percent of the 46 sq km area at Tap on Assam Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to donate Pobitora wildlife sanctuary is affect as well 05 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Are India’s minority communities vanishing? Vinayak Gogoi identify with their community he founded by prominent individuals numbers but not in our spirits, “he and is decreasing by the day. As said, “Look at the idea around us, who belonged to the community added. India’s population is increasing by BENGALURU: India, an according to general consensus, our such as Frank Anthony. 21 percent each decade, the Parsi amalgamation of several cultures men drink, and the women are of While some consider mixing India’s exemplary community: community decreases by 12. “The is known for its diversity. Different loose character, would you want to cultures a step towards making The Parsis need to maintain our pureblood religions, cuisines, languages, be associated with that.” the world a true global village, he history of Parsis in probably kept us from marrying traditions and philosophies make According to Gomez, the individuals like Gomez believe in the country dates back to outside and letting our community India the country it is. Amongst community’s rich history and striking a balance. T12 centuries ago when grow,” says Peroz, a member of the these varied cultures are few community currently residing in minority communities which have Bengaluru. considerably lessened in number “Our community is also an aging over the years. Anglo-Indians and community, most of its population Zoroastrians or the Parsis are two is old and the newer generation such communities who despite is relatively very few in numbers having played an important role which is startling,” he added. The in India’s history are now slowly crisis pushed the community to take disappearing. various steps such as the nationally funded “Jiyo Parsi” i.w live Parsi At crossroads: India’s Anglo- project in 2013 which encouraged Indian community births, subsidised IVF treatments We are ‘desi’ by dil and and various grants. ‘videsi’ by soul and half by “These steps taken aren’t enough, “blood of course,” says Barry the attitude needs adjustment,” Gomez, a resident of Mumbai or Peroz says. “While many found Bombay as he prefers and a proud these steps revolutionary, many Anglo-Indian. opposed it. The idea of letting go The last vestiges of the British of the pureblood status was almost Raj, the Anglo-Indian community threatening but its understandable, consists of those who are of a nothing is black and blue. Instead mixed Indian and English descent. of painting them as villains, we The community is therefore a need to understand their concerns significant part of India’s history A Parsee Wedding in India, 1905 Ravichander/ William Thomas Fee which is the dilution of our culture with its distinct past, culture and and community,” he further added. traditions. However, with numbers contribution is often forgotten. “Not against the idea of mixing they landed at the Sanjan Beach This is a conflict not only for lower than 200 families in each “Many forget that like other cultures but you shouldn’t lose the in Gujrat. The members of the the Parsi community but for other metropolitan city, the community is communities, ours too has both essence of your own. We should community have been a significant minorities as well. “There is a facing crisis, struggling to maintain the bad and the good. The good enjoy the beauty of our culture and part of the country’s history and need to strike a balance,” says its identity and culture. however had devoted their life of others and coexist celebrating continue to do so. Shashikumar, Sociologist and What is really happening to the to building the structure of this diversity, just as we celebrate Apart from their various lecturer. “Communities such as community? Gomez shared his country. People forget this, very individuality,” he said. “What contributions they are also these must go beyond their own and views, “Many marry outside the often forget this,” Barry says. I would like to tell the people known to set an example for the consider coexisting with others. It community and others just don’t The Anglo-Indian community of my community is, embrace country, for example the women is okay if your spouse is not from want to identify with us anymore. I is widely recognised for its others don’t create a we versus in the community are known your own community, teach the am not against marrying outside but contribution to the railways and them mentality either, introduce to be uniformly well educated. next generation both your cultures, teach your kids both the cultures the education sector. Many of others to our culture and introduce However the community is this is probably the best solution we why forget where you came from.” the education institutions still them well. Take pride in being an rapidly diminishing globally. Their have available to this problem,” he On asked why some didn’t want to functioning in the country were Anglo-Indian. We are decreasing in numbers are now down to 61000 said. Migrant diaspora blossoms in Garden City Kirthana S Gorima Basumatary, media student personal life, that’s a relief as I get migrants are subjected to the harsh which was part of the 2011 Census, studying at St.Joseph’s College a lot of privacy, which is hard in reality of Bengaluru. “Bangalore is was published recently and showed engaluru is the biggest (Autonomous) my small town. Bengaluru offers the first city I migrated to, moved that 46% of the total migrants example of a melting pot, Another reason why people fantastic employment opportunities here after hearing a lot of positive moved because of marriage and of Bin the local dialect a meals often end up settling in Bengaluru compared to my p1lace and the things from a few of them who have these, 97% were women. As per plate –a selection of extravagant is because of the ideal weather. nightlife is the best one can get. settled down here and it has been a the report, the total population of dishes in different bowls. Each Bengaluru’s unpredictable weather My experience at workplace is good experience. Sometimes I feel married women was 29.3 crore, tastes different, and does not makes it a perfect location to mix pleasant. There are times when I unsafe here because many localites 70% of married women and had to necessarily mix with the next, work and pleasure, this is one of go fall prey to emotional stress of tend to look at us as outsiders and it migrate to another location. but they belong together on the the main reasons people choose to missing family and loved ones, is hard for us to find home, as they Ola, a native of Nigeria who same plate, and they compliment migrate here. “My experience in but it is part and parcel of life. In tend to be skeptical. In the end good recently moved in to pursue her each other in making the meal a Bengaluru has been good so far, I fact, we celebrated Onam recently experiences win over the bad ones, Masters in Human Resource satisfying banquet. mean what’s not there to love about says she feels people are usually According to a new study called Bengaluru, the weather is amazing, intimidated by our physical ‘How to govern India’s mega cities: its neither too hot nor too cold, it is appearance and are hesitant to towards needed transformation” just perfect” said Martin Di Maria, even talk to us. “There is a general reported by the Centre for Policy migrant from Manipur working as perception of Nigerians being scam Research, New Delhi claims that a store executive at Manyata Tech artists, which makes us unreliable when it comes to the matter of Park. and has created a cloud of doubt attracting student migrants, most “Each time I hear the name always on us, I can assure you I am of them consider Bengaluru as Bengaluru I get a delightful smile. not one of the scammers.” the ideal place to pursue their Though the city has its cons with At the same time, educational education, followed by Chennai, traffic or the busy corporate life the institutions put in a lot of effort Kolkata and Hyderabad. vibe of the city has always been to build bridges between the “Bengaluru has lots to provide positive with respect to the people migrant students and the native in terms of education, jobs and and the whole atmosphere. The students by organizing cultural much more, than where I am from major difference from my native The bustling Brigade road Creative Commons events making an effort to create a (Guwahati). Quality education was and here would be the traffic and here at my workplace, which Bangalore is the best! Said Parul K conducive environment. Recently, one of the main reasons why I moved all the noise pollution, it takes me made me feel at home. People a PG resident. St. Josephs College (Autonomous) from Guwahati to Bengaluru, but at an hour to reach my workplace, here have accepted me and there Matrimony is one of the celebrated the 14th Dalai Lama’s the same time, Bengaluru also has but with friendly drivers the is no discrimination of any form main reasons cited for migration 84th birthday, which laid emphasis its issues regarding water and that is distance doesn’t matter. People and talent is valued.” said Rizwan according to a 2011 report on his preachings keeping in mind alright because I guess every place here are pretty busy with their life Rasheed, an employee from Kerala. conducted by Centre for Policy the sentiments of the respective comes with its pros and cons.” Said they do not meddle with anyone’s There are also times when Research, New Delhi. The finding, community. 06 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Rural talent loses sheen on urban stage as art weeps Deepitha Menon their performance they were left to perform on the streets, solely about the death of those whose the temple where he took up to seeking other alternatives to make relying on their voices. They made birth isn’t registered,” Ranganathan polishing brass lamps and vessels. BENGALURU: “The city is ends meet. very little so each within the group says. The troop now knew they “Why isn’t there a place for people merciless, the city men are fools, Why didn’t they just go back took up jobs and decided to come couldn’t go back, they had no face like us?” asks Ranganathan before we knew god and we tried to tell one might ask but the question is back together at the end of the day. to show the people back home. breaking down in tears. them, we found they aren’t men enough to send Ranganathan down The plan was to make some money “After the incident, within a span His story is one of many. Many they are ghouls” sings Ranganathan an emotional spiral. The troop and return to the village to start of few months the entire troop split folk artists migrate to the city in as he polishes brass outside a local worked well together until tensions over. up. Some took up construction the hope of better prospects but temple in Ulsoor. end up in a similar situation often His unkept appearance and even resorting to begging to earn makeshift stall often drives away some money. This month in a bid to customers than bring them in, preserve tribal and folk culture, the if there is anything that spikes Ministry of Culture turned to mass curiosity it is the vibrant headgear media where in it provided content that lies in a corner, what is last left worth 40,000 hours to Prasar Bharti of his past as a dancer. for broadcasting on its different Bengaluru was a city of potential channels of Doordarshan. This is for young Ranganathan and his expected to help folk artists gain troop of eight folk dancers and exposure. musicians who had arrived in the city Apart from this the ministry has seventeen years ago. Hailing from also set up seven Zonal Cultural an isolated village near Tambaram, Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters Tamil Nadu, Ranganathan and his at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, troop performed at temple events, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and festivals and functions nearby. Thanjavur to promote folk artists Most of the performances included and music in all the States. These local legends, stories from the Zones will organize various cultural Hindu epics and social message activities and provide a platform play which used both dance and for folk artists from all over India. music to build the narrative. The An Annual grant-in-aid of 5952.69 immense popularity they gained led Lakhs has been provided to all these them to start looking out for bigger seven ZCCs by the Government of and better opportunities. India to carry out these activities. “We knew there were many This move by the government other dancers like us in our state, so gives hope that folk artists will we thought why not go to another be given a chance to perform and Representational Image / Women performing Karagattam, a folk dance of Tamil Nadu Balaji one, even better to the main city. We maintain their art. When we told didn’t think twice, we were young, rose. Musicians Selvam and Mani, Just when they thought that the work while two women worked Ranganathan of the steps taken we had hope and confidence, we were the first to leave, he recollects. worst was over, Siva, aged 15, as house helps. One girl however by the government, despite being wanted an adventure” he says “Even If they weren’t familiar the youngest of the group went was the most upsetting, she found a little skeptical, he said, “I don’t reminiscing his past with a faint with the language, they could play missing. After two days he was her way to the city market and know if they will follow up on their smile. But like many who had instruments that are used here as found murdered near a slum. “I somehow joined a brothel, that is promises. Our time has long gone migrated to cities like Bengaluru well, they were hired by temples still remember that day, we were the last we heard of her,” he says. but whatever is left of our culture and Mumbai, their art was lost in its and since nothing was happening responsible for him, we were Ranganathan found himself and traditions, I am happy that they hustle and bustle of the metropolis. with us as a troop, they left, they helpless. But why would anyone doing meager jobs till he ended are trying to preserve it and give With no audience or demand for just left”. The group still managed care for us? No one in the city cares up in the makeshift shop near artists a chance.”

Recognised Folk Dances of India • Bagurumba, Bihu Dance, Bhortal Dance, Jhumur, Assam • Bardo Chham, Arunachal Pradesh • Raut Nacha, Chhattisgarh • Fugdi, Goa • Dandia Raas, Garba, Gujarat • Nati, Himachal Pradesh • Ras Leela, Haryana • Dumhal, Jammu and Kashmir • Chakyar Koothu, Kerala • Duffmuttu, Margamkali, Oppana, Padayani, Folk artists given a platform to perform at a cultural event Jayanth Vincent Theyyam, Thirayattam, Kerala • Grida dance, Maanch, Matki dance, • Phulpati dance, Madhya Pradesh • Chang Lo, Nagaland • Cheraw dance, Mizoram • Lavani Dance, Parvi Nach, Maharashtra • Bhangra, Giddha, Kikkli, Punjab • Chhau dance, Goti Pua, Baagh Naach, Dalkhai, Dhap, Gumra, Karma Naach, Keisabadi, Odisha • Garadi, Puducherry • Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Kachchhi Ghodi Rajasthan • Parai Attam, Kaaragattam, Kolattam, Mayil Attam, Paampu Attam, Oyilattam, Puliyattam, Poikal Kudirai Attam, Theru Koothu, Tamil Nadu • Hojagiri, Tripura Karagattam Headgear Creative Commons Kavadi Dancer Jayanth Vincent 07 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE / INTERVIEW AUGUST 2019 Couples choose to foster, adopt rather than give birth Steffi Thomas without kids. not having children as a favour for so. Aditi also took the opportunity Harsh further added that they the earth and an eco-friendly move. Aditi elaborated on her to comment on adoption as a means Kids are cute but they’re loved spending time with their ‘pet She said, “Consider how far you experience adopting two children, to be of help to already surviving not really eco-friendly,” a children.’ He stated, “In spending will have to spend just to get a child to the Communique. She said, “We children. She said, “Most issues “recent article read. Looking a quality time with them what we feel through kindergarten. Having a as a family were prepared in every around child labour and trafficking little further into the topic, it was for them is equivalent or probably child is a luxury that most people way for the process and thankfully stem from many children out there surprising to find several researches more if I dare say that we could shouldn’t be able to afford these the organization that helped us with having no caregivers or homes. that support population control probably feel for our biological days. Yet they fall for familial the adoption formalities made the Children are children whether they and observed a significant rise in child.” pressures or societal values.” process easier than thought. We are biological or adopted or from individuals who chose not to have According to new studies, it’s Zachry feels a dog is a dog is a loyal first brought home Sneh and then another mother.” biological off springs. said that having children is threat companion and is helpful to planet came along Aarav, four years later. The notion of not having Many individuals are receptive to mother-nature and is greatly earth in terms of sustainability. Both of them were barely a year old children to protect Earth is rather to non-societal norms of child- destructible. The Times of India Yet another aspect that has when we got them.” widely accepted as newer studies free life, even in India, although prove the deterioration of the planet perceived earlier to be a Western with rise in population. Waste cultural influence. Popular ideas disposal, global warming, running of exclusively parenting pets over out of fossil fuels and multi-variant biological children has garnered problems are reportedly a result of attention more than it did earlier on. use and misuse of resources with no With population control in mind, solutions being considered to help individuals these days willingly sustain Earth. adopt pets and care for them as The current flood situations, they would have done for their water scarcity issues and related biological kids. imbalance in climatic conditions in One such couple spoke to the different regions across the world Communique sharing their views are proof enough for us to act on parenting pets over biological wisely with regards to helping with children. Harsh and Michelle sustainability. Deora, a software developer and Sakshi Sharma, a post graduate business consultant respectively, student and martial artist hailing are parents to Labrador dogs Bow from Bangalore spoke on how it and Tie, two fish Blub and Rock, is rather selfish of us to entertain and a cat called Shell. the idea of having more biological The Deoras were part of several children. She said so in accordance animal welfare organisations and to depleting natural resources that love being parents to their pets are not sufficient to sustain already who are more like their biological existing life. This only makes it children. Michelle said,” It was more difficult for ourselves as well only natural that, we could choose as for future generations, causing to be pet parents and only so as them and us alike, to suffer. we both have our careers to focus Representational Image Creative Commons There is a need to consider on and, have dreams of doing recently carried a piece stating, gotten wide reception is adoption Manav spoke on their families’ grave actions to help curb further something more for society.” “Researchers from Lund University and foster parenting over having reactions to their decision of destruction. Striving for a better In response to being asked in Sweden found having one fewer biological children. Several couples wanting adopt children. He said, the place for ourselves and for existing about their families’ reaction to child per family can save “an in recent times have been smitten couples’ parents asked to consider living beings is certainly more than their decision, Harsh commented, average of 58.6 tonnes of CO2- by foster parenting in a bid to be of having one biological child. But a necessity, at this point. “Although Michelle’s parents equivalent emissions per year.” help to society ultimately working Aditi and Manav stuck firm to With the rise in population accepted our idea, mine took a Lillian Zachry from Bangalore towards sustaining planet earth. their decision to be parents to two being more of a problem and not while, yet they respected our is an individual opinionated on the Manav and Aditi Seshadri believe, adopted children. Although their any beneficial, trimming down decision, eventually.” He also same lines of parenting a pet over there are many children who families required much convincing, headcount per family is seemingly further added on how their pets biological children. Zachry is a post deserve love, care and attention and it was worth it all, according to the a feasible idea and it’s already made their family complete even graduate student who believes in adoption is a means to go by, to do couple. being adopted, quite convincingly.

Consider how far you will have to spend just to get a child through kindergarten. Having a “child is a luxury that most people shouldn’t be able to afford these days. Yet they fall for familial pressures or societal values. I always felt a dog would be a much more loyal companion.” - Lillian Zachary

Representational Image Creative Commons 8 COMMUNIQUE FEATURE AUGUST 2019 Gadget-friendly children increase generation gap Sonali AC emotionally invest themselves on social media platforms instead.” BENGALURU: “The generation Schools also plays a very gap now is becoming more and important role in making them more extreme. Technology and Genius. Most schools also offer specifically communication them different types of courses technology is changing so rapidly, at the very young age which that you have now have a gap that helps kids learn more than usual. mimics a difference of twenty years Schools implement various when it’s a difference of barely teaching techniques to make them five or ten years,” Chad Kuttgen, understand the concepts very American Novelist and Journalist differently from how it was thought had once stated and now it evidently years ago. \ holds true. Some schools have introduced Human evolution demands subjects that previous generations that each generation faces unique did not have, for example, drama as lifestyles, social, political, economic a part of the curriculum is relatively events and realities which in turn new which is now considered a part shapes them as individuals. The of collaborated integrated learning. skills and mechanisms developed Jeremy, a theatre artist says, “I’m in each generation is therefore Representational Image Creative Commons a believer of collaborated integrated unique to it. As time passes, we within a reach. With a phone to keep problems and their notions of When we look into the intelligence learning. We take them out of the now have the Genius Generation them connected throughout, it is a success has always been greatly quotient (IQ) of these children classroom setting, we go outside called Generation Z, who are Generation of full of Dichotomies. affected by socio-political events. there is a significant difference. the classroom probably sit under the offsprings of Generation X Their personal devices distract According to the Public Relation We can see the role of genetics, the tree giving them a very different and Millennials. They are the them from boredom and gives them Society of America, the Great socio- environmental factors, their experience which stimulates them. new ‘smart’ population who are something to do during free time, Recession taught Generation Z to respective families, the education I talk to teachers and ask them what growing up in a time of terrorism, it makes them dependent and yet it be independent and has led to an they receive and most of all the they are teaching, and I integrate under-employment and racial saves time by being effective. entrepreneurial desire, after seeing internet.” that to my drama classes. Emphasizing on this she stated, Explaining how it is done he said, “I would say that because of the “for example; I make them play a internet access in the present game called I’m a tree and through generation they have achieved their this game I teach them the different milestones much earlier. What parts of the tree. This has different somebody would do or would levels. In each level I ask them to be capable to do at the age of 10, bring in different elements that they do it at the age of five now can add to the narrative and in the and that’s mainly because of their end, there is a story. Through this I smart phones. The rate at which make them understand that they are they acquire knowledge is much studying in the class while along higher.” there also understand the concept Mahesh, Child psychiatrist, and grammar. As they grow up, we explores the generation’s adopt different teaching techniques dependency on technology further through which they have been able by saying ,“The current generation to come out of the shell.”, said spends a lot of time on the screen Jeremy, theatre artist.” and they aren’t very socially Teaching Methods like these connected. They don’t spend much give hope that there are alternative time with parents may be because ways for the genius generation to they work, and this has a impact on learn apart from technology which them because of which they haven’t has in many ways isolated them. Representational Image Creative Commons really bonded with their parents. Anupriya Walia, parent of a ‘gen z” It is a complex relationship, they says, “Its not just the schools duty, unrest. They are navigating through This new generation spikes their parents and older siblings don’t listen to their parents and as parents its our duty to help them a tougher world where social curiosity, leaving many to wonder struggle in the work. parents also cannot force them to do achieve a balance. Technology is media is the weapon of angst. They why they are the way they are. Shalini, a psychologist, shared something. In terms of knowledge, addicting but there is no excuse for are aware, savvy and constantly Genius Generation also doesn’t her views on the generation stating, technology is helping them a lot, not teaching them social skills and evolving. A 2014 study ‘Generation acknowledge the time before “Their mind is very flexible. but it is affecting their relationships exposing them to things outside Z Goes to College’ found that the arrival of internet. While They have the capacity to receive at all levels. Be it with their own what is found on the internet. In these kids self-identify as being Millennials grew up in a time of everything that you offer them. siblings, parents and even peer may ways it is the care giver’s job loyal, compassionate, thoughtful, earthquakes, World cup trophies, Kids are very receptive, and their groups. A lot of people have virtual to ensure that they become the best open-minded, responsible and college degrees and options often learning abilities are quite immense. friends and not actual friends. They of both worlds not just the virtual.” determined. They view their peer seeing life as a cafeteria from as competitive, spontaneous, where they pick and choose what adventuresome and curious; all they want. characteristics that they do not There was an inherent need to see readily in themselves and this change the world, starting with is very different to the answers the environment. But the Genius received twenty years ago. generation is different, researchers This is predominantly a note that apart from putting their technology driven generation. thoughts out on social media, they They are considered the smartest believed in an action-oriented generation and it is also called the approach to problems, they weren’t mobile- first generation that appears about the protests, they were about to live equally in the digital world the rational approach and the actual as in the real one. Smartphones, the action. Technology that marked a generation device of choice is always close and A generation’s approach to

Editors: Deepitha Menon, Vinayak Kataky Gogoi Reporters: Sandya Sudhakaran, Sudeshna Chakravarti, Steffi Thomas, Reean Michael, Kirthana S, Sonali AC, Gorima Basumatary Published by the PG Department of Communication, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), P.O. Box 27094, Lalbagh Road, Bangalore - 560 027 DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in Communique’ belong to individuals and do not in any way reflect the option of the faculty or the management Website: www.sjc.ac.in / Facebook: [email protected]