Darjeeling and International Women's Day

Today is the 8th of March and is International Women's Day. Today we celebrate the power and the glory of women and make them feel like queens. A lot of us are busy preparing for dinners and speeches to be held during the day. Racking our brains in order to find the most beautiful and politically apt word to describe women. Well, just for today. Tomorrow, we are back, treating them like dirt and doormats...

Darjeeling is no different when it comes to women you would say. But there is something different here, in this place. Although I cannot say that we treat our women in the best manner possible, I still feel there is a lot of respect for our women folks in this town. We are more liberal with our wives and out daughters compared to the rest of India I would feel. In Darjeeling, there is no difference between a boy or a girl and we celebrate the birth of a daughter with as much gusto as that of a son. A lot of parents have even started believing that a daughter is more valuable than a son these days! What with guys getting into alcohol and substance abuse...

There are instances of wife beating and there is also a "Women's Cell" under the Darjeeling Police in order to serve and protect women. But these are much less compared to the rest of India. We dont burn women for dowry and neither do we believe in killing a baby girl in the womb. Daughter and sisters are encouraged to go to college and work towards a career. Perhaps the change lies in the education in the Darjeeling Hills. There are a lot of co-educational institutions here and boys are exposed to girls at an early age. We never treated our girl friends in college with disrespect and it has never occurred to me or my friends to treat girls or women any other way.

Some of my best friends are women whom I've known ever since my higher secondary days and the love of my life are my wife, my daughter, my sister and my mother! Ofcourse, I love my son too, but he's turning out to be such a brat...

Plastic Bag Ban in Darjeeling

Well, the dream finally becomes a reality today! As of this morning, the ban on use of poly bags in Darjeeling has started. It is being initiatied by the Darjeeling Police along with the Darjeeling Municipality and concerned local citizens such as yours truely.

A lot of discussions have been held in the past as to whether a ban is the best solution. People have felt that a voluntary process whereby people would stop using plastic bags themselves could work. But its been tried and tested for the last 10 years without any success. I know plastic bags are bad and are choking my drains causing landslides and slips, but have I stopped using plastic bags? No. Therefore I feel it is necessary for the police and the municipality to use a "stick and carrot" policy in order to save Darjeeling from doom.

People ask me, what about the monsoons, then what do we do? How do we carry our goods? I say to them, what did we do back in the good old days? I still remember going shopping with mom with a jute carry bag and paper being used to wrap everything else. We've just beeen spoilt for choices in Darjeeling and everywhere in India. What the West is giving up as harmful after so many years the 3rd world is lapping it up eagerly.

Anyways, the more people you ask for opinions, the more it gets complicated. I feel the Superintendent of Darjeeling Police, Mr. Rajesh Subarno has done the right thing by initiating the ban and thanks to the Darjeeling Municipality it is being implemented seriously. Lets give this process a chance and not harp on too many development theories as to what will work and what wont. After all Singapore did not become a litter and chewing gum free country without fines and punishment beinig imposed. So chill and use paper bags instead. The mantra is Reduce, Recycle and Reuse...