In Cyclone Nargis's Wake, Remember Orissa

Superwoman Wields Meitei Magic

My Daughter Will Not Do Sex Work

Austria's Father from Hell

How Nirmala 'Didi' Cut Through Barbed Wire

Women Battle The Bread-line

For Women, 31-23-32 Equals a Big Zero

Bankura's Punch: What They Don't Teach At B-School

What's Growing for Lunch, Ma?

Lady Tarzan of the Holiday Trek

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India
In Cyclone Nargis's Wake, Remember Orissa
Manipadma Jena

When Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 2, the 112-knot winds knocked out power and communication lines and caused widespread devastation, it was reminiscent of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck Orissa in 1999. The Myanmar authorities would now do well to learn from Orissa. Today, the Indian coastal state has village women trained to respond to natural disasters. Working under self-help groups, these local women can build houses for those left homeless, run community kitchens, organise medical relief, administer first aid and rescue drowning people. They are, in fact, geared up to face a natural disaster even before the radio warnings are aired.

"We hastened to the community health centre, requested the doctor to release sufficient paracetamol, diarrhoea medicine and ORS to the local grassroots health worker. From her we distributed these among vulnerable families."

[Photographs Available]

India
Superwoman Wields Meitei Magic
Anjulika Thingam Samom

A superwoman in the disguise of a Meitei Mulsim, Najma had to fight for access to basic education and the freedom to work for the betterment of the women in her orthodox 'pangan' community. In the face of harsh societal ostracism from her family, neighbours and the clergy, this gusty gender activist has established self help groups - that empower women, as they sell vegetables and rear cattle; built Manipur's first shelter home for destitute women in the community; and created a rice thrift fund - much like a rice kitty - for the comfort of the women. While her dedication has touched the lives of many women, she has had to fight many lonely battles. It's only now that she has been cleared of all the false accusations levied against her at a meeting that was attended by the clergy as well.

"One 'maulvi' (cleric) approached me the other day and asked me to take in his daughter into our SHG work."

[Photographs Available]

India
My Daughter Will Not Do Sex Work
Anuja Agrawal

Aruna fought tooth and nail to become a teacher, despite knowing that she could earn much better elsewhere; undaunted, Shikha, 13, wants to follow in her footsteps; Madhuri struggles to make ends meet as a cook, but will not be tempted to return to the lucrative family trade. The struggle of these three women, who now live at an ashram in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, is extraordinary, considering that they have fought against their community - the Bedias - which pushes unmarried women into sex work. For the community, prostitution of unmarried daughters is an accepted source of income and is in the interest of the entire family - an implicit recognition that marriage and working men are rare within the community.

I will work hard and remain poor but I am not going to send my daughters into this 'dhanda' (trade)."

[Photographs Available]

Austria
Austria's Father from Hell
Mehru Jaffer

When Elisabeth Fritzl "stopped obeying any rules" her father punished her for close to a quarter of a century: he locked her up in the cellar and repeatedly raped her. Tortured and abused, Elisabeth gave birth to seven children, fathered by her own father. The ghastly incident brings to light incestuous abuse, said to be a regular occurrence in Austrian families; and the presence of the patriarch, who punishes, locks up in dark rooms, and physically and psychologically hurts women and children who need to be reined in. This tyrannical approach within a family is a legacy of the Second World War and the National Socialism, when the suppression of women was propagated, feels compatriot Natasha Kampuschm, also a victim of confinement and abuse for eight years before making a miraculous escape.

"Fritzl is an extreme case but he is still the product of a society that remains largely authoritarian. In this incident, sexuality is used only as an excuse to exert power and control by a man over a woman."

How Nirmala 'Didi' Cut Through Barbed Wire
Dr Syeda Hamid

Described as a "living Gandhian", in a tribute by the Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh, eminent social worker and Member of Parliament Nirmala Deshpande, who passed away recently, was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour. A disciple of nationalist and reformer Vinoba Bhave, Deshpande had participated in the Bhoodan Movement (Land-Gift Movement) in 1952. Dedicating her life to the upliftment of the downtrodden, 'dalits' (backward class) and women, and to the cause of social harmony and secular ideals, Deshpande - who was endearingly called 'Didi' (elder sister) - will also be remembered for her efforts to bring about peace between India and Pakistan. In a first person account, Dr Syeda Hamid, Member, Planning Commission, recalls her experience of travelling with Deshpande on a bus journey to Pakistan under the Women's Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA) during the year of the Kargil war.

Nirmala gave her directive for peace with the call, 'Goli Nahin Boli' (dialogue, not bullets). This spirit pervaded all our work. Led by Nirmala, we found ourselves in General Musharraf's home in Rawalpindi... with great deference he listened to Nirmala who spoke with her usual candour and humility on the objective of our visit.

[Photographs Available]