Killing for dowry; Investing in future; Morocco: It’s time for Africa!
Opinion Watch
Killing for dowries
Two decades are behind us in the 21st century, but twin vices of the past – dowry deaths and child marriages – still define India. Political class that led India in fight against the British Rule was full of social reformers. But the chain was somehow broken after India gained Independence and the vices persisted.
During 2017-2021, 20 women were killed for dowries each day, said The Pioneer, quoting government reply in Parliament, while also mentioning Benjamin Disraeli’s statement – “There are three types of lies – lies, damn lies, and statistics”. The daily also brought in Mark Twin to add his famous quote, “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics is pliable”. As many as 35,493 women were killed during 2017-21 in India. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal and Rajasthan took the honours for highest dowry deaths.
It may not be concluded that the southern parts of the country are free from the vice, for dowries in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are well known to be astounding. Additionally, child marriages remain in practice in various parts of the country. Who is failing India? Or, who is failing women of India? Let’s offer our bouquets to tough laws enacted by Parliament, for they decorate our statue book.
Investing in future
Science has answers to most of challenges faced by humanity. Energy crisis is one such challenge. Fossil fuel powered industrial revolution but darkened the climate and lured countries into wars. Science can help make fossil fuels a past.
The Economic Times in its Editorial stated that nuclear fusion for the first time has produced more energy than that of in the usual controlled nuclear fission, while quoting from the experiment of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. It may be too early to celebrate, but the experiment reveals the future possibility. The daily has also mentioned that India is also going to scale up energy generation from the nuclear fission mode.
That gives weight to urge the governments world over to invest not less than five per cent of their respective gross domestic products in research and development, for the challenges are many, including climate change, community health and technology to alleviate poverty.
Morocco: It’s time for Africa
Morocco, the first African nation to reach FIFA semi-final, has ignited several dreams, and a footballer in Sikkim may be dreaming to run the green grass on the top soccer stage some day in future. The Indian Express in its Editorial has hailed the achievements of Morocco in the Qatar World Cup.
The Noida-based daily richly applauded Morocco packing off Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and even the fancied Mbape was kept subdued in the semi-final by agile Moroccan team. The daily also deep dived to inform that Morocco has a two-tier football league for women. It also noted that successes of the Moroccan team were celebrated by women family members of the players on the field. Walid Regragui as the coach excelled in tactics. Soliane Boufal and Achraf Hakimi have revealed that there are too many soccer talents beyond the famed European and South American pools. Indian corporate must study the success of Morocco, for there exists no scope of hope from government.
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