A Nobel Prize Winning Initiative

“A girl child is a burden to the family” is a common phrase that one would hear come out of the mouths of backward minded people. In a growing world that is moving fast on technology and science, some people are still stuck with barbaric thoughts that don’t fit in today’s world, where education and awareness is available to everyone. Many people still believe that a girl child causes more harm than good. This belief is mainly prevalent in patriarchal countries like India, Pakistan, China, etc. The biggest reason for this belief is the dowry system. Dowry system in India and Pakistan is a system where the family of the bride pay huge amounts of money to the groom at the time of her marriage. This practice, which started out with good intention, is now a huge problem in this country and has led to a lot of social evil. Other factors that lead to female infanticide are poverty, lack of awareness, birth to unmarried women, birth of deformed children etc.

**Piplantri Village Sign**
Source : Google Images

In a country where female infanticide is still prevalent, a small village in Rajasthan celebrates the birth of the girl child. Piplantri is a village situated in the southern Rajasthan District of Rajsamand. In this village, the birth of a girl child is celebrated with the planting of 111 trees, which has greatly improved the quality of life in this small village. All this is possible due to one man, Shyam Sunder Paliwal.

Shyam Sunder Paliwal is a social campaigner and ex-sarpanch (head of the village) of Piplantri village, who envisioned a bright future for the girls. He started this initiative in the memory of his late daughter Kiran, who died in 2006 – a tragedy he marked by planting the burflower tree, as it symbolises sublime love. He went on to channel his grief into a remarkable mission.

“She meant so much to me. How could parents kill a baby girl in the womb?”

He knew what used to happen in Piplantri when a baby girl was born. A family member would push a hard, jagged grain into her mouth. That would generally be enough to start an infection that led to the baby’s death.

**Shyam Sunder Paliwal**
Source : Google Images

When in an interview he was asked about the inspiration for his noble cause, he said “August 21, 2006, was the saddest day of my life, when my daughter Kiran, 16, returned from school with stomach pain. Despite been taken to hospital, she could not be saved. It was a terrible loss. But I decided my daughter shall stay with me forever. I also decided that each person in the village shall feel the pride to be a parent of a daughter.”

He started ‘Kiran Nidhi Yojna’, according to which, whenever a girl child is born in the village, 111 trees are planted and financial aid is given to the family of the child. The parents of the newborn are made to sign a document and take a pledge of providing complete formal education to their daughter, and that they will not marry her off before she has attained the legal age of marriage. Under the policy, the family receives 2,500 rupees on her birth and the same amount on her first birthday. This is doubled to 5,000 rupees if she finishes class five and class eight. When girls finish class 12, they get 35,000 rupees, making an overall total of 50,000 rupees.

“It gives the family financial security. In return, they pledge to look after the trees, send her to school, and not marry her off before the legal age of 18,” says Paliwal.

The oath that the parents take and sign includes the following conditions:

No one from my family will be involved in foeticide.
The 111 trees planted on the birth, and the girl child will be raised with equal care.
I will not keep my daughter from getting educated.
I will not allow child marriage of my daughter under any condition.
I will spend this money on my daughter’s wedding and/or higher education.
The trees planted at birth will be the property of the village.

**The Girls of Piplantri**
Source : Google Images

Since 2006, 111 trees have been planted for each of the 65-70 baby girls born in the village every year. With this not only has the population of girl children gone up, but also the number of trees which has dramatically altered the biodiversity in the region. Piplantri lies on the semi-arid land of Rajsamand district in India’s Rajasthan state. This area was constantly plagued with drought, due to the extensive mining in this village which caused deforestation and turned this place into a desert with lack of water and vegetation. But all this has changed since the initiation of this scheme, which has now turned this village into an oasis.

**Products of Piplantri**
Source : Google Images

The trees are taken care of by the kith and kin of the girls and they also provide a source of revenue for the villagers. The villagers, in order to save the trees from termites, have planted over two millions plants of Aloe Vera. They later came to know that aloe vera has considerable value in the urban markets and now the women of the village produce and market aloe vera gel, juice and pickle. Some of these women earn up to Rs. 6,000 a month. These aloe vera plants, rose plants and many other such plants and fruits have helped in generating employment for the people of Piplantri.

What started off as planting a tree for his daughter and urging fellow villagers to celebrate their daughters, has now caused a chain reaction which has dramatically altered this tiny village.

“For me, everything is linked: the girl child, the land, water, animals, birds, trees. I seek immortality through these trees”, says Paliwal

The villagers’ mindset has undergone change. No longer are they afraid of giving birth to female children. The villagers are proud of, and cherish their daughters and believe that with proper education, a girl can do anything a boy can. There is now a sense of gender equality in the village. The women of the village also have their own financial independence through the products they manufacture and sell.

**Children of Piplantri tying Rakhis**
Source : Google Images

During Raksha Bandan, an annual Indian ceremony between siblings, the villagers tie threads or Rakhis around the trees and nurture them. The trees are a part of their family and they all take care of them. This village is a true symbol of eco-living where man and nature co-exist in beautiful harmony. Paliwal has also started other initiatives to preserve and conserve water and around 1800 check dams have been constructed in the village. He has also promoted ‘Open Defecation Free India’ project in his village.

The planting programme not only gave professional opportunities to many people, it also improved families’ conditions, and allowed the extraction of medicines. The perception of the female figure has positively changed, and now the village has an alcohol-free status and crimes have dropped. The socio-economical upliftment of Piplantri is the live testimony of how a cause can change the entire outlook of a society.

I honestly feel this is a Nobel prize winning initiative because it has not only dramatically changed the lives of the people of Piplantri, but it has also greatly affected the nature of this region. Shyam Sunder Paliwal and the people of the village have developed a thriving ecosystem and the methods adopted can be used in other parts around the globe. This model can be implemented to fight against deforestation, water scarcity and also the fight against extinction of species. Urbanisation has taken its toll on nature and that has a massive impact on all of us. If the small population of this village were able to create a great change, imagine how much can be done if the entire human population took similar steps to protect and sustain the environment. I feel Shyam Sunder Paliwal deserves a Nobel prize for this initiative and he is proof of how a small action can have a deep and lasting impact.

February 16, 2023 0

Trendy ways to die : Viral challenges

Trends – they come and go. While some of them are good and entertaining, majority of them leave you questioning the sanity of humanity. Before the advent of social media, trends were mostly confined to fashion or lifestyle. I’m not saying there weren’t challenges back then, but they weren’t as rampant as they are now. Now we see a surge of trends that cover anything and every aspect of life. Who even comes up with these trends and why? The rush to be a part of this culture is crazy. We see a lot of people feeling pressurized to take part in these trends or challenges, just for the sake of fitting in and not be left out from the “circle”. Why anyone would even want to partake in such challenges is beyond me.

We all know of the deadly Blue Whale Challenge that became a huge concern across the globe. In this article, I’m going to list out what I feel are a few dangerous challenges that have serious consequences. I’ve mainly included challenges that have resulted in serious injuries or death.

The cereal challenge

This is a popular challenge that has been making its way around Tik Tok and Instagram. To complete the challenge, you must successfully pour cereal and milk into someone’s mouth and then eat it with a spoon. I mean, why? Why would anyone even want to eat cereal from someone else’s mouth? This is totally pointless and it’s a risky challenge that can choke you to death. Imagine this epitaph on your tombstone ‘Died by choking on cereal’. This is a truly dramatic death by drowning and choking in a bid to become TikTok famous. What a way to go!

The nutmeg challenge:

Some people have been making bets on whether they can complete the nutmeg challenge. For the popular nutmeg challenge, TikTok users drink a mix of two to four tablespoons of nutmeg with milk or water and document their reactions, as large amounts of the spice can lead to intoxication. But the high that comes from the spice is actually pretty dangerous. Side effects of nutmeg consumption include hallucinations, drowsiness, hypothermia, dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, seizures and in some cases, coma and death. If you are thinking of doing this challenge, just please don’t.

The outlet challenge:

It involves slipping a penny between a partly-dislodged phone charger and the wall outlet and watching the sparks fly. This challenge is extremely dangerous and moronic as it can lead to injury and fire accidents. Has your science teacher never told you not to mess with electricity?

The skull-breaker challenge:

This challenge is exactly as it sounds. It involves two people kicking the legs from under a third, making them fall over backwards and hit the ground, sometimes head first. And the fact that it doesn’t involve the consent of the unsuspecting individual who is being tripped, amounts to bullying. The free fall can result in head injuries, fractures in the joint, and can even break your skull — literally. There have been many reports of kids severely hurting themselves and being rushed to the hospital.

Salt and ice challenge:

This is a challenge where people put salt and ice on their skin, and see how long they can withstand the pain. Because the salt lowers the temperature of the ice, the participants end up feeling frostbite like pain. Side effects of this challenge include second and third degree burns, scarring, and even lasting nerve damage.

Concussion challenge:

In this challenge, a group of people stand around in a circle and throw a basketball or baseball in the air. The challenge is that no one should move out of the way of the falling object, thus ending up with a concussion. People took a stupid step further by throwing tricycles and luggage in the air. This reminds me of those old cartoons where a piano falls on the character’s head. Hope that heavy baggage knocks some sense into them.

Cinnamon challenge:

This appeared years before the nutmeg challenge. The cinnamon challenge is a popular video stunt where people shovel a spoonful of ground cinnamon into their mouth in 60 seconds without drinking any liquid. It sounds pretty harmless, but it’s more dangerous than it appears. People end up coughing, choking, poisoned and in some cases long-lasting lung problems. Some teenagers have suffered collapsed lungs and ended up on ventilators. C’mon guys, use cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices for baking instead.

Fire challenge:

This is one of the most extreme challenges. In this, participants douse a portion of their body with a flammable liquid. Then they light it up and record the effects, which often lead to first or second degree burns. The challenge is as foolish as it sounds and has burned and put many teenagers in the emergency ward. Didn’t our parents teach us not to play with fire?

The taser challenge:

Remember how tasers were initially invented for self-defense? Well, now tasers are being used for an entirely different purpose. This game involves someone putting a metal object in their mouth and tasing the object with a taser or just randomly tasing their friends. Why would anyone actually want to do this?

Vodka eyeballing challenge:

This trend prevalent among college kids in USA and UK is to take a shot of vodka, not by mouth, but by eye. You read that right. They pour vodka into their eyes in order to get drunk, which is actually not possible. Vodka has corrosive effects on the eye and causes corneal abrasions, scarring, loss of vision and increase risk of ocular infection. I would rather just stick to the traditional way of drinking – through my mouth.

Tide pod challenge:

It involves biting down on a brightly colored laundry detergent packet of any brand and spitting out or ingesting its contents. Consuming a laundry detergent pod can cause organ damage, burns in the esophagus, loss of consciousness, and even death. This is when brushing your teeth with toothpaste isn’t enough.

The pass out challenge:

In the Pass out Challenge (choking game), participants temporarily cut the flow of blood and oxygen to their brain. This causes users to temporarily pass out, with a moment of lightheadedness as breathing recommences. This is a very dangerous challenge. Low oxygen to the brain for over three minutes can result in brain damage and low oxygen to the brain for over five minutes could result in death. A similar challenge plagued the 1990s long before Instagram and TikTok which resulted in the death of over 80 kids in the US.

Social media can be a powerful tool for world change. But unfortunately it is being used for the most trivial purposes. Is there anything people won’t do for likes on social media? I don’t know what’s wrong with people nowadays that they lose all sense when it comes to such stuff. We’ve started living such virtual lives that we have let reality slip away from us. It’s sad to see total disregard for safety in the name of trends.

May 17, 2020 0

Stephen King’s Horror Mansion Retreat.

Stephen King needs no introduction. But for those people who are oblivious to this name, he is a best-selling author of several horror books that have been adapted into movies and series. So, would you like to stay in the house of this horror fiction king? Well, now you have a chance. Stephen King and his wife Tabitha King have decided to open their Bangor house in Maine to the public.

Stephen King’s Victorian style house with its iconic wrought iron gate is one of the most photographed celebrity homes in America. The Kings’ bought this house in 1980. This red Victorian mansion, which is clearly visible from the street, is where King wrote some of his famous novels. In spite of fame and fortune, the Kings lived in Bangor, Maine – King’s birth state.

**Stephen King in front of his new house (November 1982)**
Source – Bangor Daily News Photo by Carroll Hall

Bangor has been the setting for much of his novels and the creepy look of the town would transport the visitor to a King’s novel. One might be able to feel King’s stories come to life while taking a stroll down this tiny town. Countless fans have taken pictures in front of the houses’ small black gate which is decorated with spiders, dragons and gargoyles, creating an eerie feel on its own. King regrets putting up the creepy fence because of the large number of tourists it attracts. Certain times, King likes to entertain his fans by playing certain tricks; in 2017, just before the release of the new It movie, a red balloon popped up in one of the windows of the house. People who have seen the movie would know why this is creepy.

**The Red Balloon**
Source – Google Images

The 3.27 acres is now being converted into an archive and a writers’ retreat. There are two houses within the property – one will be used as a retreat where a maximum of 5 writers can stay and work, and the other house will be used as an archive, maintained by Stephen and Tabitha king Foundation. According to Stephen King,

“We are in the very beginning of planning the writers’ retreat at the house next door, providing housing for up to five writers in residence at a time. The zoning change getting press coverage was the first step. We are one to two years away from an operating retreat. The archives formerly held at the University of Maine will be accessible for restricted visits by appointment only. There will not be a museum and nothing will be open to the public, but the archives will be available to researchers and scholars.”

A Bangor planning officer said,

“They did not want the house to become a Dollywood or some kind of tourist attraction. That would bring all sorts of people to the neighborhood, and they have other neighbors that live there.”

**King’s Bangor House**
Source – Google Images

For people who are interested in staying/visiting the town, should also explore it, for this town is teeming with ghost stories and legends. For all the aspiring horror story writers, this town might inspire you and you might even be the next best-seller. Whether you are a fan or a writer, this town is a must-see for horror fanatics.

November 28, 2019 0