physiotherapist gang raped in moving bus

Painted by Swathi Medavaram

I generally have a habit of reading newspaper while going to office in bus. I just started reading it. Read few columns and then I saw a headline which stated physiotherapist gang raped in moving bus. Oh god! That was my first reaction. In past 2 months this is the 3^rd gang rape case. Felt really sad and started reading more information on the incident. As I started reading, I had tears in my eyes.  Somehow I controlled the emotions as I don’t like others noticing me being emotional. For more information, read page 7 was the last line written. Went to page 7 started reading, but trust me I couldn't read it completely. I felt so sad that I stopped reading in the mid. I just closed newspaper and kept it aside. For a while I just closed my eyes, but the things I read were sliding inside the closed lids.

Panited by Shilpa Chandrappa

I just remembered Gandhi’s statement “Our Nation will have achieved true independence and freedom when a woman can walk in the midnight all alone and feels safe”. Are we really Independent? May be a YES will come out of Men, but what about a Woman? For the girls/woman who is reading this, Can you confidently say that you have got independence? If your answer is NO, Should we go and fight for independence? Can you become a freedom fighter for your safety? In the present world where technologies/Share markets/dollar value is booming, do you really have time to fight for your freedom? If your answer is NO for this question then we have got only one solution.

That is Precaution is better than anything! I cannot say Precaution is better than cure in this case as there is no question of cure.

May be now we can recall the statement which we used to listen by our elders:” come home before 6pm”. It’s time to put a break for late night parties/ late night roaming/Attending functions late night. If your home is in remote area and if you need to walk from bus stop to home, call your dad/mom/brother to accompany you. Take all precautions to avoid incidents which cannot be cured. For girls who work late night think a second what is important? Prioritize things in life.

I am not giving assurance if we follow this we are completely safe. But the chances are very less.

Many Big people say we have given freedom to woman, woman is secure etc. Believe me, when no one can know what happens how one can provide security. We should be independent; we should not depend on someone for security.

Be careful to be cheerful. That’s all we can do.

Courage to say NO

Day 1

Client – Manager telephonic conversation

Client: We want Developer ABC to start working on Task A

Manager: Sure (with confidence)

Client: This work can be completed in 2 days. So lets freeze deadline as day after tomorrow evening.

Manager: pause for 2 seconds

Client: Are you there

Manager: Yes (with low voice)

Client: Lets go ahead and freeze the deadline.

Manager: yes ( with low voice)


Manager - Developer conversation

Manager: You should work on task A.

Developer: Sure. (with confidence)

Manager: You should deliver it day after tom

Developer: Pause for 2 seconds

Manager: I said you should developer it day after tom.

Developer: yes (with low voice)

Day 2

Manager - Developer conversation

Manager: How it it going ? Where do we stand ?

Developer: Going good. (with low voice)

Manager: Fine. Carry on.

Client – Manager telephonic conversation

Client: How is it going ?

Manager: Everything is going good.

Client: Cool.

Day 3

4 pm

Manager: Done with the task ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

5pm

Manager: Done ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

6pm

Manager: Done ?

Developer: Still doing. Will be done in sometime.

7pm

Client: Where is the deliverable ?

Manager: Will be delivering in sometime.

8pm

Manager: Are you done ?

Developer: No still doing.

Manager: Scoldings.

9pm

Client calls to manager

Manager scolds Developer

Client escalates matter to delivery manager (DM)

DM speaks to Manager

Manager scolds developer

This loop continues

10 pm -> 11 pm -> 12 am -> 1 am -> 2 am -> 3 am -> 4 am -> 5 am 

Developer: DONE (exhausted)

This is a common scenario in IT industry. This keeps happening. Working till late night culture is growing in IT industry. But what is the reason for it ? Is developer the culprit ? or Is it Manager ? or Is it client ?

Just take a break and think for a second. Are we slaves of clients ? Are we born to do what others say without even thinking? Are we magicians to do things on a fly ?

Obviously NO. When we are not why cannot we take courage and say what we are not!

When client says I need task day after tomorrow, Manager should think whether this is really possible ? Manager can talk to Developer to know whether it is possible.

When Manager speaks to Developer, Developer also agrees even when he/she knows it is not possible.

Many of us are scared to say NO, Many of us think saying NO is a bad thing, Many of us think saying no is showing disrespect to others. Think a second after reading this , Is saying NO a bad thing ?

The above scenario is just 1 example of IT industry late night work. There are many people who work late nights just because of not having courage to say NO.

Its difficult to adopt this. Learn to say No in a polite manner if task cannot be achieved in the given time.It will definitely help us in long run.

Think! 

A for Apple

As everyday it was a busy morning, I was in hurry to get ready. As breakfast was not ready I gulped a glass of milk and I could hear my dad saying me to have an apple.

I went to take an apple and my dad quoted "An apple everyday keeps the doctor away. The moment he said that I remembered an updated quote of the same and was smiling.That is "Visiting a doctor and paying 200Rs visiting  charge is better than paying 600Rs for apple every month."

I stopped smiling and now was concentrating on the taste of apple. I felt the taste of apple has dramatically changed a lot. It is not the same old apple which I used to like. Taste has decreased and price of it has increased.

Whatever apple may turn out , it will not give its first rank to anyone.I mean it will always stay in A,B,C,D............ A for apple!