I already posted a blog on Working Woman long ago. I want to share my personal experience recently.

The sixth pay commission work was an uphill task. Our IT centre had lost many talented prople who worked for 5th PC. Most of them went abroad. I am new to the place - with 4 years experience and though I am some what creative, my programming skills are amateure. Hence I undertook the work with a gross dependance on 4 others who became my team members. Out of the 4 , two happened to be women - the only two women in my IT centre.

The level of participation was very high from these two women. I actually did not give them very high work load so that they could be used as reserve in case of emergency. That really worked. Initially they felt that I am avoiding them. But I told them that I don't want to bother them much as the work may involve sitting late and coming on holidays. As the deadline approached , my resolve not to bother them evaporated and they had to stay late at least for a week.

On one such evening around 7 PM we were jointly testing a procedure and our peers outside the team kept gossiping in the adjoinng room looking at us through glass pane. I was feeling guilty as her spouse was waiting outside to pick her up.The work was over by 7.30 PM and I said 'Sorry' to her spouse for making him wait. Since he understood the urgency he did'nt mind it.

Later on I learnt that the peers were passing filthy comments about us when we were working hectically to meet a deadline. I heard open praises from the same fellows when I did similar work with the other two male team members.

Is it the case every where? When a woman is given a job purely based on her skills and attitude, the peers allude it to the attraction for the other gender. But if the same work is given to a male it is legitimate official work.

I lost my sleep for two days and finally shared my agony with the female colleague one day. She simply brushed it aside saying, "If people talk in front of me, I know how to handle them. I don't care what they gossip on my back. Just ignore it."

I felt relieved and my respect for the lady doubled.

This is an update to my blog dated 23/10/08.

The administration issued a Chargesheet to the Trade Union man and the other fellow who instigated him was cut to size by transfering him to less important post. Both of them are very much dull. The union fellow is pleading for mercy. The other fellow has tendered Voluntary Retirement.

I was also given an opportunity to get a transfer on my request which I politely refused.

I wish all my iland friends a Happy and prosperous Deepavali.

Let us all do something to light a candle in the lives of those unfortunate boys and girls who make crackers to light the entire nation on this festival day.

For the past two months I have been busy writing programs and leading a team of programmers to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission. As normally would be in any Government Office, there was a bunch of crooks in our computer centre also who could not contribute anything for the project. At the same time they were creating all sorts of problems to the work. I had to clash with these fellows on three occassions to keep the work going. I exercised maximum restraint to avoid major conflicts. There was one particular trade union guy who kept irritating me by his indirect vulgar comments and instigations to my team mates not to cooperate with me. 

 This guy also smuggled out a sensitive report  last week and gave it to his union which became a very big issue as the rival union started questioning. I was given a note seeking explanation by the administration.Once I used to be cordial with this guy so that he does'nt hamper the work. But the moment I saw that he was  trying to intimidate me, I kept him at a distance. My job was over by 20 th and arrears payment was made on 22nd. Then the guy came to me directly and offered help from his union to handle the note. I politely refused and he started abusing me. At one stage I started  retaliating and asked him to mind his business. The matter boiled up and he started shouting uncontrollably. At this stage my colleaugues entered the room and saved the situation. We all reported to the top management. But it seems that our officer  may not take any action. What should I do?

a) Leave the place by getting a transfer.

b) Pursue the matter.

c) Strike a compromise. ( It seems he is ready for it).

Please post you cooments.

Navarathri 'Golu' - display of dolls- had been remaining a contentious issue between me and my wife since our marriage for the past 20 years. Though I did not prohibit her from doing it , I did not show much interest. This year the matter came up between us for the 20th time and the context was more benefitial to her. We had just moved into a new home - our own. My son , hitherto supporting her demand , turned hostile and argued that there would'nt be space in the hall for the sofa set he was pestering me to buy. After Amavasya  - on the third day, I took her to Handicrafts Exhibition and bought dolls for  Rs 1000/.

I don't know how it happened, I also helped her arranging the

dolls. Next day she invited few women in the neighbourhood  and offered them some traditional gifts. When I witnessed the amount of her happiness , I regretted having delayed for 20 years.

Something else happened, which brought me all the happiness on the earth. On the ninth day Ma Durga arrived!

Yes, my mother joined me in the new home, after 25 years since I made the demand. She only performed the Pooja with her Bhajans and Slokas.

I shifted all her belongings yesterday and arranged everything in her room. I consider this a major achievement in my life - perhaps only!

Hereafter I will be able to post her views and small stories on my blog.

When we read about the  contributions made by people like

Prakash Amte

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/09amte2.htm

 and

Krishnammal Jagannathan

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct22008/scroll2008100293165.asp?section=frontpagenews

the truth that brightens our soul is that on January 30,1948 the assasin only destroyed your body , but you still live among us.

HAPPY BIRTH DAY MAHATHMA!

The news story I read is heart rending. Please read the following article in Indian Express.

Violence in Orissa

Mob violence has a social sanction in India. During 1984 , I was just 22 years. My blood boiled at the inaction of authorities who were mute spectators to the Nov riots. Mobs which roamed Delhi - the capital of the largest democracy in the world - for 72 hours killing 3000 innocent  sikhs in the presence of a big police force and Army. Delhi Governor was under pressure not to call the Army for help. When I was fuming with indignation , my mother - a HM - accused me of not condemning the killing of Indira Gandhi and criticising only the reaction. She accused the sikhs of supporting the terrorists. Even after 24 years I am not able to convince her about my point - State inaction to Mob violence is a threat to Democracy.

Same thing happened in Ayodhya, Bombay , Godhra and PostGodhra, Kashmir, Jammu and now in Orissa. Are we a Nation State or a group of colonies ruled by Mobs ? Can we really call ourselves a Democracy? Do we really need these spineless leaders and meek bureaucracy?

The Jammu and Kashmir is burning with a very contentious issue. As usual Congress Party which opened the pandora's box through the Governor by transferring the land, looks very innocent and acts as if it does'nt know anything. It's a open secret that Congress's vote base lies mainly with Muslims and it tries to retain the base by appeasement and compromise with seperatists. BJP gets played into the hands of Congress and blows up the issue out of proportion. The design of Congress follows the same pattern as in the case of the Ayodhya dispute - Diverting Strategy. The comparison is as follows.

Ayodhya:

Need for Diversion : To divert attention from BOFORS and To regain power in UP.

Tactics : Not appealing against the Allahabad High Court Judgement which permitted  Daily Poojas to the idols placed at the disputed site.

Result : Loss of Life. Communal divide in the political class and isolation of BJP.

Amarnath:

Need for Diversion : To divert attention from Cash for Votes and to retain vote base for    ensuing general election.

Tactis Used : Trnsfering the land and withdrwaing it when mere allotment was enough.

Result : Flaring up tempers in the border state. Provoking the Major opposition party on   the lines gainful to Congress and Loss of life.

When will India get freedom from these two parties ?- one treacherous and another stupid.

Something to fallback on,

Suffer you may , but not alone,

Everlasting bond of trust,

Enduring relationship,

Grows on love , not on wealth,

Comes with you until death,

A bond between Captain and Ship,

To put in a word it's Friendship.

I do not agree with many of the policies of Communist leaders. Still I have great respect for them as they are less corrupt and not much greedy of posts. When left withdrew support I expected Somnath will resign on his own. But it did not happen. The way he defends his decision not to resign is very funny.

It is well within his rights to to either accept or reject his party's decision? But to claim that he conducted himself above party politics is far from truth. The fittest person to certify a speaker as fair is the Leader of the opposition. Will he get such a certificate? He was deliberately stifling the voice of the opposition whenever Govt faced embarrasing situations. 

He clearly had double standards for the ruling parties and opposition parties. On many occassions he could not handle the opposition's demand for a fair share of parliamentary time and simply threatened that he would resign if all were not happy with his rulings. But he never resigned. Though it is agreeable that CPI-M could have spared speaker's office from party politics, it does appear that Somnath clung on to the post for the perks it is offering.(Cabinet Minister's status.)