nazeemonline

I say I am a Palestinian, although I have never been to there and have a Palestinian ID with me or a passport to prove that I am a Palestinian. But I can say I have a connection with Palestine as my ancestors are from there. I am so lucky to be raised up as a Palestine unlike some young generation guys who are not bothered about their past. I am really curious to find out what my country is. Obviously my parents and grandparents are Palestinian refugees. During 1967 war they went to Jordan as refugees. And that’s where we have a house, we have a land and I always ask them, “Is Palestine like Jordan?”Because that is the closest idea to know Palestine, once I visit there. How does it look like? And they say, no, Palestine is a completely different place. They always talk about it and my mum is very patriotic and she always tries so hard to defend the Palestinian case. Living in Canada, amongst a different cultural environment, there were so many people curious to know who the real P...

India's Daughter, documentary by Leslie Udwin, is more brutal than rape. I am gathering the strength to watch the documentary completely. Difficult to watch the pain of Jyoti's parents, and listen to the lawyers' statements in the documentary than watching a remorseless Mukesh Singh, who wants to prove he did not rape the 22-year-old student. The defense lawyers have become puppets in the hands of Udwin to tell the world Indian girls are not allowed to go out in the evening. She is smart enough to put words in the mouth of all those who cooperated with her in the making of documentary. No doubt Tihar authorities are taking care of the accused! None bear the look of a criminal or undergoing any punishment for a serious crime.  Nobody is naming the juvenile accused in the film. Strange that even villagers are avoiding his name and saying 'juvenile' . Though the attempt of Udwin demands appreciation, it is sending a wrong message to the common man by emphasisi...

Rape is not just happening in India. Any campaign against rape and rapists must occur in a wider perspective and collective consciousness from global media. A documentary by an actress turned producer Leslee Udwin is making headlines and BBC is going to broadcast it on International Women's Day. The short film India Daughter is an attempt to find out why do men rape. In an interview to the Guardian, Udwain said," I began this film with a narrow focus. Why do men rape? I discovered that the disease if a lack of respect for gender. it's not just about a few rotten apples, it's the barrel itself that is rotten." Well-said. Well-understood. If the issue is rape and men, why should the focus shift towards India alone? Are rapes not happening in parts of the world? Why a hardcore criminal is given undue importance in the documentary? Has any country witnessed such an outpouring of protests and condemnation against the rape of a woman? The Indian officials have ev...