Goddess or target of torture

Goddess of wealth, goddess of knowledge , goddess for target of torture

This December has been noticeable in many ways. The strongest of them all : the battle fought by the brave heart , Nirbhaya within the confines of the intensive care unit which brought about the attack on the conscience of a nation.

Named Nirbhaya by some, known as a brave heart to all , the victim of the horrific crime in the national capital Delhi has been a reason for a beginning of a sea change in the peoples movement.

Do we need such a trigger and the unjustified loss of a life to raise this issue?

The hypocrisy we face as a society is staring back at us:  On the one hand we worship goddesses and on the other, the atrocities against women are ever rising.Do we not see the writing on the wall? Do we need fear of law to safeguard the modesty of women?

Do I need to make a news article about being hassled in the bus during the daily commute to office? Do I need to wait for times like this to stand up for my safety? Do I need to be told where to go and when to go in my own country ? Do I need to be proud of my democratic and free country- A society where I celebrate independence and yet I am not free?

While the victim of the recent heinous crime has lost her life, she has no doubt led a sea change that we want to see. While the news channels and media coverage keep it alive so far, there are reservations about how far this can go on to change the mindset and the laws.

Its about changing the laws to change the mindset. Do humans need laws to behave human?

Its written all over the scriptures in all our religions because of which we worship women as Goddesses of power, wealth and knowledge...Are these forms not seen in the human woman?

And, when someone has the sense and courage to stand up against such atrocities, like in the case of Keenan and Ruben last year, they have also not been spared.

If a "living thing" doesn't realise the worth of a human being, they do not deserve to be "living". The only laws possible for such people is that they take their unjustifiable actions to another world. They do not deserve to be living while making another life "unlivable"

While the political class spit out excuses about "changing laws for more stricter punishment", its possible to see how easily the same laws are bent and broken conveniently more often than not.

We as citizens elect the policy makers and lawmakers and later succumb to the laws and policies. Its now we the citizens trying to fight the law, trying to fight the law makers, trying to fight the political class. Why do we forget that politicians and lawmakers are citizens first? Why do the lawmakers and political class forget that they are citizens with more responsibilities? Why do the lawmakers and political class forget the responsibilities and misuse the power ?


No actions, words and laws can justify what has happened and what continues to happen. The only homage and tribute to Nirbhaya will be if  the objective of the protests is not forgotten. That the battle for the dignity of a woman is continued and brings about a change the society that we live in. Where the worship is not of idols but of a thought and ideology.


　

Athens on the Spree

Brandenburger Tor

Quick facts about this famous monument in Berlin to accompany the pictures:

The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is a famous monument of peace.

Originally built in the 18th century, it is the only remaining city gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered.

The area around the gate featured most prominently in the media coverage of the opening of the Berlin wall in 1989.

Atop the gate is the Quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. In the original version, the horses were driven by the Goddess of peace.

 

The Gate's design is based on the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

It was the first "Athens on the River Spree" by architect Carl Gotthard von Langhans.

 

Today, Brandenburger Tor is a celebration venue and a symbol of reunification. The German Unity Day celebrated on October 03 has street performances, stalls, music, food and games around the Gate.

 

Along the River

When the summer sun shines, there's rain in Berlin.

When the cold weather engulfs the city, there's rain.

So its no surprise that every Berliner and Berlinerin has an umbrella handy and
the shops are always readily stocked too.

Even with so much rains, theres no love lost between the river Spree and the people of the city of Berlin. Spree is a river that flows through three states of Germany including Berlin.The final reach of the Spree is where it is best known. It flows through the city centre of Berlin silently flowing through the city, only to be ruffled by the tourist boat cruises private boats.

In Berlin, it forms a wide network of waterways, hence having numerous options of routes and you meeting the river often in some part of the town!

The calmness and its stoic nature is an inspiration for a healthy body and happy mind.
The row of houses overlooking the river from across the street is the perfect advantage to notice how nature works her wondrous ways.

The morning sun lending a sparkle to the surface of the river, while the winds just creating a celebration of symphony of the ripples. As the evening approaches bidding good bye to the sun, the sunset leaves its mark along the river as a blanket of orange. And then,the moonlight takes over.

Just observing the river makes u aware of life around it.

The couple sitting on the green grass alongside silently enjoying each others conversation.
The swans and ducks watched and called by the children.

The elderly lady sitting on the bench with her knitting paraphernalia.

All the benches along the river a taken in the evenings.
The family enjoying the evening sun with their favourite book, or music or simply just being there.
"Him" trying to reach the farthest distance of throwing the pebble over the water, where "she" helps in finding the pebbles.
The two friends cycling along, talking of the day gone by.
The "mommy" taking the toddler along for the evening walk.

All this and more.

So if you've had a long day at work, or just want to relax your mind and self,you are lucky to be in one of the nice towns called Berlin.

I guarantee that at least one of these many things will surely make your frown upside down.

 

Travel diaries - Berlin Olympicstadion

Berlin,
I have come to learn is an international city, with its share of technological innovations as well as the quaint areas alongside the river Spree.
The summer attracts hordes of tourists from all over Europe and around.

On one of my touristic ventures, I visited the "Olympiastadion" on a sunny afternoon.

Here's some quick Wikipedia info about it :

The current Olympiastadion was originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, triggered by Hitler and his associates to use it for his propaganda.





Aside from its use as an Olympic stadium, the Olympiastadion has a strong footballing tradition also being one of the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.


The building itself is closely circled around the stadium.






Another interesting fact is the Olympic Bell.
It used to be atop a bell tower, 77 metres high. From its peak could be observed the whole city of Berlin.
The tower was the only part of the stadium destroyed in the World war-II
The Olympic bell which was in the tower, fell the entire height down when the tower was destroyed.
Today it stands as a memorial.


The stadium has also been used for music concerts, and from Wikipedia, it seems that artists like Madonna, MJ and Guns n roses have played at this venue.