Semi urban reaction for a FGD on women reprodcutive health

To begin, actually I do not know from where to begin the story but I remember Sonia (my boss) saying Tapti whenever you visit a field you get to know 'the truth.'
Agarpara was an eye opener. Never thought things could be so bad. People don't use condoms - They know about it but they will not use.
When ladies entered the room for discussion, I was appalled by what they were wearing - gaudy saris with well pleated pallus, make - up etc. I was amazed. During the FGD, I realised, it is like a picnic or a high society get together for them.
Interesting, that if two or more women came for FGD, and they belong to the same family, they will not open their mouth. KEEP SHUT must be an instruction given before leaving home or they are scared, may be one among them will ditch.
They have to be pursued for everything. Talking, laughing, chatting, interacting but they were natural when they had to mock each other.
The most talkative dominated the discussion but it was the silent ones who said a lot. The not so talkative ones where most important because when they opened their mouth, it helped to end the FGDs on a good/ fruitful note.
Some were excited as they were getting the limelight others kept quiet because ???? strings attached. But the innocence in their eyes cannot be forgotten as some kind of socio- economic force asked them to join in this discussion.
Well this is not the official feedback but just wanted to pen down my thoughts and thought of sharing with all of you.
Indeed a rollercoaster ride.

DLF IPL- Income Premier League

DLF IPL- Income Premier League
How many people are crazy about IPL? The answer is many. There are various reasons behind it. For the celebrities, it is money and publicity. People like Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty, whose last film, people need time to recollect and Shah Rukh Khan, whose old age is affecting his days of romance. But the show must go on, irrespective of fields or sets.
Cricketers are at an advantageous state too. Players like Ganguly, Tendulkar are earning in lakhs by not only playing matches but jab advertisements hai toh kya baat hai. Even if players are not part of the Indian team, they are part the IPL Twenty20.
Many people are calling the Indian Premier League to be an International Premier League because it has shifted to South Africa. What people are ignoring or avoiding the fact that we have 213 cricketers playing, out of which 36% of them are international players. The story does not end here as 8 international coaches are training 8 teams. They are playing more important roles than the Indians. We have 28 Australians – our arch rivals in international cricket, in 8 teams. Players like Shane Warne and McCullum are captains of the two most popular teams. This shows how Indian PL has become International PL, where international players play dominant roles. It has already started. Shilpa Shetty said that she will learn cricket from Shane Warne.
Our players, irrespective of any game, claim that they play for INDIA. So, do our actors and actresses. But what are they during General Elections? Are they voting or playing IPL?
IPL have many cheerleaders, on-screen and off-screen. Kolkatans are cheering for Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbaikars for Mumbai Indians etc. What do you think what is it leading to? There are few who are cheering for other regions.
So, one conclusion that can be drawn is that IPL is not completely about cricket but about earning/yearning loads of cash. This year will be remembered by many jobless people as a year of ‘recession’, but who will say so looking at the IPL, who has already claimed a profit of Rupees 200 crorers.

Finally Pakistan said it.

It was a brave move by Pakistan to declare that Taliban was a treat to many nations. It was a threat not only for Pakistan, USA but India too. What exactly was Pakistan trying to say? Taliban, the army made in Afghanistan against Russia by Pakistan itself, has become a treat to it's own country. Was Pakistan trying to refuse its' involvement in making this force. Has it forgotten that the Taliban has more Pakistanis than Afghans. Even a kid in Afghanistan knows who are Talibans. Afghanistan, being a Muslim nation, was not as ruthless as it became when the Government was run by the Talibans. It had formed its own rules, issued Fathwa and behave like a colonialist.
As there are no threats from Russia, and the internal conditions of Pakistan are miserable and leave alone the state of Afghanistan, that the President blamed it's own made-up army, as 'murderous thugs.' Interesting, but what is Zardari's plan?
India, in the past, present and also in future will be threatened by these anti-social elements, so what is so new about it? Zardari's certificate. By doing all this, is it trying to create a sympathetic image for itself in the world. He shouldn't dare to do it for India. It cannot be denied that non governmental groups act as a huge threat for his government, but as a President, he can bring them under control as he is the most powerful man in Pakistan(and if he is not, then it's high time to become one). These sympathies will sustain for long if only he takes steps to curb the anti-socials. He doesn't have to host special conference for that.
Soon India and USA will become his friends. Though the latter has informally been.