Who has to do PoSH Training Courses?

• Members of the Internal Committee (IC)
• Faculty of colleges, schools and institutes
• Advocates
• Consultants

Any citizen of India should attend this course to be a responsible member of the republic. Personally I would also like the law enforcement agencies to make it mandatory for all to have at least 50% staff to be PoSH Certified.

Understanding PoSH Training Course

PoSH Training and course helps participants to understand how to recognise and prevent sexual harassment at workplaces. It will train you to take necessary measures on once a complaint is lodge and resolution of the complaint.

The course will help you to understand the legal framework of PoSH and how to align it with organisation policies and help the management to form reporting procedure for any complaints or grievances.

What is the industry looking for?

Experience – Of handling PoSH cases in various organisations and environments

Policy and Cases Update – A PoSH trainer should be updated with all the latest judgements and should be able to provide workable advise

Training – The PoSH trainer has to be an expert instructor with the latest tools and should be able to conduct courses and workshops for member of Internal Committee

Consultancy – Finally the expert should be available and approachable so as to be able to effectively deliver advise at all times.

Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of sibling love but in the modern era it is seen by some people as declaration of the brother as the ‘protector’ of the sister thereby permitting the brother to decide what she does or not. Today we have a woman going out to earn for herself. Does the concept of protection hold good in the era of equality of both genders?

Historic origins of Raksha Bandhan

On the banks of Yamuna river 20 kms away from Prayagraj is the Sujavan Dev Temple. It is believed that Yamraj, the God of Death visited his sister Yamuna at this spot. Overwhelmed by her hospitality, he granted her a boon. Any person who bathes in the waters of Yamuna during Bhai Dooj will be granted a place in heaven.

Once while activating his weapon, the Sudarshan Chakra, Krishna accidently cuts himself. Draupadi who happens to be nearby immediately tears off a piece of her clothing and ties up the wound in the form of a bandage. Krishna that day makes a promise that he will repay the gesture, no matter how insignificant it appeared at that time.

In both the instances, the ‘raksha’ part of the bond was never asked for by the woman in the first place. Yamuna is the daughter of the sun God, Surya and she is the wife of Krishna while Draupadi is married to five warriors out of which Arjun was considered to be the greatest warrior of his times. Both these women had nothing to fear and were already under considerable protection.

Interpretation of Raksha Bandhan

Originally a Sanskrit word, Raksha means protection and Bandhan is a bond. This over simplified translation which might result in a misinterpretation. A protective bond automatically brings in the idea of taking care or looking after. It puts a responsibility on the brother(s) to keep a watch on the sister(s) for every perceived danger. This is what some critics are worried about, an old ritual bringing in patriarchal values.

However, Raksha Bandhan can also be interpreted as a bond of love and friendship. A promise to care and listen. It can also be thought of an annual contract of support. A sister praying for prosperity of her brother while the brother promises to take care of her well being.

There are reasons why the humble thread has stood the test of time and evolved to what it signifies today.

Social reforms change the nature of a festival

Almost all the festivals and rituals have changed over a period of time. A tradition is a ritual that has been handed over from generation to generation. A thread on the wrist in general is again an ancient ritual. Priests at the end of a religious ceremony tie the sacred thread on the wrist of the people involved in the puja. This thread is a red and yellow combination and is called the Raksha Sutra. Raksha Bandhan is variation of this puja specifically done between siblings. The puja is the actual ritual where the sister prays for the well being of her brother. Over a period of time the activity of tying of thread gained more prominence than the puja itself. It also changed the interpretation from care and well being to protection.

Who is the superior power

A woman observes a fast for her husband while still asking a brother for his protection. This sounds contradictory. However, once you remove the protector angle, things get much clearer. In our religious texts, women have always been considered as the superior souls. Raksha Bandhan is actually a puja performed by the sister as an eternal blessing for her brother. A renewal of the life long sibling bond forged during the days of innocence.

Going beyond sibling relationship

On 23rd Aug 1953, the first president of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad celebrated Raksha Bandhan with a group of women at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a tradition continued till today. Women tie Rakhi to soldiers sometimes sending them by post to the borders. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated within the community or between office colleagues and neighbors to promote good will. Raksha Bandhan is a big cultural event in schools where students participate in various activities.

The wide acceptance of Rakhi has moved beyond a celebration of sibling love.

A family function

We are in the digital age where increasing screen time is worrying everyone. One of the reason why festivals like Raksha Bandhan are gathering importance is the opportunity they provide for a great family time. Brothers and sisters travel far distance for this one special day, many times along with their own families too. Just like any other ceremony, this one too begin with putting on new clothes to look our most beautiful.

Conclusion

Raksha Bandhan is an example of a refined ritual without any change in the basic character. It is a mark on the calendar which is awaited by both brothers and sisters alike. There might be some matters of interpretation but if we measure up this festival in terms of love and understanding, we realize that this event is celebration of that kind of friendship which grows on you despite the added years and distance.

Q 1 In this age of reels and shorts, do you think the written word is relevant any more?

Ans Written word seems to be slowly dying for sure. In the world of reels and shorts, everybody’s attention span is dead. People can’t focus on anything for longer than even 10 secs it seems.

I know people who love to read but still can’t focus because the mind has gotten addicted to scrolling and wanting new stimuli every few seconds.

Having said that, I think there is a simplicity to the written word that is absent when it comes to reels. There is a certain sense of calm as well as curiosity to reading. People read the same thing and imagine different things, take out different meanings, have different epiphanies.

Written word is not screaming for your attention, just silently lying there for you to pick if you want to experience calm yet depth.

In short, it does seem to be dying as a mainstream category, but I feel in future it will become a part of another niche – something to do with relaxing, calming down, even meditative for that matter.

Q 2 Do you believe that writing is a way to connect with the world? If yes, how do you go about deciding the topic and content?

I think writing is a way to connect to yourself. I often write about this in my blogs as well – if you’re feeling lost, unclear, overwhelmed – just write. Write down your thoughts, feelings, in as detail as possible and I guarantee you will learn something about yourself from that, or find that little clue for the next step you should be taking to move forward.

Currently, writing these blogs for me is still a way to connect to my inner self. I love sharing it with the world though. I’m not sure if anybody finds value in it – we’ll find out at some point I guess?

About deciding the topic & content – I usually write about something that I have experienced first hand. I think I have the ability to break down human mind complexities into bite-sized emotions and figure out what influences what and how. Typically I just pick up one of these micro internal happenings and write about them. Something that is so small that it may seem insignificant, but might actually bring a deeper change if you understand it.

Q 3 You are maintaining a blog with a custom domain. How much of a technical challenge is it?

Maintaining a blog with a custom domain does not really have any technical challenges as such. I use wix and it is pretty user friendly and a great tool. The bigger challenge with a custom domain is building traffic and readership – getting people to the website.

To know more about Suruchi Jain and her blog articles use the link below.

https://www.suruchijain.com/about

Humans enter into a relationship with the intention of making it a success. The end result is either happiness or achieving a goal. We are well aware that relationships have equal chances of success or failure and there is no recipe as such. A relationship needs constant nurturing by communication and care. Let us decode how a relationship works and what are the key ingredients.

Step One – A connection begins with a captivating conversation

There are no words to explain how important communication skills are to a relationship. In a formal corporate setup how you convey a point across is the most important asset with a business leader. Same applies to political leaders or any other leader of that sort. We however will be discussing more about a two way communication, the one in which there is a generous dosage of listening what the other person has to say.

If shyness is the beginning of any relation, it will eventually wear off with time. But if there is a lack of topic to discuss, your relationship is already doomed. If words do no resonate, there is no point in continuing further. Listening to the person who is important to you is also a sign of acceptance without any judgements. Ending a conversation with an advice is risky behaviour. So if you are the good or silent listener type, what exactly are you going to offer in a relationship.

Step Two – What do you have to offer

There are so many examples of a relationship being forged with an aim or goal in mind. So from day one such a relationship is defined with what are you going to get out of it. One example that comes to mind is the Great Indian Arrange Marriage system. While it has mostly had success for so many centuries, the goals of most marriages come down to household chores, cooking, taking care of the kids and doing the laundry. If there are set as end goals, they are not examples of offering something in a relationship.

While there is no embargo on entering into a relationship for our own selfish needs, there is a certain charm about giving. A mother’s love to her child is an example of absolute offering. There are so many relationships out there where one person is offering everything and enjoying the joy of giving. Not all relationships are headed in this direction. Otherwise there would never have been collaborations.

Step Three – A relationship that benefits equally

In the corporate domain relationship are done with mutual benefit in mind. Friends usually have similar things in mind. A group of friends going together for a movie or for an adventure hike. Riders biking together, another great example of working together.

For some people it is hard to categorise a marriage as a relationship that benefits equally. People working in the same profession usually marry so that they have an understanding partner. Both work on their professional lives and come back home to a familiar settings. Even when the spouse is a total home maker, it still can be lived as a relationship which benefits both equally. The man of the house goes out to earn while the woman manages the family back home.

If a relationship has one person greatly benefitting but it will be at the cost of the other. The gap keeps widening with each passing day and lead to the doom of both. Partners usually do not notice the signs or they choose to ignore.

Some relationships are designed to give all the benefits to the other, but in return, there is lots of love and happiness.

If a relationship is designed around both working to benefit each other, the effects start amplifying. Your relationship has just moved to the next level.

Step Four – A relationship that is exploring growth

People come together to be happy. They decide to listen to the heart over brain in the quest for happiness. Social media defines couple goals as an objective to be achieved together. It is target to be met. You have set your mind on the dream house and when you both start exploring saving options and taking budget decisions together. That is the perfect example of growth. One of the partners might stray from the budget decisions. Is that bad or should you give time for things to settle down?

Couple are constantly meeting goals and creating new ones. It is a kind of adventure or treasure hunting for them. Over a period of time, it gets addictive too. This is how relationships flourish.

Step Five – A relationship that respects boundaries

People who are in a relationship and doing fairly well should not have a problem with boundaries. But sometimes issues like mindset or upbringing may cloud the understanding of boundaries.

Relationships evolve over a period of time. Nurturing a relationship involves resetting of boundaries too. Children grow with time and hence the boundaries have to be recognised and reset every now and then.

Boundaries choke everything out of a relationship. Not only is it important to set boundaries, it is also a good idea to estimate the space required by your partner and not to invade it.

A good way to understand boundaries is to keep having those conversations. Giving time for conversations is part of the nurturing process. So we began with conversations and circled around to boundaries. At every step a conversation is the key.

Understanding the difference between being lonely and being alone

Many of us want to be alone by choice at the time we would like to choose. Loneliness comes without any warning and then the mother leaves her mobile in the living room while she is busy in the kitchen.

We can be surrounded by a large number of people in a room but yet feel alone. We can be dealing with people throughout the day but yet feel lonely at the end of the day.

Let us understand the word alone first. It is usually used in the context of being without anyone by choice. I can choose to go to the park alone and sit on the bench doing nothing. It is mostly by choice and it is usually an enjoyable feeling. Most of the people who read a book want to feel being alone. A book helps you take your mind away from the worries. So being alone for many people is a form of relaxation and getting recharged. But for people it can also be not of choice. Like say being left alone in the room. You may not like you being ignored in a room full of people.

Loneliness is an emotional state. It signifies a feeling of isolation and it is definitely connected to a sad state of mind. It is the situation when you want to connect with someone and no one is actually available for you. If you are made to feel unloved or you are feeling unwanted in this world. You can be staying with a lot of people in a family, but still loneliness will hit you hard.

The answers what we got

Nisha Goel of Art with Heart is an accomplished commercial artist and art teacher with two art studios in New Delhi. She says that the moment loneliness hits her, she goes to scrolling on social media. After that when loneliness hits the peak, she switches to her routine with strict timelines.

Meenakshi Goel says that she accepts getting lonely as life moves along. She gets puzzled when she sees busy people around her and then starts doubting on herself. On personal basis as a woman she tries to speak to people over a phone call. Good food and a walk is also on cards. But she is most better off with spending time with friends and neighbours. She makes a clear distinction between work related loneliness and personal loneliness. In case of work related, she keeps searching for new things and new possibilities and tries to keep herself updated.

Aarti Gupta, Founder and Owner of Glitzy Nails Studio has that one friend whom she always confides with when she is lonely. She considers herself to be lucky to have got such a friend but if at times she is not available, she turns to social media to watch something. When work related loneliness creeps in, she sets out to learn something new and keep herself busy with something.

Rekha Gupta prefers to spend time alone. She is specific about not talking to people whom she know. Rekha feels that a woman entrepreneur sometimes gets overwhelmed with house hold work and looking after the husband and kids. In such a situation she simply goes out alone and enjoys things outside.

Jaspreet Kaur is a home baker and owner of brand Sugar Bliss. So as a creator and cook it is understandable when she says that when lonely, she shuts out the world and eats lot of food and watch a movie. After that she goes for a workout. On the work front if she get lonely she watches other people from the same profession working on her goals and she gets motivated again.

Rashmi Goel provides Kitchen Solutions using Tupperware. She is the one who stands out by saying that loneliness never hits her. Her secret is that she can anticipate when loneliness is poised to hit her. She takes care of it by using a most powerful weapon, herself. She thinks herself to be her best friend with whom she can talk to and confide in. Plus she already keeps herself busy with work and taking care of her family. She has trained herself as an entrepreneur to motivate herself and explore new things and idea. Here is the perfect example of a woman entrepreneur placing herself above all.

Berries Women is run by Kamalpreet Kaur and she associates loneliness with being sad or upset. She tries to divert her mind by doing aerobics. She also listens to music specially spiritual. On the part of being an entrepreneur, she first tells herself to stay calm. But at times, she allows herself to burst into tears but she does that only when she is alone. Speaking to God, she asks to show the way and guide her. At the same time explore new ideas and new things.

The universal solution

Reaching the point of balance between work and professional life is most of the battle. Rest all falls in place after that.

Using the correct words

In India a good deed is called सुकर्म or सत्कर्म . Sukarma is a combination of two words “Su” means good and “karma” means deed. Like most Hindi or Sanskrit words, there is no direct translation but a relatively closer meaning. So karma can also mean action. The same way Satkarma is also a combination of words.

A bad deed on the other hand is called कुकर्म or दुष्कर्म . Kukarma is again a combination of two words “Ku” means bad and “karma” means deed. “Dushkarma” is a derivative of the Hindi word “दुष्ट” or “dusht” which means bad or evil. It can also be used towards an evil character or a person. It is also described as a bad behaviour towards someone.

Understanding with an example

To understand the meaning of “dusht” let us take examples of Kaikeyi from Ramayana and Shakuni from Mahabharata. Both are perfect examples of an evil character. However both of them were doing their bad deeds out of a situation. They were doing it out of love for a person which is again a matter of interpretation.

Kaikeyi wanted her son, Bharata on the throne of Ayodhya. Hence she made use of her two boons to exile Rama. Similarly it was only Shakuni who fully supported his nephew, Duryodhana. The actions of Kaikeyi might have caused general hardships to Ram, Sita and Laxman but Ram had taken birth on earth for defeating Ravan. So her actions set into motion the sequence of events leading to the fulfilment of the prophecy. Similarly acting totally for Duryodhan, Shakuni managed to get rid of all the wealth and kingdoms of Pandavas without firing a single arrow and the death of a single soldier.

Even Ram had to atone for a sin

In the history of India, it is Ram who is considered the one who did only good deeds in his lifetime. But did you know that even he had to ask for forgiveness from Shiv Ji. While returning from Lanka, as per custom, Ram went to meet Bharadwaj Rishi. The great maharishi refused to meet him because Ram had committed the sin of Brahma-Hatya as Ravana was a Brahmin. As a task, Ram was asked to worship ek koti (one crore) shivlings. To accomplish this seemingly impossible task, Bharadwaj Rishi gave him a clue, of creating a shiv ling made from the sand of the banks of river Ganga. Each grain of sand of Ganga Ma is equivalent to one shivling. Ram performed the penance and asked for forgiveness from Shiv Ji and that locality is today known as Shiv Koti with the Shiv Koti Mahadev Mandir on the banks of Ganga.

Some simple examples of a good deed

The most simplest example of a good deed is making someone happy. A genuinely happy person is when he or she does not expect help to come and you do it anyway. Did you help someone without keeping your self benefit in mind?

It is easy to exchange a few pleasantries with someone, but would you pause in between your busy schedule to listen to a person’s tale of woes. I am all ears, is a rare commodity these days.

A person can be surrounded by a room full of people the whole day but still feel lonely at the end of the day. Have to spoken to such a person to make his or her day more memorable.

Need based approach to life v/s deed based

It is natural for us humans to decide to work for our own needs. So every action that we do is for ourself. If you ever decide to shift to a deed based approach, you need to keep a track of all the good deeds you did for the day. A good way to do that is to maintain a hand written diary. The last one hour of your day should go into writing and contemplating.

How did the Bharat Mandapam come about?

It was the decision of the govt to take care of the Pragati Maidan complex which was ageing and could not accommodate people beyond a certain number. Plus there was the need for upgrading the facilities of all the buildings inside the complex. For this the old complex had to be demolished and the new one created in record time, just for hosting the G-20 Summit. The world was mesmerized as to how India went about showcasing itself as a powerhouse during the summit and the Bharat Mandapam became the most talked about achievement of the govt.

About Bharat Mandapam

Construction took 7 years at a cost of Rs 2600 crore. Bharat Mandapam is built on the concept of and Integrated Exhibition cum Convention Center. It can host 7000 people in one go. Facilitated with underground parking, it has six ultra modern exhibition halls and all round connectivity.

Though the place has been criticized for being expensive, it provide all modern facilities for visitors as well as delegates.

In a rare astronomical alignment, the sun, moon and Jupiter assemble after a 144 year cycle. That event is marked with the celebration of Mahakumbh.

Jupiter is the largest planet of our solar system and in Vedic Astrology it is called Brihaspati. It is the master teacher and instructor of all Gods and Rishis. Being the largest, it is also the most influential planet in our horoscope. It is associated with knowledge, wealth and spiritual and moral values. 

Otherwise the Kumbh Mela follows a 12 year cycle, again on the positions of sun, moon and Jupiter with the super alignment happening after 12 cycles which brings us to the figure of 144 years. The alignment brings in cosmic and karmic powers to the earth. 

Among the 12 Shiv Ratris, Mahashivratri is the most important and the most auspicious too. No wonder it is the last snan day of the Kumbh Mela. It is celebrated with gusto all across the world and has significance in every place from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. People gather in large numbers at Shiv Temples to offer prayers. Celebrations go on till late night since it is believed that it was night when the marriage of Parvati and Shiva took place. It is believed that on this day Shiv performed his Tandav on earth and transformed into a Shiv Ling.

Women come in in the finery best to offer prayers. White flowers are symbolic for Mahashivratri since the Lord of all universes likes them. The bond between Parvati and Shiv is the one which all women yearn for.

In a single line how would you summarize your journey as a teacher?

Teaching is challenging but rewarding.

Can you elaborate the challenges?

We have to deal with large classrooms, prepare a daily lesson plan, there are admin activities for each teacher and there are extra curricular activities. 

We assume working hours of 7 to 2 but it usually comes out to be 7 to 7. At times women teachers wake up at 5 am just to get ready to come to school.

You should have one more food for thought. Most of the time, the teacher has to stand.

What is the single most worry for a teacher?

We are dealing with a diverse group of students in large numbers. That is especially true for schools in cities and towns. We have to create a unique learning experience for each student. Each student expects personalized support.  Number of spl children in classrooms also has increased over the years.

Teachers in India lack professional depth. In foreign countries, teachers training continues till the age of 60 while in India one qualification is enough B Ed. Some countries, teachers have to undergo a 5 year training and review cycle.

Has social media affected the well being of teachers?

Parents’ involvement has increased. Earlier when children used to get scolding from a teacher, parents used to say that you must have definitely done something wrong and you deserve it. Today, forget about any type of punishment, you can’t even scold a child.

Are you in favour of online classes?

That is something I am not sure about. I have mixed opinions. While apparently it is hugely beneficial to students, I am worried about the lack of face to face connection which is not possible on a screen. Plus the percentage of distracted students increases online. 

From a teachers’ point of view, an online class is additional work. A teacher still has to go and finish the pending work the next day. 

Is it rewarding at the end of the day?

Teacher is expected to be a role model, both at school and in society. Over a period of time the pressure has increased a lot. If you are up to it, you should be fine.

I have noticed many young teachers who pick up a teaching job as a temporary measure. If you have decided to make it a career, you would be fine. 

Teaching is the only profession which I have known which truly empowers women in India. 

Shalini Kapoor founded Yatan, 10 years ago but she continues to be a teacher at heart.

Manisha Yadav after completing her MBA is now working towards mentoring women entrepreneurs and providing advice on focused growth for a single brand owner. 

1. Dress to impress

Most of us know how to dress to get the attention of others. But for those who do not know, dressing to impress is a great way to boost your confidence. Know what suits you, and have your style! When you dress shabbily, it conveys that you lack discipline in your life and you cannot make an effort.  Accentuate your sensuality and charm with your dressing style. It lifts your mood as well when you look in the mirror!

2. Maintain the illusion

Women have always been known as the fairer sex and a big mystery. Maintain the illusion, talk in a way that does not lay out your plans to others, and confide in a friend, but always ensure that no one knows your next move. Men will be hooked, and they only want to know what you are thinking and how you feel about them.

3. Be a Boss lady

Maintain that command in every step you take and demand that respect. You are a badass goddess! Be the Kali who is not afraid to show her claws! Men will feel threatened, but real men would know how to stand and follow you because you are such a bossy lady. People don’t get offended. They are usually in awe of you and want to know what you did to be this confident and commanding.

4. Be graceful and grateful

No one likes a stuck-up person full of attitude. Know where arrogance begins and humility ends. Be a bitch with a golden heart who cares, who is graceful, and who knows how to treat people who may not be as blessed. Women work hard to reach their goals. Some get there, and others take more time, but always spread your wings and remember your roots.

The tawaifs knew their strength and played to it. They taught us how women can be sensuous and command respect and power at the same time. Men used to swoon at their feet and then worship them.