Be Smart and be Alert!!

Today’s Morning began as usual, with a cup of hot Tea and my daily perusal of the Morning Newspaper.

One of the headlines immediately caught my attention. “Russian Female Tourist found Murdered .Body dumped on the beach”. As I read the story, my brain slowly trying to process yet another crime into the list of many such crimes that have occurred lately in my City. Crimes against women, that have started to rise at an alarming rate, in what was once considered as one of the most simplest and peaceful tourist destinations in India. Goa!

Goa, the paradise of south India known for the “Susegaad”(easy going) and friendly  attitude of the people. Where thousands of tourists flock every year to enjoy the Sun, sand and Sea.

The same place is now starting to become more and more sinister and unsafe not only for tourists but for the local women as well. I remember that I once refused a job offer because I was asked to relocate to Delhi and I did not want to go to an “Unsafe” city. But I guess I was wrong in thinking of only a particular city as Unsafe. In Today’s world, anything can happen at any time, irrespective of which city. So it is high time that we & especially women take up our own safety in our own hands.

Recently one of my friends read the post I had written for the awareness of Smart Suraksha android Application. She seemed unconvinced about it.

“It is easy for us to talk about having Smart Suraksha app…Flashing out The Mobile when under attack, as we quickly press the button and summon help and Presto! The day is saved!

 Only this is not how it happens when you are actually being attacked. Under that kind of a situation a person hardly remembers one’s name let alone recollect an Android application lying in the mobile phone that’s at the depths of her purse” was her argument.

To which my reply was that “Although its true that the person is in a situation ,It’s all about the presence of mind and how you react to a situation that finally saves the day.” Without that a person can be helpless even while having a Gun in her hands.

 Apps like Smart Suraksha are here to provide you the extra help ,but you yourself have to be prepared  and Smart so that you can take advantage of the right things at the time to help yourself.

Here are some tips that I have formulated for myself and which I Intend to follow for my Safety in my own city as well as elsewhere and hope this will help others in need:

1)BE ALERT: Danger can find you anywhere. So always try to be Alert and Aware of your surroundings. If you see any suspicious person following you or you find yourself in any situation that you feel will lead you into danger

2)DEFEND YOURSELF(Learn SELF DEFENSE): At least learn some basic Self defense tactics. If you cannot go for proper training in that , YouTube and Google will show you plenty of Tactics where you can learn to defend yourself at home. Then Of Course you can ask your Brother/Friend/Boy Friend/Husband to be the Guinea pig to try out the Kicks and Punches ;)

3)USE TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR BENEFIT: Install Safety Apps like Smart Suraksha App.  Smart Suraksha App is one such application for Android phones which at the touch of a single button sends your message of help to five pre-chosen contacts on your phone. Another great feature of this app being that along with your message, it also fetches and sends your location to the chosen contacts even if the GPS setting on your phone is switched off. This ensures that at all times you are reachable to your close ones and that your safety is ensured.

Doing this can help you in situations where you may need help and not be able to Face alone

4) DO NOT  MEET UNKNOWN PEOPLE ALONE:In this age of technology, where people meet, become friends online on the internet . Be careful before you agree to meet any one you do not know. It may easily be a trap of the unethical elements trying to fish for victims. If at all you need to meet the person , Do so  in a public place like a restaurant /Cafe etc, where you can be safe while you judge if the person is who he/she claims to be.

5)DO Not DRINK Alcohol in unknown places unless you are with people whom you trust :Besides the Sunny Beaches and tourist destinations, Goa is also notorious for its Cheap Alcohol (Booze). So if you are visiting Goa, Do not try to get as much alcohol into your system as you can unless you are accompanied by someone of your own, like a family member or close friend. Especially if you are not from the area, you may never know who might be watching you and Remember it is easy to take advantage of you if you are in an Inebriated state.

6)AT PARTIES always Guard your drinks: At Parties, in Pubs etc, always guard your drinks. In such places, specially if you are alone or not with anyone you trust much, it is easy to spike drinks if you leave it unattended. Most cases where women have been taken advantage of are where their drinks were spiked/drugged and they were not conscious to defend themselves.

7)DRESS APPROPRIATELY: This may bring lots of angry reactions from Feminists all around, but even i am all for Women's rights being a woman myself, but the condition of women s safety these days, even i find myself  saying this. Dress appropriately! this does not mean  you have to move around in burkha's or cannot wear skirts, but dress  according to occasions and the people who will be around you. With this even you will not be uncomfortable and Of course, personally i think its easier to Kick or Run away (in danger situations) in comfy old jeans rather than a tight mini skirt. ;) 

8)DO NOT VENTURE ALONE After Dark in Unfamiliar areas.: This is for everyone. Locals as well as Tourists. Do not venture alone after Dark in unfamiliar areas. If at all it cannot be avoided, keep someone informed about your location. or Take a Taxi, whose license plate number you should give to your known people and make it known to the driver. 

9) CARRY PEPPER SPRAY: This is an all effective method. Spraying pepper spray into the eyes of an attacker, can incapacitate him long enough for you to escape or do considerable damage  to him enough to save yourself. If you do not have pepper spray, Body-Sprays, Deodorant sprays also helps. You can even try your hand at variants like Mosquito/Bug repellents etc. ;)

10)DO NOT Accept Rides from unknown people. Even if the person is known to you, make sure you trust the person. Even slight feeling that the person has bad intentions, do not accept rides from them. Trust Your Instincts! Your instincts are almost always right.

Be Smart! Be Surakshit!

I am sharing my Smart Suraksha Tips at BlogAdda.com in association with Smart Suraksha App.

Because i believe...

Yesterday i spoke to one of my friends who has tied the knot, just a couple of months ago. She shifted to Canada with her husband right after marriage. Whilst talking about the approaching festival of Diwali, i asked her how she and her husband are planning to celebrate it. As she replied that probably there will not be much of a celebration this year owing to their being in a foreign country, i detected a hint of sadness in her voice.

"But it’s Diwali! You can always carry out the religious pooja and prayer in your own home and celebrate with your husband" i said to her. "My husband is an atheist" she admitted finally after a few moments of hesitation. "Although he does not have a problem with my being religious, he himself does not believe or participate in 'pooja’s or prayers if he can avoid it".

This got me wondering. There are such people in this world. Atheists as they are called, who do not believe in the existence of God. Who refuse to believe in something that they haven’t seen, who do not pray.

For a person like me, who is used to having almost a daily tête-à-tête with God in some form or the other this is a very strange thing to understand.

I call it tête-à-tête because, sometimes i find myself mentally, quietly and even unconsciously remembering or talking to God, like a private chat of my own. 

I guess in today’s hi tech terms, having this own dedicated uninterrupted network connection with God where one can chat, ask , complain, thank without worrying about being disconnected is what one might call as a prayer. 

And why do I Pray? I pray because I believe. I believe that there is someone who is up there listening to me and who’s always there for me, no matter what. The following words come to my mind.

When i open my eyes,

To the sun shining bright,

With new dreams opening a new way,

Thankful that i am alive today,

I pray

When I feel unsure,

When no one is near

When i need someone to lend an ear

I Pray.

When i am scared,

When I try, what once I never dared

When I feel the worlds out to get me

When the hope of light I can’t see,

I pray

I suggested to my friend that she should carry out the Lakshmi pooja/religious rituals on her own. Afer all she was religious and it clearly meant a lot to her. That’s when she pointed out that her knowledge about the rituals, the shloks’s and the steps to perform the Lakshmi Pooja is very limited and normally in India there used to be a Pundit to guide them with it. I suggested that she get a Sampoorna Lakshmi Pooja Pack containing everything she would need to perform the pooja by herself.

I explained that it comes with a booklet and an audio CD providing the step-by-step procedure, recitation of shloka’s and everything that would help her do the Pooja herself correctly even far away from her Indian motherland.

After all Diwali is a festival of lights , and what better gift to give to yourself and others than a reason to keep smiling. Hope this festival brings lots of happiness and light in everyone’s lives and gives them even more reason to believe in God and his goodness. A Happy & Prosperous Diwali to everyone!

This post is a part of www.pureprayer.com contest, ‘Everyone has a reason to pray…!’

Organised by Cycle Pure Agarbathies.

I wish

Recently i came across the the Smart Suraksha App on Google Play, and i can say that in today's troubling times where every step may bring unimagined danger for a woman , this app may turn out to be a lifesaver in most situations. 
The Smart Suraksha App is an Android Application that aims at making the women feel safe. This App, at the press of a single button, sends your message of help to five pre-chosen contacts from your contact list. An additional feature of this app is that along with your message for help, it also sends across your location even if the GPS on your cellphone is switched off.

When the Delhi student boarded the bus,

Where she was violated & stabbed, her dreams all turned to dust.

When she lay helpless for hours, worsening more and more,

I really wish she had Smart Suraksha with her.


When, on the way to college, she saw the eve teaser,

When he doused her with acid and left her to suffer.

When she could only scream in pain, her sight, now a blur,

I wish she had Smart Suraksha with her.


When at home I watch the news on TV,

I hear about a young woman murdered for dowry.

When I see her once smiling face, now trapped in a picture,

I wish she had Smart Suraksha with her.


When her child of only weeks, they forced her to abort,

Locked her in a room, left water on the floor.

When their own girl child they dared abhor,

I wish she had Smart Suraksha with her.


When I walk home late at night from work,

On a dark street corner I see someone lurk,

When beyond the shadows I fail to see,

I wish I had Smart Suraksha with me.


 I am participating in the Seeking Smart Suraksha contest at BlogAdda.com in association with Smart Suraksha App.
/*this post is written to promote the awareness of the smart suraksha appa in women*/

Just a little bit more ...

/*Disclaimer: this post is entirely fictional and written solely to spread awareness about "Smart Suraksha android application ( also i do not own the logo /image used in the post)*/
                      

"Sumi, Please make a few Parantha’s and pack them in a Lunch box for Pooja", Malti called out from the hall to Sumathi.
"Yes Memsahib." said Sumathi, who was standing in the kitchen chopping vegetables, to make lunch.
It was almost a year now since Sumathi had started coming to the Shah Family house to cook their meals for them. In only a short time, she had won over everyone in the household and become an integral part of their family.
“Sumi Mausi!” 15 year old Pooja came prancing into the kitchen. “Please make your special, Paneer Parantha’s. All my friends just love them.”
Sumathi smiled shyly, pleased by these words. “Of course, Betaa! I know they are your favorite.”
Few minutes later, Sumathi was packing the parantha's neatly into the lunch box, softly humming a song while doing so.
“Sumi, what a beautiful voice you have got!” said a voice behind her. It was Malti Memsahib. Sumathi stopped humming. Embarrassed, she hastily changed the subject. “Memsahib, why does Pooja Baby have school today? Do they not give rest to these poor children on Sunday also these days?”

“Ha-ha Sumi, Pooja does not have school on a Sunday. In fact her vacations have started and she’s going for a week long musical camp with her friends. They pick out and train the most talented kids for a career in music and as you know, our Pooja loves singing and is quite talented in that.

“Oh” was the only sound that escaped Sumathi’s lips, as she dropped the spoon she was holding with a loud ‘Clunk’! Her face had turned ashen. Surprised by this sudden change in demeanor, Malti inquired, “What’s the matter Sumi?” Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, No Memsahib…I am fine.” She muttered feebly.
“Memsahib...I am sorry if I am speaking too much, but how can you allow Pooja Baby to go away from you, for so long on her own? It is not safe these days for girls and this music and film business is all bad. It just spoils a girl’s life!”  She said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Sumathi looked as though she was about to burst into tears and although stunned , Malti gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said “ Sumi, I know you are saying this out of concern for Pooja, but do you really think I would have allowed my daughter to go for the camp had I not been sure of her safety? We have personally checked it out. Don't worry.
“B...But Memsahib, you never know what can happen to a young girl who is alone these days. She can be attacked, simply while walking down a street!” Sumathi stammered.

“Yes, Sumi” Replied Malti calmly “I know these things happen in today’s world and it is rather unfortunate. We as parents can only take certain amount of precaution for our children’s safety. But however much we may want to, we cannot be there to protect them 24X7. But this does not mean that we make our girls sit at home out of fear. Even girls have their dreams, aspirations, and the right to live as freely as they want.

''But Sumi , this also does not mean that we should let our child face the unknown unprepared. I for one have made sure that my daughter, wherever she may be will always have someone to turn to for help, lest such a situation arises.” she added.
“But how Memsahib? will you be sending someone with her?” Sumathi was puzzled.
“Yes, I am sending Smart Suraksha with her.” she said
“What is smart suraksha Memsahib?” Sumathi asked

“The Smart Suraksha App is an Android Application that aims at making the women feel safe.” replied Malti. “This means it is what can be put in your android mobile phone. Now a day’s most women have mobiles with this facility.” she added for Sumathi’s benefit.
“This App, sends your message of help to five pre-chosen contacts from your contact list and/or the local police, at the press of a single button, so if the girl feels that she is in danger, she can raise an alarm without raising the would be attacker’s suspicion.”
“But memsahib...even after that how will you know where she is if she is not able to talk? Won’t it be too late till anyone finds out? Asked Sumathi

 “An additional feature of this app is that along with your message for help, it also sends across your location even if the GPS on your cellphone is switched off. Thus, the women can be reassured that there is help available at all times.”
“I believe that the day will come, where no mother will have to feel scared for her daughter’s safety, no father’s breath will be caught thinking of all the evil around her, no brother would have to worry if she’s a little late.
But till that day comes…, knowing that the daughter/sister/friend has access to Smart Suraksha app, their loved ones will feel a little bit better, can breathe a little bit more easily. Just a little bit more …” She Concluded
Sumathi listened to all this, quietly. This was entirely new information to her. She left for home that day a little bit more wiser. Walking down the road, it was as if someone had just unlocked a memory that she had so carefully repressed.
 She could still see the young small town girl full of dreams, brimming with youth. Burning with a passion to do something in life. Yearning to sing. The girl who had fought against all odds, hoping to make it as a singer in the big city. The girl being she.

Until the fateful day where a so called music agent lured her on pretext of an audition to a deserted place. She sensed his wrong intentions, but what should she do? Whom should she call? Her brand new mobile phone was in her purse… But she didn’t know where she was and there was no one in sight. How could she call for help? …

Before she could figure out all this…she was viciously gripped by the man. She dropped her purse…her cell-phone as well…her only hope.
Struggling she reached for a nearby stone and brought it down on his head. It was all she could do to push herself from under the unconscious bleeding man as she picked up her purse with trembling hands and ran till she could no longer lift her feet.
But then this incident had scarred her for life.

She peered at her reflection in the glass window of a roadside shop. She was now just a shadow of that vibrant girl ten years ago. Her eyes brimmed with tears. 
 “I wish I had Smart Suraksha with me that day." she whispered to herself . "Perhaps my life and my daughter's would be different now.”
She resolved to herself, that she will not let her past shadow her daughter’s bright future.
Her daughter whose dreams to be a singer were always snubbed by her in fear that the same might happen to her. That she too might end up biter and crushed, like her. But history shall not repeat itself. Her daughter would fly…she would soar in the blue sky of her dreams.The beautiful golden bird that she is.
She will have her mother's ‘Suraksha’ with her and Smart Suraksha as well.

I am participating in the Seeking Smart Suraksha contest at BlogAdda.com in association with Smart Suraksha App