More women than ever before have joined the ranks of the superrich, according to Forbes’ 28th annual billionaires list 2013. Forty-two women made the list for the very first time, up 25 percent since 2013. They remain a small minority among the world’s wealthiest, however, making up only 172 of the 1,645 billionaires. Among the newcomers is Sheryl Sandberg, the famed Facebook COO, who is encouraging women to take positions of leadership through her Lean In movement. Another remarkable new name is self-made business tycoon Folorunsho Alakija, who made her fortune in the oil industry and is now Nigeria’s first female billionaire. Wal-Mart heiress Christy Walton—worth $36.7 billion—took back her title as richest woman in the world from L’Oreal’s Liliane Bettencourt. Also notable: 32 of the world’s richest women made their own fortunes, rather than inheriting it from their husbands or parents.
Forbe’s annual snapshots of the 100 women with the most impact are top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities who matter. In roughly equal measure you’ll find next gen entrepreneurs and media mavens, technologists and leaders in philanthropy — all ranked by dollars, media momentum and impact.
In the world even though women are the major founders of the society, yet women have not achieved equality with men. Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, it is estimated that nearly 70 per cent are women. Between 75 and 80 per cent of the world’s 27 million refugees are women. The political participation of women in the world seems relatively low and it is duly because of the existence of the patriarchal mindset even in the political parties in almost all countries in the world no matter how advanced and socially, economically, culturally and politically sound the countries are.
The socio-economic status of women in Nepal is very poor. The women are being discriminated in every aspect of the society. Today trafficking in persons (TIP) is, yes, a problem of migration that can be deadly. It can also be racked with innuendo and sexual exploitation, forced labor and/or the monetized removal of organs for sale on the global medical black market. Today trafficking in persons (TIP) is, yes, a problem of migration that can be deadly. It can also be racked with innuendo and sexual exploitation, forced labor and/or the monetized removal of organs for sale on the global medical black market.
Members of the Hindu community in some parts of western and central Nepal still practice Chhaupadi, a custom that forces women to live in the stable while menstruating and just after giving birth. They are forbidden to cook and eat with their families. It’s hard to find official statistics there regarding complicated issues: violence, rape and trafficking, for instance. Most victimized women don’t dare go to the police. There has been a growing number of cases of women being burned in domestic disputes over the past decade. Other issues on the rise include trafficking to the Gulf countries and female feticide, which is relatively new to Nepal.
A decade ago, there were very few “massage parlors” and “dance bars” in Kathmandu. Now, with growing poverty in Nepal’s villages and increasing tourism from China, Pakistan and the Gulf countries, what the government calls the “entertainment business” has expanded. It’s a very classic pattern of exploitation.
Socially and economically men are always considered as superior to women, breadwinner, head of the family and the care taker and this is major cause for the low participation of women in civil services in Nepal is in the transitional phase even though women are participating in the political field but it is not up to the level. The concept on women as weaker-sex and subordinate to the man has not changed yet and will still take long time. However people talk about gender equality, in cities of Nepal where the literacy rate is better than the remote villages and small towns, still people do not want to accept it. There is difference between words and their implementation.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Be the peacemaker in organization Politics
Don’t dilute yourself in philosophy that your organization has no politics. Politics is part of every organization. Every company has internal politics. There is not an organization on earth (or space for that matter) that does not have to deal with politics. The degree of organizational politics varies from one organization to another but the reality is, all organizations have some sort of internal political struggle that can rip it apart. The bigger the organization – the “better”. Dealing with this struggle takes a keen awareness of the landscape, players and rules in which the political game is played.
People don’t like change. Most see it as a threat, a loss of their power or a loss of the security in the old way of doing things. They worry how the change will affect them and become apprehensive. These people are prone to defend the old way, some out of habit and out of unease. Knowing how to deal with these situations is challenging. The reality of any organization with more than one person is that politics is the lubricate that oils your organizations internal gears. Apply the proper lubricate and things will work fine. Forget to lubricate it and your organization will grind to a halt.
Everyone will tell you the right way to design a business process – is by designing it around the business procedure, not around people. But in real life you find that you need to “bend” the process around political obstacles. The task should go to head of the department for his review. But everyone knows that Mister X needs to be bypassed. Sometimes it’s because he is a slacker, he will never do the task, he has been in the organization for years, he doesn’t care about the “procedure” and there is no one to discipline him. Sometimes it’s because he is too powerful and can get away with murder. In any case, trying to force the process to make him do the tasks will end in tears. The best way is to bypass.
Managing the political atmosphere in a business takes willingness to acknowledge the practice and a method for avoiding the gamesmanship. Politics generally refers to the tactics used to position yourself through relationship manipulation. The best way to survive business politics is to stay away from it. Avoid contributing to the rumor mill. Do not pass on information unrelated to your job. The person who told you the secret is not counting on you to keep your mouth shut. He is likely telling you so that you can share with others and further the political game. Staying out of the chain will make it more difficult for the rumor to spread while displaying yourself as a person unwilling to add to the problem.
Deal your co-corkers evenly. Avoid aligning yourself with certain colleagues or espousing the "that's not my responsibility" mantra. Keep the team goals ahead of interpersonal affairs, and contribute to all company goals to the best of your ability.
The influence of confessing when you are incorrect is rarely assumed. When used appropriately, it disperses a politically stimulating circumstance within an immediate. The trick is to use it cautiously since if you are wrong too often, people will start to question your competence. It’s best that you get the reputation of someone who finds solutions to tricky problems. Being the peacemaker is one way to achieve that. Peacemakers are looked at favorably because they transcend the politics and focus on making progress. By promoting a positive culture that values integrity, respect and fairness within their team, the leader is able to channel people's interests and energy away from negative political interplay and towards an alignment with organization objectives. Allowing team members to express their interests and demonstrating a commitment to support individual needs integrates their fulfillment into the work organization and promotes the positive resolution of political conflicts.
Source: thedailyMBA
People don’t like change. Most see it as a threat, a loss of their power or a loss of the security in the old way of doing things. They worry how the change will affect them and become apprehensive. These people are prone to defend the old way, some out of habit and out of unease. Knowing how to deal with these situations is challenging. The reality of any organization with more than one person is that politics is the lubricate that oils your organizations internal gears. Apply the proper lubricate and things will work fine. Forget to lubricate it and your organization will grind to a halt.
Everyone will tell you the right way to design a business process – is by designing it around the business procedure, not around people. But in real life you find that you need to “bend” the process around political obstacles. The task should go to head of the department for his review. But everyone knows that Mister X needs to be bypassed. Sometimes it’s because he is a slacker, he will never do the task, he has been in the organization for years, he doesn’t care about the “procedure” and there is no one to discipline him. Sometimes it’s because he is too powerful and can get away with murder. In any case, trying to force the process to make him do the tasks will end in tears. The best way is to bypass.
Managing the political atmosphere in a business takes willingness to acknowledge the practice and a method for avoiding the gamesmanship. Politics generally refers to the tactics used to position yourself through relationship manipulation. The best way to survive business politics is to stay away from it. Avoid contributing to the rumor mill. Do not pass on information unrelated to your job. The person who told you the secret is not counting on you to keep your mouth shut. He is likely telling you so that you can share with others and further the political game. Staying out of the chain will make it more difficult for the rumor to spread while displaying yourself as a person unwilling to add to the problem.
Deal your co-corkers evenly. Avoid aligning yourself with certain colleagues or espousing the "that's not my responsibility" mantra. Keep the team goals ahead of interpersonal affairs, and contribute to all company goals to the best of your ability.
The influence of confessing when you are incorrect is rarely assumed. When used appropriately, it disperses a politically stimulating circumstance within an immediate. The trick is to use it cautiously since if you are wrong too often, people will start to question your competence. It’s best that you get the reputation of someone who finds solutions to tricky problems. Being the peacemaker is one way to achieve that. Peacemakers are looked at favorably because they transcend the politics and focus on making progress. By promoting a positive culture that values integrity, respect and fairness within their team, the leader is able to channel people's interests and energy away from negative political interplay and towards an alignment with organization objectives. Allowing team members to express their interests and demonstrating a commitment to support individual needs integrates their fulfillment into the work organization and promotes the positive resolution of political conflicts.
Source: thedailyMBA
Thursday, January 8, 2015
This place sucks
Operating a business without a clear picture
of what’s happening in the marketplace, specifically with direct competitors,
is like flying with blinders on. Running your business by looking your own data
(cash receipts, web analytics, comment cards, your own online reviews) and no
external reference is very similar to flying a plane into the clouds wearing
foggles or glasses with the upper half of the lenses fogged out. In today’s world, where so much information
is publicly online, a smart, competitive intelligence strategy can be
accomplished with a few keystrokes and no out-of-pocket expenses. Your only
cost is the amount of time it takes to do the research.
All
businesses are engaged in a war to acquire customers. That war, however, has turned
very bizarre with the advent of online reviews. Realizing the benefit that
multiple five-star reviews can have on a business, common sense would dictate
that every business would want to develop and deploy an online review strategy
to maximize customer acquisition. Yet for many businesses, only the bare
minimum is done: monitoring online review activity; if the business sells
products online, then deploying a third party review solution; and in some
cases, responding to negative reviews. Even worse, some businesses ignore the
space entirely, confused and angered by this new platform that provides their
customers with a means to broadcast their experiences, both positive and
negative, to every existing and future customer. Consumers aren’t the only ones
who can benefit from reviews. Businesses have the opportunity to get in front
of their prospective customers at the point when they’re making purchase
decisions.
The importance of consumer opinions in consumers’ decisions of what
to buy continues to grow. According to a survey of U.S consumers, close to 80
percent of the population consult online reviews before they make purchase
decisions. Despite the growing importance of online reviews to revenue, many
business owners choose to ignore this platform, creating massive market
inefficiency. If business owners are willing to navigate the complexity of this
space, that inefficiency can be converted to a significant gain.
The influence of online reviews expands
beyond website commerce. National retailer Sephora, have launched mobile app to
help consumers consult online reviews while in their physical stores. In fact,
in addition to its mobile app, online review terminals appear in many of
Sephora’s stores, where consumers can read cosmetic reviews supplied by other
consumers to help them make informed purchase decisions. Now it’s time to take
off your foggles and research your competitors, and, in doing so, gain a deep
appreciation for some external reference points. A great business practice that
you can start during this analysis is to constantly review and revise vision on
what’s happening in the marketplace. As you read your competitors’ reviews, ask
yourself if there are elements to your own vision that are lacking. Once
completed, given everything you’ve read about the way consumers view your
business and the way they review your competitors, ask yourself why someone
would choose to visit your business versus your competitors. If you’re having
trouble answering, it might be time to revisit your vision.
As philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” That lesson is
specifically applicable to this practice of online review competitive analysis.
Along with analyzing your competitors who are thriving, you should think about
doing a postmodern analysis on businesses in your sector that didn’t make it.
Now ask yourself a question: what about my vision sets my business apart from
everyone else in my field? If your answer is “nothing,” then it’s time to dream
bigger. In my research on businesses, I have discovered that the owners are all
incredibly passionate about the product or service that they present. The
success to delivering on your passion is to make the end point of what you want
your business to be as vivid as possible. If you’re a hotel proprietor, think
about how your guests’ every concern is addressed even before they mention it,
or how you’ve drawn guests out of their rooms to interact with staff so that
they feel an emotional connection to your hotel. If you have a café, imagine
who the customers feel as they’re greeted when they walk into your shop. What
specifically keeps your customers coming back every morning on their way into office?
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Today's super consumers
No wonder Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple computer had left everyone's months hanging out, by his email to China Mobile for launching iPhone in China. At that time China has about 600 million mobile handsets in use and China mobile had nearly 3/4 of the market. Steve felt that the Chinese market was integral to the company's continued growth. He was right. China has a population between 1.2 to 1.5 billion. The United States is the third most populated country on earth at about 320 million people, and is the largest consumer society on earth for now, and yet as a market the U.S. Is China's rounding error. Similarly, Europe's population is more that 400 million people and China is likely to have almost 500 million online shoppers by 2015. Before we dive into the background and the backdrop of the past, culture and history that shapes China's super consumers, lest consider a few more facts:
General Motors sold more than 3 million cars in China in 2013 and expects to sell 5 million in 2015 and 2016. China is Audi's most important market and Porche expects China to be its biggest market until 2015. Thirst Chinese consumer more beer and wine by volume than any country on earth. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Prada are the three most desired luxury brands in China, and each drives a significant percentage of profit from China Sales. Coach’s second-largest market is in china and China has made Michael Kors the most searched for brand on the internet.
It’s not difficult to notice why world’s famous companies are focusing on Chinese consumers- young, old, men, women. Many Chinese citizens have been asking themselves: “Why should I follow the cultural tradition of sacrifice and modest means, when I can afford a consumer and brand lifestyle that I see many of my friends pursuing as well?” China’s consumers are exhibiting their tastes, sophistication, spending power, adoption of the best of the west and their ultimate Chineseness through travel. All of the industries, companies and nations that are tend to benefit from Chinese mass consumption find these benefits at their doorstep when China travels.
Chinese consumers have changed the world and will continue to change the world. American consumers changed America and the world in the second half of the twentieth century. The same thing is happening in China today. We have worked for more than 20 years to build not only bridges between foreign and Chinese companies and executives but to build cultural, linguistic and personal ties between China and rest of the world. Part of that process now includes understanding the good, the bad and ugly realities that China's consumers have created in order to ensure the future growth and comfort of China and the foreign and domestic companies who have benefited and seek to continue benefiting from Chinese mas consumption.
Source:"China's Super Comsumers" by Wiley
General Motors sold more than 3 million cars in China in 2013 and expects to sell 5 million in 2015 and 2016. China is Audi's most important market and Porche expects China to be its biggest market until 2015. Thirst Chinese consumer more beer and wine by volume than any country on earth. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Prada are the three most desired luxury brands in China, and each drives a significant percentage of profit from China Sales. Coach’s second-largest market is in china and China has made Michael Kors the most searched for brand on the internet.
It’s not difficult to notice why world’s famous companies are focusing on Chinese consumers- young, old, men, women. Many Chinese citizens have been asking themselves: “Why should I follow the cultural tradition of sacrifice and modest means, when I can afford a consumer and brand lifestyle that I see many of my friends pursuing as well?” China’s consumers are exhibiting their tastes, sophistication, spending power, adoption of the best of the west and their ultimate Chineseness through travel. All of the industries, companies and nations that are tend to benefit from Chinese mass consumption find these benefits at their doorstep when China travels.
Chinese consumers have changed the world and will continue to change the world. American consumers changed America and the world in the second half of the twentieth century. The same thing is happening in China today. We have worked for more than 20 years to build not only bridges between foreign and Chinese companies and executives but to build cultural, linguistic and personal ties between China and rest of the world. Part of that process now includes understanding the good, the bad and ugly realities that China's consumers have created in order to ensure the future growth and comfort of China and the foreign and domestic companies who have benefited and seek to continue benefiting from Chinese mas consumption.
Source:"China's Super Comsumers" by Wiley
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Listen to your customers
There are 27 million solo entrepreneurs in the USA, but only 9% of them make over $100,000 a year. In his book Small Business Management (published by West Publishing Co.), Michael Ames gives us the following reasons like lack of experience, insufficient capital (money), poor location, poor inventory management, over-investment in fixed assets, poor credit arrangement management, personal use of business funds, unexpected growth.
If you have a passion and love for what you will be doing for your business and strongly believe -- based on educated study and investigation -- that your product or service would fulfill a real need in the marketplace. Any failure won’t defeat you. You will learn from your mistakes and use those as lessons. Studies show that 90% of successful business owners showed they attributed much of their success to "building on earlier failures;" on using failures as a "learning process."
Businesspersons are strong-minded, bold, and competitive. Most of the time, they have the personal qualities they need to run a successful business. If you have a business and it is not doing well, the way you wanted. Think again, go back from the day you started and study from where it has been lacking the proper management. For any business to be successful proper planning, execution, management , marketing, budgeting and last but not the least customer service play very important role. Any business gets the money from their target customers. If the business does not focus of the targeted customers it is impossible to be successful.
Perhaps your initial business model can produce a certain level of activity, but if you are not perpetually studying your market and evolving accordingly, you run the high risk of being left behind. Our own company learned this lesson in a very big way, and it has resulted in exponential growth that would not have been possible if we had maintained status quo (in fact, we may not have even survived). Do your research on your industry and the market in your geographic location. You may find that you can be ahead of trends in your area based on similar companies in other areas. Study how other successful small business owners in your area thrived and incorporate what you find. Taking the time to do the nitty-gritty research will pay off when you are ahead of market trends and standing out in your community.
In order for your business to thrive, your business must be visible to consumers doing their online research and shopping. SEO work, social media marketing, and cross-selling between all communication channels are all absolutely crucial to increasing online visibility. Press exposure, press releases, traditional PR, social media, and even print marketing should incorporate strong online components. For example, many companies now incorporate QR codes and social-media icons into their print ads because they know an increasing number of people will look up their business online. The more that SEO activities intersect with marketing efforts, the more visibility you gain.
78% of consumers will listen to the input of other consumers online more than any other source. Whether or not your primary marketing efforts are online or offline, give your customers an easy and immediate way to interact with you online. They can give you feedback about your product, pricing, and business practices. In turn, you give them a "chat level" of response that can turn into an ongoing relationship. Your quick and helpful responses to your customers' feedback and reviews will impress both your current customers and potential customers--those who are looking into online reviews to determine if they want to use your business.
While many offline marketing efforts have short-term impact, your online marketing efforts can last long term. If you brand yourself effectively, you can grow exponentially. The online marketing you do once can continue to influence your business for years to come. Make sure your online presence, ranging from a corporate website to a company Twitter account, are all in sync with one another in messaging, tone, and overall look and feel. Customers and potential customers will respond well to aesthetically pleasing websites and are more likely to return to your site. Put in a little effort now and you'll be reaping the rewards for months and even years to come.
Most self-made millionaires possess average intelligence. What sets them apart is their openness to new knowledge and their willingness to learn whatever it takes to succeed. A business entrepreneur has drive, determination, patience and a positive attitude. When others throw in the towel, you are more determined than ever.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Terrorism in the name of Jihad
Terrorism has become a global problem. Countries whether poor or rich, developed or underdeveloped have been severely affected by the menace of the terrorist actions. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, nineteen Young Arabs, fifteen of them from Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Egyptian Mohammed Atta, hijacked four U.S. domestic airliners, two of them slammed into the twin towers (the United States of America's most prominent buildings) the World Trade Centre in New York City. Another plane plowed into the Pentagon and fourth airplane crashed in field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In all of them, 5219 civilian individuals were died some of them victimized. That, shocking news was spread all over the world within a minute. Within hours, the U.S. government identified the hijackers as members of al-Qaeda under Osama Bin Laden, a citizen of Saudi Arabia, living in Afghanistan. This attack led war against terrorism.
In the same year another terrorists suicide attacks occurred at the Parliament house of India on Thursday, December 13, 2001 using a car having a blue light on top and siren as if they were VIPs' with commandos targeting the dignitaries. Terrorists were able to enter in the parliament security zone with the help of forge entry on their windshield. This incident badly affected the Indo-Pak relation.
Similarly, Nepal has been facing terrorist actions in various forms within and outside the country. Among many, one of the bitter example that Nepal witnessed transnational terrorism, is the hijacking of IC 814 Indian Airlines- Airbus 300 flying from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Delhi carrying 178 passengers (154 Indians, eight Nepalese and many foreign tourists as well) on December 24, 1999 by Ibrahim Athar, Latif and others (members of one of the terrorist organizations). This became one of the major security issues between Nepal and India. In the same way, Meerza Dil Sadbeg, a sitting MP (House of Representatives) was also killed in Kathmandu, by the organized criminal groups. Different people use terrorism to describe different things: As a label for acts of violence, it reflects negatively on those who are labeled as terrorist. If one side in a dispute can characterize the enemy in a negative way, and so win public opinion over to their point of view, they will not hesitate to do so”. Hence the saying: “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Terrorism has led to an inhuman atmosphere all round the globe. The most popular kind of terrorism that has emerged is Islamic terrorism. With different terrorist associations coming up, media has propagated new words like ’militant Islam’ (which has been in vogue in the World Press recently) and ’Islamic terrorism’.
I have heard in many news that in name of JIHAD the terrorist associations have been doing many disasters. I also wanted to know what the word Jihad means exactly. For this first of all I talked with many religious leaders, my family members. And finally I read the Holy Book "Quran" for my mother says that it has all the basic things. And I got my answer that no religion supports born terrorism.
The word Jihad stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means "strive." Other words derived from this root include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." If we talk about Jihad in the context of the holy Quran, Jihad means striving utmost to achieve an objective in a noble manner. The primary objective being to establish a social order based on the Quranic fundamental principles.Jihad is the name of an organized effort and its rules are defined in Islam e.g. nobody is allowed to fight with other person, kill other's woman, children and the old in name of JIhad, likewise it is forbidden to burn crops or houses. All terrorists do such activities and yet they are called Jihadis.
The very word ’Islam’ means peace and mischief is prohibited in Islam. Thus, it is said: "And create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order…. Do you think mischief and belief in God can go together?
The Quran says: "O you, who believe, stand firmly for God as witnesses to fair dealing and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice"
Fighting is allowed in Islam. But do you know with whom this fighting is meant? It is allowed against the forces of evil which interferes in the establishment of a social order based on truth. The religion never allows transgressing limits. Taking hostages and maltreating envoys and private citizens in any shape and form is totally foreign to the teachings and doctrines of Islam. In other words the philosophy of Islam totally rejects terrorism.
Hazrat Aqdas says: "The people who call themselves Muslims, but are convinced that Islam should be spread by swords, are not aware of the inherent excellence of Islam and their actions are like the actions of beasts". (Taryaq-e-Quloob, Roohani Khazain, vol. 15, p. 167).
Whatever the terrorists have been doing all around the world in name of Jihad can not be neglected by the Muslims themselves. This is a shameful thing for all those terrorists who are fulfilling their misconceptions in name of Jihad.
In the same year another terrorists suicide attacks occurred at the Parliament house of India on Thursday, December 13, 2001 using a car having a blue light on top and siren as if they were VIPs' with commandos targeting the dignitaries. Terrorists were able to enter in the parliament security zone with the help of forge entry on their windshield. This incident badly affected the Indo-Pak relation.
Similarly, Nepal has been facing terrorist actions in various forms within and outside the country. Among many, one of the bitter example that Nepal witnessed transnational terrorism, is the hijacking of IC 814 Indian Airlines- Airbus 300 flying from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Delhi carrying 178 passengers (154 Indians, eight Nepalese and many foreign tourists as well) on December 24, 1999 by Ibrahim Athar, Latif and others (members of one of the terrorist organizations). This became one of the major security issues between Nepal and India. In the same way, Meerza Dil Sadbeg, a sitting MP (House of Representatives) was also killed in Kathmandu, by the organized criminal groups. Different people use terrorism to describe different things: As a label for acts of violence, it reflects negatively on those who are labeled as terrorist. If one side in a dispute can characterize the enemy in a negative way, and so win public opinion over to their point of view, they will not hesitate to do so”. Hence the saying: “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Terrorism has led to an inhuman atmosphere all round the globe. The most popular kind of terrorism that has emerged is Islamic terrorism. With different terrorist associations coming up, media has propagated new words like ’militant Islam’ (which has been in vogue in the World Press recently) and ’Islamic terrorism’.
I have heard in many news that in name of JIHAD the terrorist associations have been doing many disasters. I also wanted to know what the word Jihad means exactly. For this first of all I talked with many religious leaders, my family members. And finally I read the Holy Book "Quran" for my mother says that it has all the basic things. And I got my answer that no religion supports born terrorism.
The word Jihad stems from the Arabic root word J-H-D, which means "strive." Other words derived from this root include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." If we talk about Jihad in the context of the holy Quran, Jihad means striving utmost to achieve an objective in a noble manner. The primary objective being to establish a social order based on the Quranic fundamental principles.Jihad is the name of an organized effort and its rules are defined in Islam e.g. nobody is allowed to fight with other person, kill other's woman, children and the old in name of JIhad, likewise it is forbidden to burn crops or houses. All terrorists do such activities and yet they are called Jihadis.
The very word ’Islam’ means peace and mischief is prohibited in Islam. Thus, it is said: "And create not disorder in the earth after it has been set in order…. Do you think mischief and belief in God can go together?
The Quran says: "O you, who believe, stand firmly for God as witnesses to fair dealing and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice"
Fighting is allowed in Islam. But do you know with whom this fighting is meant? It is allowed against the forces of evil which interferes in the establishment of a social order based on truth. The religion never allows transgressing limits. Taking hostages and maltreating envoys and private citizens in any shape and form is totally foreign to the teachings and doctrines of Islam. In other words the philosophy of Islam totally rejects terrorism.
Hazrat Aqdas says: "The people who call themselves Muslims, but are convinced that Islam should be spread by swords, are not aware of the inherent excellence of Islam and their actions are like the actions of beasts". (Taryaq-e-Quloob, Roohani Khazain, vol. 15, p. 167).
Whatever the terrorists have been doing all around the world in name of Jihad can not be neglected by the Muslims themselves. This is a shameful thing for all those terrorists who are fulfilling their misconceptions in name of Jihad.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Controversies on Sita
The story of Sita is told in the Ramayana, one of the most popular stories in the Hindu mythhology. Sita is the one of the most popular goddesses of Hindu religion. She is regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu. She is also considered as the ideal daughter, ideal wife, and ideal mother, since ages. Goddess Sita is remembered for her virtues and attributes. She symbolizes all that is noble in womanhood. Her entire life constitutes an example of idealism. Sita is said to be a perfect example of loyalty and morality that is why Sita is one of the principal characters in The Ramayana, the great epic of India.
Sita also known by many epithets like janaki, Maithili, Ramaa, Vaidehi, Siya. Sita was daughter of King of Mithila Janaka in hindu epic. Mithila comprised the present districts Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, vaishali, Muzzaffarpur, Champaran, Mongyr, Saharsa and Purnea of North Bihar of India and Terai under Nepal lying between the districts of Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Saptari, Rautahat, Sunasari and Morang. Its total area was 25,000 sq.miles. In Nepal, Sita is considered as a brave woman of extraordinary brilliance. She has got all the values that people believe, a woman must have in her character.
The Ramayana, one of the most popular stories in the Hindu tradition, tells of Sita and Rama's exploits. As a young prince Ram performs heroic acts and in due course wins Sita as his wife after succeeding in bending a great war bow. Cheated of his rightful role as successor to his father the king, he goes off into exile. Sita and his brother Lakshmana insist in going with him. One day Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon Ravana and carried off to his stronghold in the island of Lanka. Helped by Hanuman, the god-king of the monkeys, Rama eventually defeats Ravana and his army in battle and rescues Sita. They then return to their kingdom where Rama is given his rightful place as king.
After their reunion, Rama wondered whether Sita had remained faithful while held captive by Ravana. Sita proclaimed her innocence and proved it by passing through a fire unharmed. The fire god Agni also spoke on her behalf, and Rama accepted her innocence.
The couple returned to Ayodhya, and Rama began a long reign of peace and prosperity. But the people still questioned Sita's faithfulness. In time, Rama began to doubt her innocence as well, and he banished her. While in exile, Sita found refuge with an old wise man named Valmiki, and she gave birth to Rama's twin sons, Kusa and Lava.
After many years, the two boys visited Ayodhya. When Rama saw them, he recognized them as his sons and called Sita back from exile. Sita returned and protested her innocence again. She called on Mother Earth to verify that she was telling the truth. In response, the earth opened a crack beneath Sita and swallowed her.
Sita and Rama are said to be the model wife and husband in the Hindu tradition. Traditionally Hinduism has championed Sita as the role- model and epitome of domestic wifely duty towards one's husband. Her elevated status in Hindu mythology, however, has recently been tarnished and criticized by Indian feminists who see sita as an overly- submissive wife who commited suicide for an ultimately untrusting husband. Sita's ideal qualities are presented in the Ramayana to be her unquestioned subordintaion to the demands of her hsuband. Many indian feminists therefore reject Sita as archetype of women rights. In their reassessments of the Ramayana, they have concluded that Sita's behaviour is not worthy of emulation and instead identify Draupadi as better role model based upon her confidence and resolve.
Another controversial element surrounding Sita's mythology can be found in some part of North Bihar is People say that Sita chose her own husband! But it was her parents who put out the word that whoever can pull the bow, Sita's going to marry. So where did Sita choose her husband?! No, she did not really get a choice. But she saw that her husband is capable of doing something great.
But since her marriage wasn't a successful one, parents in that region have stopped letting girls choose their own husbands. They say that marriage wasn't a successful one, or that Sita should have been stopped.Everything that Sita did-- whatever she did---has been stopped for girls of Mithila region in India. Here sita is rejected as a role model
This legendary story, written between the 6th and the 4th century BC, is considered history, not legend, by most Indians. While in terai region of Nepal Sita is considered as an ideal daughter who obeyed her parents choice, lived as a faithful wife and a dutiful mother.
With change of years the impression of people on Sita have been changed a lot. But still we can say, Sita is a woman of virtue and of immeasurable patience. Through her great character, she has captured hearts of millions of people.
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