Women’s security: What do the people of India want? People want employment, equality and security. I read interview of a grosser from Meghalaya who says why isn’t the Government making the nation secure for women?  What is so called progress that our nation has made, what is the great deal that we have achieved? Our women are not secured in their own motherland. The induction of women pilots in air force, induction of women in armed forces are optimistic steps the government has taken, yet, the security of women in India has always been a matter of concern. The situation has become more ironical because there have been various kind of programmes initiated by the Government for women, like the ‘ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, ‘ Ladli Laxmi Yojana’ and ‘ Sukanya Samridhi Yojna’. What is the great deal of all those schemes, where a woman’s identity is at stake, can they really celebrate on being a woman?

Unemployment: The demographics of the nation are such that nearly 1.3 crore Indians leave the workforce every year because they cross 65 years of age, or die. On the other hand, over 2.5 crore citizens celebrate their 15th birthdays every year. This means 1.2 crore people effectively join the workforce every year. According to the World Bank estimates the number is closer to 1.56 crore, or 13 lakh per month. Ironically, this is what we call India’s demographic dividend. Normally, economic growth comes from higher per capita productivity, that is, the same workforce produces more, or a larger workforce, which ensures growth even with flat productivity. A bulge at the lower end of workforce pyramid (younger people at the bottom of the pyramid) guarantees strong growth for decades, subject to, of course, to the workforce being productively employed. In India’s case, the economy needs to create employment for roughly 10 lakh people a month to cash in on the demographic dividend. This pathetic reality exits after seven decades of its independence.

The available data indicates that, four years into the BJP’s term, unemployment remains a big concern. In 2017, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that 30% of Indians aged 18 to 29 was unemployed and looking for work.

Standard of living: The idea of a “fully unified nation” in the Indian context refers to only vagueness: be it economic, gender, caste, religion we are far from it. Equality per say remains open ended question unless we spell out in what context we are mentioning it. Economic equality refers to an imaginary situation in which all the inhabitants of a country or region are equally wealthy. Whether the proposition is feasible and sensible has been a major point of contention between free market supporters and socialist thinkers. But the questions involved are really very simple. People are longing for better living conditions instead of looking for economic equality. For many people the concept of freedom is vague. They feel what freedom is all about; they don’t have the basics of food, shelter and clothing. BJP promised improved standard of living to crores of Indians. The situation has not improved for the down trodden.

Reservation quotas: The clamor for ‘reserved quotas’ is only growing which is highly politicized; government does not want to change it for vote bank politics. Is reservation legitimate after 72 years of independence? Does a ‘democratic’ country still need it? Do we still need to divide the country on caste, creed and religion? The laws can be changed to suit the people of our country by passing a bill in the parliament. Yes, we can indeed change the “reservation system” in our country. Till such time we don’t alter the bill of reservation, we will never experience what equality means. Whether it is education, employment or any benefits, the chances are given to the ‘reserved classes.’  Reservation has become a roadblock in progress of this country. This is the reason the deserving are leaving the country and settling down in advanced countries.

Four years of BJP Government: In past four years the Modi Government has failed on issues of Jobs, inflation, basic necessities and security of women mainly. The BJP Government had promised to bring back black money stashed in overseas banks. However, this remains only verbal, no actions taken. Among other promises, the manifesto talked about ensuring a minimum of 50 per cent profits over the cost of production for the farmers, reforming Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act 2003, implementing farm insurance and adopting a ‘National Land Use Policy’, which remains only on papers. Farmers are distressed in most parts of the country. Suicides are still taking place. The Lokpal bill is also sidelined.

Conclusion of exit polls: The masses in nation need to experience the benefits. Big manifestoes, tall promises during the canvassing of elections need to be implemented and delivered. It’s the mass pes who     they go out in majority and vote. The poor mostly vote because they feel vote is their right and the fresh new government will give them livable environment. The poor voters turn up to booths in a hope that they will not be mistreated and ignored; when they feel cheated, they easily cast out a government, hope BJP picks the clues.

Rupmati was a Hindu Rajput princess of Dharmpuri. One day Baz Bahadur came to the valley of river Rewa (also known as Narmada or Narbudda) for hunting. While he was pursuing a deer, he was distracted by a melodious voice. He followed the sound and reached the spot where Rupmati was singing and playing bin (a musical instrument). Baz Bahadur was struck in awe by her beauty and captivated by her magical voice; he told her that he wants her to accompany him to Mandu. She replied that “Never will I marry thee until the waters of Rewa, the goddess of my worship, flows through thy royal city there on high.” When Rewa shall flow through Mandu, I will be your bride. Thus Baz Bahadur built the Rewa Kund, a beautiful reservoir, at Mandu. When Rupmati’s father heard of this development, he opposed his daughter from marrying an Islamic king, he instead told his daughter to consume poison and die. The caste and religion came in way of the two lovers. Rupmati sang the poem on death and it seems that as she was singing the last verse of the song and was about to drink poison, Baz Bahadur rode up to her palace and took the bride to be to  Mandu after defending her father in a war. But the love story doesn’t end there.

As per writings of Ahmed-ul-Umri there is another version: The story begins during the reign of Shuja’at Khan. Bayazid had got the province of Sarangpur as Jagir from his father. In that city was a Brahman named Jadu Rai, with whom Bayazid was very friendly. One day Jadu Rai invited Bayazid to his house and arranged a great feast. At Jadu Rai’s house, his eyes fell upon the face of his beautiful daughter Rupmati. Bayazid was aware of her beauty from many others. After the death of his father, Bayazid became the Sultan of Malwa with the title of Baz Bahadur. Once, Baz Bahadur summoned Jadu Rai to his court at Mandu and bestowed upon him, the province of Sarangpur, on the condition that he should give Rupmati in marriage to him. When Rupmati entered Bahadur’s harem, he spent day and night in her company. He got engrossed in sensual pleasures and let his ministers look after the affairs of the kingdom. The ministers made mistakes after mistakes with their limited abilities. By 1555, Humayun returned to India, he died and his son Akbar succeeded him. Akber went on winning state after state in India. When the news of Akbar’s victories reached Mandu, Rupmati advised Baz Bahadur to take reins of his kingdom in order to save it from Akber.

Rewa Kund

Bahadur Khan (Sultan of Gujrat) led the first attack on Malwa in 1560, but he was soon recalled due to Bairam Khan’s (akbar’s advisor and right hand man) rebellion. In 1561, Akbar sent his general Adham Khan Koka (Akbar’s foster-brother) and Pir Muhammad to conquer Malwa. Baz Bahadur marched to Sarangpur to oppose them but was defeated and fled towards Khandesh. After Baz Bahadur’s defeat, all his treasures fell into the hands of Adham Khan including the ladies of his harem. Adham Khan summoned Rupmati to and told her that he would maintain her grace and make her his queen. Rupmati fled from the palace but Adham’s military captured her and brought her to the palace.  On that night prior to her union with Adham, she adorned herself in the very bridal dress which Baz Bahadur had given her. She took her bin and sang songs of sorrow for the last time. After that she went to the bridal chamber and took poison of powdered diamond. In the morning, when Adham Khan reached the bridal chamber, he found her asleep. He took her hand and tried to awaken her; but his effort was in vain; she had already died. She was buried in a tomb located at Sarangpur in the middle of a tank.

Hindola Mahal

Baz Bahadur and Rupmati spent pleasant days together for a brief period. Baz Bahadur was lost in her love so much as that he easily lost to Akbar’s general, Adham Khan when Mandu was attacked. Baz Bahadur had got so immersed in Rupmati’s love, that he not ready for a war and was forced to flee. Rupmati preferred to give up her life than falling into enemy hands.

Established in 600 BC as a fortified city, Mandu saw its moment of glory under King Bhoj’s reign and during the Muslim rulers. Its fortunes rose during the reign of Afghans and with the rise of the Khiljis, it became an important centre of power in central India. It exchanged hands between the Sultan of Gujrat and Mughals, and for a brief time Baz Bahadur, before being finally conquered by the armies of Akbar. Until the capital of Malwa was shifted to Dhar by the Marathas, Mandu maintained its importance.

Though the city is in ruins today, it remains one of the precious specimens the Islamic architectures in India. A little of it also talks about King Bhoj’s era. Its marvellous architecture is well maintained; the credit goes to the MP Government and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Jahaz Mahal is an awesome complex of palaces such as the Hindola Mahal, Jal Mahal, and the Champa Baoli which was a deep well. It is a very well maintained and offers fantastic views from the top. The beautiful and breathtaking steep staircase on the left of Jahaj Mahal takes you in the past era. There is something which keeps you glued to the place. The best time to visit is August to October, the water bodies are filled and the surrounding becomes lush green. There are ample food and beverages stall outside the heritage structure. I repeat, it is one of the ‘’must visit’’ places in MP.