Yesterday two news items distressed me .One was about aboy of twelve living on the streets and being victimised by men The boy was incoherent and traumatised but the medicalofficer chose to blame the boy and absolve his tormentors by saying that he was a passive participant !As though he had any choice .When sent to remand home he was refused admission as he could lead other children into bad habits.How could the society be so insensitive ?Poverty is the reason children have to face such a fate .
And than I read and saw a photo feature about child models in a fashion show .It showed children around six or seven dressed in two piece bikini suits ,strange cut out dresses showing belly buttons .,pointed heels on which they strutted exaggeratingly swaying their non existent behinds .These children are also victims .They are forced to grow up too soon ,too fast .To what purpose ?They are the victims of plenty as opposed to poverty .They are given no opportunity to grow up normally at their own pace with time to reflect and enjoy and crave and achieve .We are being as much cruel to these children as to the child labour .Please let a child be a child .

We saw "Gandhi,my Father .".Since a long time no movie has touched my heart like this one .To my surprise I found myself shedding tears .The relationship between the Mahatma and Harilal has been portrayed brilliantly .I think the Director has done an excellent job in taking no sides .He has presented the reality and reality is never simple .It cleared some myths too.It was not like Gandhi had no time ,or no compassion for his child or that Harilal did not love his father .Time and again both tried to come together but nothing could be done .Than what went wrong ?May be destiny ?Harilal was heartbroken whenGandhi chose to send someone else for higher studies and yet he tried to follow his path .Gandhiji who was the epitome of truth and integerity was apalled by Harilal,moral lapses and yet he tried hard to bring him back to the mainstream .The misery of Harilal has been brought to life brilliantly by Akshaye Khanna .
This movie also made me think about so many issues life,love and success .Did Gandhi failed as a father or Harilal was not a good son ?And than what about the women ?Wife and the mother Kasturba and Gulab the silent spectators and sufferors of the tragedy in which they had no role .I think every father and every son must watch this movie .