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One great power democracy has given to us is freedom of speech. We may or may not use all the powers given to us by democracy but one power we use to fullest is freedom of speech. And you will see that everywhere from news channel to chai ki tapri, college campus to corporate world. Topic of discussions can vary from cricket team selection to reservation, education system in India to Indo-Pak talks. It's simple; when we can't do anything about it, we debate about it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We respect all. We are democracy. Hail Democracy!!!!

Generally I try to refrain from such kind of discussions but eventually I land into the middle of it. Here is the excerpt of recent discussions I was part of. Idea of this post is to collect funny (you can read "ridiculous"!!!) remarks made by people. I don't intend to hurt anyone here; indeed I was hurt, wounded and now just want to bleed here. At the end I understand you can't really categories things into rights and wrongs. That exercise is futile. So I let everyone to keep their opinion and I will keep mine.

Without much ado...Let’s get started.

1. Did "sati pratha" have any positive?

Can anyone really see any positive in this abolished system? But some in group found positives in this. They added "It was time when India used to get invaded every now and then. Men were busy to protect their motherland and if they got killed at border, it was probably good idea that their woman should go sati otherwise invaders eventually would find them and would raped them."

May be this is called "out of box thinking". But let’s stay into the box and think. "If that was the case, why only widows of soldiers would get raped. That could have been anyone.

So the men who were forcing this pratha should have asked all the women in the country to go sati. And the end they should have hanged themselves as they could neither protect their country nor could their women. Or least they should have hanged themselves to escape from homosexual instinct of invaders.

Disclaimer: I am sure, person who found this positive, don't support this pratha. Just that he is with full of "positive" thoughts.

2. Widows shaving their head, why?

Another guy found, "It is scientifically proven that hair is one of the most appealing factors for men. Socialites of that time didn't want these widows to fall victims to the libido of men".

Agree, may be first half of his argument is true (he has scientific data to prove !!!). But the conclusion drawn is equally rubbish. And if believed to be true I feel ashamed that this was part of India sometime. I am ashamed that my society was not really matured and broad minded to find better solutions to these problems. No matter today how much we boast about our growing GDP, indulge in thoughts of great Indian culture, we are not ready to fix these problem of discrimination based on sex, cast and creed(and first place we are not ready to accept that there are problems). This very mind set of our people that have crippled the societies for long.

Disclaimer: Again, person who made this point isn't necessary supporting this. He just wanted to put his "kase".

3. Is "Live in relationship” good or bad?

This was actually very matured topic for the crowd who look at “live in relationship" as "way of having sex without paying for it and enjoying togetherness without being responsible". Such discussions generally end up with, “This simply is not part of Indian culture and would you let your sister or daughter to be in live-in relationship?"

I really wonder whey Darwinian principle of evolution can't work with ideas/traditions. One that adapts with change survives and one that can’t dies. We simply can’t continue doing something because it’s our tradition. Marriage is great institute but it too has flaws (discussing that is not within the scope of this post !!!). And agree, "live in” is not answer to it. But why not to combine goods of both??

4. Girls going to pub, good or bad?

And yes, this topic straight came from "Roadies". Some Anti-Raguian made this clear that “Women are biologically weak and if they go to such places they might put themselves in danger and they won't able to protect themselves. So they should restrain from going to such places"

I don't want comment on whether going to pub is good or bad, drinking is good or not. Funny part of this discussion is "women are physically weak so they shouldn’t go to such places unless accompanied by male friends who probably can protect them in case of emergency).After that discussion whenever I see bunch of women working at construction site near my building, I ponder, “are they really physically weak?".

Disclaimer: This is rotten male chauvinist ego that smells badly. Most of men can't even protect themselves from stray dogs; forget about protecting women from goons. Go ladies go (to the pubs), after all, why only boys should have all the fun!!!!