Three separate news-items…all exposing in harsh relief, the alternate feelings of hopelessness, despair, frustration and anger I feel as I read the news each morning.

First, from the Indian Express, “Girls throw acid on boys to prevent molestation”

Siddharthnagar (UP), May 3: Two youths suffered burn injuries when two girls threw acid on them as the duo was allegedly trying to molest them, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place when the youths allegedly barged into the girls’ house in Shoharatgarh town in the district last night and tried to molest them, police said.

The disgusting thing though is that:

The injured youths, however, came back to the house with other boys and thrashed the girls, they said.

The girls had identified the two and efforts were on to nab them, police added.

Now I am not advocating that every single girl in India keeps a few ml of acid ready for any adverse situation but I cannot help admiring the gumption and courage of these young girls.

On Rediff, in a very well researched article, “And India stretches out its bowl again“, TVR Shenoy�exposes the incompetence of the government and callous indifference of babu-dom to the plight of the common man who is likely going to face another round of crippling inflation of the price of daal-roti – quite literally. Good read.

Finally, in Outlook, Rajinder Puri has written a searing commentary on the state of affairs in the top echelons of the government which filled me with disgust.

In “Anatomy of Corruption” he�details how an upright whistle-blower ended up being harassed, with his career ruined.. He says in conclusion:�

Although eventually vindicated, Tiwana�s last 12 years in service were spent under a cloud. His crime? Discharging his official duty, he blew the whistle. (N) Vittal and Gopalswamy (CEC) never seriously pursued the evidence that might have exposed a corruption conspiracy involving powerful politicians. Their reward? Both rose to occupy constitutional posts. Vittal retired as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Gopalswamy is the current Chief Election Commissioner. Who, then, thrives in our system � whistleblowers or facilitators?

Something to think about