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Indians in Germany hold candle-light vigil for Nirbhaya ‘We join our countrymen in mourning and protest’

Scores of Indians living in Germany accompanied by a good number of German citizens organized a candle-light vigil Lohr am Main, Germany in memory of Nirbhaya, the girl gang-raped in a tragic incident in Delhi. The candle-light vigil which was a tribute to Damini and also an avowal from Indians in Germany to join the public calls of protest and demands of stringent punishment to the guilty in our country. The participants of the candle-light vigil said Indians living in Germany join their countrymen to demand a secure environment, dignity and protection of women in the country. The participants of the event said like many other Western countries, people in Germany were appreciative of Indian culture and the social mores, but the brutal rape and murder of Nirbhaya and series of incidents of violence against women in other states has made the Indians in Germany hang their heads in shame. They said like other Indians spread all across the globe they are deeply anguished and agitated over the non-functional and dysfunctional organs/ departments of the government including Police. “We believe that lackadaisical approach by those who have the legal and constitutional duty to protect women and punish the offenders not only encourages the perpetrators to commit crimes against women but helps them to escape from the clutches of law,” said Indu Jalali who had organised the event alongwith other Indians and German friends. The participants extended their solidarity with Nirbhaya, her family and friends and demanded speedy trial of those involved in this heinous crime. “We offered to provide all kind of support, to the victim’s family and we will be privileged if it is accepted,” they maintained.

Fight for Justice is On !

Date - 06 January 2013 4 pm CET

 

Indians in Germany hold candle-light vigil for Nirbhaya. ‘We join our countrymen in mourning and protest’
 

Scores of Indians living in Germany accompanied by a good number of German citizens organized a candle-light vigil Lohr am Main, Germany in memory of Nirbhaya, the girl gang-raped in a tragic incident in Delhi. The candle-light vigil which was a tribute to Nirbhaya and also an avowal from Indians in Germany to join the public calls of protest and demands of stringent punishment to the guilty in our country. The participants of the candle-light vigil said Indians living in Germany join their countrymen to demand a secure environment, dignity and protection of women in the country. The participants of the event said like many other Western countries, people in Germany were appreciative of Indian culture and the social mores, but the brutal rape and murder of Nirbhaya and series of incidents of violence against women in other states has made the Indians in Germany hang their heads in shame. They said like other Indians spread all across the globe they are deeply anguished and agitated over the non-functional and dysfunctional organs/ departments of the government including Police.

“We believe that lackadaisical approach by those who have the legal and constitutional duty to protect women and punish the offenders not only encourages the perpetrators to commit crimes against women but helps them to escape from the clutches of law,” said Indu Jalali who had organized the event along with other Indians and German friends. The participants extended their solidarity with Nirbhaya, her family and friends and demanded speedy trial of those involved in this heinous crime. “We offered to provide all kind of support, to the victim’s family and we will be privileged if it is accepted,” they maintained. 

Pics from the candle light vigil - A Tribute to Nirbhaya 

Reference to Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/396646280416530/

Weihnacht's Wonder

Birth of Jesus

Ever since I was a kid, was fascinated by Christmas and Lord Jesus. Maybe it started at school which was a Missionary, but till today fascination for the same has remained. Whenever Christmas was to come in Kashmir all of a sudden my woes would vanish in thin air and I would shine like a star! Christmas in Kashmir meant Cake from Jan bakery and going to church with my Bade Papa who was the only member of my family who encouraged me to follow what my heart likes. Ah! I felt like a queen on this day moving around in a chauffeur driven car then buying candle then praying before the Lord and then cutting the cake and distributing it among family. Unfortunately, due to migration I no longer could celebrate this Day. I don't know with loosing a home I somewhere lost the enthusiasm and faith. Hence Christmas was never ever celebrated again till the time I shifted to Germany. But the pain of not celebrating it kept tickling me.

Weihnachtsbeleuchtung

Mutter Maria

Germany gave me a new lease of life and gave me back my dreams to follow. Germany! Thank you so much. I love you and owe a lot to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Germany, Christmas is called Weihnacht and the celebration for the same starts one month before. The entire city is illuminated with lights and from place to place you will find Weihnachtsmarket. In-fact Nürnberg holds the world's biggest Weihnacht's market. Laks and lacs of people travel to this part of the Germany only to have a glimpse of this market, in Winter.

Bayrische Schanz

Illumination

I live in "Main Spessart" and we also have these markets. One such famous market is held in the middle of "Main Spessart" and is called "Bayrische Schanz Weihnachtsmarkt". It is really beautiful and if there is snow then it becomes magical.

In these markets you see all kinds of things made of normally wood, glass and stone with you can decorate your home, your tree or wherever you want to!. The specialty of these markets is a special type of Wine which is called Glühwein. This is a hot wine cooked in herbs like cinnamon, cloves, honey etc.. Trust me, it tastes like Divine and within no seconds after drinking it you are on top of the world:). Also don't forget to taste Lebkuchen - A traditional German baked Christmas treat, somewhat resembling gingerbread and the ingredients for the same usually include honey and spices such as aniseed, coriander, cloves, ginger, cardamom and nuts including almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts, or candied fruit.

Main Spessart

Weihnachtsmarkt

Weihnachtsmarkt

Wooden and Stone Figures

Holzkrippe

Hand made Decorations

Licht Sterne

Stein Pilz

All these wonderful things and the atmosphere, filled with peace, happiness, joy and hope forced me to celebrate one of my favorite festival, once again!. I realized how much i have been missing in my life by not embracing it. Christmas has made me alive again and it has spread happiness and joy in my life. Though, I lost my Home, my School, my Jan Baker, my Church and above all my Bade Papa but that inner peace and happiness was brought back by this wonderful, wonderful festival.

Let this Christmas fill your hearts with love, joy, peace and happiness and hope it does wonders for you, the way it has for me!!!

What will you name it ?

I came to Germany 4 years back and the moment I kept my foot down I fell in love with it. I found Germany so similar to my Homeland, Kashmir. There and then I decided to make it my second home. My resolution further strengthened when I met Germans first time. I found them so friendly and straightforward. Though with the language barrier initially made my settling down a little hard but with the help and support from my German landlord and neighbors our stay out here started becoming comfortable and we felt soon at home.

During these years I came across many Germans and really started admiring them for their openness, warmth, hard-work and love and respect for humanity. Considering their history, this was the great and a welcoming surprise for me. I personally never ever faced any problem what so ever. Hence me and my partner decided to stick with our decision of making it our second home.

However on 31^st December, 2011 three of our friends had gone to Airport, a DISCOTHEQUE in Würzburg, Germany to celebrate NEW YEAR EVE but after 10mins security guards along with the Manageress of the Disc came to them and asked them to leave immediately. When they asked the reason they were told that THE GERMANS OVER HERE ARE NOT LIKING YOUR PRESENCE. They couldn't believe what they had heard but nevertheless without creating a scene they left. One of the guys who had just opened his beer bottle requested the security to let him finish his drink but even that was not allowed and before leaving the 3 of them were handed their money back. They were in total shock and could not actually believe that such a thing could happen in today's time .

When I heard about it even me for a minute could not believe that such a thing could have happened. I told my hubby that maybe your friends did something to receive this kind of treatment but when I personally discussed the incident with them I realized how wrong I was in judging them. There and then I decided to take it up and make sure such an incident never ever happens again in future with anyone. If I keep quite this time maybe tomorrow I may have to go through it. For my integrity and my self respect I decided to fight it out.


We lodged our complaint with the German Police, informed the German Press and got in touch with the local town council members. Who did their investigation and found that the Airport authorities accept this incident taking place inside the Disc but the reason they give is, that there were 3 Indians few days back in the disc who turned to be the pick-pocketers so the Disc staff thought that these Indians were the same pick-pocketers hence this kind of reaction. WHAT AN EYE WASH ?.

Anyways most amazing part for me after 31^st December, 2011, was, that one of the victims who says he is son of a bureaucrat decided to chicken out for taking any legal action against the disc authorities saying that his bureaucratic father has told him that " tum 6 mahene ke liya gaye ho ,kyon pango mein pad rahe ho,chup chap beetho aur kaam khatam kar ke vapas aa jao". Believe me, on hearing such a statement from an Indian bureaucrat, was more shocking and sickening, then hearing the incident itself. No wonder Indian bureaucrats are sucking the NATION but thank God we have people like Anna who can make the difference.Also interesting is that none of the Indian living in Germany (we have many around us) till now has approached us with any form of support !!!

But one guy from these 3 people has nerves and is gutsy. He decided to take it up along with me and  promised that we will take it up till its logical end. I realized again that a common man can actually make it, if he or she wants to !!! Hats off to him.

We have got support from Newspapers, TV Channels and also form the Local Authorities and people, who all agree that what happened in AIRPORT was Racism and should not be tolerated any more. We have assurance (minus Indians here) of full cooperation from our all quarters and even financial and legal assistance.

Whether we emerge as winner's or not we don't know but I will have one satisfaction that I didn't keep quite and closed my eyes. We have sown seed and If not today but tomorrow it will surely make a difference and we will hopefully hear no more about the incidents like that of  Anuj Bidve, Nitin Garg, Pradeep Singh, AIRPORT and so on, where Racism played dirty.

PLEASE STAND UP AND SAY NO TO RACISM.TODAY IT IS HIM, TOMORROW IT IS ME AND YOU !!!

RACISM in any form and in any part of world is not acceptable and we should stand up against it and say a big NO.

Link to article in regional press: Rauswurf aus der Disco: Verwechslung?