Viva La Woman Power

It had to take the grit and determination of a woman (nay two women) to bring to books the culprits in an honour killing of a young married couple (Manoj and Babli), on the orders of a khap(caste) panchayat in Haryana.

Their crime was to marry for love despite belonging to the same gotra (lineage), which so enraged their family members and local community that they were abducted and murdered.

Chandrapati, the widowed mother of Manoj, has earned the distinction of being the first woman in Haryana to have taken on the dreaded khap panchayat and fought a legal battle against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Chandrapati has done what even our so called leaders and administrators could not dare to do. She dared to challenge the credibility of these rural panchayats, which operate as a parallel judicial system, enforcing a brutal form of justice.

And coming to the aid of Chandrapati was another woman of substance - Vani Gopal Sharma - the additional district and sessions judge of Karnal. In a landmark judgement, she awarded the death penalty to 5 members of Babli’s family and a life sentence to the head of the khap panchayat for hatching a conspiracy to kill the couple.

In her 96 page long judgement the judge said, ‘the present case reflects a long-standing tradition of oppression against women. It has to be curbed by legislation treating honour killings as a separate offence. I wonder how such a progressive society could allow such action in the name of community honour.’

The verdict sends a strong signal to these panchayats which have become a law unto themselves, with the silent consent of politicians and policemen, in some parts of India. According to one estimate, every year, more than 100 men and women are either killed or forced to commit suicide by khaps for not adhering to traditional norms.

Even as I write this piece, there is yet more news (Hindu paper dated 1.4.2010) of an apparent honour killing of a young couple in Punjab. The victims, hailing from Firozpur, were provided police protection on orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court after marrying against their parents’ wishes. Yet, they were shot dead by 5 people in full public view near Amritsar.

The verdict in Chandrapati’s case came after a tireless three-year long legal battle by her, when her life came to a standstill. Shunned by her own people and community, she fought single handedly against social orthodoxy. Her battle for justice, despite all odds and social ostracism by the community, is a source of inspiration to all of us.

She was happy at the verdict, but wanted punishment for those also who abetted and aided the crime. She wondered ‘How can people who kill our children be trusted to mete in the controversy surrounding his alleged first marriage to a city girl.

Accompanied by his bride-to-be, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, he spoke to media persons outside her residence and declared that they would marry on April 15 as scheduled.

“I am here for my marriage and to clear my name. I will, Inshaallah, clear my name and am cooperating with the police and Indian government. I will do everything,” Shoaib told reporters at a chaotic press conference.

Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of apologising.

He also challenged Ayesha Siddiqui to come before the media, adding the world would know the truth once she comes out.

“I have never met the girl whose photographs were sent to me. I don’t know who is Ayesha. I used to call her (the girl who is claiming to be his first wife) Maha Apa and Apa means elder sister,” Shoaib said.

“I am here, why doesn’t she come before the camera, and I will answer all the questions.”

The cricketer admitted that police had taken away his passport after questioning him on the morning of April 5, but was confident that he would get it back by the evening.

“Nobody can touch me till charges against me are proved,” he said when asked if he fears arrest.

He said the Pakistani high commissioner in India spoke to him and assured him full assistance in clearing his name.

A tense-looking Sania said she was upset over the allegations, but claimed she knew the truth. “Our marriage will, Inshallah, take place on April 15. There is no question of postponing it,” she said.

“We are representing our countries in different ways, and it is very painful to speak on such matters,” Sania said.

Shoaib also termed Ayesha’s allegations “a cheap publicity gimmick”. To questions by reporters that Ayesha alleged she had got pregnant after her “marriage” with Shoaib and had had a

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By SHOBHA SHUKLA

out justice?’

Despite her rustic and traditional upbringing, Chandrapati has the wisdom and courage to proclaim that children should have the freedom to choose their life partners.

Many of us elite city folks would do well to learn a lesson or two from her. It is not uncommon for highly educated urbanites to make life hell for their grown up sons and daughters if they dare to go against their parents’ dictates - be it choosing their life partner or even a profession of their choice. I am shocked to see the belligerent attitude of affluent families when it comes to marrying outside ones’ caste, or marrying without dowry, or even refusing to abort a female foetus. It seems that, as our horizons expand, our vision is becoming narrower.

It is hoped that the newly enforced ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education’ Act will be another important step in developing progressive minds, free from social and religious bigotry and from prejudices of caste , creed and cultures. It is also hoped that the government amends the Indian Penal Code to make honour killings a separate offence with appropriate punishment.

But mere enactment of laws will not do. Enforcement of laws must be accompanied by a change in mindset. We need to educate ourselves and our children to live in peace and harmony with each other. We need many more Chandrapatis and Vanis.

“miscarriage”, Shoaib said: “Let her first prove it, and then let’s probe it.”

India market soars for business jet makers

With the number of billionaires and high net worth individuals in India growing, business jet makers are intensifying efforts to sell their aircraft in India which industry sources say will need over 250 aircraft in the next 10 years.

“We are very optimistic about India. We have good business here as India is an expanding market,” said Roger Sperry, vice president, sales, of the US-based Gulfstream.

“Earlier most of our sales were in the US, but now at least 60 percent of our sales are outside. We have built new facilities for the production of our latest offerings,” Jerry said in an interview.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. It had a record sale of 250 business jets in 2008 when recession spread worldwide. It is looking to increase its presence in the Asian market.

“Asia is the first to recover from recession. We are meeting with prospective customers,” Jerry had told IANS during the recent Hyderabad Air show.

Another player in the growing segment is Canada-based Bombardier. Its market forecast said that 1,030 deliveries will take place in the next 10 years (2009-18). And this includes 250 business jets for India and 300 for China.

“India represents tremendous opportunity for business aviation,” said Avid Dixon, Bombardier’s regional vice president, sales (Asia Pacific). Bombardier has a 24 percent market share in the region. It displayed Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 850 and Global 5000 business jets at the Hyderabad air show.

An Ernst & Young report had earlier said India forms 12 per cent of the worldwide business jets market, quoting the Brazilian executive jet manufacturer Embraer. The report said the demand for private or business jets in India is expected to grow at 50 per cent on an annual basis over the next few years.

Embraer, which has been showcasing its new mid-size jet, Legacy 500, in the country, is aiming to garner $1 billion by selling executive jets in the next 10 years.

Aviation industry reports say the demand for business jet is expected to go up by 14 percent a year in the next 10 years.

Experts say the main reason for the rise in demand is that a business aircraft is no more seen as a luxury but a tool for increased productivity. Private or business jets allow business leaders to use their time more productively.

And that’s why they say the Tata Group entered the space to start aircraft charter and fractional ownership programmes in the country and picked up a stake in BJETS - a Singapore- and Mumbai-based personal aviation provider in 2008.

According to Gulfstream, India’s present share of business jets fleet is less than one percent - 123 aircraft - of the 18,000 business jets worldwide.

The jet maker currently offers back-up support to its customers through Air Works, a maintenance, repair and overhauling (MRO) company in India.

The company will roll out by 2012 a new business jet, G650, which it says will be the biggest, fastest, longest range purpose-built business jet.

“We have successfully completed its first voyage aloft on Nov 25 last year and it is due to enter service in 2012. G650 can fly 51,000 ft and has a range of 7,000 nautical miles,” said Jerry.

Fire safety top priority during Six hundred fire department personnel are to be deployed for the Delhi Commonwealth Games and a safety drill is being charted out for various agencies, says director of the Delhi Fire Service R.C. Sharma.

Sharma told IANS: “Special fire safety training will be provided to all the agencies involved in various activities of the Games.”

The mega sporting event will take place Oct 3-14.

The training will entail minute details of fire safety like people management through announcement systems in the event of a fire, training on the usage of fire exits and primary fire extinguishing.

In all, 600 fire department personnel would be deployed for the Games. They would be stationed at the venues with fire tenders. “A minimum of one fire tender would be stationed at every venue and two or three at bigger venues,” said Sharma.

Regarding No Objection Certificates (NOC) to all Games venues, Sharma said: “When construction is over, we will check everything and only then give clearances to the buildings.

“We will also hold special fire safety drills with all agencies involved with the Games - the special training by the fire department would be part of it,” said Sharma.

Apple iPad will take time to hit Indian market

Indians craving to get their hands on the Apple iPad will have to wait for a while as it will be still some time before it becomes available in the Indian market. Experts also believe that the tablet will create a new user segment in India.

Unveiled in January, the iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read e-books and much more. The 9.7 inch touchscreen tablet is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.

The product, touted as a device between smartphone and a laptop, was officially launched in the US market recently. Prices in the US start at $499 and the most advanced model costs $829. But Indians customers who are eagerly waiting to try the ‘game changing product’, as it is often called, will have to wait for some more time.

“iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year,” said an official release.

Industry observers in the US believe the iPad could well outsell the Apple’s iPhone, launched in 2007, of which one million had been sold after 74 days on shop shelves.

However, considering price sensitive Indian market where consumers always look for a package product seeking maximum features in lowest possible amount, iPad may remain limited to the upper middle class segment only.

According to technology experts, besides the great features iPad has constraints too like it cannot multi-task, doesn’t have a external keyboard, disk drive or a USB drive.

The experts believe it would create a niche market for itself and emerge as a lifestyle product and not a mass product in India. “This product will create a new class. But given the Indian market scenario, iPad it is not going to have a mass market. It will be a niche product ... it will be a lifestyle product

...,” said Akhilesh Tuteja, executive director KPMG, a consulting firm.

“To start with, it will have buyers who would like to experience it. It will create a class of its own. For a complete experience, one needs to have peripherals. But iPad doesn’t have an external keyboard, no USB drive and disk drive,” Tuteja told IANS.

Explaining further, Tuteja said the secret to iPad’s success lies in the applications.

“The product is not the game changer. It is the applications on it, that would change the game and may take away the need of carrying laptop,” Tuteja added.

Mahesh Uppal, a telecommunication expert, said: “It is a very powerful product. Once 3G (third generation) services are in place in Indian market, then it will be much better.”

After it was unveiled by Apple in January, iPad was stated to be the next big thing to hit the market after iPhone. Creating a new segment, the device tries to blend in best features of a laptop, smartphone, book reader and offers a number of other services.

Technology lovers in India are keenly waiting to experience the new age device. Sudipto Roy, 31, who works in a multinational firm in Noida, said: “Since the day iPad was launched, I have been waiting for it. I can’t wait for months for its launch in India. I will ask my friend coming from US next month.”

Meanwhile, Apple has already geared up to provide thousands of applications for iPad users.

The App Store, a service by Apple, on iPad lets people wirelessly browse, buy and download new applications from the world’s largest application store. iPad will run almost all of the more than 150,000 applications on the App Store, including applications already purchased for iPhone or iPod touch.

Developers are already creating new applications designed for iPad that take advantage of its multi-touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The new iBooks application for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, where one can buy and read books on it. The iTunes store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalogue of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in stunning high definition.

Manmohan in US soon for n-security summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will soon join 43 global leaders in Washington for a summit on nuclear safety that aims to strengthen the mechanism to prevent nuclear devices from falling into the hands of terrorists.

The summit is being held at the initiative of US President Barack Obama.

Speaking to reporters on April 4, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India saw the summit as an “important element in strengthening the international resolve to cooperate on nuclear security and supporting the expanded use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

“This will be to India’s benefit, given our concerns on terrorism as well as our interest in the expansion of civil nuclear energy,” she said, adding: “We have welcomed this initiative and have contributed substantively to the summit’s preparations.”

The prime minister will reach Washington on the afternoon of April 12 and attend a dinner hosted at the White House for the 40-plus visiting leaders, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese Premier Hu Jintao.

“The discussions at the dinner will focus on the threat of nuclear terrorism, the primary reason why the summit has been convened,” said Rao.

When asked if the summit will discuss Iran’s or Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Rao noted that the meeting was “not about a country-specific situation”.

To a question on Iran not being invited to the summit as it was not a “responsible” nation, Rao asserted, “Iran is a responsible country”.

On April 13, there will be two plenary sessions focusing on national measures and on international cooperation to enhance nuclear security, which will be attended leaders from 44 countries.

A working lunch would be addressed by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano.

The summit will conclude with the release of an outcome document, which has been under negotiations for the last six months by senior officials, called Sherpas.

“I have led a team of DAE (department of atomic energy) and MEA (ministry of external affairs) officials in discussions on the summit outcome at meetings of the Sherpas in Tokyo and The Hague. The Sherpas will also meet in Washington on the eve of the summit,” Rao said.

On India’s participation in international efforts to curb nuclear terrorism, Rao pointed out that New Delhi had been “piloting” a resolution at United Nations to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

“We are also active in the works of IAEA on setting and enforcing standards on physical protection of nuclear material and facilities as well as on combating illicit trafficking in nuclear material,” she said.

India is also party to international treaties like the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its

2005 amendment and is also participating in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

India is in the midst of a surge in civil nuclear energy production, after it got an exception from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008 to take part in nuclear trade despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty.

The catalyst for the process had been the bilateral agreement between India and US for civilian nuclear cooperation.

Since then, India has signed several agreements with other countries like Russia, France and Kazakhstan.

However, India has concerns about the safety of nuclear installations in Pakistan, which has been the location of activity of several Islamist terror groups.

India had previously also raised objections over the network of A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, which had been active in providing technology and materials in countries like North Korea and Libya.

Doctors walk in Delhi to promote organ

Every year Indians need 100,000 organ transplants, but a meagre 4,000 are being done due to lack of donors. And to create awareness and to promote organ donation, doctors and students recently came together in Delhi for a two-km walk.

The participants of the ‘Donorthon 2010’, walked the two-km stretch near the Akshardham temple in east Delhi.

“Pledging your organs for donation can help save a lot of lives. A single brain dead person can donate as many as 30 organs and tissues and save as many as six lives,” said A.S.Soin, director of liver transplantation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.

“We need to raise awareness levels so as to ensure that more and more people pledge to donate their organs after death. It is a matter of great concern that the organ donation rate in the country is among the lowest anywhere despite India having the largest number of potential donors in the world,” Soin said. comprehensive.

They said party president Sonia Gandhi, who was made chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) March 28, was keen on the bill addressing concerns regarding nutritional security of women, children and other vulnerable sections.

“

‘Donorthon 2010’ is an attempt to kickstart a process that will hopefully trigger a change of attitude vis-a-vis organ donation and through this help save a lot of lives,” he added.

It is estimated that around 25,000 people need to donate their organs every year to fulfill country’s transplant needs.

Food security bill should provide maximum benefit: Congress

Just before the empowered group of ministers meeting to re-look the national food security bill, the Congress has said that the proposed legislation should provide maximum benefits to the needy sections of society.

“The needy sections of society should get maximum benefits,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told IANS.

He said that present entitlement of below poverty line (BPL) families should be protected under the proposed legislation. Citing media reports, Ahmed said the draft bill cleared by the ministers’ group last month had proposed 25 kg of wheat or rice per month at Rs.3 a kg to BPL families but they got 35 kg of foodgrain every month through the public distribution system.

Some NGOs and activists had described the draft food security bill as “minimalist” and had sought an expansion in its scope. Congress sources said that party leadership also wanted the bill - a flagship programme of the United Progressive Alliance government in its second term - to be more

And now, a Mayawati temple

If all goes well, Uttar Pradesh will soon get a temple dedicated to Chief Minister and Dalit icon Mayawati, whose statues already dot the sprawling state.

The temple is proposed to be erected in the poverty-stricken Mahoba district in Bundelkhand, economically the most backward region in Uttar Pradesh. It will come up in Natpura village, about 300 km from the capital.

“Of course, we are planning to install her idol in the temple that will come up on my private land,” Kanaihya Lal, a Mahobabased lawyer, said in a telephone interview. Lal is not a functionary of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but a Dalit. He says he got provoked by the hue and cry over a garland of currency notes gifted to Mayawati on her birthday last month.

“If her critics take exception to a garland of currency notes, I wish to say that we are all set to build a temple where her followers will be free to offer such garlands every day,” he said.

He says: “Indira Gandhi was weighed in silver way back in the 70s in Mahoba. But no one found that outrageous. Just because (Mayawati) is a ‘Dalit ki beti’ (daughter of a Dalit), all hell seems to have broken loose.”

Local officials have told him that since the proposed idol in the temple would be that of a living person, it would be appropriate to obtain formal permission from the person.

“Under the circumstances, I will now move a request to the chief minister through the district BSP coordinator,” Lal said.

‘Clean Ganga’ campaign kicked-off in Uttarakhand

Taking a pledge to cleanse the Ganga river from its source in the Himalayas and along its journey to the Bay of Bengal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank got some popular celebrities to kick off his new “Sparsh Ganga” campaign recently.

While declaring Bollywood actors Hema Malini and Vivek Oberoi as “brand ambassadors” for the campaign, Nishank also sought support of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama as well as popular yoga guru Swami Ramdev, both who were present at the ceremony on the Ganga banks at Parmarth Niketan here.

The chief minister also invited Christian priest Father Dominique as well as Swami Agnivesh.

Former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani too joined in along with other prominent BJP leaders including Pokhriyal’s predecessor, Maj.Gen. (retd) B.C. Khanduri.

The name “Sparsh Ganga” was coined by Nishank himself, whose book with the same title was released by Advani at the function. Speaking on the occasion, Advani gave a call for shunning plastic all along the route of the Ganga river. “It is high time that the laws against dumping of plastic and chemicals or industrial effluents were enforced sternly along the Ganga that is a source of life for all of us.”

Nishank also emphasised the need for undertaking plantations all along the banks of the Ganga.

“This campaign for cleaning of the Ganga will not remain confined to the official machinery, but will also seek involvement of common people living all along the river.”

He proposes to seek participation of different states in making the campaign a success. “As a part of this endeavour, we also propose to invite all other state governments to adopt certain areas for undertaking plantation of trees in the upper reaches of the Himalayan state including Badrinath,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Dalai Lama expressed deep concern over the depleting Gangotri glacier - the course of the Ganga river.

“Unless we get down with sincere commitment and dedication to protect our environment, we are going to face difficult times ahead and water crisis is going to be one of these major problems,” he pointed out.

Swami Agnivesh described the Ganga as a “symbol of the earth’s environment”, while Parmarth Niketan chief Swami Chidanand Muni termed it as “not just a river but a national heritage.”

India happy with progress on access to Headley

India is satisfied with the progress of talks with the US over access to PakistanAmerican terror suspect David Headley, who is linked to the Mumbai terror attack, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said recently.

“We are satisfied with the progress these negotiations have made,” Rao told media, referring to the activist of the Pakistanbased group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). She pointed out that there had been good cooperation between India and the US in counter terrorism, adding that Indian agencies and the home ministry were in talks with their US counterparts over access to

Headley.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram has stated repeatedly that it wanted access to Headley, who scouted for locations in Mumbai and other places in India for the LeT to attack.

Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Friday said that while the US was committed to “full information sharing”, no decision had been made on direct access to Headley for Indian investigators.

“And you know, the US Department of Justice is working with the government of India to discuss the modalities for such cooperation. But again, no decision has been made on that,” he said.

Ten Pakistani terrorists belonging to the LeT sneaked into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a killing spree, leaving 166 foreigners as well as Indians dead.

Operation Khoj in Kashmir the biggest against terrorists

A senior army commander claimed on April 3 that the latest operation against terrorists in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir was one of the biggest in recent years.

The operation was codenamed ‘Operation Khoj’ or operation search. It started on March 27 and went on till April 2.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of counter insurgency Uniform Force Major General M.M.S. Rai told reporters in Reasi Saturday that the offensive against terrorists left 16 terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) dead in the past one week and six soldiers also lost their lives in gun battles with the terrorists.

“This was one of the biggest operations in Rajouri in recent years,” he said. He claimed that the “army acted swiftly and in time and neutralized the terrorists before they could move up in hills and cause any major damage.”

“During these operations we have eliminated all the 16 militants in four different encounters and this was possible due to the cooperation of Jammu and Kashmir police and other paramilitary forces, particularly Central Reserve Police Force.”

The army also recovered satellite phones, AK-47 rifles from the militants. “All the terrorists belonged to the LeT group,” he said.

Gen. Rai said that the army has stepped up its vigil and all the major routes were being “intensely patrolled”.

Four terrorists and an army soldier were killed in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The first contact with the militants was made in Dharmsal area of Kalakote in Rajouri March 27 and two terrorists were killed. The second contact took place in Thrayth on ATuesday, triggering an 18-hour gun battle that lasted into Wednesday and left four guerrillas and three soldiers dead.

Six terrorists were killed in Rajouri district Thursday.

‘Marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate’

Be they arranged marriages or those out of love, breakups are on the rise in India. Marriage counselling, therefore, is becoming a necessity before one says “I do”, says counsellor and author Geeta Maheshwari.

“I am a marriage counsellor and from my experience I can say that the top reasons why marriages today are breaking up are mostly lifestyle-related,” Maheshwari, a psychiatrist and marriage counsellor, told IANS.

“For instance, most couples opt to have one child these days, taking care of all his or her needs. So much so that the child is not equipped to handle his or her problems. Then, the tolerance level has gone down - people have less patience to deal with issues that may be crucial to sort out one’s marriage,” she added.

“In the earlier days, divorce was taboo, but now you have people proudly flaunting their divorcee status. This change in psyche is also one of the reasons for people not taking this institution too seriously,” Maheshwari added.

“Marriages are breaking up at an alarming rate these days. Almost 40 percent of Indian marriages, especially in metros, are heading for a breakup,” she said.

While some may believe that arranged marriages have more chances of developing complications since the partners may not know each other very well, Maheshwari said love marriages are no exception in the break-up trend.

“In love marriages, you may have dated for a while, but you should remember that during those times your partner was at his or her best behaviour. You actually come to know a person when you start living with him or her day in day out.

Love marriages therefore are no exception in this worrying trend,” she said.

Considering the current scenario, Maheshwari said marriage counselling is becoming a necessity.

“Marriage counselling is very important these days. Although there are more and more couples coming for counselling before marriage, most people still think that it’s not really important. Since these things affect everyone, I decided to write a book which gives basic tips on how to improve the quality of one’s married life,” she said.

Maheshwari’s book “The Happy Marriage Mantra” (Northern Book Centre/Rs 500) was recently launched by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The book, she said, has 26 chapters on how to make a marriage work. For instance, there’s one chapter on acceptance of your spouse, one on how to deal with the spouse’s ex and yet another one on how important it is to have a zeal for life. There is also a chapter on the myths of marriage.

“My daughter got married this January and instead of buying her a bulk of clothes, I gifted her the draft of this book so that the chances of her having a happy marriage increase. Every marriage is unique and has unique problems, but there are some issues which span across all,” Maheshwari said.

After this book, the counsellor-turnedauthor said she is going to write two more books - on how to repair one’s marriage and life after divorce.

“Divorce is tough and one should try and make their marriage work. But if is inevitable, there is life after that phase too and that’s what my third book will be all about,” she said.