Feature
Why did Saraswati disappear? Mythical river raises questions today
I don’t often write about mythology. It’s today’s stories that engage me. Yet I found myself suddenly drawn to an ancient story. What drew me in was how relevant the questions it raises are today. Especially today.
One of the stories around why the River Saraswati is subterranean goes like this: Brahma gave birth to Saraswati from his forehead. As she leapt out, he was so taken up by her beauty that he “fell in love” and started to pursue her. Horrified at the advances of her father, Saraswati fled and disappeared underground. She may or may not have made a brief appearance, there are different versions of that story. But all versions agree she had to disappear once again. Never to surface again.
So, what’s the connection of a mythical river with what’s happening today? For me, it is the fact that Brahma continues to be worshipped as a god (yes, let’s put that in a small ‘g’ and not dignify it with a reverent capital letter). And she, poor thing, spent her life fleeing the lustful gaze or worse of her own father. And, gradually, had to hide herself away altogether and almost cease to exist. So much so, that people began to wonder if she ever was.
The question that is so relevant is why does the burden of “shame” rest upon the victim, especially one who has suffered sexual advances? Why does the perpetrator of sexual excesses continue to be whatever he was ordained to be, attain whatever his life’s goals were and the victim becomes defined by the crime she suffered till she is forced to protect herself by negating whatever she was or wanted to be?
If men cannot control their urges upon seeing a beautiful girl, let them wear blindfolds. Why should women hide themselves behind ghungats and burkhas? If men get so excited seeing a woman alone at night, let them be indoors before sunset — why do the women have to do so? I cannot help but think that our morality is upside down and inside out.
Some time ago, I had written an article on the need for stories about sexual assault and rape for young readers, for that is the group of people who I work with and for. I had an overwhelming response from total strangers and dear friends urging me to write it and wishing they had such a story when they were being sexually victimised.
Many confessed for the very first time that this had happened to them — they had had no platform to talk. Others had actually told an adult, sometimes a mother, about the assault and they had been told to be quiet about it and make sure that they were never alone with the man again.
Again, the burden of protection and shame became the victim’s to carry. The criminal, because surely that is what he is, went scot free much of the time.
And yes, I don’t believe in trial by social media either. The converse situation is also true. Men who are being named in the #MeToo storm should also get equal recourse to tell their stories. I don’t agree with giving one half voice by taking away the others’ voice. But let’s take away the burden of shame and silence from victims and help Saraswati flow free and wild again.
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
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