Here’s an outline for a detailed article based on Sudha Murty’s speech, followed by the article itself:
Outline:
- Introduction
- Brief Introduction to Sudha Murty
- Overview of the Speech
- Importance of the Topics Discussed
- Personal Background
- Sudha Murty’s Experience and Achievements
- Her Nomination and Recognition
- Health Concerns for Women
- Neglect of Women’s Health
- Prevalence of Cervical Cancer
- Importance of Early Detection
- Cervical Cancer Vaccination
- Description of the Vaccine
- Success Stories and Trials
- Government Role in Implementing Vaccination Programs
- Impact of Women’s Health on Families
- Personal Stories and Observations
- Broader Social Implications
- Tourism in India
- Misconceptions about Popular Tourist Spots
- Unexplored World Heritage Sites
- Benefits of Promoting Lesser-Known Sites
- Specific Heritage Sites
- Detailed Description of Selected Sites:
- Shravanabelagola
- Mandu
- Badami Caves
- Tripura’s Unakoti
- Mizoram’s Natural Roots Bridge
- Sangameshwar Temples
- Mughal Gardens in Kashmir
- Detailed Description of Selected Sites:
- Economic and Cultural Benefits of Promoting Tourism
- Increased Revenue
- Preservation of Cultural Heritage
- Educational Value
- Conclusion
- Recap of Key Points
- Sudha Murty’s Vision for the Future
- Call to Action for the Government and Citizens
- FAQs
- What is the significance of Sudha Murty’s speech?
- How can cervical cancer be prevented?
- What are some lesser-known heritage sites in India?
- Why is tourism important for India?
- How can individuals contribute to preserving heritage sites?
Article:
| Heading | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Sudha Murty, a respected author and social worker, recently gave a heartfelt speech in the Rajya Sabha. In her speech, she highlighted two crucial topics: the importance of women’s health, particularly cervical cancer prevention, and the promotion of lesser-known heritage sites in India. This article delves into her key points, emphasizing the significance of these issues. |
| Personal Background | Sudha Murty is renowned for her extensive work in social service and literature. Nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, she expressed gratitude to the President and the Prime Minister. Her speech reflects her dedication to social causes and her deep-rooted experience in working with underprivileged communities. |
| Health Concerns for Women | Murty emphasized the often neglected health issues faced by women, particularly cervical cancer. Women tend to prioritize their families’ well-being over their own health, leading to late-stage diagnoses of serious conditions like cervical cancer. |
| Cervical Cancer Vaccination | Murty advocated for the inclusion of cervical cancer vaccinations for girls aged 9 to 14 in the national health program. She mentioned successful trials, such as one conducted with the Tamil Nadu government, highlighting the vaccine’s potential to prevent this life-threatening disease. |
| Impact of Women’s Health on Families | She shared personal observations from her work with the Infosys Foundation, emphasizing that the death of a mother significantly impacts families. Ensuring women’s health not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the social fabric. |
| Tourism in India | Murty pointed out that India’s tourism is often limited to a few famous sites like the Taj Mahal. However, India boasts a rich tapestry of heritage sites that remain unexplored and underappreciated. |
| Specific Heritage Sites | – Shravanabelagola: Known for the magnificent statue of Bahubali. – Mandu: Houses a group of beautiful monuments in Madhya Pradesh. – Badami Caves: Prototypes of many famous temples can be found here. – Unakoti: Tripura’s incredible sculptures. – Natural Roots Bridge: A marvel in Mizoram. – Sangameshwar Temples: Marvelous temples that are often overlooked. – Mughal Gardens in Kashmir: Not yet recognized as world heritage sites. |
| Economic and Cultural Benefits of Promoting Tourism | Promoting these lesser-known sites can increase tourism revenue, preserve cultural heritage, and provide educational opportunities. Enhancing infrastructure and facilities at these sites would make them more accessible and appealing to tourists. |
| Conclusion | Sudha Murty’s speech serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of women’s health and the untapped potential of India’s heritage sites. Her call to action urges the government and citizens to work together in promoting health and tourism for a better future. |
| FAQs | What is the significance of Sudha Murty’s speech? Sudha Murty’s speech highlights critical social issues: women’s health and the promotion of lesser-known heritage sites, urging collective action for improvement. How can cervical cancer be prevented? Cervical cancer can be prevented through early vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, regular screenings, and awareness about early symptoms. What are some lesser-known heritage sites in India? Sites such as Shravanabelagola, Mandu, Badami Caves, Unakoti, and the Natural Roots Bridge are examples of India’s rich but underappreciated heritage. Why is tourism important for India? Tourism boosts economic growth, preserves cultural heritage, and provides educational insights into the country’s diverse history and culture. How can individuals contribute to preserving heritage sites? Individuals can contribute by visiting these sites, spreading awareness, participating in preservation efforts, and supporting policies that protect and promote cultural heritage. |
With the detailed information above, Sudha Murty’s speech offers valuable insights and actionable suggestions to improve women’s health and promote tourism in India. Her passionate appeal serves as a beacon for positive change.
Sudha Murty’s first speech in Rajyasabha
Respected Vice Chairman, this is my first speech. It may not be perfect, but I will do my best. I have been chosen and nominated by the President of India, and I am grateful to her and our Prime Minister for announcing my name on International Women’s Day.
I always work for the poor and am always in the field, so my experience is entirely different from both sides of the house. I have been given only 5 minutes, and being a teacher, I find this slot extremely small. However, I will try to focus on two main points.
As an author, I like to use analogies to describe things. Our ancestors have said, “Where women are respected, that is where Gods reside.” I want to highlight the most important issue for women in general: their health. Women often neglect their health while taking care of their families, leading to many suffering from cervical cancers. They usually come to the hospital only in the third or fourth stage of the disease.
Having a doctor as a father and sister, I am aware of this issue. I have worked with the Infosys Foundation for the last 30 years in this particular area, and I want to suggest that we should incorporate the cervical vaccination given to girls between the ages of 9 to 14. This vaccination can prevent cervical cancers if taken by girls. I request the house to consider this suggestion, as prevention is better than cure.
My father, being a doctor, always told me that when a woman dies in the hospital, it is a count plus one, but for the family, a mother is lost forever. A man can get another wife, but children will never get another mother. Mothers play a crucial role, and cervical cancers occur more in the later part of life. I urge our government to look into this matter and consider vaccinating our girls in their teenage years, between 9 and 14. This vaccination has been developed in the West for a long time and has been given for the last 20 years. I tried one batch in my time, 10 years back, with the Government of Tamil Nadu and Dr. K. Shanta, the director of the Adyar Cancer Institute, and it worked very well. It is not expensive, and I am sure that if the government intervenes and negotiates, the cost can be brought down to 700-800 rupees per person. With our large population, this vaccination will greatly benefit our girls in the future. I request the house to convey this suggestion to the Health Minister.
My second point, which is very dear to my heart, is regarding tourism in India. We always think that Agra, Ajanta, Ellora, and the Taj Mahal are the only places everyone should see, but that is not true. Our country is vast, and there is a famous saying in Sanskrit that “Mother Earth has many diamonds.” We always neglect and care only for one, similarly in India. We have 42 world heritage sites, but we have 57 pending sites that we should focus on and promote.
Some of these important sites that I have personally visited and researched, being the daughter and granddaughter of school teachers and history teachers for the last 60 years, include:
- The marvelous statue of Gomateshwara Bahubali at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka
- The group of monuments in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
- The caves of Badami in Karnataka, which are the prototypes of any temple in India
- The Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- The Konark Temple in Odisha
These sites are not yet included in the world heritage list. In the eastern part of India, we have fantastic sculptures known as Unakoti in Tripura, which are 1,500 years old. We also have the natural roots bridge in Mizoram, which is a gift of nature. In the southern part of India, we have the complex of temples in Sangam, which are as marvelous as the Brihadeshwara Temple of Thanjavur, a world heritage site. We also have beautiful Mughal Gardens in Kashmir, where people go for film shootings but never realize their importance.
The advantages of putting these sites on the world heritage list are numerous. First, proper packages should be created to attract tourists, with good toilets and roads for their convenience. This will increase our revenue within the country. We also have a beautiful Desert Garden in the Rann of Kutch, which can only be visited during certain months of the year. We should take advantage of this.
We are proud of Buddha, the great person, and whenever I go to any country, people ask me if I am from the land of Buddha. I always say yes. He preached his first sermon in Sarnath, near Varanasi. The group of old monuments at Sarnath, which are 2,500 years old, are not yet included in the world heritage list. Similarly, Lothal in Gujarat is equivalent to Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan, but we cannot go there. We have Lal Qila and Daulat Bagh in Delhi, but Lal Qila is not a world heritage site. Lal Qila was a big port, and we should see how ships used to come there. It should be included in the world heritage list.
We have the forts of Maharashtra, where Shivaji Maharaj said “Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji” in every fight. These forts, which face the sea and have given great history to India and Maharashtra, should be included in the world heritage list. There is a beautiful island on the river Brahmaputra in Assam called Majuli (my spelling may be wrong). If this island were in another country, they would have made it the number one destination for weddings, entertainment, or enjoyment. But 90% of the people are not even aware of its existence.
When you see the old Parliament building, you say that the Westerners have come and built it. But people from India in the UK came and built it. It is nothing but a prototype of a temple built a thousand years ago in Madhya Pradesh, called the Khajuraho Temples. There is another set of temples called Ramtek, which were saved because of the Narmada river. These temples are world-class and should be included in the world heritage list.
The list is endless, but I want to conclude with the famous Gol Gumbaz of Karnataka. It was ruled by the Adil Shahis from 1400 to 1685 and is one of the marvelous things India has produced. It is a place where you can have the echo of seven times.
I have listed 57 sites, but my time is limited. As a young girl, I used to look at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rajya Sabha and always felt lucky for those who could go there and express themselves. I never knew that one day, I would stand here and talk about what I believe in.I want to conclude with a shloka that our ancestors have taught us and my grandfather taught me when I was young: “Whatever work you do, better do it with your mind, with buddhi, and with 100% concentration.” We are in a country where there is so much diverse culture, but we are all one, like five fingers make a fist. We all have that character that is very much Indian, where we may differ in dress, food, and language, but we are all one.
In my tenure, I want to serve with a single motto: “It is not my husband, it is Narayan, the God, or the God whom you believe in.” It need not be Narayan; it could be anybody. With a single-minded focus, with my mind, with my buddhi, with my concentration, and with whatever age I have (I am 74 going to be 74), but God willing, I will put my 100% into Rajya Sabha and work for the nation. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!