Life is like that

Guardians of development!

2011-03-09T19:05:00.005+05:30

Recently, at my residence I had a few 'friends' who assumed I’d be as free as they were. Masquerading as altruists, a few attempted glibly to persuade me into doing things they considered society-centered, hinting insinuatingly that I was selfish and self centered. One or two who were loud-mouthed (pun intended) even raised their voice to pressurize me into toeing their line despite telling them I had had enough of their cock and bull stories. And there was one wisecrack who even accused me of being frustrated (with what, I can't fathom) and embarked on a polemic on these terms- frustration and concerns. This "aristotle' had the cheek to pronounce with utmost finality and so intelligently that anyone who expressed or even had concerns about things must be frustrated. Under what philosophical line of thought did he proclaim so is very intriguing, even today. Had he said disgusted, yes disgusted with what was happening around I would have readily agreed with him. May be even grabbed this mumbo-jumbo's hand and said "Yes boss, you are a genius." Sadly, he didn't give that opportunity to me. Anyways, what really upsets me is the assumption that one makes about people depending on the job they do. When someone says, Look, man I don't have the time for you, why can't people simply go? The unwillingness to spend time on things may be for several reasons. May be I don't believe in things that you do, or may be I have better things to do or may be I have more important things to do or may be I simply don't want to be part of this hocus-pocus in the facade of 'development'. What airs, my God with which these roosters strut about! Hope better sense prevails on these society conscious guardians! My appreciation is also due to those who patiently and silently heard me out without uttering a single word; may be they thought I was being unreasonable or unduly critical or who knows they probably thought I was voicing their concerns, too.

trying to catch up

2011-02-16T19:13:00.002+05:30

My god! it's been ages since my last post and not that i wasn't aware of it. Needless to say that i was busy otherwise, what with academic, admin and research work. No jokes, i'm absolutely serious. So thought i 'll catch up with you even if it is simply to tell you that i've been busy. I'm envious of my other friends who, despite their work manage to blog. God bless that bunch! The thinking subjectivities symposium organized by the department went off well and i'm glad there was lot of student participation. The symposium brought in several perspectives, which at times were startling as many things in the past we had taken for granted. The discussions, in some enhanced the already existing confusion but i guess that was to be especially when such topics are discussed. On the whole it was a fruitful endeavour and my colleague PK, the convenor really needs to be appreciated. Christ University in Bangalore is becoming increasingly alive with academic and non academic activities and that is a very healthy sign indeed! Credit must go to all, the student community in particular.

'Decent' living....

2010-07-08T20:06:00.003+05:30

Had an interesting discussion in class today. The stimulus actually was a question posed to the listeners of one of the many FM Radio stations in Bangalore. "How much money does one need per month to live a decent life in Bangalore?" I was curious to know the responses. The techie crowd that had tuned in to the station did not belie my expectations. Some said one lakh and a few others said two lakhs. The techies were just being true to thier extravagant and flamboyant life style. Reaching college i thought i must get my students' views on this. How much money do you need per month to live a decent life in Bangalore? Inwardly i was hoping to get a realistic answer. As students how much they can spend every month,i thought even if it means an occasional splurge... Again my hopes were belied. They chorussed the same... one lakh, maybe two max...Seems like for today's youth living in cosmopolitan cities thousands don't count at all or may be they don't even exist. What a seachange in the attitude of the generation of today compared to the previous ones! Probably their understanding of the word decent is quite different from the one that i have. The impact of the consumerist culture is so strong among the urban youth that at times one wonders if even talking to them about value systems that we all often talk about like responsible living without being excessively self centered with a strong sense of social responsibility would only evoke laughter and derision.

Kudos to the aspiring journalists

2010-06-30T20:15:00.001+05:30

Had the inauguration of the Journalism association of the University. Dr Chengappa, a journalist cum political scientist was the Chief Guest. Students participated in large numbers and it was a refreshing sight. Hopefully they continue and sustain the momentum as oftentimes the initial euphoria slowly in due course of time disappears. Let the students organize more such programmes and let the spirit of inquiry flourish. All the best!!!

Bicycle Thieves

2010-06-20T18:38:00.001+05:30

Got to watch Bicycle Thieves once again.,,,.after almost two decades, thanks to the initiative taken by the MSComm students of the University led by Fr.Biju. The movie continues to impact despite the passage of time. Not surprising at all considering the fact that the theme is universal or should I say eternal. Not many of us however brought this up during the discussion – the relevance of the film to our contemporary situation. The agony and anger of post-war poverty, the director depicted clearly and the shame and guilt experienced by the protagonist at the climax- very poignant they were. Who is a thief? What makes one a thief? Who is to blame for making a perfectly decent, law abiding citizen into a law breaker? Still waiting for answers.

Welcome to Christ!

2010-06-14T20:45:00.002+05:30

I guess it's time to break the silence. Time to renew the commitment to the profession - at the beginning of yet another wonderful year. Was happy to see so many new, anxious faces in the auditorium- took me back to my college days.

These are beautiful days, you know...one's college days, yes. But some of you will take time to experience that beauty - beauty in the campus, in the teachers, in the chosen course, in the system - in everything that you will come in contact with. My only request to all of you is this ...Take time to understand...be patient and comprehension will not elude you... and beauty will not deceive you. A beautiful quote for you.....

"Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your
thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a
goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement
and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness,
and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to
success."

-- Brian Adams

WISH ALL THE CHRISTITES GOOD LUCK!

The 26/11 mania!

2009-11-25T18:47:00.002+05:30

There’s so much talk about 26/11 – have we changed as a nation after a year? How prepared are we to face another such attack? – many more such questions are hurled at us by the media - especially by the electronic media. Many channels are working overtime, interviewing students and working professionals- in other words gearing up for the D-day 26th November. The way it is done one gets an impression of celebrating a festival that one has been eagerly looking forward to. Some have started rerunning all the available footage of the fateful day in their prime time programmes with eminent panelists analyzing the sequences threadbare. In all these attempts to replay in our minds the horrendous scenes of that day there seems a vulgar motive. Is the media trying to inform and educate the public so as to help us become more alert, more vigilant? Is the media suggesting to the government concrete measures to avoid or tackle such problems in future? Ideally, after all that had happened one would wish it were so – that our media, the fourth estate would act more responsibly instead of resorting to rhetoric and gimmicks almost amounting to vulgarity. But, unfortunately it is the same old story being played again and again. And mind you, tomorrow the 26th is going to be worse…from morning to night our media is going to feed us on this sickening diet all the time hoping for another such story that would give them yet another 62 hours of non-stop sensationalism. Justice Liberhan’s recommendations for the working of the media are quite relevant in this context. How is the media to be held responsible and accountable? What measures are in place to deal with irresponsible people (Liberhan’s choice of expression for this is yellow journalism) in the field of media? Will the media respond positively to the suggestions made or will it a turn a blind eye to them and continue to live in their ivory tower assuming that all is well with them?

Date with a Woman

2009-10-30T10:33:00.002+05:30

Of late may mail box is filled with all kinds of mail….offers, loans, advice, tips on savings and what not! Some have also tried very hard to make me a millionaire. Successfully I have resisted the temptation or else I would have lost even the little that I have. Well..today I received an interesting mail from a friend that I thought I must share with you– on reading it I became very emotional…very nostalgic. Signs of old age? Perhaps! But the fact is, very often in life most of us realize the importance of people, even our dear ones only after they are gone. We just take them for granted when they are alive, one’s family, children and parents for example. The common excuse is ‘Where is the time?’ But sadly, when the time may come it may be a little too late. Wouldn’t our life be more meaningful and joyful if we spent a little more time, a little more thought, a little more attention when it is needed…? Read on…

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to
dinner and a movie.. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you too and would love to spend some time with you. The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. 'What's wrong, are you well?,' she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. 'I thought that it would be pleasant to be with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.’ She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much...'That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on.. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.

'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,'she said, as she got into the car. 'They can't wait to hear about our meeting'. We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Large print.Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me: a nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed. 'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice.Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.' At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU! and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'

How Much Does One Need?

2009-10-22T10:34:00.001+05:30

Is there a limit to one’s needs or wants? I know it’s an age old question that has never been answered convincingly. The recent controversies involving Sashi Tharoor and our Indian CEOs have made me revisit the much explored realm one more time. I must admit I had high regards for Tharoor as an intellectual, as a writer and as an individual till a few months ago. Frankly not any more… In the first issue relating to his stay in a luxury hotel I thought his response was utterly ridiculous and extremely irresponsible. In the second issue, too as regards his ‘cattle class’ remarks, sadly his years of experience as a diplomat failed him miserably. Well, this is one section –a highly educated group of our nation leading us from the political front. There is another such group on the business front already rich, filthy rich If I may add, and yet wanting more and more, so much so their salaries and their demands for more are labeled vulgar. We are a nation of sharp contrasts: on one side there is abject poverty and on other there is vulgar display of opulence. In the list of the world’s richest people India stands fourth and yet it is in our own country that we see so much deprivation. How are we to bridge this gap? At what point of time in one’s life does ‘more’ has no more value? I’m reminded of Tolstoy’s Pahom in How Much Land Does a Man need?

Inspiring students!

2009-07-21T13:21:00.002+05:30

Students are a great source of inspiration….sometimes in the classroom but most of the time outside of it. Within the walls of classrooms not many volunteer to express themselves, but outside everyone wants to have a go at everything.

Got a mail from an old student today who took me back some years in the past…this one was different…. this was one who did a lot of talking in class. He says,

“Firstly, I do hope that you remember me… This is Jonathan Thomas from the graduating class of 2005(PSEng)…You used to lead the discourse on Mahatma Gandhi in the final year and Dr Faustus in the 2nd year. I was the opinionated guy with anti-Gandhian sentiments... Our debates in class were notorious…I wanted to thank you for not curbing, or in any way try to curtail my personal expressions…
My friends and I still do fondly remember your classes and all the fun learning … Thank you for your sincerity and dedication to the English Language… You'll be happy to learn that I have been working with JP Morgan Chase for the past 3 years…I was recently promoted to Head the Communications Department for North America's Human Resources…Luckily at work they like opinionated and passionate people…”

Thank you Jonathan for your kind words. As a teacher I think I have merely given you the space that you needed and the platform to discover and to know yourself. You must know I don’t believe in curbing or curtailing one’s expressions. I’m glad you are doing well in life and feeling happy doing what you are doing. Kudos to you and a whole lot of other students who are doing the same.

An enriching experience!

2009-07-01T20:26:00.041+05:30

The academic rigor at Christ University is always intense, even during vacation - many of us even during holidays are at the university involved in activities relating to academics. This year was no exception. But there was a change -a refreshing one, too. The opportunity to mingle with different cultures in an international conference, to enjoy and be throughly overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality of peoples from 13 asian countries was welcome and greatly put to use; I was amazed at the stupendous growth of a constitutional monarchy with its unbridled reverence for the royalty, a democracy and an economy suddenly but steadily on the rise, a calm, mostly a peace-loving society called Thailand. A week long sojurn at the Assumption University, Bangkok offered a variety of experiences. Here's a brief visual glimpse of my experience....i shall describe my experiences soon.

Another kind of Love!!!

2009-03-19T20:30:00.006+05:30

Could there be anything more horrifying? How could parents be so cruel,absolutely insensitive to their own children's feelings? Last year around the same time Josef Fritzl of Austria, a sick father, was arrested on several charges including rape of his own daughter for 24 long years. The verdict is out today, thankfully. Josef will spend his remaining years in prison. A businessman in India, from Mumbai to be precise has been arrested today on similar charges - sexually abusing his daughter for 9 long years, and all for what - getting rich! -apparently a tantrik had recommended this horrible route to the greedy father. I'm sure there are many more Fritzels in hiding- and may be someday their masks too will be removed - Sick psychopaths in the guise of parents. At a time when the whole world is feeling terrible with the revelation and magnitude of such horrendous stories a friend of mine sent me this story of love - love of a father for his son, a disabled son, a moving story indeed. It is heartening to see what parents will do, to what extent they will go just to make their children happy. Wish we had more of this tribe. Here's the story...

One day, a son asks his dad "Daddy, would you like to run a marathon with me?”
The father says "yes".
And they run their first marathon together.

Another time, the son asks his dad again "Daddy, would you like to run a marathon with me?”
The father says "yes son".

One day, the son asks his father " Daddy, would you run the Ironman with me?"
The Ironman is the most difficult triathlon ever (4 kms swimming, 180 kms bikin, 42 km running?)

And the dad says "yes".
The story looks simple until you watch the following clip.
Just amazing, how much can love be..... ?

Go to this link and watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJMbk9dtpdy

Slumdogs or Dumbdogs?

2009-02-23T23:07:00.000+05:30

The Oscar fever is subsiding (!!!????) ….Is India flying high as Anil Kapoor screamed into the microphone? May be, if not all at least a quarter of its population is. Yes…Slumdog Millionaire has won eight Oscars…a few Indians have won Oscars too!! As Indians we should feel proud about it. Not because they have won the Oscars per se but because they and their work have been recognized by an entertainment agency considered supreme (rightly or wrongly) in the world. The President and the Prime Minister of India have congratulated the winners…more politicians will follow suit, may be with cash awards too. Political compulsions perhaps! I have nothing to lose and I will be very forthright therefore. As I watched the ‘tamasha’ on TV, the mockery of the slum dogs and the dumb dogs came to light. I’m sure even the diehard fans of Rehman or Gulzaar or Pookutty would agree to the fact that these men have created better works than this. Why the Oscars now, then? The irony is we need the British or the foreign label for recognition. Unless and until a foreign body, preferably from the west certifies our works we cannot and will not believe in ourselves. Sad but true. But for Danny Boyle and his crew our work would perhaps have seen no light let alone the Oscar limelight. Isn’t it sad that we still have to rely on the white man or the English voice to be able to ‘succeed’? Secondly, for the white audience the voice of their m(a)en is more authentic and more credible than that of the native –he knows and understands better the cruelty and the poverty of the slums in India …..he can capture it all, with all its myriad hues in no time, too because he comes from a land that ‘knows’ India…How ridiculous…. haven’t we made films on the same theme earlier which more poignantly told the story of the slums… haven’t we heard before better songs of Rehman than Jaiho? I have and Of course we have. But without a Danny Boyle and his men, you see!! So who cares? So is the Oscar something that we must feel proud of or is it something that should make us feel if not ashamed at least a bit uneasy? I don’t know. But I think it should definitely make us think.

The Mangalore episode

2009-02-01T19:25:00.002+05:30

Yet another controversy has surfaced in Karnataka and it is quickly doing the rounds in other states as well - yes, to drink or not to drink, or to be more precise, should Indian girls drink (alcohol, of course) and if they do wouldn’t that be going against Indian culture? We were a witness to hours of debate on almost all TV channels with no mutually agreeable solutions in sight. Simply because the issue at hand is as complex as the term culture itself. To further get into what constitutes or should constitute or would constitute Indian culture is altogether another horribly tiring complex process. It is quite evident from all that has been written / discussed / shown / seen that each one has an agenda – the group that attacked the girls, the victims, the government and of course our media. The group in question claims that it is their ‘moral duty’ to clean up the ‘mess’ (and they sure know what that means), the ‘attacked’ believe in their right to freedom in a democracy (and they sure know what freedom means), the government proclaims that it has a moral and legal duty to establish a safe and secure (if not secular) society (they sure know what their responsibilities are) and the media relentlessly running their own trials and giving out fast verdicts faster than our fast track courts and mind you they very well know what their job is. (At times however I feel some of them are in the wrong job sitting in the studio instead of in the courtroom). Who is ‘right or wrong’ here? One says drinking is not Indian culture; another says hurting women is not Indian culture. ‘Who gave you the right to moral policing’, asks the media and the group in question retorts ‘who should’? Did anyone give the right to Mahatma Gandhi to fight? Did Nelson Mandela seek permission from the government to revolt? Although these questions seem logical they are also specious, as answers to each of these would depend on one’s own subject(ive) position. For this very reason getting into discussing the semantics of culture or for that matter Indian culture or who is right or wrong in this context would be a futile exercise. Instead let us look at the implications of this growing addiction to drinking, especially among the youth. There’s no denying the fact alcohol in someway is related to crimes. Statistics / research proves it. Let us look at the increase in crime rates, drunken driving and consider ways and means to control this menace. Alcoholism among the youth is a serious problem today in all metros and especially in a city like Bangalore. No parent wants his or her ward to take to alcohol including the ones that drink. When they can’t control or discipline their wards any more they resort to justification and right to personal freedom in an attempt to hide their helplessness. Let us answer honestly to ourselves if what is happening today is an encouraging trend. Should we ape the west blindly in the pretext of individual freedom? As regards many social issues the west is regretting now. Must we commit the same mistakes in order to learn?

Lessons to learn

2009-01-02T20:11:00.003+05:30

For the past few weeks or so there’s been hectic activities in the ‘blogosphere’ – comments and views of all sorts condemning terrorism have filled the cyberspace. On television almost all National leaders, bureaucrats, politicians, media, police, and public (have I left out anyone?) – everybody has been criticized right, left and center. Emotions were running so high that many were clueless of the implications of their statements. In this entire melee I chose to be a silent spectator, observe the drama unfold. I did not want to fall into the same trap many had already fallen into- reacting extremely emotionally to the horrors witnessed on television screens. The pictures shown on TV would have certainly hurt many an Indian’s sensibilities. I was angry too. But events that followed made me angrier; compelled me to think of our behavior, as a nation. Forget Pakistan for a moment and its unhealthy obsession with terror – What are we going to learn from all this? Almost for 60 hours on the television screens there was nothing else but provocative statements, accusations, acrimonious outbursts- the mood of war-like jingoism was both in the air and on the air. To make things worse, some politicians generally neglected by the media (for reasons best known to them) made news by their silly, inept and outrageous comments. The unfortunate ones among them were stripped of their positions and the lucky ones were let off with a ‘strict warning’. A crash course in communication skills is perhaps something that many of our politicians require so badly. They must be taught a lesson or two in diplomacy especially while giving their ‘invaluable’ opinions during such crises. As for the public, reining in emotions at such moments, though difficult will certainly be useful. Above all the media must refrain from insinuations, instigation, crassly commercializing and sensationalizing such events with a view to enhancing their ratings – which I think was practised to perfection by almost all TV channels in India. Definitely we as a nation have to learn a few (or many?) lessons.

The Media frenzy

2008-11-18T04:43:00.002+05:30

The Media, both print and electronic, is 'terror-stricken' at the moment.There is so much discussion on terror, the several possible definitions of terrorism, its perpetrators from both small and large scale organizations - so much so that one is almost deluded into believing that things are actually moving in the right direction. A closer look at these 'discussions' ( wish we could call that) would sadly reveal that in all such 'air-time empty rhetoric', each panelist is simply in a state of delirium only bent upon demonstrating to the public the strength of his / her vocal chords, absolutely not willing to listen to perspectives. Each one has a point of view, fine. But how does that preclude one from being receptive to other points of view? Seldom is there an attempt at persuasion, the tendency is always to shout down the other. And mind you, these are big time politicians, scholars and intellectuals!! Sometimes the show reaches a point when no one can hear the other and ironically no one stops to listen to the other - very similar to a street brawl - the only difference being the air-conditioned room and the 'intellectual' ambiance. Many a time i have felt sorry for the anchor looking utterly helpless, not knowing how to restore order, all the same desperately attempting to give an intellectual hue to an otherwise wayside farce. In all this comedy (!!!) the very purpose of the discussion, again assuming there was one is completely defeated. Why can't we have debates and discussions in an orderly manner? If in a class of hundred well organized, disciplined discussions can happen why not with five or six people, however eminent they are? What is the motive of the anchor and the participants? Is it merely to sensationalize the issue giving the impression to the world that they really are concerned about the nation's problems and debates on such topics would necessarily involve a lot of 'heat and dust'? May be!! But every time i happen to watch such programmes on air i'm sadly reminded of the Bard's words which are quite appropriate:'full of sound and fury signifying nothing'.

A sequel to delayed action bomb

2008-10-21T22:39:00.002+05:30

At last I’m back from hibernation. Or was it providential that I did so just because I needed to be fed with enough fodder to continue from where I stopped last time. I received a mail today from a highly educated gentleman whose views distinctly reflect the problem I was talking about - being merely in religion and not really religious. Very disappointing as well as disturbing!!! Why does it happen even with 'educated people'? Is it because our system of education rarely touches on the emotional quotient of learners more importantly required in the present context than the intellectual quotient? Will a focus on emotional quotient in our curriculum really help in curbing fundamentalism, chauvinism, extremism, terrorism – isms of all sorts, be it in religion, in region or in language? It is really a pity that our policy makers in the education field have not woken up to seriously addressing this lacuna in the existing system. Left unattended to this issue will assume more dangerous proportions that our country really cannot handle. On the one hand we will have educated illiterates everywhere and on the other educated terrorists with a fatally, dangerously innovative mind. What a lethal combination!!! Going by events happening around us in Mumbai, in Orissa, in Karnataka I strongly think that the time has come for us to redefine what terrorism is. Should we not deem any act meant to disturb and disrupt peaceful coexistence in a pluralistic society terrorist whether or not bombs explode? By this definition MNS activists in Mumbai are terrorists. Hard to accept? Extend the same yardstick to other states, to similar outfits- harder to accept? May be, but that is the truth, the bitter truth. I really wish suitable changes and amendments in the present Indian educational and legal systems are made especially in the context of several ‘terror’ outfits mushrooming in the country. Or else we may soon be a mute witness to the emergence of several ‘indias’ within India, which are biding their time and waiting to take shape.

Delayed -action bomb

2008-09-01T18:53:00.003+05:30

"It takes at least a couple of decades to realize that you
were well taught. All true education is a delayed-action bomb
assembled in the classroom for explosion at a later date. An
educational fuse of 50 years long is by no means unusual."

This quote by Kenneth D. Gangel set me thinking. I'm trying to relate it to events unfolding around us - especially those that undermine, destabilize and are detrimental to our secular fabric - whether they occur in Jammu & Kashmir or in Orissa. Human life seems to have no value to us - the fact that someone belongs to a certain community, religion, region, language group determines their position, status and even security in a country like ours is distressing. How 'religious' are we when we kill because someone has chosen a different way to experience the divine or when that way is not the same that we have chosen to tread upon. Are we not merely 'in religion' and not really religious when such horrendous acts are committed? Why can't we exercise restraint even when religious passions are aroused in us? Are we caught up in fundamentalism so much so that we do not know the difference between being religious and being fanatical. It is time educational institutions played a vital role in strengthening India's secular tag. Even if it were to be a delayed-action bomb we need such bombs that will bring us together, closer to one another than those that will kill us with hatred.

examination woes!!

2008-08-19T14:06:00.000+05:30

Of late the number of students resorting to unfair means to succeed, especially in examinations is on the rise. Although the innovations employed in such situations deserve appreciation they cannot be condoned. Why do students even think of such means? Is it the fear of failure? May be! But failure in what? Failing in an exam (even assuming that one has worked hard not to) must make one more reflective, more industrious and more focused. It is a learning process. But, unfortunately the fear of ‘failure’ weighs more heavily on their minds than the fear of being ‘caught in the act’. Who is to blame for this unhealthy trend? Of course, that students must restrain from such practices is indisputable. But are there other ways to help them stay away from such shortcuts to success? Perhaps there are!! Is it possible to stop examining rote learning and concentrate on enhancing their critical and creative abilities? For this to materialize our examination system needs a major revamping and a lot more thinking (and time) must go into the preparation of question paper. Malpractices in examinations can be stopped only when our testing patterns focus on the application aspects, completely or largely ignoring textual and factual comprehension.

Relevance of Hierarchy!!

2008-08-11T18:39:00.000+05:30

Often our mind dabbles with Utopian thoughts. Establishing a system with no hierarchy is one such doing the rounds for many days. I can recall some comments form our own city's technocrats when the software industry was in its infancy; there were many who spoke proudly about the non- existence of hierarchy in their organizations. "Radical, great, that's how organizations must function, wonderful philosophy" - many more such epithets had rent the air then. Interestingly, such notions are expressed, quite vociferously, even today. I cannot fathom how a system can work without hierarchy, without roles being assigned. The objects or the people, their attributes, their relationships and the environment they are in are integral to a system. So long as these remain important to a system one cannot ignore the value of interdependence - the most important characteristic of systems. The system may be a 'whole' but it also involves interaction among the 'parts'. This is where hierarchy is useful - for resolutions. Each member of a system may have one or multiple roles to play. Conflicts are bound to exist, but conflicts have also to be resolved- Hierarchy comes in handy. If a small unit like family cannot run sans hierarchy how can a huge organization function without it? To work efficiently and effectively roles assigned must be stuck to and played accordingly, trouble starts when boundaries are transgressed.

Banana republic!!!

2008-07-22T22:40:00.003+05:30

There is jubilation on one side. 'Corruption, rigging, horse-trading' cries another. The former says India will prosper with the deal. The latter screams that democracy is dead and that 22 July 2008 is the saddest day in the history of Indian Republic. Well, one group, unholy as it may seem, has won and the other, equally unholy if not worse, has lost. So much of talking and debating in the parliament for the last two days about who's right and wrong, about how many crores of rupees changed hands, if the price was okay considering the high rate of inflation, blah, blah, blah- and sadly no one really debated the nuclear issue - for the purpose the parliament was convened. What is the issue and whether it is useful or detrimental to the common man? Who knows and who cares? The common man is in the same place where he began -ignorant, confused, uncertain, undecided. Of course our leaders have decided for all of us, as always they have acted on our behalf, very responsibly. What perhaps will keep the common man going are the goings on in the parliament - the unruly scenes, wad of currency notes tauntingly shown to the public, the diction of our honorable parliamentarians, charges vociferously made without proof, stories of kalavathis and sashikalas - in short, there was no dearth of entertainment and it had all the making of a popular television serial. So much for democracy and so much for our banana republic.

We Know it All

2008-07-11T19:45:00.003+05:30

Something that happened recently in college set me thinking hard first on the importance of context and took me on to a whole lot of other issues.
Context determines our actions, our behaviour, our language - everything that we say and do. Ironically, not many of us attach importance to this, particularly the young. An attitude almost bordering on arrogance ( they call it confidence) is most commonly exhibited by our youngsters which often results in complex /complicated situations they create for themselves. Worse, instead of attempting to wriggle out of those situations they generally aggravate them by their insensitive/ insensible words and actions. Why is it so? Why is this 'I-know-it-all' attitude? Why do we feign omniscience? Is it because the situation demands? Or may be because we live in a consumerist world today where marketing and selling yourself matters so much that you constantly have to wear the garb /mask of a 'super genius', 'a walking encyclopaedia', 'a living god'. I sometimes wonder whether to laugh or to cry when children as young as eighteen years speak of their understanding of the world in absolute terms - it certainly is a cause for concern. Sadly, the ability to be receptive to other perspectives/ possibilities is blatantly lacking. It is always "I do this, i do that, i have read this, i have read that- and therefore i know better". Life would be so simple, so peaceful if only understanding or enlightenment can happen after reading a couple of books, or for that matter doing some research on some specific area for only two years. I feel we all have become so engrossed in this rat race that each one wants to compete and excel in the 'art' of exhibitionism. Everywhere we go we carry huge placards boldly proclaiming our so called expertise, interests, knowledge areas and what not! Unfortunately that has not helped us to even understand / distinguish between situations, act maturely, act differntly in different situations. On the one hand we continue to claim knowledge, on the other our actions betray us and reveal our ignorance.

Regional vs National.

2008-06-11T20:00:00.004+05:30

A few things continue to intrigue (may be read as irritate) me. Till today i can't figure out the media's notion of what the regional and national is. While reporting the 54 National Film Awards winners atleast one TV news channel screamed 'The Regional becomes the National". What did they really mean by that God only knows.

In India, very often the term 'Indian cinema' is used, especially by the media to refer to Hindi cinema. Utterly foolish! Logically and ideally all films made in India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari whether from the north, south, east or west of the country should come under 'Indian cinema'. On what basis do we make the distinction between the national and the regional? Is it distinction or discrimination? In today's context is there any thing that could be considered purely 'regional' or for that matter 'national'? Ironically there is also that subtle and invisible note of condescension or inferiority attached to the term regional when used alongside national. Isn't it time remedial actions are seriosly thought of? Of course some popular film actors have raised such concerns already. But despite their best efforts to set right this wrong nothing much has happened. Perhaps the media must come forward to effect this change - they must change their mindest first - instead of blindly following practices of the past, learn to report with a critical, realistic eye / perspective of the changing Present .

Who is responsible?

2008-03-16T22:38:00.002+05:30

Just finished watching the Big Fight on NDTV on Scarlet murder that is rocking Goa. There were Scores of people on the sandy beach waxing eloquently on the character of the deceased and the poor parenting of Fiona the mother and the failure of the government. The debate had some intellectual hues to it as well: many talking about subcultures and subtexts in the ongoing war between the insider and the outsider with Fiona categorically stating that the cameras wouldn't be there but for the outsiders. It was passing the buck game all the way that was played so boringly to a national audience.

Why are we trying to blame only the government for any tragedy? In this case the mother, who conveniently shifts the responsibility taking refuge in the so called warmth and cordiality of the Goans is equally to be blamed. No sensible person would trust a stranger with their daughter on a beach in the dead of night no matter what your faith in humanity is. After having risked your ward's life by your own foolishness how could you squarely blame the government for ineffiency?

What is happening to our own sense of responsibilty? To think the government or the police would protect every single individual in the country 24X7 is nothing short of stupidity. Is such a thing really possible? Are we not supposed to help ourselves by taking precautions and acting sensibly? We don't leave our house doors open thinking the police is there to protect us. The same logic should apply when we are outdoors too - basic precautions must be taken. In this case all of us are to be blamed - first the mother, then the child, then the accused and then the police, the govt. machinery and the people or the society at large- in the same order.

Another Tragedy!!!

2008-03-16T18:47:00.002+05:30

Yet another tragedy and so quickly - even before the bitter memories of the previous one could be buried. What's worse is, it is a child this time - all of 10 years and so brutally killled, burnt alive, all because of a minor tiff in a marriage party. And it happened in our national capital, our capital that stands testimony to many such cruelties. I'm pained, shocked and ashamed.

No Value for human life?

2008-03-10T19:13:00.003+05:30

I was deeply hurt this morning when i read the story about an autorickshaw driver who paid a costly price for jumping the signal - the price, his father's life. The old man couldn't wait and he died en route to the hospital. Interestingly and ironically the police say the cop who stopped them and demanded to see the papers and prevented the sick man from reaching the hospital in time was only doing his duty. Since when has our police force become so duty-conscious? Assuming that the cop in question was really making an attempt to enforce the law which he strictly believed in, couldn't he assess the situation and act accordingly as any sensible human being would? The old man in the auto was there fighting for life and how could one turn a blind eye to it? I'm not condoning the autodriver's offence; what he did was wrong - wrong in the eyes of the law. But, What should be taken into account here is the motive or the intention for the crime. You and I in the same situation would have jumped many signals to reach our loved one safely to the hospital. Can't the police force relax rules during emergencies? Or has the force become so mechanical and dehumanized that the rule book is more importnat than human life? A sensible, really duty-conscious cop would not have detained them but ensured that they reached the hospital well in time. When will our police force change?

Bloodless encounter

2008-03-06T19:48:00.001+05:30

Teachers these days are a worried lot. Today, A fine balancing between professional and personal commitments is proving to be extremely arduous- at the risk of being termed stale i must say it's like walking the tight rope. Just as you pat yourself for having gotten over that difficult task you are bombarded with more problems - worse than before. Woe betide those with added responsibilities like heading a department or in charge of a class- for then, these problems assume greater proportions- you are immediately branded heartless or dictatorial. You end up earning the wrath of your wards for having shouted at them, or for having sent them out of the class- simply because you thought these goody goody chappies will learn their lesson. The grand finale is of course when you get to see some of these fellows (with nose in the air) returning to college just to spite you - just to prove they are a better lot. Many teachers, i'm sure have had such encounters and for those lucky ones who haven't, here's a sample laced with a little humour and a lot of imagination. The moral of the story is .......well you decide!

BLOODLESS ENCOUNTER
I was getting ready for my drama class. From across the table, Macbeth was staring at me. The task for the day was clearly cut out. I must communicate to a bunch of seventeen year olds forcefully and sensibly Macbeth’s depression, dejection and frustration just before his tragic death. In short, I must make them understand what life is. It seemed quite formidable and daunting. I was uncertain whether those who were kids only yesterday could comprehend what life is and the full import of Macbeth’s deep angst. Quite abruptly my reverie was cut short. Looking up I saw someone standing at the door, beaming with a smile.
“May I come in, sir?” For a moment I couldn’t trust my own ears. I thought I had misheard. He repeated the request, this time louder.
“Oh, yes, Please come in and have a seat.” I said feeling rather elated by his politeness. At a time when polite students are a rarity I didn’t want to let go of this encounter. He walked in casually and by the time he had parked his load on the chair I knew I had invited trouble.
“Sir, do you remember me?” he started. There was that ‘how can you NOT remember me’ tone in his voice. And yes, I remembered him, quite well too. Not that he was a prodigy or anything. But his ingenious ways for disrupting classes was an open secret.
“Of course I do,” I said hiding my discomfort. Then, nonchalantly I said, “So, how are you, young man?’
“How do you expect me to be?” he snapped. I wasn’t surprised at his retort. In fact, I knew he had the potential for deeper incisions. Light dawned on me- he had come with a purpose.
“Oh, come on man,” I said struggling hard to conceal my awkwardness. “I’m not omniscient. You must tell me.”
“Better than you, much better, you know.” It was clear he hadn’t forgotten those unpleasant ‘out-standing’ experiences at college.
“Oh, really!” I managed to mumble. “Good for you man.” By now I was thoroughly feeling embarrassed. I had offered him a seat and there he was glued to the chair determined to avenge me. I knew I had no escape. I let him run on.
“Mr……….,” he began. The transition from sir to Mr, I think was quite intentional. “I just joined this multinational company and do you know what my pay package is like? 30K.How’s that for a ‘useless guy’? In five years I’ll cross the 50k mark. Have you ever imagined where you will be after five years?”
Actually, I had imagined that many times over the years and I knew where exactly I would be. Couldn’t tell him, though.
“Anyways, thanks Mr………….” I was relieved my ordeal was coming to an end. “Thanks for teaching me what life is.” With a mischievous grin on his face he walked out, triumphantly. Shakespeare, from the table was still staring at me.
“Life is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Are we tolerant?

2008-02-24T19:00:00.000+05:30

We take pride in saying we are Indians and native to the land of mahatmas who preached and practised non - violence and Ahimsa. The time has come for some introspection, really. Look at the increasing number of 'street justice' incidents rampantly seen in our country, especilally in Bihar. What is really happening to us?
Well, the savage instinct is in all of us, the instinct to survive, to harm, to injure and to kill. But where is the redeeming feature that is also there in us - the ability to restrain. Where has thou gone restraint, the much needed redeemer, the only balm to all our instincts of savagery.
At times i wonder if we are willingly going barbaric so much so that it seems fashionable today. All the TV Channels continue to beam such gory incidents in the name of news and in the process perhaps augment their ratings also. What about the damage that such telecasts have on impressionable minds? A speeding car driver attempting to kill an engineer on duty in broad daylight was horrible. The mob venting its fury on an accused in Bihar was even more horrible.

Where has the spirit of tolerance gone? Where are those finer sensibilities that we associate with human beings? What has changed us so much - that we have become so horribly barbaric? Who's got the answers?

Is Conformism really a sin?

2008-02-19T19:18:00.000+05:30

One of the major difficulties that a teacher encounters in his/her career is non-conformist attitude / tendency in students /youngsters. Is conformism so bad? The way we look down upon it as if it is a deadly sin intrigues me. Don't we all conform to many things in life? Can we not conform for the sake of a common cause and still be happy? Why are we so rebellious about everything, vociferously protesting against all norms. 'We want freedom' is our refrain. But can freedom come without responsibility? Are we mature enough to handle freedom? Were the girls who stripped under the influence of alcohol in a public place in Kolkata "free"? Physically and literally - yes they were. Did they behave responsibly? Certainly not. Why do we try to abuse / take undue advantage of the freedom that we already have? Is freedom something that is given to us? Or is it something that we already have? And the biggest question is, are we in the name of freedom trying to go too far? "Ah! You are a puritan," "generation gap - you don't understand," "You are a traditionlist - to hell with you" - choicest expressions commonly used to attack those insisting on order. Is the attack really fair, especially when it comes from those who expect fairness from others. How long can we go on like this? Will the situation change?

Hi

2008-02-19T12:36:00.001+05:30

What a way to begin? To begin with failure. The first attempt to blog didn't yield desired results, despite spending a few hours on the process. Learnt the lesson, however-never give up. The result is here to see. Perseverence has paid off - i'm about to publish my first post.

Now why did i want to blog? Is it because my colleagues are at it? Or because the whole world is hooked to it? I'm not sure. But i know one thing for sure. This is a wonderful, faster, swifter medium to get across ideas, to get to know a lot of people, interact, discuss anything and everything and in the process learn a lot more about life and discover your own self.

I have decided to take the plunge. With the support of the sea of humanity all around me i'm sure i'll be able to swim through.

Welcome aboard.