Chhapra, Bihar mid-day meal tragedy

23 children dying due to presence of pesticide in oil. The headmistress of the school should be hanged to death along with her grocer husband. And yet that will not be enough!
It's bad, bad & just bad. To top it, the politicians are making the most of it.

All is Well. But I Am Scared...

Yes, I am too scared to even acknowledge to myself that all is well! Supposing things go wrong?

Life was tough...very tough. May be it is so with everybody. But my life is my life! And I know what I have gone through.

I hated to work when the children were small. I had reserved all my career dreams for later years when the children would be grown and not need me. But imagine! When this phase arrived, I didn't even know!

And last week, when I paid visit to my old ad agency, the Director remarked, "Now what's holding you?" Your children are grown up. Your husband is occupied. So now, what is the problem?"

I really had no answer. That instant my brain too reasoned with me, "Yes, what's the problem?"

A small fear hidden deep within me raised a doubt as usual, "What if things go wrong..."

The thought was scary... very scary...

I must thank my Director who said authoritatively,"You have already wasted a lot of your time. It's high time joined back."

And so it happened! My brain stopped the hidden fear from striking again. Next minute I heard myself saying, "I'll join from next week."

I have joined back my agency. I am happy doing my job. Hope I am not filled with fear again! Somewhere I must learn to say to myself atleast... That All Is Well!

Children are creative. Adults are a bore!

I have been busy again doing proof checking for a school magazine. I shall finish it in 2-3 days time, I guess. But it has been great. And me thinks that boys have outdone girls in expressing their thoughts.

While the girls have largely written emotional poems on mothers and so on, boys have gone all out to write on diverse topics such as an imaginary story of a planet called 'amnecia', 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, and so on.

But whatever! The efforts of both boys and girls has been commendable. Most of them have been from classes 9th, 10th, and 11th. And that's what disturbs most. For now, many of them will be forced to join coaching for engineering and medical entrance examination ( If they haven't joined so far!). Thanks to the social and peer pressure. In Indore I find this a bit too much. That I suppose will be the end of their creativity. For, I have done proof checking for college magazines (engineering,etc.). And I find their output very dull in the face of these children.

How I wish a fairy would appear out of somewhere and move her wand over everybody, resulting in adults acquiring higher levels of understanding. This would naturally mean optimum use of human brain, and tremendous good for mankind. But then all our problems are man made and God expects us to solve them ourselves, I suppose.

Truly, children are so creative! And adults are such a bore.

Media! Think before you speak.

I had just returned from work with my husband on Monday, April 13th. Being a housewife I headed straight to the kitchen, whilst my husband put on the TV.

And then it happened. I heard a Hindi channel reporter interviewing a young man. "How much is your income per month?" The young man answered humbly, "Rs.13,o00". The next question that followed was, "Are you staying in your own house or is it your parents?" The poor chap said," My parents". At this, the reporter snapped, "parents' house is not your house!" The haughty tone of the lady reporter was outright hurting. Isn't it the same media which talks today of the benefits of staying in a joint family and blah blah blah?

I guess the survey was about inflation. But, whatever! I recall a conversation with a senior colleague of mine when I was newly married and worked as a teacher in a near by school.And that was about 28 years ago. 'Alka Madam' taught Maths to the senior classes. A gold medalist in college, Alka Madam was genuinely a nice person who would give us advice during the famous lunch sessions. At one such time she told us how angry she had been in one of the previous schools. Having no brother, she explained, she really had no patience with the boys. ( Of course God made sure that she had 2 sons later on!) Anyway, one day as newly married herself, she shouted at some of the boys without really meaning to be cruel, "Don't study! And end up as clerks, for all I care." The principal of the school, happened to pass by. He must have over-heard, for she was summoned to the cabin soon. The Father i.e. the principal was a man in 50's humbled by age and experience. Without making it an issue, he said something which is important for all times to come- " No job is menial. Also, in a society, everyone cannot be an officer. What about the other jobs that have to be done? We become what we are destined to become. But, tomorrow I will not like this boy to feel miserable if he joins as clerk." The lunch ended and Alka Madam left for her class. But those words continued to ring in my mind. Several years have passed. I still remember the tone and words. I am grateful to Alka Madam for guiding us thus.

Today, I wish to give the same piece of advice to the particular lady reporter and also the others in the media. Indeed, everyone cannot be Tata or Birla. But that doesn't mean that those who do not make it to that level have no no right to live or get married. Leave it for the couples or families to face their own lives. One more thing! Rs.13,000 is certainly not less initially. And especially not if he/she belongs to a smaller place

Surveys are always important. They lead us to a lot of things. New topics come up for research etc. etc. But while doing a survey, a certain maturity has to be maintained. A neutral stand has to be observed and guidance has to be there.

Senior Citizens

My week long holiday was great! In Delhi, I met my father who is now eighty, and in good health...Touch wood.
But I noticed something amidst it all. I found that the entire colony had aged. I happened to go to the chemist, and I found an old man quarrelling over pittance. I must appreciate the chemist who stayed calm through out. And finally also coming out with a solution. The scene took place in the afternoon. Maybe, son and daughter-in-law were both at work? That started my thought process . I noticed my father quite irritable at times. The same evening, I visited the temple that stood majestically in the colony. I met two acquaintances... aunties, basically, sitting on an old bench in the temple observing people around and also watching the children ( grand-children) playing. Well, that was a nice scene.
As I set out to return, I encountered 'irritable persons' yet again. They were my uncles who had been very active once upon a time! They seemed so unhappy now....unhappy with power breakdown, water scarcity, transport problem, insecurity, growing disrespect among children, etc., etc. But one thing was certain. Their suggestions were worth considering.
I found myself face to face with some hard realities that day-Firstly, life can be quite difficult after retirement, especially, if a person has been active and at a decisive position- today it is only men, but tomorrow it could be women as well.. Secondly, life was not going to be easy for me either unless I developed some preoccupation from now itself. Kudos to my aunts, then, for sure!

But then something more needs to done I guess. Frustration among old people can to some extent be checked if we seek their advice on problems of the society. May be we could come up with clubs for old citizens which could organize picnics, and some fun?
We do need to think on these lines.