PISA, India & Me!

Ever since, PISA (Program for International Students Assessment) hit the headlines, a lot has been discussed and said. As a Visiting Faculty for almost 12 years, I have something to say too.

First of all, I am really not surprised at the dismal performance of the students. There are several factors responsible.Government's decision of not failing anyone up to class 10th is one of them.Teachers going on election duty, no proper guidance at home, lack of discipline in general are other accompanying factors. And over that, we Indians are still living in our glorious cultural past that stops us from thinking that all is not well right now.

The computers have contributed to it further. Sitting in the library and making notes is now a thing of  the past. There were 2-3 students in MBA class last semester who because of  shaky hand could barely write a word-be it Hindi or English.

In fact, I must say that a new language has emerged in our country. It's writing ... I mean, typing Hindi expressions in English- phonetic writing to be precise. All thanks to cell phones and computers. Naturally the students neither know Hindi or English. 

I have had enough of teaching.I am back working in the Ad agency. Basically because you can't teach reluctant students.The truth is - It's only when we touch rock bottom that we understand why we have to climb up.

So, next 50 years, I don't see India anywhere. Things may improve after that. Just that my generation will not be there to see the great change!

I support Anna Hazare Movement !

So, a particular movement has taken the nation by storm! The bottled-up feelings of India's common man has found a way out, making the entire world sit up and watch.
And frankly, there is every reason for the common man to be angry. Just today there was news that a private medical college in Mumbai is asking for 1.7 crore as capitation fee for P.G. Radiology course. Certainly, this comes under corruption? And this is just one of the few incidents that have been reported. Just the other day, somebody told me that the gas cylinder boy charges her an extra Rs.15 for the cylinder he delivers home.
And so with all this if Anna Hazare says that PM should also come under the ambit of Lokpal Bill, what is wrong?
Years ago, Laloo Prasad Yadav, the then Chief Minister of Bihar was asked to step down as his name figured in the fodder scandal. Yes he did step down, only to make his wife Rabri Devi the Chief Minister of Bihar! Could the government do anything there? What followed was total anarchy with steep rise in corruption, kidnapping and other such anti-social happenings. Is it possible to forget how Mayawati, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has squandered crores of rupees on making a bungalow as also statues of her mentor Kanshi Ram and herself ?
It would be disastrous to have such persons on the prime minister's seat; worst still to watch them make merry with Comptroller and Auditor General as well as other official bodies watching them helplessly!
Saying that Anna Hazare is challenging the authority of those who have been elected to power by the people of India, is an incorrect argument. We all know that many of these parliamentarians have a tainted or criminal record and that they have come to power because of luck, manipulation, money or whatever. Thus, if they  play foul, so can the common man. Let's say, All is fair in corrupt politics!

Baba Ramdev Fiasco. A Big Lesson.

Much has happened during the long sabbatical I took!
Me thinks, Baba Ramdev's fiasco should be kept in mind by all successful men. Success is certainly not our father's property--And that's the bottom line I guess.
Baba Ramdev is no politician and that is evident. Or else he would not have fled the scene, at least not in salwar-kameez! Nor would he have dumped his followers and rushed out. In fact, a seasoned politician in his place would have anticipated this action and struggled to get maximum mileage out of this sordid affair. Not to say that it would have further put the government in the dock.
Kapil Sibal & Pranab Mukherji played their cards very well. And even otherwise, Baba Ramdev's timing was wrong. Anna Hazare had already given one 'big homework' to the government. And just when the leaders had begun working on it, Baba Ramdev thrust yet another homework without much thinking! Besides, Baba Ramdev had sought permission for yoga camp. Thus, misusing the permission itself was a colossal mistake.
On my part, I would rather watch Baba Ramdev talk about Kapal Bhati, Pranayam, uses of Aloe Vera and other health tips. Anyway, I am going to remember this lesson. I will also narrate it every time my children or grand children get over-confident.

How the poor deal with their loss.

It's very, very difficult. Kudos to all our governments past, present and future for not giving up despite all odds. To think of it, uncountable amount is spent each year on ads for promotion of literacy. But I wonder how many really listen to the good word?

Take my maid for instance. She has been with me for last 6-7 years. From the intermittent talks I have gathered that she has all the amenities at home like refrigerator, 2-wheeler, sofa- set, washing machine, TV, etc. In fact the house she lives in, is also hers. And I sure appreciate her for this. But none of her children have studied beyond 8th or 10th. Somehow she has never considered this important. I remember telling her to have her daughters trained or educated up to a decent level. But she and her husband have believed in getting them married early.

And so this daughter of hers got married about 4 yrs ago. In due course she was blessed with 2 kids. And so all was fine till last month when she came and told that her son-in-law had suffered a head injury in a road accident. He died within 3-4 days. It was just very, very bad. If that was not enough, the girl was asked to leave the husband's home by her in-laws. It was upsetting to hear this particularly because I had seen her in the bridal attire. But worst was when my maid announced that she was going to get her married again. That's when I blew my top. "Leave her alone. She has 2 small children and she also has the memories of her husband. Let her first come to terms with the tragedy. Help her stand on her feet. And then get her married if you want. But don't force her now. Please!"


I wonder if she understood. It was an outburst I could not control. On second thoughts, I wonder if I over reacted? May be the weaker section is geared up that way. Could be, that as a kind of defence mechanism they avoid getting deeply attached to anyone? In that case I made the blunder of speaking. God only knows!

BJP debacle

An agonising week for the entire country as the countrymen witnessed a lot of mud-slinging and accusations.Truly an example of washing dirty linen in public!

I remember what Former President Dr. Abdul Kalam said when proved wrong for dissolving the then Bihar Assembly. He said to the reporter," Well, decisions have to be taken. And decisions can be right or wrong. But we can't let problems win over us. We have to overcome problems." And that's exactly applies to 1947 India-Pakistan Partition. We, born after 1947 do not know and cannot fathom the situation prevalent then! I am sure Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru must have studied the scenario before taking the heartbreaking decision. Certainly these leaders were far more patriotic than any of us today. And so I feel these dramatic outbursts must be made to stop. Let the dead leaders rest in peace!

The 1999 Indian Airlines Plane Hijacking was a sordid affair. I do agree that the hijackers could have been caught at Amritsar Airport itself. I blame the Media and the Media alone for the failure. An out- of- control melodramatic situation was created that sent the emotion-strung Indians into a further frenzy. The BJP led government was absolutely nailed to the wall. All the time, the media was citing how political leader Mufti Mohammed's daughter was freed from kidnappers by releasing some anti-social elements.. The government had no answer for this. Or rather, the government chose not to answer the' silly media' for fear of making it a trend.

To combat terrorism, corruption, and malfunctioning, we Indians need to first learn not to get nervous and emotion-strung. A lot needs to be learnt from US, Russia and Israel on this issue-more so the media! Yes, The BJP should stop pushing the blame on one another and move ahead by learning from the mistakes. And if it is very difficult, they should leave the party.

Kudos to Yashpal Committee! Great Going.

The proposal to dissolve UGC, AICTE, MCI couldn't have been better timed. I salute the members of the Yashpal Committee. And I have a special salute reserved for Mr Kapil Sibal.

1) Indeed with countless engineering colleges coming up all over the country , the B.E degree has lost all the importance that it once had. It has been reported there are several engineering colleges in Chattisgarh, Bangalore and other places which are running in just one room. I really wonder how? No surprise, the engineering giants say that today's engineers are not worth employing!

2)In case of MCI, it is just the reverse! The officiating body is forever finding faults with all medical colleges . As a result, medical colleges are very few in number. This forces the students stay on in spite of severe ragging. This apart, there is always a fear of de-recognition from MCI. In Indore itself there is always a sword hanging on MGM Medical College for lack of PG doctors. From where will the P.G doctors come if just a few colleges run PG course?

Even otherwise, one needs to see the ratio of engineering and medical colleges. If engineering colleges are in lakhs, the medical colleges are barely a thousand something!

3) While restraining myself from saying much about UGC and NAAC, I shall just comment that awarding 3star and 5 star on the basis of one or two days survey makes no sense. UGC certainly lacks feedback system regarding the classes being conducted in departments and colleges particularly related to commerce and humanities. UGC cares two hoots for the payment of visiting faculty which is downright cruel. Further, there is a need to dig into the PhD's that are being done particularly in Humanities. The students and their research appear nowhere near the mark. It would indeed be nice if university examination papers are set outside i.e. by another university. That will truly decide the merit of the students and teachers alike. Partiality and nepotism will then end. I hope, the proposed 'Commission for Higher Studies and Research' go deep into this. This commission should have the facility called 'Ombudsman' to check the growing malpractices in various universities.

4) Regarding scrapping of 10th and 12th exams, the only thing I feel strongly is that students who pass out of school should at least write a few sentences without spelling mistakes. That, there should be either schools or coaching classes. This unnatural pressure that has come on the students and parents must end. This may also bring down the rates of suicides, I feel.

P.S.
As per the news report today, the Bhopal Gang Rape case was a concocted story. Things will get clear in a few days I am sure.