Monthly Archives: January 2012

Jan 25 2012
Leave a comment
Writing

Republic Day – Not Publics Day

The 26th January arouses mixed response in me. It stirs memories of the time when we braved the biting cold to see the magnificent parade. A shiver of thrill and anticipation ran down my spine at the first sight of green tanks rumbling down the broad roads of Rajpath. Our hearts swelled with pride at the display of our might. It was a bit reassuring after the drubbing we had received at the hands of China.

We had got accustomed to the sonorous voice of the commentators who remained  unchanged year after year, just like our country just like our country in many ways. Over the years this exercise has begun to lose its sheen and meaning. It has been reduced to a custom being followed bereft of the ensuing sentiments.

The first thought that crosses our mind is of the inconvenience it would cause, the resultant jams and serpentine queues. Traffic restrictions and woes predominate the thoughts. This is closely followed by the sight it conjures up, definitely uninspiring. Our tired looking President barely able to muster enthusiasm with a drooping salute. The dignitaries sitting listlessly more for visibility and political reasons and less for the love of the nation.The Chief Invitee who is a Head of some unknown place is often tricked into doing the honours. Increasingly the eminence of the invited Head has been direct proportion to the insipidness of the charade.

This entire cavalcade is followed by amateurish tableaus of various hues and names.On it are seated tired dancers mechanically moving to some music. The most pitiable is the school children roped into performing on the roads in this weather. They are put through rigorous rehearsals and forced into it.

When will we wake to the need of trimming things and moving with the times. We need to understand that our Independence carries a lot more emotional, historical and sentimental value. But unfortunately the Prime Ministers speech that day robbed it also of its magnificence. It’s time we saved crores of rupees that we spend on this spectacle and put it to better use.

 The only redeeming feature of this annual charade is our Army which has always held its head high. Their synchronized hand movements and precision is the only incentive left to tune in to it.

Happy Republic Day

Tagged
Jan 23 2012
7 Comments
Writing

Rushdie Satanified

I just returned from Jaipur yesterday which was in throes of a literary fest. What a fest! Shatabdi booked to hilt and bunches of youth gathering more out of something better to do. It seemed what we had gone to do had paled in the presence of this gargantuan fest. Too much intellect spread around for my comfort. Assorted groups of uncertain background and intent stood clutching programme and venue details like a priceless possession. Shoulders jostled for space and eyes did a rapid recce regarding who could they be photographed with. Search for certain ‘in demand ‘ people could be equated with the search for Holy Grail.

An over enthusiastic group descended over a completely clueless Gulzar who seemed to revel in all the attention as it’s quite rare for the poets to be heard. But who was the true star of the gathering in absentia? Prominent by his absence it was undoubtedly Rushdie.

It was irritating to see him get stardom by the virtue of having written something as mundane as Satanic Verses. He hardly deserved the attention he had garnered. His merit always lay in fame based on controversy. The media created intellect and fame is galling and we feel cheated as inane things of mediocre calibre corner attention, relegating into background the truly deserving ones.

India is foolish enough to waste national time on countless debates regarding this issue of his absence. Journalists would look suitably eager and so-called intellectuals would mouth tongue twisters in Rushdie’s support shouting hoarse about artistic freedom. Countless examples would be dug out as a point in debate.

The likes of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, the so-called liberals would speak in paraboles about what they would call curbing of artistic freedom, tactfully avoiding ruffling Muslim community feathers and yet appear fair enough. It’s an art which needs to be mastered. Our stupid media has made them the mouthpiece of the whole society and Muslims in particular by running to them to get their bites for anything to everything.

I would call the whole exercise as pointless as Oprah Winfrey’s remarks. The whole episode requires a cold shoulder. By giving him national time we are imbuing him with undue importance and fame. This is precisely what he wants. He has nothing else to commend himself , so how else to hog limelight if not by being mired in controversy.

So let’s not let him succeed in it and it’s time to draw curtains. I would call it ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Meera

Tagged
Jan 19 2012
Leave a comment
Writing

eunuchs evoking irrational fear

Of late I’ve inadvertently come across eunuchs not once , but twice. In both the cases it was a very unsettling and nerve-wracking experience. The happy occasions turned into tension filled moments where the mild-mannered families were virtually rendered helpless and shocked into immobility. The hapless victims stood petrified while the Hijras went on a rampage under the guise of a time-honoured tradition.

The entry is usually forced, a lot of noise and commotion created. The defenceless child lifted and kept out of reach of the family and then the tough negotiations begin. The family is so traumatized that parting with money seems a lesser evil. The newly wedded cower in fear while they hold sway over the house.

The threats are often related to disrobing and are promptly executed if things don’t go their way. There is a strong sexual innuendo in their words and actions causing acute embarrassment and discomfiture. The stakes are usually kept very high to begin with, sometimes in the vicinity of a lakh. The helpless victim is unable to cope with the onslaught and feels constrained to part with the hard-earned money which was meant for his use. It can cause lots of angst, rage and lead to altercation or unpleasant situation.

This practice is nothing short of robbery or worse loot at gunpoint. The families as a last resort look towards police for aid which needless to say never arises. They often treat such complaints lightly or ridicule you or worst still, ask you to part with the money. It would seem they are in cahoots with them and have a share in the snatched booty.

The question arises that who aids them in parting with the information about new borns and weddings. Are the nursing homes in league with them and also have a cut. It needs to be looked into and dealt with harshly. The sympathy factor is often misplaced, the victims need it more. The govt. also needs to integrate them with the mainstream and at the same time penalize such harassment. Police also needs to be jolted into action so that public can celebrate in peace without being forced to part with what is rightfully their’s

Meera

Tagged
Jan 15 2012
Leave a comment
Writing

Education Diluted, Jai Kapil Sibal ji

Dear Friends,

With great unease I read today that Indian children fared second last in a global test conducted by PISA ie Programme for International Student Assessment. The news was not shocking but disturbing. It was half expected considering the slew of reforms undertaken by revered Shri Kapil Sibalji. To play safe they had taken the students from South as sample as they have traditionally been displaying better academic proficiency. The  results are for all to see.

We have been consistently  diluting syllabus across all subjects without taking into account the long-term damage it might be causing. Maths and Sciences have  become a mockery. Science has been so watered that even teachers are frustrated as they hardly get to teach their subject. In an endeavour to showcase better results, the authorities have reduced subjects to gibberish. No effort is being put into selection of texts and topics.

Reading ability that had also been tested fared equally poorly. The reason is not far to see. Do look at the choice of selected reading materials and lessons. They are wholly inappropriate. They are either preachy, boring, outdated or not age appropriate. Some so-called specialists sit at not so regular interval and with their limited resources and brain devise a text that has to be endured by lakhs. What about consulting the teaching staff and inviting suggestions?

The students could actually use them as a cure for insomnia. Teachers are in a quandary as to how to teach something as ‘unteachable’. No student can feel motivated enough to take up these subjects in later life. If the students are still able to do well then the credit goes entirely to them for having survived our current education system.

Kudos to Sibbalji. Aap ho gaye kamyab.

Meera

Tagged
Jan 09 2012
Leave a comment
Writing

A Chance Encounter

Friends,

A chance encounter with someone rocked my equilibrium for no particular reason, opening a tiny window in my mind catapulting me several years back in time. While I was briskly walking across the market in Priya Complex in Delhi, a bold voice claimed my attention, ‘auntyji’. I wasn’t sure if I was the recipient of the attention since the face that met my eyes wasn’t in the least familiar. I quirked my brows in form of enquiry in an attempt to discern the reason for this intrusion. A tentative smile crossed the other youthful face and she asked me to guess who she was. Since I’m too impatient for these games, my irritation percolated through my false smile. She made no mistake in reading the signal and instantly embarked on enlightening me .

She transported me way back in time when I was a resident of Vasant Vihar and took a particular route everyday to work. Almost everyday I used to cross her path. She was a scruffy cheerful girl of non descript age, anything between 10 and 13 waiting for her mother to come out of the house where she used to work. From there she was dropped to the neighbourhood MCD school by her mother.

Our meetings were quite regular, followed by an exchange of pleasantries regarding her homework, her siblings and punishments she received at school. We had almost fallen into a pattern, she would hop, skip and jump till end of the lane chatting me up and then run back to her vigil outside the house. Unconsciously I had begun to look out for her as she was a source of entertainment in the otherwise boring stretch.

One day her mother had a day off from work and caught her gossiping with me. She caught up with us and regaled me with the stories of some Memsahib’s residing there and their idiosyncracies. It was an easygoing conversation. Next day, when I came across her, I stopped as usual to allow her to adjust with my pace. For the first time I saw a shadow cross her face and an indecisive look. Being in a hurry I asked her what the issue was.  It usually revolved around poor amenities in her school. After a brief pause she abruptly said ,’Ma keh rahi hai ki apke pas koi frock or saris hain to kal le kar aana’.

The request stopped me in my tracks. It was not unusual to be asked to part with clothes but it was unexpected from this quarter. I was both upset and irritated. I couldn’t fathom the reason for this annoyance. From that day onward, I changed my route and altered the time slightly as to be able to avoid the duo.

I didn’t see them after that. I rationalised the issue within and grappled with it and then let it be. It wasn’t that important. I think we had developed a relation of two equals where we shared a slice of our life which was not imbued with any motive. This one request had shifted the delicate balance forever . The equation we shared, no longer existed. The relation held no charm for me now.

Today as she stood there, a young woman, I was taken aback. She no longer wanted anything. She was only trying to rekindle what was left of the relation in her memory. It must have left an indelible mark on her, to have been able to recognise me after such a time gap.

The question was still unspoken, the answer unformed. I hurriedly spoke some inane meaningless words expressing both surprise and joy at seeing her. The words fell out false and shameless. The memory was now consigned to it’s place. The ghosts laid to rest.

Tagged
Jan 08 2012
1 Comment
Writing

Jai Kapilji, Students perspective

Kapilji,

You have moved on to more media centric activities where you’ve hogged enough attention, though I’d refrain to comment on the quality of it. You do have the knack of garnering all the limelight, of late you and media have become almost synonymous.

My spotlight today would be on the hapless students who in consequence impact equally unsuspecting parents. You have altered their lives in more ways than one. Let me tell you how. On an average, one subject in a school is tested several times during the year. Let me begin with one sample. Let’s say English.

The year would begin with one unit test called FA 1  which carries 20 marks. This is followed by another FA 2 also carrying 20 marks. Then comes SA1 which is a 100 marks half yearly exam. The cycle is repeated in second term with FA 3, followed by  FA 4 and then all-encompassing Final exam called SA 2. SA for your knowledge means summative assessment, and FA means formative assessment. Whatever he meant by that. As if we can categorize like this. Well without digressing I’d explain the cycle to the uninitiated.

FA 1 is further divided into 4 parts. The pen and paper test is reduced to 5 marks. How are the other 15 marks collected. It would be an oral activity of 5 marks with further subdivisions of one or two marks each based on confidence, pronunciation etc. No place to explain in detail. Another 5 could be amassed by doing some project , this would be further subdivided,ha! ha!!. Last 5 marks are still hanging out up for grabs . Which could be any form of torture devised with the connivance of CBSE. I’m not through yet. These sum total of marks would be added to make 20 marks which would eventually be reduced to 5. Got it!!? No there’s more to come. Eventually this pittance would be compressed into grade on 3 to 5 point scale. Simple, isn’t it?

This process is repeated for FA 2 , FA 3 and FA4 . They would be added to some compressed % of  SA1 and SA 2. Please total it and get what you get. It’s sure not English. Added to this monstrosity is another slew of grades on report card to be allotted for various skills in English. They could be fluency, creativity blah blah… I would say , you are creative B2, you are fluent C1 and so on and so forth. By the end of it nobody knows what they are marking or grading so no questions can be asked. Now you don’t require any genius to be able to decipher how it goes. By the end of it all, a teacher is only documenting what it could not do but documented nevertheless. A student still doesn’t know where he stands in the subject as we have camouflaged everything in meaningless grades and jargon. Ironically at the end of school torture, you still conduct the Board Exam which you had commenced to remove. The aim was to destress in the first place.

If for one subject students have to struggle so much, then it’s not a pretty picture that you conjure if you look at all 5 subjects in totality. The students reel under the burden of 10 projects in one term. The parents too feel cheated as nobody is apprised of the true calibre and weak areas of the student. The clueless parents run around to help cope with various kind of activities which are foisted under the guise of CCE ie continuous assessment.

Added to it is the tension of other kinds of grades which I had mentioned in my previous blog; namely of different kinds of behaviour. For eg. emotional quotient, respect etc. I won’t digress as it merits separate space.

Sirji you’ve effectively promoted mediocrity and confusion which are the hallmark of our system. Let me congratulate you in advance for the spectacular pass percentage we are going to show.. Kudos to you, now we have “Education Shining”.

After having messed up plenty of lives, Sirji , you might move on to Universities, where I’m sure you’d cause equal amount of damage without displaying any bias towards school education. Wishing you all the best in all your endeavours.

Eternally doomed

Meera

If mood permits then I’d write more about education scenario in India.

Tagged , ,
Jan 02 2012
2 Comments
Writing

jai kapil sibalji

Dear Kapilji,

I had always viewed human behaviour to be a complex thing to analyse, categorize, grade or judge. It’s ever evolving, fluid, mercurial and fascinating. You with one stroke of C.C.E  robbed it of its entire mystery. You made it both mundane and  measurable, as if one could both weigh it and quantify it.

Since you have forced my hand, I’ve made a valiant attempt at quantifying respect, emotional quotient, camaraderie, behaviour towards teacher, school, respect to environment, school property so on and so forth. The list is inexhaustible. I haven’t even touched upon other parameters as it will be equivalent to writing a thesis. I would definitely take it up when I’m sufficiently recovered from reading the endless parameters which are a lot of crap.

Being in the profession which has now become accursed, I’m playing the role of abetting the philosophy of not teaching but only documenting. I am busy documenting hypothetical data. It’s a win- win situation. Nobody ever fails, nobody either learns and when do we teach as we are busy documenting what we can neither see nor measure or get time to teach.

How I love comprehensive, continuous evaluation. I’ve become more mathematical. I can calculate behaviour in numbers and points. My student respects me 2.5. His emotional quotient is 3 and his participation is 3.3. His creativity is 1, relation with peer group is ???.This not the end of the stupidity. Then we compress these impossible to measure traits into grades and place them in columns, confusing and damning both the students and parents with crap.

Sirji, as I am  a mere mortal I can’t don the hat of a lawyer and presume to advise them, similarly, I would advise you to let the teaching be done by teachers. They know the best. You have always maligned the profession by plastering any single incident of teacher excess on front pages, blowing it out of proportion whereas heinous crimes are being committed everywhere. Except for paying lip service to them on teachers day, you haven’t ever lifted your little finger to help them. Oft they have been lathi charged for any protest. They are pressed into menial services and oppressed. Scant respect or economic security is conferred upon them.

Please don’t give any crap about ‘it ‘ being a noble profession. Members of Parliament, in all their nobility, pass resolutions and hike their own salaries and expect school teaching community to be penniless yet noble. Respect, money and power work as a huge motivation. Please provide that and watch India shine.

I’d come back with the torture parents and students are enduring in the name of this system followed by the plight of teachers and then analyse the grading system if my interest in this topic is sustained.

Tagged ,
Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started