Monthly Archives: April 2012

Apr 26 2012
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Writing

Romance – The Romantic Way

Walking down the college lane sundown itself was romance. Entering hostel at the brink of deadline set as time was romance. Being able to attend socials at night in other colleges was romance. Waiting at Patel Chest for University Special bus while surreptitious admiring glances fell your way was romance. A compliment, a lingering look which held a promise was romance. “Our eyes met” – this phrase was truly romantic , it was a heady feeling. None of these would have lead anywhere except in our dreams yet there was romance in the thought of their ever coming to fruition.

There was poetry in the sheer presence of your preferred person. One could actually hear the bells ring at the thought of a phone call or a chance meeting. The chance meetings were usually planned for days in mind itself and in the absence of cell phones were mostly result of patient waiting and helping hands of friends without whom love could rarely bloom in those days.

Lot of courage went in reaching the hand- holding stage which often began as a timid tentative gesture usually emboldened by a compliant hand. Non withdrawal was enough to signal acquiescence. It could be the high moment in the snail progress of romance. Romance lay also in the exquisiteness of the wait . A sense of adventure was experienced in shielding the ongoings from parents.

It may or may not have been love but all the symptoms were there, in those days. It rarely occurred to measure the economic worth of the other person or career prospects. It was never so calculated and cold-blooded and that made it so romantic. The sheer recklessness  and folly  of it made it ever so sweet. Too many restrictions and the idea of being able to conquer them all was romance.

It was a feeling so pure and elusive that it couldn’t be either worded or expressed. This was romance . It drifted out of hand like smoke. It left impressions and memories so intangible that one was afraid of ruffling and disturbing them lest  they disappear altogether  This was romance.

Meera

 

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Apr 14 2012
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Writing

25% Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in Schools

Supreme Court ruling regarding reservation of 25% seats for economically weaker sections is well-meaning but basically flawed and not in sync with ground realities. It is just an excuse for our govt. to wash its hands off any responsibility whatsoever regarding state of education. With more than 6 decades of independence behind it, it hasn’t been able to either provide even rudimentary infrastructure to govt. schools or procure eligible teaching staff. Their pathetic and woeful attempts signify a weak political will, corrupt system and low priority given to education.

In order to deflect from their poor track record, they have conveniently shifted the onus on to public schools. The govt. with its vast resources and infinite power was incapable  of doing the needful so how can public schools, with limited resources take on this mammoth task? The govt has already undermined education with their  implementation  of CCE which has effectively crippled our education system and now to compound it, they are they are abdicating their responsibility under the garb of  “social responsibility”.

it’s a failed govt. using muscle to improve its track record without doing anything to hold the hand of the same public schools whom they want to piggy ride. Kudos to Ms Anne Koshie for asking Mr. Sindhvi about govt. failure and apathy. He as usual mumbled and bumbled into an incoherent and off – topic answer. The worries and queries of Public Schools are totally legitimate and genuine and need both, addressing and redressal.

Raising funds to effectively impart holistic education, which our castrated govt. is incapable of,  requires both resources ane autonomy. If their hands are tied and they face financial crunch , then you would end up creating endless govt. schools guised as public schools. Each time they hike their fee, govt. makes a hue and cry so how would they cater to the added burden?

The hike would have a ripple effect and  would ultimately spill – over to the parents of general category. This in turn would be a huge injustice as a majority of them have admitted their children to public schools, not because they are plush with funds but due to lack of confidence in govt. provided education. Thus they undergo great hardships to keep their children away from them. 

The crux of the problem is our govt. itself so stringent laws should be made to bring policy makers and elected members under certain parameters to ensure minimum disparity. It should be mandatory for the elected members to send their children to govt. schools. This would hasten reforms and certainly create alpha govt. schools . No slackness, apathy or compromise would meet the eye. They would direct all resources to cocoon their kids in the lap of luxury. This would revolutionise the process.

The arm twisting of hapless public schools would not achieve the desired results but only complicate matters. The staff of the govt. schools also are a demoralised lot due to poor policies and worse implementation. This ruling is a cosmetic procedure without proper diagnosis of the malady , hence the treatment though expensive would fail to root out malaise.

The issue of ‘Integration of the two disparate groups of children’ deserves a separate blog and would be addressed in it.

Meera

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Apr 12 2012
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Writing

Boasting / Bores / Brains – Thoughts on them

LETS BLOW OUR TRUMPET

  • Those who have a right to boast don’t need to.
  • A boaster and a liar are first cousins.
  • The man who never boasts is always bragging about it.
  • He who boasts of being self made relieves God of a lot of responsibility.
  • People who brag about having an open mind should close it occasionally and think.
  • The fellow who brags about how smart he is wouldn’t if he was.
  • The fellow who blows his horn the loudest is usually in the biggest fog.
  • He who toots his own horn has everyone dodging him.
  • A fool tells you what he will do, a boaster what he has. The wise man does it and says nothing.
  • Praising yourself to the sky is not going to get you there.
  • Self praise is the only way some folks get any.
  • Few people need voice lessons to sing their own praise.
  • The man who sings his own praise invariably sings an unaccompanied solo.
  • Success doesn’t always go to the head; sometimes it goes to the mouth.

          LET US GET BORED

  • A bore keeps you from feeling lonely and makes you wish you were.
  • A bore only stops talking to see if you’re still listening.
  • A bore always lights up the room when he leaves it.
  • A bore never runs out of talk – only out of listeners.
  • A bore is someone who holds a conversation and won’t let go.
  • One of the trouble with small talk is that it usually comes in big doses.
  • Some folks are so highly educated that they can bore you on any subject.
  • Usually the man who howls loudest about free speech has nothing worth saying.
  • Too many people confuse free speech with loose talk.
  • One of the best ways for some people to make others happy is to shut up and go home.
  • A person who never makes a mistake is pretty boring.
  • A speaker who doesn’t strike oil in 15 minutes should stop boring.

HOPE YOU ARE SUFFICIENTLY BORED. TIME TO STOP BRAGGING AND BORING.

JUST SOME  INTERESTING THOUGHTS TO SLEEP WITH.

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Apr 07 2012
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Writing

Tehelka Sting Operation On Cops

The sting operation conducted by Tehelka on cops regarding their take on women being raped held no surprises as we are well aware of their patriarchal, conventional and narrow mindset. It did stir the nation into another national debate on prime time. What was amply evident was the intolerance they had for any woman who didn’t fit into their mould of decency leaving no scope for any deviation and individuality.

They looked boorish, illiterate, uncouth and only invited jeers. The reaction they triggered did nothing to palliate their now irresurrectable reputation. It was evident that none in their right mind would lean in their favour. You could almost pity them for what they are. I’m sure that media would do the rest- by decimating them. They will take several avatars, from monsters to rapists till unrecognisable.

Yet the profound question remains hanging in balance. Is male over active libido to be pardoned by shifting the blame on seducers woman syndrome. ‘What can we do if they dress like that?” Oh Dear! Poor you, you can’t help but pounce on them.’ What if there is cleavage exposed? If there is no dupatta ? If a bit of leg shows? The sari is low? If she is out after decent hour? ???…How will I not rape? Aren’t I being forced to do so? I’m the poor hapless victim of an enticing woman who will not leave me till I have done my duty by raping her and you still blame me?

We can’t gloss over the fact that several educated people hold similar views couched in most sophisticated lingo, including our dear Shiela Dixit. The malaise runs deeper. Several women too hold similar views and feel that they have brought it upon themselves by behaving in a promiscuous manner -whatever that may mean to them.

The oft discussed issue is that even a prostitute has a right to decide when to deny sex- it’sher prerogative and none can dispute it. Then what ails our men? I think that it’s more peculiar to Indian men. Are they sex deprived?- but our population tells a different story. I think we should outsource a research to be conducted on it.

In a lighter vein, we can again expect to see the likes of Renuka Chowdhry and Shabana Azmi to shout hoarse about the current scenario as if they were an expert on every thing and lo behold, a solution would emerge.

Meera

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Apr 06 2012
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Writing

MALE CHILD MARGINALISED / GOING OVERBOARD WITH GIRL CHILD

As usual, we as a nation have gone overboard and in an over drive to protect girl child. After every census and survey, we frame some more laws, formulate policies, air some Barkha Dutt kind of shows and feel sufficiently proud of having done the needful.

Like all other times, we are way off the mark. We err again. To strike at the root cause of any discrimination, we need to spread awareness and create an equal atmosphere. Sadly, we have begun to harm the interest of the other half of the population , that is the ‘male child’.

If men are more in number, do we need to decimate them?- Rather we need to increase the scope to accommodate the numbers. Are we right in depriving them of their rightful place or squeezing their opportunities under the garb of achieving equality? Do we have to save one at the cost of another?

In fact the travails of a male child begin at a very early age. In Nursery admissions, the schools have given extra points for a girl child, disadvantaging a helpless male infant for no fault of his. Is he not  deserving of the same rights?

As of now, in Delhi University, the education has become totally women centric. The reverse discrimination has increased manifold. Boys are denied the joy of studying several courses for ex.’ Psychology’, which  is available in only one college for them and a plethora of options are available to women. Majority of colleges are for women only, the list is endless, whereas the remaining colleges are co educational. The girls have entry everywhere and boys dejected and rejected. You only have to look at the spiralling  cut-offs with reduced options.

I have witnessed a silent revolution where the likes of maids are empowered women , riding bicycles, calling the shots both at home and their place of work and their hapless husbands and employers succumb  to every blackmail for different reason. Though illiterate, they are second to none.

Among the affluent, the rise in aggression among young women is a commonplace thing. Whether on roads, in the form aggressive driving, or in the corporate world ruthlessly climbing the ladder unscrupulously or at home dictating the terms of peace. The men are in constant fear of being charged with ‘sexual harrassment’at the drop of a hat. The law has become a veritable weapon in the hands of several upwardly mobile women. Our laws tilt in their favour hence making fair trial impossible. In the unlikely scenario of being acquitted, the man still has to battle the stigma.

Repenting, after creating ‘draconian laws’ like of dowry law, serves no purpose, as you have already unleashed a monster. A proverbial ‘genie’ which can’t be rebottled”. Repealing laws, makes a mockery of them.

Women’s vulnerability sexually is oft touted as one reason for such measures, but our men also face sexual exploitation and safety issues which often go unheard or are mocked at. They are also murdered, cheated and humiliated.They also survive under great pressure of performance, status , job, package worth etc. whereas a woman can still chose not to work and suffer no pangs.

The thrust should be in creating atmosphere where human dignity is of paramount importance, then genders will automatically take care of themselves.With right values , the imbalance can be rectified but not at the cost of marginalizing male child .

We have enough Mayawati’s, Mamta Banerjee’s and Jaylalitha’s to leave us in any doubt of their weakness, so let’s do the right thing and work at valuing human life more.

Meera Unplugged.

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Tagged
Apr 03 2012
3 Comments
Writing

Thoughts with Zing and Sting

  • Do something, either lead, follow or get out of the way.
  • Choice, not chance determines destiny.
  • Push will get a person almost everywhere – except through a door marked ‘pull’.
  • If you itch for success keep scratching.
  • Words should be tools for communication, not substitute for action.
  • A sensational new idea is sometimes just an old idea with it’s sleeves rolled up.
  • All men can stand adversity, to test a man give him power.
  • When you are upto your ears in trouble, try using the part that isn’t submerged.
  • You sometimes profit from the advice you don’t take.
  • Advice is the least heeded when most needed.
  • Advice is like laxative, easy to take , hard to predict the outcome.
  • Advice to some people —- If you had your life to live over —- Don’t do it !
  • The trouble with giving advice is that people want to repay you.
  • Never give advice — SELL IT.
  • Be careful when you give advice, someone might take it.
  • Advice is that which wise don’t need and fools won’t take.
  • A good example has twice the value of a good advice.
  • If you want people to notice your faults, start giving advice.
  • A criminal prefers vice to advice.

MY ADVICE IS, NOT TO TAKE ANY OF IT SERIOUSLY SINCE IT’S COMING FOR FREE.

MEERA

 

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