Social Networking Sites - a sham or an ingenuity?

Their reign over the web is undisputable! They have redefined the meaning of 'social identity'. If u and ur pics, scraps. videos n wat all u can imagine uploading, aren't there, ur existence in this world would be a farce! From the status of ur relationships to the last click of ur camera, u got to put up everything for everyone to see, which means unless u r often online, u miss the bus! No wonder, so many of us suffer from post-modem depression! Now that's somethin u develp wen u find urslf unable to access the internet for a considerable time period ( it differs from hours to days). Many out there would actually argue for these sites, stating that it helps them stay connected to their pals and to know about the happenings in each other's lives. Truly appreciable stuff and this was the very motive why Mark Zuckerberg & others developedthese sites. (In fact,the guy Orkut, set up the site to find his lost girlfriend and it actually helped him trace her!)But as we are becoming more vulnerable to the utilities of these sites, few of us are actually toeing the thin line separating a socialite from an exhibitionist! Everyhin under the sky has its good & bad side but it's imperative to maintain that balance. Introspection should be of prime concern here. Sending a message or a written note to someone has always had a greater impact , we must make sure we dont make a comment while thinking through that veil of vanity & braggery. While in public scrutiny, one needs to exercise some restraint on emotions....after all as tha sayin goes- admonish in ur frnd in private while praise him in public!

While we may have countless frnds in that virtual list n only gettin added with each day, expectin each of them to undestand and feel our real situation would b foolish. In the process of such parochial thinking, there is every chance of losing those real frnds, neare to us in the real world. No wonder why so many suffer from depressions of being lonely. Are some of us trying to find solace by interacting with this virtual world? Or is it partly because its an easy way of establishing a fake in the guise of artificial poses, which scream of duplicacy?

On the flipside, a lot of good things can be achieved via these sites. The way they link us to the world happenings, disasters, etc are unparalleled. Good social deeds can be materialised and opinions can be exchanged transcending borders. Join NGOs, mobilise people, remove misconceptions, spread awareness, urge sustainibility for the surroundings, arrange a poll or quiz to generate funds, donation programmes etc - the list is endless if only we will. But the question remains as to how many of us actually think of such innovative ways to contribute to our social responsibility cause? Being busy uploading mundane pics, songs etc. is one thing while standing apart from the crowd while inspiring the rest is another. We really need to grow up from futile aspirations and do something constructive in our own small way for this country, towards which we only export criticism. This way the image of the sites we are members of, would also reflect the contributions, of which everyone would be proud of! So, happy tweeting....

Heart Affairs!

Damn, it sure beats! yes, it does....everytime you talk to the person, for whom you have had harboured feelings for! Those who say it doesn't, lie. The harsh reality of life however shatters just about everything we dream of....at least its true in most cases. Those who sail through the storm are the real fortunate ones! Why brood? Why act dead when living? Lets just wish the magic moments stay in our memories and be enough for us to spend the endless quiet solitary evenings on our own! Amen....

Let's get together...

" I don't have prejudice against myself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white....." - BOB MARLEY.

So simply said and understood by the great Jamaican singer! Decades gone, yet these words are not so simply heard and followed.....India sowed the seeds of secularism long before independence but what we reaped is far from what was expected. True, democracy is a delicate plant, susceptible to many blights such as sectarian politics, political infighting, rigged polls, but we cannot expect much from the plant when the soil on which it thrives is itself diseased. Unproductivity ( read 'sub-nationalism'), absence of fertilizers (read 'illiteracy'), and most importantly absence of nutrients and water (read 'principles and poverty') are the preconditions for a failed harvest. We can't change history but we can, the perspectives. The platform on which secularism was based had been toxified by the bitterness and hatred that accompanied "the partition". Lakhs of people lost their lives and that too at a time when two countries were beginning a new journey. Much has been said and discussed about the parochialism of the leaders at that time and the sudden vacation of the British from the country, leading to a complete failure of law and order, something that was of utmost necessity while the largest ever human migration. Perhaps, if Viceroy Mountbatten had made Cyril Radcliffe's dividing line public atleast a fortnight earlier, much of the clashes and deaths could have been avoided. The result was that most of the people didn't know on which side of the border they actually belonged. Agitated mobs with survival instincts took to the streets with weapons killing anyone they found from the other community.

Perhaps these wounds in history resurfaces from time to time and still reminds us of the bitterness associated with the events and that which is ready to trigger an outburst whenever a sensitive issue related to religion is raised. Common sense would have us that leaders would do well to not give filip to such issues, given the fact that our literacy rates are still poor and the society is still grappling with the changes brought in my modernisation, add to it the superstious beliefs and religious fanatism accompanying it. The middle class is rising but with apprehensions which shows that the country is evolving and going thrugh the learning phases. It needs dynamic leaders, clean bureaucrats, proper social amenities - homes, hospitals, employment, educational institutions, industries, banks, roads, electricity etc.....all backed up by effective policies and their skillful implementation. India today, is seen as one of the prime leaders in the South Asian region leading a revivel for the ailing economy. But we must realise that being obsessed with GDP numbers and growth rate alone will not do. Neither would holding an Olympics Games!

So what then is the need of the hour?

Nationalistic attitude should repace the sub-nationalistic ones. The leaders need to reach out - they are the panacea to all social evils. I can't single out a leader who has so much of an unnerving nature to pull the masses out for a cause today. Except for political gimmicks, there is nothing new in them. Communal hatred is perhaps the worst evil vitiating the effects of secularism. The 'Ayodhya Ram Janambhumi Temple' verdict is on its way and its no wonder most of us are keeping fingers crossed fearing a clash between the two sides once the verdict is out. Not wanting to take any chances, troops - PAC, RAF etc. have been mobilised. Herein lies our problem. We never take measures when we should and when we can! Had the people in power gone nuts when this very issue of there being a Ram mandir in Ayodhya came up. Instead of taking effective measures then, the issue was politicised for narrow political gains just like we all know. It clearly shows the lack of dynamism and foresightedness in our leaders, two crucial components of leadership. Insted of bridging the gap between the two vulnerable communities, it was only ignited to its peak. This, however is not the time to refresh those bad memories and I would only do so if the verdict goes against the truth. For now, we should embrace peace and tolerance.... Just like Bob Marley said, who are we to differentiate between ourselves when we know we all were created by the same power!

Some other day....

A teacher's role...

Given an opportunity to take up the role of a teacher, I would be keen to make essential alterations which I believe will be pragmatically functional in helping our ailing education system to improve for the better. The teacher being the pillar of this foundation, it is imperative that he/she be completely devoted to the task of carrying out the desired changes. Only then can we embark upon the next level.So, with this assumption, I would like to highlight the points:

Vocational courses need to enter the arena in a large way. Hands-on experience to solve day to day problems should be stressed upon more. For instance, knowing the technical know hows regarding the repair of a blown-out fuse, dismantling a switch board, replacing a bulb holder, fixing the motor or the water faucet, some carpentry work, some practice of washing and cleaning the house etc. When a high school pass-out fumbles to write an application correctly, something is seriously wrong. Such problems reflect the need for separate sessions to draw out the creative side of the kid, to let them experiment and understand that the real world lies outside the books. Learning theory is one thing but without some real time applications, they just fade away.Students who show skills or interest in fields other than academics should be given the thrust. They should not be fed with the old home-grown fact of life that academics alone is the ticket to success. There should be a scope for development of one’s oral and communication skills. This can be done by arranging oral tests and allotting marks for them. Many a time good students suffer because they are judged on their answer presentation skills alone. This would also help the kid to overcome public speaking fears and do a world of good to his confidence.
Discussions on a variety of issues should be encouraged in the class though the onus lies with the teacher here. Such activities make everyone participate freely and most importantly help them in forming their own opinions and viewpoints.Regarding the curriculum, it is necessary to include the basics of financial education as compulsory. This would enable the student to know what and why to save. Sex education is screaming for attention and it’s high time we incorporated it. Today’s children are growing in a fast-paced world which calls for all-round development to tackle problems of all genres the society confronts them with.
Maths is a subject dreaded by many students. But its importance is undeniable. The way to teach maths at the school level needs a sea change. There should be math laboratories with all the necessary equipments. This would make learning maths fun. Besides universalization of education, focus should shift towards higher studies and improvement of infrastructure at the University level.
Last but not the least is the role of the parent/guardian. Home is where education begins and so it is the responsibility of the family to introduce the child to the right values and principles. They should refrain from pressurizing their wards to choose a particular subject or profession and let them blossom on their own under a certain balanced vigil. We should learn to respect every profession and stop interpreting any as being of lesser position in the social ladder. Because as long as the individual enjoys a passion for the work he takes up, it’ll take him places.

Veggies....Uh...do they really have a reason to be???

Haven't written in a long time as is evident from my never updated pages since the last post! Much water has flown under the bridge since then...and things too aren't the same anymore.....No more down South; now actually i've climbed to almost the top - the capital, Delhi! Not the best place to be but unquestionably the best when it comes to achieving what i want to....Perhaps veggies come in wholesale up here! But this disappointment will soon wither away when you learn that Beer sells for a mere 45 bucks, thats almost half the usual rate at other places....alrite, goa is always an exception when we talk of booze! I still miss it....had a blast there a couple of years back!

Back to Delhi, I must say that the people here need more lessons in civics....Most of them just know business and really dont bother to bother about the place or people around! Thats really disappointing and I would rate Bangalore higher in this case. However, am having to learn a lot about my country, its policies, relations, topography, history, polity, economy and what not! But its turning out to be an interesting adventure in a field I have always dreamt of being a part of but first time treading upon!

But yes, I have also a lot to talk about the fate of Indian policies - be it in terms of employment, poverty, education or women empowerment. I wont make this cumbersome with statistics and all but its shameful that even after so long, we dont have any concrete policy to deal with any of the above mentioned troubled areas. True, India is a diverse country and not one particular policy would satisfy all the regions but there have been so many policies launched and called off or merged with one another that its an extremely difficult task for a common educated man to understand and remember all those! then what would happen to the lay man? besides, when they prepare the annual budget, do they ever consult the common people, the farmers, or the working class? No, never...they will consult the industrialists!

There has been so many recommendations from numerous committees but all on paper...they'll never be realised thanks to the powerful politicians of India! Most horrific is the condition of Indian Police.... Lot to write about but will continue later....

When'll things change?

Its 21st century and is there anything that our extravagant lifestyles would crave for? Unfortunately, if this question is asked to the privileged section of the society living in the metros, most of them will start wondering shamelessly what else they can ask for to lead a more king-sized livelihood…. But ask the same to a resident of “Vijaynagar” and you may be taken aback by hearing their wants…Yes, just like it astonished me when I read about the plight of these people staying in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh…I forgive myself and the readers if at first thought Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Vijayanagar’ came to your mind; after all how much do we genuinely know about our country and just ask a few street goers to name the seven North-eastern states, you’ll find most of them fumbling, forget about knowing their capitals! Huh, that’s how things are in India…given such a scenario, its only quite normal to see so many new anti-social groups springing up in these North-eastern states. But for now let me not enter a different arena while I am writing from a different perspective.
Vijaynagar, a place surrounded by Myanmar from all sides lies in the far flung district of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, the largest North-eastern state in terms of area. The place is inhabited mostly by the ‘Lisu’ tribe and immigrants from Myanmar. Here a 30 kg cement bag costs a whopping Rs.3000 while mustard oil comes at Rs.150 per litre! There are no landline telephone networks or mobile towers and the only telephone booth charges Rs.50 per call at Rs.5 per minute! The only road linking the nearest town, Miao to Vijaynagar (157 km) is inoperative…The only link with the outside world is an Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft which lands once a week to deliver Govt. rations etc., of course only if weather permits. Needy villagers attempt to grab a flight in AN-32 to reach the Mohanbari airport in Dibrugarh district, Assam to make it to Miao where they can get the basic amenities. Quite tragically, only about 20-25 villagers can do so every month; patients get priority! For others, the only option is a 6-day trek through the thick jungles of Namdapha forest to reach Miao…… These people don’t even have a way to express their angst to the outside world - the last MP elected from this constituency didn’t bother to visit the place and the funniest part - the villagers are enthusiastic to exercise their voting rights this time too but they haven’t even seen or met the contesting candidates! True, the location of the place is extreme and the Air Force pilots admit that it’s dodgy to land the AN-32 in the ALG (Advanced Landing Ground) strip. But when will the leaders look to improve the lives of these people? Not that these people are the worst affected in the country but someone has to begin somewhere…the most aweful part – there is a ‘somewhere’ but there is no ‘someone’!!!

Indian Politics - Dog's tail?

I am genuinely impressed by the illustrious work and contributions of the Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, in the recent dramatic industrial developments taking place in Gujarat. Many even hail him as the most suitable candidate for the post of the Prime Minister of India. I am not a follower of the Congress or BJP either but the recent remarks Modi made about Priyanka Gandhi-Budiya, Gudiya etc are in my opinion very shallow and its surprising to hear it from a person of his stature! These remarks show how cheap are the thoughts of the politicians of this country and its really shameful on our part. I dont suppose he consider himself to be in the early twenties? I undersatnd that a person is young or old as per his thoughts but where are those youthful refined thoughts of his? The face of Indian politics is never going to change if we keep on with this 'blame game'. BJP needs to look beyond its stubborn 'Hindutva' policy if it wants to come to power... My request to you is to respect the youth of this country and stop these tongue lashings!!! ITS NOT THAT WHAT YOU ARE UNDERNEATH, ITS WHAT YOU DO THAT DEFINES YOU....