Education vs. college degrees

The most debated topic is about the need for college degrees more than the need for real leadership. Not only has it opened up a plethora of doubts, it also has exposed the shallow mind set of people.

There was a time when the most educated Indians migrated and settled down in other countries. When most of the educated (read as people with college degrees) people left the country in search of good employment opportunities, those who stayed back realised the need to work on ground zero.

People who worked in India gained far more experience and knew how to tackle local problems than those who went in search of cushy jobs outside. This helped them grow and the knowledge that they acquired through work experience was counted far greater than the degrees that the universities held on display. But what this also meant was that the education system, largely remained a breeding ground for export purposes rather than internal consumption!

The system was geared to cater to the needs of those who wanted to leave the country. Therefore those who chose to stay did not bother to revamp it. Those who chose to leave did not come back to change it.

Recently, this system has died a natural death, with nothing else to replace it. There is now a sudden need to find a replacement. Attempts are being made to bring a better system in place of the old one.

By not introducing changes at the right juncture, this system has now collapsed unto itself.

A system waiting to be revamped and refurbished...

Therefore a change is now imminent and it can be successfully ushered in only with able leadership at the top. Things are looking positive and hopefully the Indian gen next can expect more courses to choose from and wider choice of subjects.

Over emphasis on select few fields will prove detrimental to the growth of a country and such an emphasis will bring about lopsided development. Any one-sided growth will eventually topple the very system that it was meant to develop.

India needs a balanced approach so that uniform importance can be given to several areas of expertise. Hopefully the next generation will see political leaders holding degrees in political science and writers holding degrees in Creative Writing!

Please feel free to share your thoughts in this matter.

Unforced Error

A body of coherent matter,
Came speeding towards me.
I could have let matters be;
But it was of indefinite shape!

And its considerable size,
Made me sit taut and upright.
I wanted to give it a fight;
Though its speed kept increasing!

I had to face it with all I had,
'cause the product of the two.
Could topple even a queue;
Facing it could be an error unforced!

Some come in physical form,
While others are games of the mind.
It can unbind or it can sometimes bind;
Find him out within you to succeed! 

Author's note:

The first para talks about a coherent matter with considerable size and indefinite size, which is the definition of mass.

In the second para we talk about increasing speed indicating acceleration. The product of the two is force.

In life we need not face up to every force that comes our way. Choosing your battle is important.

In a metaphoric sense force is not always physical. People force us to do things we may not want to. Like physical force, even the figurative force can make or break relationships.

In order to tide over the figurative force, we should find the inner force that can help us face obstacles and lead us in the forward in our chosen path!

My training experience!

I bagged my first contract as a freelance trainer and the topic that I had chosen was 'Integrating Creative Writing and Academics'.

I had the experience of my lifetime, least said!

I had to deliver the lecture to two different groups of teachers and after many years I gave a 7 hour lecture!

In the second batch there was a teacher who participated enthusiastically and I kept interacting with her throughout my lecture. At the end of the session, she told the audience that she had put pen to paper in an attempt to demonstrate what she had understood thus far.

To encourage the other participants to follow her, I asked her to come forward and read out what she had written. She came forward and her neighbour walked out with her. 

Enthusiastically, I announced to the class that we had two people who were willing to prove their prowess. The second teacher told me that she was following her colleague to read out what she had dictated.

Puzzled, I looked at her waiting for her to explain herself. 

"Ma'am, she is blind and cannot see!" told the second teacher and I stood rooted to my spot.

Just before the blind teacher volunteered to read her work, I had completed 3 1/2 hours of a power point presentation that had many video slides.

When I heard what she had written tears streamed down my eyes and I left the class in the pretext of drinking some water.

I recalled what my father often told me:

"Learn to Learn;

Learn.

Learn to teach;

Teach to Learn!" 

I taught to learn yesterday!

R.I.P. - Lip Service!

The victory of Modi marks the end of an era, an era which was ruled by the Congress Party. The end of Congress rule in India signifies the coming of age of a country that revelled in mediocrity fuelled by self-doubt and infighting.

But when a country whose history has been inked in the colours of slavery and sacrifice, the rule of congress that kept it together as one unified front, while paddling furiously underwater, was justified.

But evolution has erased the past pages by propelling a new idea that spells MODI. The history of slavery has diminished to a dot!

The new idea is fuelled by self-respect that will now replace self-doubt. This idea will do away with the, ‘What can the ordinary man do?’ slogan with, ‘With every drop an ocean is not far!’

The need to maintain a united front no longer seems to attract the younger generation. That need is now long past! Today’s need is guidance. The youngsters are looking up to older people who can guide them. They want to work their way ahead, only they do not know where to start. A strong leadership that can teach them exactly this is what has replaced the older and redundant thought process.

The whole world has come together under a common umbrella called the Internet! The cyber space has redefined the global boundaries. Geographical distances somehow, no longer seem to matter! The time is ripe to welcome this new world order and it is heartening to note that India has taken the lead in this regard!

In celebration of this coming of age of my country, I have attempted my first poem in Hindi and it goes thus…

“Har ghar mein banega,

Modi jaisa ek mulga!

Jo sirf baat nahi karega,

Balki, kaam karke aage badega!

Sirf sarkaar banana nahi hamaraa kaam,

Unnathi laut aayega har din har shaam

Har haath badega, ghatega cheezon ka dhaam

Har hot bolega ‘Modi’ ka naam!”

When translated it reads,

Every house will have a child like Modi, who will etch his way forward through hard work. Forming a government is not the only job, but to usher in progress by working hard, day in and day out.

Every hand will extend support to keep the economy thriving, while every lip will hail Modi’s leadership!

Hero worshipping – A unique Indian bane

This week discussion is on self help.
 
The victory of Narendra Modi, to me, is yet another indication of the average Indian mind-set.

For time immemorial Indians look forward to one man wonders. Before long Modi will become the next avatar, that has arrived on the Indian soil as an avatar of God. This God will kill all evil and bring peace, prosperity and harmony while the people can happily go back to their lazy way of living.

The great poet Subramaniya Bharatiyar, through his poems opposed this mind set in Indians.

He narrated the scenes involving Draupadi in the light of this mind set.

“Mottai Marangalena Nindrare,

Pottai Pulambal Evvazhi Pomo?”

When translated it reads thus:

When Panchali was dragged on the streets by Duschasan, the people of the kingdom stood on both sides of the street like tree stumps and when the evil man was out of ear shot, started abusing and cursing him. To what avail were there powerless cribbings?

They all wished for God to take an avatar to teach the evil people a good lesson.

And lo and behold, God took the avatar of Lord Krishna. The concept of one man bearing the public cross, so that the rest of us can relax and enjoy, is fast becoming the bane of the modern society.

It is time for a re-think. Many of us feel democracy has taken a re-birth in India, with Modi’s victory. One man’s victory cannot change the mind set of the millions. It is time for each of us to take on our own responsibilities. We each should contribute towards strengthening the vision of the man we have elected today. 

Instead of hoping and waiting for another Modi to raise from the rubble of the streets, we each should absorb one value that we see in Modi. It is about time that we change our own mind-sets and stop hero worshiping one man who is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of his people around.

Today let each of us vow to become a Modi unto our own selves. Let us take the oath of sacrificing something for the betterment of our nation.

Let India be ruled not by one Modi, but be a land which is enriched by millions of Modis who, willingly walk, shoulder to shoulder with their elected leader!