Bungi jumping is not easy for every one. But when taken to see others do it, somehow you muster up courage to do it by closing your eyes and holding your breath.... This is how finally the government has decided on CBSE exams... !
It is really a bold step although it is not complete in itself. By giving an option for students who want to take the board exams, the present system would continue for a while.
If I were to take the decision for the ministry, I would simply have scrapped X Board as well as Plus two at one go!
Can any one say it would be enough to do plus two and stop with it for life? Is there any scope of a decent employement after finishing plus two or there is any possibility of joining a professional course with only the board exam grade and without having to go through the entrance and selection procedures?
As I had already expressed, plus two board exam, like the 10th board are only serving as stress generators on the young adults and their parents of our country.
I had mentioned earlier that the board certificate is finding usage in employment and other requirements of the government agencies only to be of proof of age of the citizens. Now that the National id card mission is taking of, there will be no such need in the future.
So my dear folks in the postions of power in the government and educational institutions, pl wake up to the fact and start thinking out of your Boxes!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Scrapping Board Exams- Mail sent to NDTV
In those days SSLC would be used as proof of Age! Number of people scoring above 75% were very few. Now the pass percentage is very high and number of children scoring very high marks has resulted in getting admission to good Colleges very difficult.
IITs have already de-recognised Board marks(XII)!
Board exams have only ruined the Social life of Parents and the formative lives of our Children!
Kudos to Kapil(sibal) & his Team. They should still go ahead and think out of the box to remove all board exams now!
The National identity project will take care of need to have a proof of Age in the form of a board certificate!
IITs have already de-recognised Board marks(XII)!
Board exams have only ruined the Social life of Parents and the formative lives of our Children!
Kudos to Kapil(sibal) & his Team. They should still go ahead and think out of the box to remove all board exams now!
The National identity project will take care of need to have a proof of Age in the form of a board certificate!
Monday, April 6, 2009
IS THERE A SHORTCUT TO CLEANSE INDIAN GOVERNANCE?
I am fed up with people talking endlessly about improving the Governance, routing out corruption and seeing that all the development plans of the government reaches the end user for whom they are supposedly directed at... and so on!
When honesty as a virtue rests only with the arm chair philosophers, retired middleclass "chatterettis" and few mavericks who are good at sending soundbites now and then, there is no way we will find hope of having "Ram Rajya" in India. By "Ram Rajya" I dont mean the entry of "saffron brigade" to the seat of power. It is out of that mythological belief of having a fair and free state where the governance is based on equality, justice and honesty in its true sense and the government can boast really on the catch words they have, "Satyameva jayethe"(TRUTH ALONE TRIUMPHS).
There is a saying that a single tree can never become a farm. So also this silos approach of people by simply craving and talking their heart out for having a "Rama Rajya" can never happen in reality.
So is it only a blind vision or utopia un-attainable? Or is it ever achievable but waiting for some revolution or evolution to take place?
I have some hope; and the hope is that at some stage, some institution will get committed to bring in a sweeping new change in our country...
But all said and done, I can now think of one great institution doing a great job in the conduct of the elections in India. yes! The Election Commission of India which is now a respectable organisation in India vested with quasi(or real) judicial authority.
I really admire the EC in being a watch dog during the process of election and being a tough administrator of electoral process by bringing a lot of discipline in electioneering process, campaigns, code of conduct for the participants etc. I see a great role for this organisation in building a vibrant, honest and strong Indian Government, that will eventually build a corruption-free society, that is India!
In this blog I would like to point out to the readers about the transformation or metamorphism the EC has done to itself in that it has emerged as a powerful institution from a mere "conductor of elections". I admire Mr.Seshan who gave a new dimension to EC which resulted in a "spinoff" in that the successive CECs have even gone several steps ahead of him in changeing the institution of EC in to the custodians of Democracy!
Now, I would only suggest that the same institution can take up the responsibility of cleansing the Indian Governance by seeing that "Truth alone triumps" by ensuring that no party gives fantastic and unrealistic election promises to hoodwink the voters.
My only suggestion is that ECs should also ask the parties to explain their "Manisfestos" for its "reasonableness" and may be asked to give a clear road map as to how they will achieve the promises in their term, if voted to power.
Alternatively, a MOU can be signed with the parties, like the corporates obtaining "WIGs" (wildly important goals to be achieved in a year of apprisal) agreements from their top executives! I am sure that ECs will be in their rights to obtain this, as the parties who contest elections are issuing Manifestos which can be equated to "offers" or prospectus to a public issue.
The other institutions or office I mentioned elsewhere could be the President of India, The CJI, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Comptrollor and Auditor General or Attorney General of India. It is only a matter of time that they really realise that they can take up this responsibility on themselves.
My intention is not to put the onus only on one institution, that is EC. As it is election time, and I see lot of promise that this Institution has in Cleansing the Indian Governance, I aired my views.
There is no doubt that when a beginning is made so imperceptibly (yet significantly), a collage of high offices can make great strides in this direction!
Any takers!?
When honesty as a virtue rests only with the arm chair philosophers, retired middleclass "chatterettis" and few mavericks who are good at sending soundbites now and then, there is no way we will find hope of having "Ram Rajya" in India. By "Ram Rajya" I dont mean the entry of "saffron brigade" to the seat of power. It is out of that mythological belief of having a fair and free state where the governance is based on equality, justice and honesty in its true sense and the government can boast really on the catch words they have, "Satyameva jayethe"(TRUTH ALONE TRIUMPHS).
There is a saying that a single tree can never become a farm. So also this silos approach of people by simply craving and talking their heart out for having a "Rama Rajya" can never happen in reality.
So is it only a blind vision or utopia un-attainable? Or is it ever achievable but waiting for some revolution or evolution to take place?
I have some hope; and the hope is that at some stage, some institution will get committed to bring in a sweeping new change in our country...
But all said and done, I can now think of one great institution doing a great job in the conduct of the elections in India. yes! The Election Commission of India which is now a respectable organisation in India vested with quasi(or real) judicial authority.
I really admire the EC in being a watch dog during the process of election and being a tough administrator of electoral process by bringing a lot of discipline in electioneering process, campaigns, code of conduct for the participants etc. I see a great role for this organisation in building a vibrant, honest and strong Indian Government, that will eventually build a corruption-free society, that is India!
In this blog I would like to point out to the readers about the transformation or metamorphism the EC has done to itself in that it has emerged as a powerful institution from a mere "conductor of elections". I admire Mr.Seshan who gave a new dimension to EC which resulted in a "spinoff" in that the successive CECs have even gone several steps ahead of him in changeing the institution of EC in to the custodians of Democracy!
Now, I would only suggest that the same institution can take up the responsibility of cleansing the Indian Governance by seeing that "Truth alone triumps" by ensuring that no party gives fantastic and unrealistic election promises to hoodwink the voters.
My only suggestion is that ECs should also ask the parties to explain their "Manisfestos" for its "reasonableness" and may be asked to give a clear road map as to how they will achieve the promises in their term, if voted to power.
Alternatively, a MOU can be signed with the parties, like the corporates obtaining "WIGs" (wildly important goals to be achieved in a year of apprisal) agreements from their top executives! I am sure that ECs will be in their rights to obtain this, as the parties who contest elections are issuing Manifestos which can be equated to "offers" or prospectus to a public issue.
The other institutions or office I mentioned elsewhere could be the President of India, The CJI, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Comptrollor and Auditor General or Attorney General of India. It is only a matter of time that they really realise that they can take up this responsibility on themselves.
My intention is not to put the onus only on one institution, that is EC. As it is election time, and I see lot of promise that this Institution has in Cleansing the Indian Governance, I aired my views.
There is no doubt that when a beginning is made so imperceptibly (yet significantly), a collage of high offices can make great strides in this direction!
Any takers!?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
In search of an alternate title for Slumdog Millionaire
There was this student who used to travel with me to the college where I was teaching. He was afflicted with schizophrenia and would attend classes irregularly.
Whilst travelling, he would be talking incessantly about many things including what happened in his class. One day he went late to the class when the lecture was going on. After waiting for a while for the permission of lecturer,who did not mind him, he entered the class. At this point of time, the lecturer confronted him by saying, "Hey you! do you know only dog will enter through open doors without taking permission?". To this he replied "Even God will enter through open doors without taking permission".
The entire class including the lecturer was stunned and laughed aloud by his innocent but remarkable reply.
There is lot of discontentment and hue&cry about the topic "Slumdog Millionaire", notwithstanding the popularity and oscar nomination the movie has earned. It may happen that the movie might bag a few oscar awards as well.
All said and done, there is no doubt that Danny Boyale and the producer were insensitive in giving such a title to the movie, slumdog! As I said in my blog on this topic, there is enough reason to believe that the name could have been picked up from an abusive term in Tamil "Poruki Nayae"(meaning Slumdog).
Ruckus about the movie name or content and bowing to the pressure and changing the same are nothing new to Indian cinema. Given the fact that the producers of the movie might feel that the title holds the key to its success, changing the name to altogether different name can pose some difficulty.
Considering all this, I am giving an alternate name which will rhyme like Slumdog and would not pose major challenge to effect the change. This would be very respectable and make the movie makers a hit among the slum dwellers as well, if only they can see reason.
Yeah;it is SLUMGOD MILLIONAIRE !
Whilst travelling, he would be talking incessantly about many things including what happened in his class. One day he went late to the class when the lecture was going on. After waiting for a while for the permission of lecturer,who did not mind him, he entered the class. At this point of time, the lecturer confronted him by saying, "Hey you! do you know only dog will enter through open doors without taking permission?". To this he replied "Even God will enter through open doors without taking permission".
The entire class including the lecturer was stunned and laughed aloud by his innocent but remarkable reply.
There is lot of discontentment and hue&cry about the topic "Slumdog Millionaire", notwithstanding the popularity and oscar nomination the movie has earned. It may happen that the movie might bag a few oscar awards as well.
All said and done, there is no doubt that Danny Boyale and the producer were insensitive in giving such a title to the movie, slumdog! As I said in my blog on this topic, there is enough reason to believe that the name could have been picked up from an abusive term in Tamil "Poruki Nayae"(meaning Slumdog).
Ruckus about the movie name or content and bowing to the pressure and changing the same are nothing new to Indian cinema. Given the fact that the producers of the movie might feel that the title holds the key to its success, changing the name to altogether different name can pose some difficulty.
Considering all this, I am giving an alternate name which will rhyme like Slumdog and would not pose major challenge to effect the change. This would be very respectable and make the movie makers a hit among the slum dwellers as well, if only they can see reason.
Yeah;it is SLUMGOD MILLIONAIRE !
Saturday, January 31, 2009
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
1980 and 81 was the period when I stayed in a College Hostel at Trichy. Recently when I visited the college, I found the building to have dilapidated and deserted. Standing before the building for a while, my memory went back to the period when I stayed there along with 4 other boys in a room of barely 300 sq ft on the third floor corner.
There was no toilet in the building but only bathrooms. One has to go down to the the courtyard where toilets were separately located. The hostel was having 2 blocks juxtoposing each other in a fashion that it formed a perfect square and the other side detached from both the block, situated common toilets. A wall fitted with pipes and washing trough concealed the toilets from the frontside view.
Hostel gate was in the other end in between the two blocks. There were also bathing yard at the back of the hostel, where boys used to take bath in the open. Most of the boys prefer to take bath in the open as they had come from various villages situated on the banks of River Cauveri, mainly from Tanjore and Trichy districts.
A junior boy who came from a 'well to do' family from Chennai became a good friend of me. Later on, I came to know that his family was associated with the management of the college itself!
Having come from a 'well to do' family, he used to lament about the condition of the hostel, especially the toilets. We found a toilet attached to the office to be slightly better and used to frequent there on some pretexts. It was when that access was closed, we used to visit a Library situated about 5 km away...! Not for clearing our doubts but to clear our bowels!
He quit the college mainly for want of a good toilet. There were no "Shulab/pay Toilets" in those time, not even something like those we saw in Slumdog Millionaire!
Slumdog Millionaire showed some of the "pay" toilets which I have never seen before! I am really amused to see the little boy taking a dirty route to get an autograph from Amitabh Bacchan! I hope Amitabh Bacchan remembers having signed an autograph without dirtying his hands!
No other movie had made it so famous by showcasing filth, dirt and squalor than Slumdog Millinnaire! Even to carry the cameras and the crew to such locations would have posed a lot of challenge. In the process it highlighted the crimes committed by the Slumdog criminals abusing the children, selling 'mineral water' using some quick fix methods,and portrayed the possibility of a "call centre assistant" to become a Millionaire.
Now all 'Chaiwallahs' have a new designation: "Call Centre Assistant"! But in reality, and the way the film was shot, one can come to a conclusion that the "Call Centre Assistant" is having more freedom and life than the employees of callcentres who are very closely monitored and work in crowded & crammy offices.
Clearly the slumdog life seems to be more eventful!
The movie is well taken but should have given some more explanation as to why Jamal was hauled up by the police and how he was allowed to participate for the final question. Also the charactor of Anil Kapoor is not well defined. Why he went scotfree for delibrately feeding the wrong answer, especially when the police was satisfied about the innocence of Jamal?
In my opinion, Irfan Khan has a better presence than Anil Kapoor. Unlike Anil Kapoor, Irfan has never claimed credit!
Danny Boyle must have been ragpicking stories around the world and would have had no difficulty in choosing the 'most beautiful slum of the world' in the city of Mumbai!
There is a saying in tamil that the money received through selling fish will not smell.
Slumdog earnings will not smell too!
There was no toilet in the building but only bathrooms. One has to go down to the the courtyard where toilets were separately located. The hostel was having 2 blocks juxtoposing each other in a fashion that it formed a perfect square and the other side detached from both the block, situated common toilets. A wall fitted with pipes and washing trough concealed the toilets from the frontside view.
Hostel gate was in the other end in between the two blocks. There were also bathing yard at the back of the hostel, where boys used to take bath in the open. Most of the boys prefer to take bath in the open as they had come from various villages situated on the banks of River Cauveri, mainly from Tanjore and Trichy districts.
A junior boy who came from a 'well to do' family from Chennai became a good friend of me. Later on, I came to know that his family was associated with the management of the college itself!
Having come from a 'well to do' family, he used to lament about the condition of the hostel, especially the toilets. We found a toilet attached to the office to be slightly better and used to frequent there on some pretexts. It was when that access was closed, we used to visit a Library situated about 5 km away...! Not for clearing our doubts but to clear our bowels!
He quit the college mainly for want of a good toilet. There were no "Shulab/pay Toilets" in those time, not even something like those we saw in Slumdog Millionaire!
Slumdog Millionaire showed some of the "pay" toilets which I have never seen before! I am really amused to see the little boy taking a dirty route to get an autograph from Amitabh Bacchan! I hope Amitabh Bacchan remembers having signed an autograph without dirtying his hands!
No other movie had made it so famous by showcasing filth, dirt and squalor than Slumdog Millinnaire! Even to carry the cameras and the crew to such locations would have posed a lot of challenge. In the process it highlighted the crimes committed by the Slumdog criminals abusing the children, selling 'mineral water' using some quick fix methods,and portrayed the possibility of a "call centre assistant" to become a Millionaire.
Now all 'Chaiwallahs' have a new designation: "Call Centre Assistant"! But in reality, and the way the film was shot, one can come to a conclusion that the "Call Centre Assistant" is having more freedom and life than the employees of callcentres who are very closely monitored and work in crowded & crammy offices.
Clearly the slumdog life seems to be more eventful!
The movie is well taken but should have given some more explanation as to why Jamal was hauled up by the police and how he was allowed to participate for the final question. Also the charactor of Anil Kapoor is not well defined. Why he went scotfree for delibrately feeding the wrong answer, especially when the police was satisfied about the innocence of Jamal?
In my opinion, Irfan Khan has a better presence than Anil Kapoor. Unlike Anil Kapoor, Irfan has never claimed credit!
Danny Boyle must have been ragpicking stories around the world and would have had no difficulty in choosing the 'most beautiful slum of the world' in the city of Mumbai!
There is a saying in tamil that the money received through selling fish will not smell.
Slumdog earnings will not smell too!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
MANGALORE MADNESS
Mangalore is becoming very famous in the world map. Obviously for wrong reasons. When I think of Mangalore, I relate this to nearby Udupi, which is a well known name amongst the vegetarians. Udupi brings a pleasant "fulfilling" feeling to any one who has tasted their servings!
Ironically, Mangalore incident too involves a restaurant. Some young girls were chased by the "Great Ram Sena" primates in full galore of TV and news reporters who captured the event live and showcased their 'scoop' in various TV channels.
I am not able to understand what was the reason behind the attack. Why Rama Sena was driven to take direct action on these girls? Any instant provocation?
Frankly, I came to know that there is an outfit known as Rama Sena, only through this episode. I know that such a Sena was formed comprising primates by Lord Rama to construct a pathway to Sri Lanka, on his mission to secure Seetha from the clutches of Ravana.
All these senas can be usefully utilised by the government of India. I can only relate an old story of Tenali Rama!
The police force of the king(Krishna Devaraya?) arrested one Thug who killed a pilgrim staying at the roadside Inn(Restaurant?). It was learnt that the Thug killed the poor pilgrim for repeatedly coughing at night, thereby spoiling his goodnight sleep. The King ruled that the thug be hanged.
Thenali Rama intervened and sought the pardon of the King using his special privilege.
The king was surprised. Thenali Rama nurtured the thug by giving him all facilities and luxurious living and made him grow like a ferocious monster!
Suddenly there was a crisis to the nation. A neighbouring powerful king declared war without an early indication and sent his sodiers under the charge of a provocative General.
Thenali Rama sent this thug with a closed envelope in which he had written offering truce in a submissive tone in the name of the King.
The thug delivers the envelope and the General reads the same aloud and humiliates the thug in full view of his soldiers. The thug known for his rage, takes out his sword and beheads the General. The soldiers kill the thug in return, but being headless, the army of soldiers go back without pursuing war.
Now coming back to the utility of Rama Sena, the Government can involve them for the fight against terrorists!
Jokes apart, I feel sorry for the victims. I also feel pity for the members of the Sena for becoming tools for some cheap leaders, who in the name of forming some sort of outfit to inflate their false ego, are playing with the life of a number of youths who are jobless, malleable and does not have any vision for themselves.
When the world is becoming small by technolgical advancement and development, minds of some people are becoming narrower and narrower. I am sure that any one who is having some self esteem would not do this kind of acts against fellow human beings, let alone women.
As I always believe, and written in my blog about "Terrorism- what to do?", this kind of hooliganism should also be dealt with in two distinct measures:-
1. Swift and strong action against the hooligans by treating them as enemies of the country as they are causing disturbance to the peaceful living of citizens
2. Long term measures which will involve Education, sustained campaigns for peaceful living and developing citizens code of conduct besides economic development of the underdeveloped and down trodden.(this can be incorporated in constitution)
Jai Hind!
Ironically, Mangalore incident too involves a restaurant. Some young girls were chased by the "Great Ram Sena" primates in full galore of TV and news reporters who captured the event live and showcased their 'scoop' in various TV channels.
I am not able to understand what was the reason behind the attack. Why Rama Sena was driven to take direct action on these girls? Any instant provocation?
Frankly, I came to know that there is an outfit known as Rama Sena, only through this episode. I know that such a Sena was formed comprising primates by Lord Rama to construct a pathway to Sri Lanka, on his mission to secure Seetha from the clutches of Ravana.
All these senas can be usefully utilised by the government of India. I can only relate an old story of Tenali Rama!
The police force of the king(Krishna Devaraya?) arrested one Thug who killed a pilgrim staying at the roadside Inn(Restaurant?). It was learnt that the Thug killed the poor pilgrim for repeatedly coughing at night, thereby spoiling his goodnight sleep. The King ruled that the thug be hanged.
Thenali Rama intervened and sought the pardon of the King using his special privilege.
The king was surprised. Thenali Rama nurtured the thug by giving him all facilities and luxurious living and made him grow like a ferocious monster!
Suddenly there was a crisis to the nation. A neighbouring powerful king declared war without an early indication and sent his sodiers under the charge of a provocative General.
Thenali Rama sent this thug with a closed envelope in which he had written offering truce in a submissive tone in the name of the King.
The thug delivers the envelope and the General reads the same aloud and humiliates the thug in full view of his soldiers. The thug known for his rage, takes out his sword and beheads the General. The soldiers kill the thug in return, but being headless, the army of soldiers go back without pursuing war.
Now coming back to the utility of Rama Sena, the Government can involve them for the fight against terrorists!
Jokes apart, I feel sorry for the victims. I also feel pity for the members of the Sena for becoming tools for some cheap leaders, who in the name of forming some sort of outfit to inflate their false ego, are playing with the life of a number of youths who are jobless, malleable and does not have any vision for themselves.
When the world is becoming small by technolgical advancement and development, minds of some people are becoming narrower and narrower. I am sure that any one who is having some self esteem would not do this kind of acts against fellow human beings, let alone women.
As I always believe, and written in my blog about "Terrorism- what to do?", this kind of hooliganism should also be dealt with in two distinct measures:-
1. Swift and strong action against the hooligans by treating them as enemies of the country as they are causing disturbance to the peaceful living of citizens
2. Long term measures which will involve Education, sustained campaigns for peaceful living and developing citizens code of conduct besides economic development of the underdeveloped and down trodden.(this can be incorporated in constitution)
Jai Hind!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Satyam- Where is Satyam, the truth?
A company is formed with a word that carry the meaning: "Only Truth ".
Alas,no one really knew that the promotors are not having any relation to the word 'Satyam" until today, when its Chairman's resignation letter started the rounds in the internet!
Of late, we are seeing unrealistic share price movements of almost all companies in the market. I very much doubt that this would have any relation to the inherent strength of those companies supported by sound financial principles.
It is only a matter of time that all (?) truth about this fraud would come out, if only a serious attempt to unravel this scam is made.
Satyam has proved one point, in that the company has brought to light this fraud out in open to the public, whereas there would be scores of other "Un-satyam" companies doing the covering up operations very cleverly by hoodwinking SEBI,and other bodies, including the government.
I am curious to know if the directors have already sold their shares in the market without divulging it to the MCA or SEBI. whether this could have been possible?
The resignation letter doing the rounds, if it is the original one he has presented to the board, is something sure to find in history!
I am also curious to know if the Auditing firms and other intermediaries/agencies or including public institutions were supporting the murky dealings and fraudulant non-disclosures.
Now whether the board is present in its full strength? as one lady board member resigned a few days prior to the resignation of R Raju!
Raju has not said any word about his responsibility towards the board. What is the number of shares that he is holding and what is the proportionate liability that he has to bear?
Can the resignation of the board member and chairman be accepted by the board, if there is huge undischarged liability?
Even if there is hope for salvaging the company, that is dashed by this one act of Raju resigning from the company (without having the courage to face it) and also making it public the content of the letter at this stage, as the beleagured company and the interim CEO would now be faced with numerous charges and legal actions from within and outside the country, as the company is listed in NYSE.
These and more questions, which may come from the investors/stake holders need to be answered. But only time will tell who would answer them.
If Stock Exchange is not aware of the number of shares traded in the market(with the background details of owners and buyeers) and SEBI is not getting any reports on dubious transactions, all these bodies need to be taken to task.
PriceWaterHouse now should hide them in a fishpond! where they cannot hide but only showcase their auditing skills!
I have no stake in Satyam Computer in any manner, no shares, no transactions, not even a sify net account! But I really really pity the common man who may be having some shares, and the employees who have spent their years in Satyam for the captains to commit this "barratry".
Everybody in the business community now says that this is an isolated and stray case and does not portray any malaise in indian business houses...(believe investors) comparing the Enron scam in US.
I have only one thing to say, my dear common man, do not fall for the greed to make quick money either by shares or by any means.
Who knows, the weather report predictions in India also may be forecasting the formation of Meltdown cyclone!
Satyameva jayathe!
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