Stay Hungry Stay Foolish

I picked up a book to read after a long time. A nonfiction too, “Stay hungry Stay foolish” –by Rashmi Bansal.

But a sad joke is what struck me first. The title, a famous quote by Steve Jobs is what most of India lives by. Though literally.

Half of India stays Hungry.

Half of India stays foolish.

Modern Slavery

A news item, on millions in modern day slavery and half of them being in India got me thinking. 

Wikipedia says

"Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work.  Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation... "

I wonder if most of us fall into the above category. 

We are treated as property by people, companies, gods, god’s men and dozens of others. We are sold off at appraisals and by office politics. We are bought over naukri.com or some of us even ‘walk-in’.

Our mind is enslaved by the society. Though our body is free, our mind is chained. We are held against our will by responsibility, morality and fear. We are deprived of the right to leave, or is it worse? We have nowhere to go. We cannot refuse to work. We are sold and bought in open market by the illusion that we are demanding compensation.

I think the rat race of modern day life is the worst form of slavery. It is a form of slavery that we do not often realize. We train our mind to enjoy it, celebrate its success and even call it our passion.

Sensitivities of an Insensitive nation

It is heartening and frightening to see Anna Hazare and a lot of people supporting him taking to street for a crusade against corruption.

It is heartening to see that we insensitive Indians are so sensitive about corruption and want to do something about it. Some day when Gandhi moved on to sathyagraha many would have wondered what a single man can do. But the millions of people who were moved by him made the change possible. Who knows if Anna Hazare too inspires a million? I am sure many would have argued what Gandhi did was illegal and blackmail.

It is frightening to see a whole lot of people supporting a cause they do not really understand and care for. Once you have thrown away your dress, it is a disaster if you do not have a new one to wear.

But I personally feel it’s a change of attitude that is required the most. There are two instances that were etched into my mind. One was around 12th standard. I was introduced to a relative saying “he works in so and so office, he need not even ask for bribe, it reaches his house” and that person stood there nodding his affirmation. The second was a discussion among elders in my house about a guy who was suspended for taking bribe. An uncle explained “Poor guy his house construction is in progress, kaashinu aavisham kaanum (would be in need for money)”.
Also reminds me of a much successful Malayalam movie, Traffic. In the movie a traffic constable is suspended for taking bribe. And in the end they show that his sister needed money, it was for her that he took the money, hinting at justifying it.
I remember my mother telling me not to take any other persons pencil/rubber when she send me to nursery school, I remember her teaching me not to steal etc. But I don’t think she ever told me not to take a bribe (However unlikely, if my mother reads this post some day and feels that she told me that, I will let you guys know :)).

Every time we break some traffic rule, don’t we invariably try to offer half the fine amount to the cop who stopped us?

I would say in true malayali style. Till we are like this, our country too will be like this only

Democratic Kingdom of India

Election season in kerala, TamilNadu and few other states so there is a lot of politics in air. Makes me wonder how much of a democracy India is.

1. In a kingdom King rules over the state. His family is actively involved in governance. After the kings time his kids take over. At times kids fight it out among them to decide the heir.

In Indian democracy many states are controlled by one powerful family or the other, there are dynasties in center too

2. In Kingdom performers perform in front of the kings and when happy with their performance, the king spontaneously and impulsively declares a reward. Ofcourse bills are paid by the Tax paid by peoples.

In Indian democracy watch out for all state CMs declare lavish gifts for the world cup winning Cricket team. I always wish they were equally spontaneous in helping out poor people in their states. But then only relief is the hope that the CMs are equally insincere to the cricketers. I am sure the rich Indian cricketers are not waiting for the gifts though

3. In kingdom state poets write songs in praise of the King.

In India news channels are the greatest spokes persons of various leaders. Often owned by the politicians themselves, they are strongly support their patrons. In Indian democracy there are quite a few poets write in praise of politicians too

4. In kingdom the kings pictures/statues are placed predominantly across the kingdom so the history should not miss them and their statues should remind every coming generations to be thankful and support the kings heirs

In India every party when in power goes on an overdrive to install statues of their past, at times even present glorious leaders. lest we forget. I feel better about hospital/school build and named after leaders than having status. With the condition of roads in India, I can understand if they are reluctant about naming roads after them.

Hoping the best for India.

The Talent Within

Second of the article motivated more by 3 idiots/five point someone and I am not surprised. It is accepted since the movie/book is on my second most passionate topic education.

The easiest way for an average IQ guy with not much real talent to earn some good money and live an honest life is to study and study hard. You may not file 100 patents or invent a bulb, but in my mother’s classic words “Ration ari medikan oru vazhi kittum”(Will get a way to buy Rice from Govt. Ration store)

If you have Gautham Menon in you no Mechanical Engineering Degree from NIT Trichi can stop you from becoming an Ace director. This is my parent’s philosophy rather than my own original. It is probably the philosophy of most of the middle class parents in our country.

Every time I wanted to sleep that extra hour, every time I wanted to play that extra hour, every time I wanted to watch that movie the day before exams, my parents nagged me or often forced me to study. And I am sure they did not kill any budding Sachin Tendulkar or Gautham Menon.

Right from early school days teacher after teacher, book after book, friend after friend talked in length about that talent within each of us. For some time I too looked for it within me. At times I felt sad that I could not find that talent with in me. Around me I did see few people who were hugely talented. But then I do wonder is it necessary that we should have some big talent within?

This talk of everyone having some hidden talent and allowing that talent to come out etc is true for select few. But majority like me are born just normal. As a kid I did not have any original Ambition. Even today I feel that if allowed the choice to do what I love rest of my life, I would probably sleep to death. This late in life I am still searching for that hidden talent. So I am thankful to this world for making me what I am today.

Somehow I do not believe everyone is born with some talent, some talent that if understood would make you one in a million, rich and famous. I rather believe there can be average men/women, who shall lead average life, earn a decent living doing an honest days work where they may not excel but still do the best they can and live happy.

Anyone could be among those average and they need not be ashamed or unhappy about the missing talent that will make them great. Better be happy and content about being average than being unhappy and un-content searching for that missing talent

3 idiots & guru devo bhava

This is not a review of the movie 3 idiots – I liked the movie a lot

This is not a comment on 3 Idiots and ragging controversy – hmmm… too much!!!

This is not a comment on Chetan Bhagat – 3 idiots team controversy (to add, I am on Chethan Bhagat’s side :D. There a bit too much Five point someone in 3 idiots to put his credit in the end credit roll, below all artists in a small, easy to not notice font. But I also mention that screenplay writer Abhijat Joshi did a couple of cool changes to save the movie from ending up being a documentary. And I am not referring to all the “original” jokes in the movie which even a canteen boy in every engineering college would have heard)

But Professor Viru Shastrabudhe of the movie got me thinking. This blog is more about arrogance with which Prof Virus announce to a student’s parents on phone that their son is not graduating this year. It is so typical of most engineering college.

Recently I had the good fortune of interacting with few teachers of a reputed private engineering college. And I should say the teachers were a bunch of arrogant people. The tutor (junior most) was arrogant, the professor was more arrogant and the department head was the most arrogant. I think teachers in the government college where I studied were angels when compared to them.

I was wondering what made teachers so rude. Then I heard these colleges are what are called deemed universities, especially the kind of ones mushrooming in all of south India. These colleges have huge funds and resources and are owned by wealthy and powerful, which is also why they easily get the deemed status. With deemed status comes opportunity to set industry standard syllabus, do international standard research, to impart international standard training, freedom to start classes on time, freedom to conduct exam on time, set relevant exam questions, correct exam papers in house without delay and a lot more. This is tried, tested and successful higher education model followed all over the developed world. But when this freedom is mixed with “greed for power” that we Indian’s have, it becomes dangerous. The typical faculty and management is interested is power that deemed status brings. “The Power to write the destiny of a student”

The faculty is not mature enough to handle all the power that comes into their hand. The power to set exam papers, correct them and give marks or grades is the most used feature here. Teachers openly blackmail students, force students to submission, demand respect, become arrogant and boss around kids. Students are literally afraid of opposing anything because in the end whether you walk out of the institution with a degree or not is entirely up to the professors. The students who meekly submit to all the arrogance and wag their tail to make professors happy are rewarded with good marks. The colleges also rig the exams to show the quality of education imparted as very high to aspiring engineering students and their parents. It has also started interesting classification of colleges in south, like some colleges are good for some particular religion and some are good for some particular caste and so on.

How to help this situation? I don’t know. But will for sure like to hear from you.

Probably

Mandatory specialized personality training and counseling for teachers

An audit process for education system and grading

Some central student’s grievances redressing system

College Politics … !!!! (Although I am not much for this, I remember a lot of Anti-Autonomy strikes and protests by left front students group in our college)

To end … a recent favorite song from 3 idiots

Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire did a rocking job here :D

Saari umar hum

Mar mar ke jee liye

Ek pal to ab humein

Jeene do Jeene do

Na na na….Na na na….Na na na….Na na nana na….

Give me some sunshine

Give me some rain

Give me another chance

I wanna grow up once again

..........

Bachpan to gaya

Jawani bhi gayi

Ek pal to ab humein

Jeene do jeene do

..........

Youth in Indian Government

It is said that India has a youth bulge. About 31% of its 1.17 billion populations are below 14 years of age and about 50 % is below 35 year of age. In all the major Indian political parties there is a huge talk about youth in power. Media is all mad about Young-istan. But is this Young-istan really taking the country to a new level of success? A large amount of youth is not even sufficiently skilled to earn a decent living, forget about actively contributing to nation building. And the few who are skilled have their focus elsewhere. Looking around there are very few youngsters who are really into doing something for the country.

This prompted me to do some search some time back (actually this was supposed to be my Aug 15th post) to find out

* How much youth power was involved in politics and governance?

* To understand better the “youth” in government.

We can have a look at our Central ministry of UPA government. It has 33 Cabinet ministers and 38 Minister of state.

Only six of the 79 members of the council of ministers are below 40. These 6 members are much talked about, with tons of pride by politicians, media and even common man. They are hailed as representatives of India’s youth.

37-year-old Jyotiraditya Scindia (Commerce and Industry)
Son of late Shri Madhavrao Scindia – political big shot

34-year-old Jitin Prasada (Petroleum and Natural Gas)
Son of late Late Shri Jitendra Prasada – political big shot

28-year-old Agatha Sangma (Rural Development)

Daughter of Shri P. A. Sangma – political big shot

31-year–old Sachin Pilot (Communications and Information Technology)

Son of late Shri Rajesh Pilot – political big shot

35-year-old Arvind Yadav (Youth Affairs and Sports) and

Son of Subhash Yadav (deputy CM of MP) – political big shot

36-year-old Prateek P Patil (Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises)

Son of Vasantdada Patil (former CM Maharashtra) – political big shot

Atleast the list above looks more like a list of representatives of a few Indian political families rather than representatives of 0.58 billion youth. But in Indian politics probably below 40 is a kid and below 60 is young and above 60 is senior (still not old). So to be a kid and a minister probably you need have it in your blood.

So we can also have a look at the 40s. There are a dozen in this age group. Following are the people in the list

On fast track due to parents in politics:
R P N Singh, Daggubati Purandeswari, M M Pallam Raju, Tusharbhai Chaudhary, Dayanidhi Maran, Selja Kumari

On fast track due to Uncles in politics:

D Napolean, Ajay Maken

All is not that bad after all. At least in 40s there are a few
who come otherwise:
S Gandhiselvan, Pradeep Kumar Jain, Vincent Pala

But then the joy was short lived. These people had their own specialties like - lot of money, influential friends or caste to support them.

But is it that bad? If one of us takes it as our life’s mission to be a part of building India will it be impossible? Is Indian politics all about having the right family?

Answer is probably a NO.

Every election India does get a few great leaders who started from the scratch, without any god fathers. Often they are already in their 50s or 60s when they make it big and those are the few who help me be proud when I call India a democracy.

References

http://www.indianexpress.com/static/leaderProfile2/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Cabinet_of_India

http://164.100.47.5/council/rankwiselist.aspx

http://india.gov.in/govt/cabinet.php

(Actually a lot more)

** The data/information is mostly from Internet and while I try to be accurate but agree that there could be mistakes. So if any corrections please feel free to let me know.

** With the new editor I am not able to upload picture!

A generation’s confusion

Each generation lives with its own confusions, complexities and fears. And this generation too has its own share. I should say confusions make life memorable, unpredictable and fun.

I am trying to list out some topics which I have discussed for significant amount of time with significant amount of people. The topics were (I think this is specific to India)
* Which college?
* Private or Public sector job
* India or Abroad
* Love or Arranged marriage
(Any more or any less to this list, do let me know :D)

It appearing to be “marriage and divorce” sort of season around, Love and Arranged marriages are the hottest topics I should say. So here I list some of the interesting things I learned

1. Parents always surprise you when they accept the partner you choose. The more conservative and arranged marriage supporters they appeared to be, the more surprised you would be when you announce the partner you have chosen (could be the case of hindi proverb ‘miya bivi raazhi tho kya karega haaji’ **).

2. Chances of arranged marriages working has come down with both partners “working”. With GenX becoming more realistic, all the funda of family support making arranged marriages work don’t hold true.

3. Never say no or sacrifice your love for the happiness of your family. Both you and family will be sad in the end.

Quoting from my favorite “loVe in the time of Cholera”

“Even if you are dying of fear, even if you are sorry later, because whatever you do, you will be sorry all the rest of your life if you say no.”

4. Love or arranged, either way marriages require a lot of work to be successful.
(But they are fun, Try atleast one)

5. Relax after all you have arranged marriage as an option…!!!! Even if you do not have girl/boy friend, never worry too much and enjoy the peace of mind :D. (Arranged marriages are definitely not bad :D)

On one of my travel (long time back), I met a US guy who said “At least you Indian do not have to be stressed up about one thing... you won’t die a virgin even if you do not find a date … in case you fail your parents will succeed.”

Also on the same note, somewhere I once read “Love is one place ‘where never tried it’ is better than ‘tried it and failed’ … ”

** roughly means: if husband and wife agree then others can’t anything about it.

Clean Indians

This is one of the many posters that have appeared in the office as part of a noble move to educate us on keeping our rest rooms neat.

I feel these were long due. We Indians feel that we are a great race. We teach our children big things about spirituality, politics, history, morals etc. But miss out on very basics. There is a lot of talk about need of sex education in school, but it is classes on cleanliness that we Indian need the first. Working at an Indian software major I do not understand what is that stops a well educated man from flushing the toilets after use or what is it that makes him spill water all over as he washes his hand or leave big food particles in sink to make it clog. We can also notice this on international flights. The Indian leg of any flight will be dirtier than the international one.

Most of us expect “some poor chap” to clean after us. But yes it is not entirely our fault. For centuries now we have been used to open spaces and green toilets. A sink and a tap which you need to be press to get the water flowing can no way replace a river or a pond. These cramped toilets probably are a crime against us.

As you can judge a man by his shoes, you can judge a house and its inmates by the toilet

Needed Tree-huggers

Cutting a tree to save 20 minutes of someone’s office commute time is understandable. But cutting it off from where it was harm less seems tough to digest. But I might be wrong in calling the tree harmless. The local astrologer might have found that the tree is responsible of slowdown in Indian economy.

Probably Bangalore too needs some tree huggers.

Pension, Insurance and Family

Personal Insurance business has caught up well in India. Insurance companies make such a great living out of basic animal traits like insecurity, fear and ego that they are growing day-by-day. On the positive side insurance companies are nearest to socialists in a capitalist economy.

But this also reminds of rapidly dying family relation which was India’s own form of Insurance and social security. “Insuring a better future”, “50 Years of Trust…”, “Zindagi ke saath bhi, Zindigi ke baadh bhi (with you in life and after life)” all these catch phrases of Insurance companies draw some parallels to family relations.

Friends and extended family helping the sick formed the medical insurance for Indians. The added incentive was the breakfast, lunch and dinner package with all hospitalization. Parents were well cared for by children was India’s pension scheme. Here the added incentive was absence of loneliness of staying alone. But then a few people claim that friends and family “may” not be happy to spend when you are in need. But we can be assured that the insurance company “is definitely” not happy to spend for you. Over and above they spend a fortune on people who find innovative ways not to spend any money on you. Above all the family relations come with lesser number of hidden stars (* conditions apply).

Possibly in future some business houses may come up with innovative thoughts like Insurance against loneliness, Insurance against lack of love, Insurance against a sad day, Hands to comfort scheme etc.

Until then a strong family relation is the best that we can have.