Small Step, Big Leap

 

‘A small step in Indian politics, a big leap for democracy’ said Shazia Ilmi of Aam Aadmi Party. The unprecedented electoral success of Aam Aadmi Party has created a political buzz like no other in the recent past. It is touted as the victory of the common man. That common man, who always had to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea.

28^th December marks that day in the history of Indian politics when a swearing-in ceremony is widely watched like no other. As I write this piece, Arvind Kejriwal is delivering his CM address, more like a revolutionary than a politician. Well he has broken into the party song now (when did Any CM do that last!) What has gone behind it? What lies ahead of it?

A few crucial points:

Symbolism: Taking a metro to oath ceremony is height of symbolism in Indian politics. It needs applause. Though it would have left security in a tizzy, it was worth the effort. I am reminded of what Sarojini Naidu said about Gandhiji’s simplicity, and the cost nation had to bear for it. Hope it doesn’t go that way.

Arrogance: It’s only human to fall prey to lavishes. No one probably understands it better that Arvind Kejriwal. In his revolutionary-like speech he requested people not to become arrogant. That is a real test, for largesse will be showered by numerous contractors, mafia and middlemen.

Congress support: Making it to the government with the help of congress support is only advantageous for AAP. Pulling the rug before 2014 would be disastrous for Congress.

Expectations: That few common men are now in charge of government has stirred seasoned politicians and Indian public like never before. This has only created a mountain of expectations from this government. It is always tough to climb such mountains, especially under media glare.

Achievement: That AAP has achieved the unassailable, its achievement can be classified under two broad headings; first breaking the barrier of entry into politics. The common man had lost all hopes, for only political lineage and muscle and money power got you into that trade. Secondly, the power of ‘aam aadmi’ who cannot be bought with ‘chicken and liquor’. A combination of both has catapulted AAP and thus is the talk of the town.

2014: Organizational abilities play a crucial role in winning elections. AAP making a great impact in general elections in unlikely. But they may hurt some parties in few pockets.

Conventional: AAP is all about unconventional! It is the youth, the brazen, confident, breaking-free of traditions, taking corrupt head on, that powers AAP’s engine.

It is in the interest of the nation that parties like AAP come up. In the next few years few such parties will spring up. But the public will filter them. May the gods, whom Arvind Kejriwal thanked for their success guide him and his team to stay by their ideals. May they make that 'leap' now!

Gender Crimes, Sexist Odour and Potent Thoughts

 

The voice of the oppressed now resonates; it seeks an end to the malady. The voice now reaches the echelons of power and the sanitized confines of drawing room, mostly emanating from the histrionic filled oratory in the cool confines of television studios. Oppression of the gender that bears life has become a hallmark of the times we live in. No, it has been a hallmark since humongous number of generations. Perhaps the voice of the oppressed is heard a little louder now;  stirring our conscience, hopefully; sparking discussion on matters that was always safe, in the attic; and causing action to cause deterrence, thankfully.

I will not discuss the ‘Aarushi’ double murder verdict, its fallacies and its merit; I will not discuss the Tejpal turmoil, tenacity of the claims, tumbling of revered institutions or trite conspiracy theories. I will also not write about venerable Justices and their tribulation with justice; or the millions of maladies that women face, at the hands of the marauder; who also turns murderer of body and soul both. Setting something straight by an exemplary execution, by delivering the rightly deemed justice, by empowering the oppressed while bearing empathy, are just, practical, warranted and vehement need of the hour.

But then that would not stand the test of something more beautiful yet obfuscating, something more potent yet vulnerable, and something that is the greatest gift of the species, yet its bane too, the human mind. How has the oppression of women been so systemic that it almost gives the impression to have been encoded in genes, dominantly expressing themselves, part of our fundamental DNA. Or is it just the acceptance of a fact which however foul is passed off as fortuitous, unfortunate, and fractured? Do we as a human race, with sweeping decline in ability for deep thinking, drastic depletion of lax time, ponder over where we went amiss?

As much as the finding of the golf club, or the blood-soaked pillow cover, the lift at the hotel, the hotel room, the letters, are all discussed threadbare; as much as sections of penal codes, the Vishakha guidelines, the pronouncement of verdicts analyzed intently; a discourse on the psychological verity is paramount. For, where does transgression stem from, where does misdemeanour get impetus from, how does man become so monstrous? The arrows shall point to the ‘thought’. The all power and all pervasive thought. The spark that a thought sets off gains momentum akin to that of a cascade, which when reaches the nadir expresses tremendous energy.

Thought feeds both on thoughts and actions. We were born unconditioned, a clean slate, but then thoughts got added, actions analyzed, environment internalized, and we grew up into what we are. Radical removal of raucous thoughts would require that un-conditioning. And for that behemoth roles have to be played by institutions, with sometimes an altruistic intent.

The moral science class that gave away to an extra hour for ‘entrance preparation’ cries to be reinstated. Regulation of TV and Internet content, not to the extent of being draconian, both institutionally and by a family is essential. Case in point, innocuous appearing deodorant ads reek of sexism; and if you think it doesn’t influence anyone go find out which ‘deo’ the teenager picks. Onus should also be on professional educational institutes to both sow the seeds of gender equality and uproot weeds; for a large time of the life is spent there. Pressure cooker education situations could and does in many cases culminate in high-earning wife-bashing professionals.

Dire situations call for dire measures. If you are in denial, you live very comfortably, oblivious to the rot that spreads, which god forbid could engulf you one day. If you are in affirmative then you need to do your bit. Would a Supreme Court, a committee, a National Commission for Women, set things right in this country? Definitely not. It will take more to tango. Media sensibilities, political will, effective policing, faster and accurate justice system, victim support systems, sensitive and sensible educational setups, they will help. But what will also help touch the core of the issue is introspection, an honest looking into our thoughts, both individually and collectively. Where did we go amiss? Where are we going amiss? For thoughts mould us, and we mould the thoughts.

 

 

Lesson in Honesty

One rainy evening in Manipal, about half past seven, a friend and I decided to go out for dinner to a restaurant in Udupi, four kilometers away. We were then, staying in a hostel. Having going through a testing time in life compounded by the lack of allure of hostel food, demanded that little outing. We rushed to the parking lot, almost scampering in the drizzle, and I started the car. I reversed, completely miscalculating the presence of a car on my right. A novice driver then, the front right of my car scratched the left behind of the other.

The damage was done, my heart was pounding, but having realised quickly that there was no way the situation could be reversed, we didn’t stop; we went for dinner. On the way, I contemplated what needs to be done about the situation. A plethora of thoughts clouded my mind. It was a rainy evening, not many people noticed what happened, and could I just get away with it? Doesn’t such minor dents and scratches happen all the time in big cities? I didn’t even know whose vehicle it was, the hostel didn’t have allotted parking spaces and maybe when we would be back the other vehicle would be gone. The warm food at Udupi, though succor for the palate, could not provide solace to the mind.

We returned after a couple of hours to find the other car right there where it was when we left. No one was around. The hostel on a rainy night bore a deserted look. My penchant for car numbers helped me identify the owner. A person whom I knew through an acquaintance, who my friend I concluded appeared snob, and thus would certainly be difficult to deal with. We assessed the damage to his car, not grave but certainly a black mark on his otherwise clean and perfect car. Without mentioning it we perhaps concluded that we do not pursue the matter further. We went back to our respective rooms.

Then the conscience stirred. I did not know in which room the guy stayed. I went through profile of our common friend to identify his name, then called the hostel office to find his room. With apprehension about how it would pan out, my friend and I visited his room. I confessed, he was shocked. He came down with us to assess the damage and was visually upset. He dismissed me with informing that I have to pay him the damage repair costs, how much ever it be.

To add to miseries of that time was this another unnecessary, avoidable incident. The next few days were spent in anticipation. I tried contacting various people, garages to find out how much it would actually cost and could I help him in getting the work done. After a week he came with a staggering sum of money that I needed to pay. I thought I did not have an option and asked him if I could pay it in installments. Reluctantly, he agreed. I paid the first installment.

Then possibly he had the change in heart.  He hadn’t, for whatever reasons, factored in insurance costs, which now brought the cost down. Amidst the turmoil came his text message. It read, “I really appreciate how you took the trouble of finding me and informing, when you could have very easily got away with; you need not pay anything further, my insurance took care of it”.

The values, the beliefs, the emotions, the relations, the feelings, the people around, all make much more sense when you are through an emotional turmoil. A life threatening accident in family had affected like no other. Life is perhaps a good teacher but teaches lessons very harshly. Through that turmoil this lesson in honesty proved that however cliché it may sound, however bad you may think people are, however rotten the world you may think has become, there is still somewhere deep within us humans that fire burning of truthfulness and honesty.

 

 

Poetry - A Vicious Trail

 

When you realized the world around you

When awareness dawned of all that exists

Right then you were made to think

That differences between each persists

 

Differences you could see for yourselves

Appreciate the variety warts-and-all

But then you were made to think again

Draw two boxes and divide them all

 

Everything should be always good or bad

Or swing between being better and best

And the thought got ingrained deep within

Never see a thing without the comparing test

 

When young it was marks in the school

It was about the better water bottle

The cars in which your friends arrived

The rat race induced to prove your mettle

 

The career neighbor chose for his son

Proved a thorn in your and parents flesh

The hunt for college pushed into a hallway

No scope of turning back starting afresh

 

The grass got more greener on other side

When your friend drew home a fatter salary

You felt jealous for you started together

Unmindful how has been his life’s vagary

 

By the time you got in the quicksand

Mired in thoughts that compared everything

Life would take a full circle with your kids

Whose thoughts on anything is nothing

 

But you wouldn’t stop there for a while

Think and reflect on your journey

For you will make the toddler think

That not comparing things is a felony

 

Take a while and pause and think

No two lives are same

Then why compare on each yardstick

Why take part in such a game

 

A vicious circle we get into thus

Although aware at its utter futility

Breeding comparison at each step in life

Mars life’s purpose and its utility

 

The more you do it, greater the discontent

It Undermines your true potential

Don’t look at others, peep deep within

Cant you see you are so very special!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goa - Tavelogue

Having been staying at a five-hour-by-train distance, having visited a nondescript one day seven years back, having that rare and elusive long weekend, and also having gotten married in the meantime, we decided to make a trip to arguably India’s top tourist destination – Goa.
Travel:
Konkan railway provides quick, relaxing, and picturesque travel from Udupi (from where we travelled) to Goa.
Cost: Rs 400 (approx) for a 3^rd AC travel, Rs 250 (approx) for SL class.
Time: somewhere between 3 hours 45 mins to 6 hours.

We reached Madgaon station (remember trains do not go to Panaji) in the evening and booked a cab at the pre-paid taxi counter. Though it is a tad bit expensive it is safe. Note that your GPS on phone can come in handy, it makes you feel safer and sure of direction.

Stay:

Advent of numerous online hotel booking sites have opened a plethora of options and confused a middle class to great ends! The search started long back. It included the already tested place near Calangute beach. Nice hotel but one not suitable when visiting for a relaxing time.

Studio apartment at Arpora

A blog led to an address of Capt.Dehpande at Arpora (north goa) who owns a studio apartment in one of the villas. Though one would think its on the expensive side considering its distance to beach, but for those seeing relaxation away from the humdrum, this is the place. The owners and caretakers are caring. There is a pool and the kitchen is handy for breakfasts or dinner.  

Resort swimming pool - pretty shallow :)

Back view

Cost: Negotiable, 3000 (approx) per day
Location: Right side off the Aguada-Siolim road

Day 1: North Goa

Renting a two wheeler is the best option for travelling around provided you have a valid driving licence. Your hotel guard, caretaker, would be ideal person to book one for you, else there are plenty of them at major road junctions. It is to be noted that petrol bunks are scanty and hence have a good track of how much you are filling. It is advisable to carry a bottle of petrol in the vehicle.

Cost: Gearless vehicle Rs 250 per day; Fuel: petrol is pretty cheap in Goa! (Rs 60 per Lit)

We visited Chapora fort, which has to be climbed through a rough terrain. The soft drink seller at the fort, who claims to be there for more than 20 years, says the entry is kept natural thankfully.

It can be draining to climb it in the hot sun so carry enough fluids. A shop at the base of the hillock is ideal for it. Atop the fort, (most unlikely kind of fort) view of Anjuna and Vagator on one side, the graveyard on the other is lovely.

View atop Chapora Fort - Anjuna & Vagator

Lunch at Oasis (advised by trip advisor!), on the Anjuna beach road was pretty bland in taste but decent enough for lunch, particularly after the scorching sun. I am of the view that any such eateries will do a decent job!

Unique KFC building at Calangute circle

After resting a while at the hotel, we headed to Aguada Fort, which however closes at 5:30 in the evening and thus could not make it. Drive back was good and we reached baga beach where we were ushered by the shack guys and ended up in one after securing the front row.

Cost: Rs 700 for two
However since it was early evening we ended up having dinner at a restaurant on the Aguada-Siolim road, the orange county. Lovely ambience, not so great food.
Cost: Rs 700 for two (approx)

Day 2: Old Goa

Driving 12 odd kilometres to old Goa is worth it.
Church of Bom Jesus, and the museum and Se cathedral are probably the most identifiable place in Goa.

Basilica Bom Jesus

Se Cathedral

 The road opposite Se Cathedral, leads to Adil Shah’s gateway (the last remaining structure), Viceroys gateway and church of St Cajetan.

Viceroys gate

Church of St Cajetan

The area opposite Bom Jesus leads to the beautiful remnants of St Augustinian monastery. It is worth the visit.

Ethereal remnants of St Augustinian monastery

 Back to Panaji via the riverside road is wonderful. The church which features in most movies is the Church of my lady of Immaculate Conception and is right in Panaji and will take hardly half an hour to see.

Church of My lady of immaculate conception

Trip advisor came handy to search restaurants in Panaji and the chart was topped by Ritz Classic. GPS and asking around led us to the hotel (on 17^th June road) which was brimming with people and did not have a proper waiting area. The ambience was good however.

Goan fish curry and rice is the preferred dish. The lime soda was the best we ever had (perhaps accentuated by the thirst of travelling). We ordered shark rava fry, which was quite a lot for two people. The quantity is really huge considering there appeared two papads for one plate of masala papad! Advice is to order after confirming quantity with the waiter.

Fish curry rice with shark fry

 

heavenly sweet lime soda with cherry

Ritz I heard is shifting to a new place in couple of months, but is worth the visit.

Cost: Rs 700 for two (approx)
Pros: Great sea food Cons: Waiting
We headed to Dona Paula beach which was decent. Bad roads lead to it but probably the movie Singham has added to its visiting value.

Ajay Devgn uprooted some lamp post in Singham I believe

Back to North Goa where Fort Aguada was waiting for our visit.

Fort Aguada panaroma

Its a good drive and a good fort to visit. The vast expanse of sea is indeed breathtaking.

We headed to Arpora saruday night bazaar and Anjuna flea market both of which did not begin, for it starts only in mid November.
A rest at the studio apartment and in the evening to Baga beach again to have dinner at Brittos. The place lives up to its hype. Again the quantity is pretty decent so order should be placed keeping that in consideration.

Brittos special chicken with salad and chips

Cost: Rs 800 for two (approx)

Day 3: Return
Back to Mdgaon and reservation in a passenger train. Train arrived late and was irksome though it reached Udupi at a decent time in the evening.
Cost : Taxi – Rs 1000 ; Passenger train: Rs 75 per ticket
Summary:
Goa is not just for the booze and party. It is indeed a nice place for relaxation if considered in that fashion. The Nigerian murder case had just erupted the day we visited. Apart than the brouhaha in media, nothing disturbing happened on ground. It was disturbing and surprising to see local signboards of major outlets in Russian, a testimony to the increasing population of tourists from that country. Goa provides a lot of opportunity for those who love history – Portuguese, English and local. Directions are easy with signboards everywhere and cooperative nice Goan people everywhere. Go to Goa to idly roam around, have good food and just relax.

Photo courtesy: Snigdha Mishra and yours truly

 

Technology - A Pai - Sarukkai debate

In the olden days, Indian women on requiring making a curry paste would embark upon an arduous and time consuming process of grinding various food components. With the advent of mixers and grinders the same process can be done with relative ease, thus liberating the woman of the need to be subjected to such a task and leaves her with much more productive time. Possibly now the time she has saved from her curry paste making process is utilized in watching her favorite daily soaps. That the keenness of this new task is so much that she would like not to entertain or engage with her young child which she possibly would have while spending more time in the older task.

While the first part of the narrative would have been easily relatable, made much sense and sounded practical, the second would have required some thinking, popped some ‘is-it-so’ questions and maybe caused reflection. In fact the ‘curry paste’ scenario presented above is stitched from a debate between two stalwarts – T V Mohandas Pai and Sundar Sarukkai.

The Manipal Conclave held by Manipal Institute of Technology had for a debate, Mr Mohandas Pai, chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, the illustrious former Infosys mascot, and a well known TV personality who daftly handles TV anchors of the boisterous kinds. Opposing him was Sundar Sarukkai, Director of Manipal Centre of Philosophy and Humanities, a particle physics doctorate from Purdue University, an eminent philosopher and thinker of the country and author of several books.

Technology, its advantages were put forth by Mr Pai, armed with his statistics; who elucidated how advances in technology have removed drudgery of human life, how longevity (and average human height) has been enhanced, how travelling time has reduced and is reducing, how connectivity has eradicated starvation deaths in far flung regions and how life has become more easy going. However he noted that a few misgivings of technology have treaded along.

There was a man, who had been at the forefront of technology revolution of India, having an active public life taking on governments for wrong doing, indulging in opportunity and knowledge creation, engaging with masses on twitter, who drove home the point which we have all become conditioned with, that advent of technology has made our lives better and that being devoid of it is unimaginable.

Then the thinker spoke. Professor Sarukkai who began by telling that talking about ills and perils of technology at a technology institute was only ironical, craftily enlightened on aspects that on the first thought could sound alien but if pondered upon could help internalize the message. That technology commonly used today have been result of war efforts where millions have been killed (millions of women and children he emphasized as a case-in-point), that technology has led to disease proliferation like mad cow disease and that technology has decimated the human ability of deep focus.

The merit of the debate is certainly worth noting. The relevance of the arguments needs thinking. The debating point holds enormous value for all generations who are in throes of technology becoming integral part of life. Is it to be accepted in its present form? What should be done with newer technologies, how it should be done, and if at all something is to be done. For technologies affecting us cannot be denied, but being deeply conditioned with it could spell dire changes in the future.

Well, that was not the conclusion. A large part of learning experience from the Pai-Sarukkai debate was beyond the arguments. There were two gentlemen who disagreed in the most graceful manner possible. Humor was never lost. When Mr Pai pointed out that the microphone Dr Sarukkai was speaking into was a part of the technology advancement, the philosopher chose to denounce it further on. Walking the talk was exhibited right there in the most light-veined manner possible.

It is rare, in the new age debate culture as the television makes us believe, to be civil, to listen carefully, to be modest, and yet to stick on to ones views. One’s firmness of those views need not be expressed in a manner of shouting down, taking irrelevant detours, or rigidity to acknowledge genuine contradictions. The Pai-Sarukkai debate was a fine example of that.

Movie Review - Gravity

If there could be an antithesis of a movie title, this would be it. Gravity, which begins with three astronauts, one only with voice however, reduces to two in forty minutes and then for the rest of it features only the veteran Sandra Bullock. And for the whole of it barring the last five odd minutes, it happens where there is no gravity, in space.

Breathtaking visuals of the earth, the spaceship, the sunrise, the sunset as seen from space, capture your imagination right up front. Then the charming George Clooney (could be any other way anyway) captures the movie with his experienced, witty, and ‘devastatingly good looking’ (his lines again) astronaut. Right when a chemistry between a space scientist Ryan (Bullock) and the ‘driver’ Matt (Clooney) begins to build that Clooney’s character is lost in the nothingness of space. But the hope of his return is maintained.

And right from that moment it is Ryan all the way, battling a storm of space debris and her own stuck-up life. The battle of a lone survivor in adverse condition almost unimaginable for almost all of us (considering astronauts are a meager percentage), is the majority of the second half of the movie.

While excellent camerawork, technically sound graphics, have to be given great credit, the challenging role of performing while actually floating in the air must have been arduous for both the actors and the crew. For a survivor story, the movie is just perfect. It could as well be a

Alfonso Cuaron shows his genius in directing this movie with two veteran actors George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. For someone who proved his mettle in the third edition of magical Harry Potter, a space movie literally with a solo star is quite a shift and an excellent one at that. It will possibly sink much later that there was only one actor for the majority of the movie.

Watching it in 3D is an added advantage, but 3D or no 3D Gravity is the stuff Oscar nominated movies are made of. A new dimension altogether, a survivor both emotionally and physically, a superb supporting role, breathtaking visuals and technology, is what great movies are made of. And this is one of them.

Sea - a sonnet

 

The blue expanse of water unending

Massive and serene milky white waves crashing

Long stretches of sand at golden sunset sparkling

Emotions that the sight of a Sea creates mystifying

 

The people gathered irrespective of all divisions

Lose them, surrender to the sea’s temptations

Age, caste, creed, colour all stripped of their positions

Sand, water, nature, human, all build new associations

 

Sand castles built by kids will form a part of their dreams

The couple walking at the beach, eyes in romance gleams

Sitting atop the rock near the sea, bunch of friends beams

Looking at the sea for answers, the sad souls tear streams

 

At the face of enormous, heavenly, unfathomable vastness

Calm prevails in heart at realization of man’s minuteness

 

 

 

 

 

Communication Conundrums

 

As I stepped out of my office building, having walked a yard or two towards the gate, I saw a well dressed young boy coming towards me. Despite my thinking wires drawing numerous connections during those few seconds, I failed to recognize him. “I saw you; you were the commentator for the cricket match the other day” he said, almost startling me. The little apprehension that I had built up by then eased and I smiled to say “yes it was for the cricket match held on the occasion of World Hemophilia Day”.

Just when I thought he was there to tell me that he liked the event or that I did a good job, almost instantaneously he said “I want to talk like you, to impress people; to ‘mute’ the smart guys in my group; I don’t have a problem with English but I want to speak fluently when in front of a group”. What he said was interjected with almost a score of filler word ‘like’.

“May I know your name” I asked him. He was a fifth semester MBBS student of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal who hailed from Uttar Pradesh. For the purpose of anonymity let us call him Kumar. For the next five minutes or so, Kumar told me that he has been trying hard himself to be a better speaker, that he has read Dale Carnegie’s book on public speaking, that he has no difficulty in grasping English, and yet again he mentioned that he wishes to ‘mute’ all those boys who can speak fluently and have their way despite lacking in content.

The peer pressure to be impressing, to speak fluent, to outsmart was clearly weighing heavily on Kumar. So much so that he appeared forlorn, depressive, hyperactive, all at the same time. To those whom public speaking comes naturally will never understand Kumar’s predicament. Beneath the dilemmas he was facing is the issue of expressing oneself and in a manner that is in vogue; the issue of having self confidence; and a basic aspect of human existence – the issue of communication.

Feeling deeply concerned, the first thing I suggested him was to try to stop thinking that he should learn skills of public speaking just to prove a point to his peers. Clearly he has been feeling inferior owing to his lack of communication skills. I told him he was not a bad communicator, for he was actually doing it well and effectively. But he aimed for the ‘flair’. I told him my story of how from being a shy and silent boy, with absolutely no public speaking skills, I could bring myself to a point where Kumar took notice.

I shared with Kumar what I felt were the key changes that transformed me. I will be glad if it would help him. But it is not about Kumar alone. It is not about his lacunae. It is about him and of his ilk that face such issues. Admission to a professional course, medicine in his case, is a matter of pride and tremendous opportunity. Our education systems would probably churn out a professional in four or five year’s time. But what are these systems doing to address the problem like that of Kumar’s?

In case of a private medical college, the students joining come from various backgrounds, public schools, international schools, state boards, etc., Though the curricular content is standardized, it is expected from the young individual to ‘pick up’ rest of the skills in their journey to their degrees, communication skills included. Is it prudent to shrug the responsibility to provide opportunities so that everyone receives a fair chance to be at par? Is not it important to impart soft skills education and training in a professional course?

But let us take public speaking as the case in point, the point that matters Kumar enormously. It will be agreed upon that like other skills, it needs some amount of training. While its implications for a medicine professional are direct and plenty - be it explaining a patient’s condition to his family, presenting a research paper in a conference, in a classroom both small and large, debating efficacy of a medicine with a panel, delivering a keynote address, appearing for promotion interview, or in case the doctor decides to become a politician; nothing is done in order to impart this skill.

The onus is on educators to introduce communication skills, public speaking included, to the young individuals who would definitely enjoy learning it as it would help in expressing themselves, in boosting their self confidence, in being presentable, in bringing clarity of thought, in being impressive in what they speak, or in the case of Kumar to at least feel confident among his peers. Perhaps it is time to give due importance to all those skills which address communication conundrums.

 

Innocence lost - How we miss teaching the heart

It is that time of the year again. Portals of education are thronged by the young. The students who enter colleges are characterized by a gleam in their eyes, the passion to prove themselves, the apprehensions regarding a new system, the bright new clothes and clean shoes, moving around in groups, and that inimitable innocence. A theory of why they are referred to as ‘freshers’, perhaps, is because of that freshness, the innocence, the clarity, the newness that features in them. But in the three or four years time, getting educated, these attributes vanish.

Is not it a natural process, one might wonder. It is not. We have been conditioned to believe so. And who is to blame for it? To a large extent, our education system. But what has education to do with innocence, with newness, with purity? A lot.

Education deals with three broad domains. An amalgamation and a perfect balance of these create an individual who can exhibit wholesome growth.

The Head
All the information, new ones which one gathers in college, those that are fed systematically with powerpoint presentations, hand outs, books, notes, ‘manuals’, goes into the head. This ‘cognitive domain’ is very important and is given precedence, especially in an Indian educational scenario, over the other two domains. We teach and teach and teach just like we make thick sugar syrup by adding sugar till the point the liquid saturates.

We produce large heads in the process. Large heads filled with knowledge, that knowledge which is superfluous and helps in writing exams, pages of it together. But this has not much to do with destroying innocence.

The Hand

The ‘psychomotor domain’ is given importance as the student gradually prepares to finish his course. Infrastructural, regulatory, curricular hurdles come in the way. Ask a fresh MBBS graduate how confident he is to treat a patient, ask an engineering graduate if he is industry ready, as a media graduate if he can write a decent report for a newspaper, and you will have your answer.

The stress on hands on learning is least across courses and curriculums. Post graduation, earned after spending a fortune and years, would get someone more of psychomotor training in the present scenario. But then training does not have much to do with loss of innocence.

The Heart

Yes, it is that domain of education, the ‘affective domain’ as it is technically called, which is completely and utterly missed. It has been so non-existent that it will startle and surprise most, whether it is a component of education in the first place. Yes affective domain which would deal with things-of-heart like compassion, ethics, empathy, communication, spirituality, self, relations, are given no space in our curriculum.

A lack of it produces professionals who are incomplete; a doctor may not be empathetic, he may not be able to communicate well with the patient or an engineer who fails to land a job owing to poor communication. It could lead to individuals who would be successful in their careers but struggle with relations, who crumble under pressure for a lack of vent, who resort to abuse of various kinds.

There is a need to incorporate enhanced affective domain skills in curriculums. Educational set ups need to provide an environment where a student of medicine should be able to learn about ethics, should be able to discuss world affairs and should be able to nurture his passions. It needs to be taught how conflicts need management and how communication should be carried out effectively among others. Teaching ‘heart’ would help maintain that innocence, the newness, the freshness; for in that innocence does one sees everything with ‘fresh eyes’ and is able to understand and value various aspects of life resulting in a wholesome personality.

(The article also featured at manipalblog.com)

Incessant Rain

 

The afternoon sky looks like its evening

After scores of days for sunlight yearning

Poor small plants on the verge of wilting

For over a month now it’s incessantly raining

 

Not to be seen any dry patch of land

Washed away, displaced heaps of sand

From nowhere, like god swayed a wand

Black clouds hover, in proportions grand

 

The drizzle and the fury, all encompassed

Danger marks in those dams long surpassed

Green algae over floor and walls amassed

Insects’ multi-coloured into homes trespassed

 

Shackled, unnerving, it now needs punctuation

Rains like everything feels joyous in moderation