Fifth Gear

It's been ages since I wrote something. 

But since my son has started writing a diary now, father must do likewise 😜.

Locomotion has always been a problem for me and I have always taken more time than others to learn different modes of locomotion.

I learnt to walk almost one and a half years after my birth. I learnt to ride a bicycle when I was almost 12–13 years old. I learnt to ride a motorcycle after my postgraduation at the age of 25. And finally I learnt to drive a car just a year ago at the age of 38.

When I was young, I was very bad at playing bike and car racing games. I always wanted to go as fast as possible, but in doing so, I always lost my balance. When I started riding my bicycle and later on the motorcycle, the fantasy of driving fast never left me. I have tried to do so quite often on the roads as much as my human body could push the bicycle and the engine could pull the motorcycle. I was quite strong to never push my bicycle to Olympics standards (pun intended). My first motorcycle, Hero Honda Splendor NXG, was of 97cc and was good enough to be driven at 70-80 kmph in the first few years. But later it used to shake even at 50. Alas, when it was fit, I was afraid to attain such speeds so those 70-80 kmph rides happened maybe once or twice. And when I began to manage the speed, the bike couldn't!

It was when I bought my current bike, Honda X-Blade that I had the correct combination; a bike which could do 70-80 easily and a rider who could manage it. Also, the roads in Nagpur also improved during this period. I use my bike mostly for my commute to college and sometimes the car. But frankly speaking, as the days are going by, I hate to drive in the city. It's actually very boring and tiresome to change gears every few hundred metres. It's another matter that I am not big fan of gearless vehicles as well.

On Saturday morning, before the city wakes up properly, I have to reach college at 7:30 AM. I generally do this 8 km distance in little over 10 minutes which normally takes close to half an hour on other days. I enjoy this fifth gear ride very much. My son also has a penchant for speed. So, every week or at least once a fortnight, I take my car out for a ride outside the city where I don't have to change the gears. For kilometres, it is fifth gear only! Just a few days ago, we did 120 on Samruddhi Expressway for a few hundred kilometres at a stretch.

When I drive at high speeds in fifth gear, nowadays I don't experience any thrill or excitement. Instead, I get a calming effect. I feel at peace. This everyday hustle and bustle of life at times gets into my nerves. The urge to see what is in front, back, left or right decreases and the rides become enjoyable. These dopamine shots recharge my brain and help me to stay younger especially at heart.

I know life generally works between the third and the fourth gear, but till it permanently settles for the neutral, let me enjoy these fifth gear rides.

Ajanta and Ellora

    We started from our home at 05:30 AM, and then we went on to the Samruddhi Expressway. We had breakfast in a shop near a petrol pump. The shop was only selling poha and tea. From there, we went to Lonar to see the lake. There we saw a temple. We had to go down a valley to see the lake. It required two hours and hence we saw the lake from there itself.

    We reached Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) and first had lunch at Great Sagar Restaurant. We went to our hotel and we took a rest. In the afternoon, we went to Daulatabad to see the fort. We had to climb upwards. My mother was soon tired and then me and my father went towards the top. We went to the front of the fort and didn't go inside the fort. There was also a tower called Chand Minar that was made by a king who won a big battle.

    The next day, we went to Ellora Caves. There we first saw the "Kailash". Next we saw the Buddhist and the Jain caves. We had lunch in a small restaurant but didn't eat in the restaurant where Feluda had eaten.

    From there we went to see Aurangzeb's tomb. We also saw the tombs of his son, Azam Shah, and his guru.

    Then we saw Bibi ka Maqbara, where there was Aurangzeb's wife's tomb, which was made by his son Azam Shah. It looked like the Taj Mahal.

    The next day we went to Ajanta, where there were 29 Buddhist Caves which were made 2000 years ago. Some caves were made 1600 years ago. The caves showed Buddha's life cycle. We ate in the canteen there. Then we went onto the Samruddhi Expressway and came back home after a three-day trip.

Abhimanyu Chandra

Appointment at Last !

It’s a long time since I wrote on this platform. The only reason for this inordinate delay was my pending appointment order. As now not only my appointment order is here but also I’m safely posted at Institute of Science, Nagpur, I can again dabble on the blogosphere. And the best thing to write now is the story of my appointment.

All this started way back (yeah it seems such a long time!) in May 2010. It was one year since my masters and I was roaming around the country giving examinations and interviews so that some institute finds me well enough to be a research student when Taresh told me about an advertisement for the post of Assistant Professor in Maharashtra’s government science colleges. I was least interested in the job as I had least confidence in clearing the MPSC interview as I was of the view that only connection played a part in government postings. I had no connections and hence was convinced it was useless to apply. But Taresh and my brother Santu persuaded me into it and I filled the form. They helped in completing the other formalities and the application was done!

I didn’t get into any research institute. Instead I turned up as Lecturer in Physics at MIET, Shahapur, Bhandara. I was soon engrossed in the daily routine of the college and forgot about my application. So, it was a surprise when Taresh called on 19^th April, 2011 to tell me that I can expect a letter from MPSC as he had got his. Mine came on 20^th. I was required to be in Mumbai on 26^th for the interview. I was in two minds but my parents and the helpful lady at the MPSC helpdesk said that what the loss was if I gave the interview. Well they were correct and I went o Mumbai on 24^th. I lodged at my friend Adosh and Sameer’s room at Thane. I was so convinced of my failure that I spent the evening before, i.e. 25^th, chatting with Adosh, Sameer and meeting Chetana and Kaustubh.

I was totally nervous but was certain about one thing. Even if I fail, I had a job in hand and hence it was not going to be the end of the world. Well I had a terrible interview. The interviewers just ripped me apart. I was in a dazed condition after the interview. I walked out of the building and straight way went to an internet café. Apart from the terrible interview I gave, I had to look for what my 4.8/6.0 GPA meant on the percentage scale. I searched the University of Pune but didn’t get any help. I was frustrated to the hilt and hence had my lunch and went to Gateway. I clicked few pictures and then the battery fizzled out (I’d forgotten to charge them!). I walked like a madman to Marine Drive. At 3 o’clock in that blazing sun only couples were there comforting each other. I had just my backpack for company. I sat there wondering about the day’s proceedings and when I was sufficiently hot outside as I was inside; I decided to walk back to CST. I could only walk to Fashion Street when I felt that it would be better if boarded a Double Decker. And I was in CST soon. Had a nice brunch at McD and came back to Nagpur on the next morning and went straight to JMPC, Bhandara where we were conducting a SEEE camp. All was forgotten about the interview. But destiny had other plans.

I was inclined in not sending the document supporting what my GPA meant. But then I decided o give it a try. Chiti, Avdhoot and The Internet helped me in securing the prescribed document and it actually reached MPSC on the very last date.

In the month of May, I stayed at Chikhla with my parents and came to Nagpur only on 11^th June for my IAS prelims. Just for the sake of quelling the query in my mind, I logged to the MPSC website and see if any result had come. And lo it was there and yours truly were first in the merit list of the five selected! I just couldn’t believe. It took some time to sink in. I danced with Santu. I needed to tell this and immediately told my parents and then went to have Ice-Cream with Santu and Prasad. I informed a lot others and in the excitement forgot to tell Taresh without whom this wouldn’t have been a reality. I had to wait for another one month to get the letter from MPSC and the Attestation form. Now, I was officially selected. I duly sent the Attestation form on 9^th July and planned to go to Mumbai as well. But the 13^th July Mumbai blasts stopped me from going and then I thought that it was not wise to go to Mumbai just for the Medical board letter.

I waited and waited and at last a letter came. But while three among the five selected were given postings I was to go to Mumbai for the same Medical board letter which I had thought will come home. Well I went to Mumbai on 12^th November and this time stayed with Avdhoot. On 14^th I went to Mantralaya and got my letter. The people there were really helpful. On 21^st November I did my medical at GMC, Nagpur who made it a 2-day affair. The police verification on 16^th December went smoothly and I was sure to get my appointment letter in a month or so. I was happy as by that time I would have been able to finish the syllabus at MIET smoothly.

But suddenly on the night of 28^th December, I received a call from my friend Dalesh that I’ve been appointed at Institute of Science, Nagpur. He told me that his uncle had seen on the internet and asked him to inform me. I immediately rushed to Prasad’s room. It took quite a time to search the file and the downloading was painfully slow. To add to my woes the 8.2 MB file’s downloading stopped at 7.3 MB! We downloaded again and this time it was successfully done. And finally I’d my long waited and cherished appointment letter in my hand!

Dr. Harde told me after my selection that even though my interview went bad, the others were even worse. I will remember this for life and never stop in taking a chance whenever it will beckon!

And now I must return to my work desk at my new college.

XOXO, Subhasish Chandra.

Majority Rules. Rethink!

About a month ago Tejashree, my student, remarked that if something wrong is endorsed by a majority it cannot be termed correct. Everybody present there acknowledged the fact but it escaped my mind and I forgot it. So I thought. Last Monday, while jumping a red signal I found majority of my fellow passengers doing the same and bang came the remark from Tejashree straight into my mind!

And along came certain incidents in the mind which are done by the majority but cannot be justified. Let’s have a look.

Ø  Majority of motorists jump red light. It facilitates if the policewallah is not there (I’m a habitual offender as well). It is illegal but since majority does it, should it be legalized?

Ø  Majority of us spit and throw garbage in public places. This is not only unhygienic but also uncultured. But since majority does it, should it be considered an act of hygiene and culture?

Ø  Majority of us give bribes to get our jobs done quickly. Again it is illegal but since majority does it, should it be legalized?

Ø  Majority of us love to take tobacco in some form or the other. Tobacco is a major reason for various ailments. But since majority does it, should it be considered that consumption of tobacco leads to better health?

Ø  Majority of us are jealous of success of others, known and unknown alike. Jealousy is not one of the virtues one expects to be present in one’s moral fabric. But since majority does it, should a rethink be done on the moral virtues one need to possess?

Ø  Majority of the students get marks in and around 50%. That means they don’t know almost half of what was taught or at least half of what was asked in the examination. But since majority does it, should 50 be considered the new 80?

If we were to answer these questions, majority will say NO. But then why are these repeatedly done by the same majority which does find them immoral & illegal?

So, what we find is that majority does not rule always!!! On a serious note since even a slim majority (not absolute (66.66) or even simple (50)) can get a wrong person or thing to be in the right place, we must chose correctly!

The Fate of Education in India

Last few weeks have been controversial for the Indian education sector. Narayan Murthi stated that most of the IITians are not industry worthy and the reason for this, according to him, is the mindless mugging and innumerable tricks learnt at the coaching centres. IITD director came with a thought that there was a need to rethink over the entrance tests. Concerned to this an article of Chetan Bhagat appeared. He says that it’s so difficult to run education without profit. And when profit takes the upper hand, education downslides. He hence concluded that there was need of private players like Infosys to launch themselves into the education sector. And lastly, Maharashtra government launched a state wide search and fact finding mission in the schools and junior colleges to find out how many students had been inflated by schools to siphon out government money. The analysis is still awaited.

I being a teacher am a part of this sector as well. And every day after each lecture, a thought always crosses my mind that whether I’m helping my students to become engineers or just graduates with degrees which would fail to serve them in their life.

Ours being a new college, we certainly have not received the cream of the students but reading Mr. Murthy’s comments about majority of IITians being in the same league gives me little solace and a lot to wonder. I wonder what exactly has gone wrong with our education system. I’m no expert but I’d like to make some observations of my own.

What I’ve observed in my students that they have lost inquisitiveness. They accept everything on face value and never question nor argue over anything I teach! Experts are talking about lack of quality research in India. How will that be possible if the questions have dried in the school days? Kids who are not interested in anything from Akbar to Atom cannot be expected to research on Strings when they grow up! It’s not that they are dumbos or fools but they are really not interested in knowing how anything happens. They are happy with what is going on. They neither want to be part of something new nor want to effect a start themselves. And it’s sadly everywhere! Observation + inference gives knowledge. When the first two are fast depreciating how can the third exist?

I strongly admire the government’s wish to get all kids to have compulsory education upto middle school (class 8^th). But can anybody explain how that can be achieved and justified by never failing them upto class 8^th and that also by assisting them with having no examinations at all. As far as I know, if I’m told at the beginning of any race that I won’t lose and I would get a bag of goodies if I just participate, I would cease to take enough efforts to win. So will be the story of maximum students. How can this goodie bag not bring complacency and help to lose concentration and eventually the interest to know. Education is no privilege which can be enjoyed. It’s a right which has to be earned. Yes, help may be provided in earning the right but to serve it on the platter and spoon feeding will spoil the menu!

Next is the idea of free higher education. Free education in government schools can be understood as it aims at students from under-privileged families to get a foothold in the disparaging society. But providing technical education at a sum as paltry as Rs 1000 is not digestible. Even if the government wants to help the students from underprivileged social and economic background, they shouldn’t give it for a sum like this. When the money factor is detached from education, students stop valuing it. A commodity (education) which is available for the price of a pair of jeans is certainly going to be valued in the same manner    . Charge them Rs. 10000 and see how many more students start valuing their education!

In India across the rural and urban framework what stands as a symbol of unity in the education sector are the coaching or tuition classes. Yes, the same which Mr. Murthy so dislikes. The whole town of Kota is dedicated to this cause as are few whole nagars in Delhi and Chennai. It is very hard to say that apathy of teachers towards teaching brought the success of tuitions or the tuitions brought the lack of interest in the teachers. Whatever be the cause it’s the ultimate truth that students cannot dare to think about succeeding in any exam without tuitions! And tuitions being a business where survival depends on the success rate of the students, the tuitionwallahs are forced to resort to methods which will teach shortcuts to answer quickly and efficiently. And this really takes a toll on the overall knowledge of the student. Personal attention should be showed to weaker students. But all that should be done by the teachers of their respective schools and colleges in the institution’s premises free of cost.

Whosoever has given any exam knows that it is more a memory test than a test of one’s knowledge. When I was in X^th, there used to be questions where we had to apply our analytical reasoning to at least 30% of the questions. But it’s all gone now. Everyone is hell bent to find more and more ways to shower marks on the students for what they haven’t exactly done. These freebies weaken the entire moral fabric of the students and the zeal to work hard to achieve success is decreasing rapidly. I’ll again say make them think. Life is not as easy as the examinations nor will the career they would undertake. As Aamir Khan said in 3 Idiots that one would be able to scrap through the examinations and get a degree but will be raped for his entire life.

Another problem with the students is that they are becoming aimless. Their lack of thinking has made them like a flock of sheep. They are following just the trend. Engineering has almost done away with basic sciences, arts and commerce as educational options. Who are unfortunate not to get into engineering (40% in PCM being the criteria it’s not that hard), take BBA, BCA or some other professional course. Medicine is the only course which still has a large pool of quality students who love their studies. In most other courses, majority of the students are just pushing through. They neither understand nor enjoy their studies. In the name of providing higher and technical education we are not creating intelligent horses but drab and unworthy white-collar mules. This reminds me of one encounter I had with a boy from Bihar at IUCAA, Pune.

The guy was a brilliant physicist. We just got into talking and I asked him in passing that even though Bihar produces a large number of IAS and IPS officers and has a major share in the applicants clearing various competitive entrance examinations from Banking to Railways, how it has such a miserable literacy rate. He replied that the Biharis are indeed an intelligent set of people. They find out right in the school that whether they have the potential to be an IAS or a cowherd. He also added that whatever profession they choose, they excel in it and try to be right at the top. He also lamented at the condition of other states’ students who because of lucrative educational facilities, fall prey to them and become the white collar mules I mentioned before. They are too proud to do a job below their belt and ill-equipped to perform the tasks which their degrees mention they will be able to perform!

I’m right now a novice and may not be able to rectify the system as a whole but would surely try to instill my views and thoughts into my students. Even if one in 300 wakes from their deep slumber, it will render a change. I learnt it quite late but I hope my students understand it early (Alas! They are fast losing this faculty)!

Chair Fever

Aspiration for a chair, both literally and symbolically, has been a human trait from time infinitum. And everyone is entitled to harbour such an aspiration and take steps to achieve it. The chair is surely a seat of supremacy. It separates one from the rest. It provides one with a platform where one can be on his own. The chair provides security and great power. And with great power comes great responsibilities.

George Bernard Shaw said,

Power doesn't corrupt man. Man corrupts power.

The chair, a seat of power, also tends to be corrupted by individuals who take the success straight to their cranium. When a man cannot cope with his new found success, he starts feeling all others around him to be inferiors and treats them as his slaves. This absolute abuse of power not only degrades him in the eyes of his subordinates but also in his own eyes, if he choses to introspect even once.

The succession of a colleague to the post of one's superior is not always met with exhiliration and jubilation. There is always a tinge of sadness and jealousy when that happens. But there is always a satisfaction and belief that as one amongst them has been raised he will try to solve the hardships, which he had suffered when he was a junior himself.

But more often that not it has been seen that the new "chairholder" forgets all about his past and tends to abuse his power. This trait of human nature is really beyond any comprehension!

It must be remembered that a given chair provides one with a certain set of powers in a certain organisational setup. Outside the setup everyone is a nobody. There one has equal opportunities as the other bystander. The dynamics are completely different there. There would be a chair supreme in that setup which may or may not approve of the supremacy of the other chair!

Remember life is a vicious circle and at the end of a day one is surely going to be paid back in the same coin that one has spent.

A chair provides one with a certain set of powers but its the "respect" which one craves for dearly. But this craving cannot be satisfied with vicious actions. It's not something which  can be begged or asked for. It can neither be snatched nor be looted. A person gets only that much respect as much he spends on others. The one and only way to get respect is to give respect. In any other case one is surely going to be doomed.

So, one must use the set powers attached to his/her chair wisely and respectfully because,

हम ही हम हैं तो क्या हम हैं

तुम ही तुम हो तो क्या तुम हो !

A Letter to the Prime Minister of India

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

           

            Your recent actions have gained you enough brickbats and there is a huge hue and cry terming you as a 'weak PM', which I believe is a serious allegation against the topmost political chair of this country.

            When you became the prime minister in 2004, I remember my father saying that the country will prosper now as this man was instrumental in bringing liberalization and  globalization in the Indian economy during his tenure as the then Finance Minister.

            You came to this august seat with enormous respect and belief. People believed that you as PM will bring the same strength to the administrative set-up as you had brought to the economic set-up in your tenure as then Finance Minister.

            And your first tenure as PM actually evoked faith in you. Sixth Pay commission strengthened the hopes of the people especially the Indian middle class. It's true that you spoke less and had a laidback attitude, not expected from a PM, but your actions seemed pure.

            But what you've done in the last 2 years or so has earned you the unfortunate tag I mentioned above. You've always said that PM is like 'Caesar’s Wife' and hence above suspicion. I don't buy this theory. You have been more 'Brutus' if not 'Cassius'. Words speak a lot of the actions that are going in one's mind. They reflect the nature of the human being. You dear sir have not been able to utilize it to the full. You have given enough lame statements and defended your colleagues with a defense which nobody will neither believe nor accept. And even after 2G, CWG & Antrix, you've not mended ways and repeated blunders after blunders in the Ramdeobaba and now Anna Hazare situations.

            You come and make statements, only when coerced, and never answer the queries. Most of the time you've shifted the blame on somebody else and remained adrift. Why it is always that we find someone from your GOM giving the answers? Please learn from Mr. Obama. He replies most of the queries to his government himself. Answering is a sign of authority on one's part. It is the trait of a person who is in complete charge of his doings but it is not apparent from your actions.

            You seldom take corrective actions. And even when they are taken, they are too late and too little. Sometimes I feel was my trust and respect misplaced! Nobody questions your dedication. Your economic and foreign policies are better than others but as a leader you've certainly not succeeded. Shri. Arun Jaitley pleaded the support of the opposition if you develop the political will to fight. I also believe that as a human being you might not have lost it completely and if you develop the will to fight and not fall prey to 'Coalition Dharma' & 'Cunning Colleagues', you can indeed be one of the best premiers of this country.

            It's a time when all the members of the parliament are being labeled as corrupt and are being called as thieves and dacoits. People are losing their faith on you and your brethren. Isn't it your sacred duty as the PM of this country to take such measures so that your strength and integrity is preserved? And if you can do so not only the opposition but you will find the whole country rallying behind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Yours truly,
A grieved Indian.