Watched it yesterday. Made me revisit my childhood. Made me recall many memories... I could see myself in all of them - Ishaan, Nikumbh the teacher, Yohaan, Ishaan and Yohaan's Father. I could see some of my teachers - especially my craft teacher - in the teachers of the movie. When you watch the movie, perhaps you would too and for all the right reasons.
Fantastic. Education is important but not in the ways we always think of. More's needed.
One will have to take into account many factors to answer this question. I restrict myself to just one: time-frame. Since problems and their consequences are often talked about in ‘terms’ – long term and short term – I’ll use the same.
It's about motivation. I haven't posted anything for the last two months. Am I lacking in ideas? Not really. Isn't there so much to write and talk about and criticize? Yes, there is. And that's what perhaps bogs me so much. For if I were to write I would just keep writing and writing and writing. That act of mine would mean I would do nothing. On a personal level, thinking, on matters which I've tried to focus on in this blog, without any corresponding action leaves me extremely perturbed. And the more I think and the more the balance (in terms of time and effort spent) tilts in favour of thinking, the more dissatisfying my life becomes.
I will continue to share my thoughts, however, a little sparingly.
Pakistan
In an interview to a private TV channel, Shoaib said, ''I have been made scapegoat by calling me an 'indisciplined' player. Infact, there is no discipline in the whole nation. Look at our traffic that defies all rules and regulations; look at the way we rush for food in wedding ceremonies. When there was no discipline in the whole nation, how could
''
Does it sound like these comments are meant for India too? Most likely. However, I disagree with Shoaib a little. Yes indeed we aren't disciplined. But we are obedient, perhaps servile until we are hurt badly. We are servile to the extent that we stop thinking until we are hit hard in the face. And that's what necessitates that we develop discipline instead of obedience. It would ensure that we think rightly at crucial moments and do what's needed. However, discipline in turn can only be cultivated in a fertile mind and a fertile mind is one which is open. And what opens up a mind?
Specific to Cricket, I agree with Shoaib. Coaches aren't really the ones to bring a change. Right kind of captains are needed. Who identifies these captains? Selectors. What do we do when selectors themselves aren't so disciplined? They'll refuse to get educated because they are hardened by our losses on pitches and riches in banks.
I've jumped too many bridges. Hope you get the import.
Part-1
Chinese teachers' colleges to offer free education soon
Yes, six of the top universities of China plan to waive all the expenses for students enrolled to become teachers and who've agreed to serve as teachers for 10 years after graduation. It is no small measure since it involves enrolling 12000 students and taking taking care of expenses to the tune of $5120 per student at least. And if this measure succeeds in the six universities, it would be implemented in other Chinese universities too. This initiative doesn't just include imparting education to future teachers but it also ensures suitable employment in middle and primary school once students graduate.
Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, sums it up in these words:
"The measure will demonstrate to the general public the importance of the teaching field, create an atmosphere of respect for teachers and education in society, increase awareness of the value of the educational profession, produce large numbers of outstanding teachers, encourage prominent educators to run schools and spur more outstanding young people to become lifelong educators."
Another point to note is that most of the students would be from Central and Western China, which are relatively under-developed areas.
Few more lessons for India to learn.
Click here for article on People's Daily Online.
Part-2
Some time back, in one of his articles 'Laughing and Crying', Thomas L. Friedman narrated his experience at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of America’s great science and engineering schools. Here's an important part of the article:
First I had to laugh. Then I had to cry.
I took part in commencement this year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, one of America’s great science and engineering schools, so I had a front-row seat as the first grads to receive their diplomas came on stage, all of them Ph.D. students. One by one the announcer read their names and each was handed their doctorate — in biotechnology, computing, physics and engineering — by the school’s president, Shirley Ann Jackson.
The reason I had to laugh was because it seemed like every one of the newly minted Ph.D.’s at Rensselaer was foreign born. For a moment, as the foreign names kept coming — “Hong Lu, Xu Xie, Tao Yuan, Fu Tang” — I thought that the entire class of doctoral students in physics were going to be Chinese, until “Paul Shane Morrow” saved the day. It was such a caricature of what President Jackson herself calls “the quiet crisis” in high-end science education in this country that you could only laugh.
There you go, the all-conquering swamping Chinese. While the description by Friedman overwhelms the reader and sounds like, "What are these Chinese doing... They are manufacturing PhDs like they manufacture goods", it's significant for countries like China and India to get so many countrymen to study and indulge in research at a higher level since that could result in development of indigenous technology and ways and means of doing things. And my mind, that would be the real development.
It's been one year riding my Bullet in Bombay. Everyday as I traverse through the crowded roads of this city, I do not fail to see the traffic policemen waving their hands and directing vehicles to move forward, constantly trying to manage affairs on some of the most pathetic roadways. Contrasting this, when I was in Ahmedabad, I was totally oblivious to traffic police's functions. On most occasions I only found them to be a nuisance. Now, having noticed them in Bombay I wonder what's the motivation for these guys to work so hard and stand the whole day in all the heat and pollution to simply keep the vehicles moving smoothly? Ever imagined doing the same thing like directing traffic over and over again and for years and years together! I do not know if these guys have any other stronger motivation than to ensure their financial security since it's a government job. Of course, financial security, legally and illegally.
I've hardly ever seen any pictures traffic policemen in the newspapers for some good deed. Neither on TV or any other mass medium. Our perception of good deeds is only restricted to something new, something that suddenly springs up or something that's done under extra-ordinary circumstances; a murder or a big scandal always excites and induces people into action. Whereas, if we really look at our own behaviour or behaviour of human beings in general, we'll notice it's tougher to manage the mundane. It's difficult to keep the same level of motivation for the routine. Chances are that, if forcefully subjected to routine, we might just become numb. Considering this, I now think that it's commendable for these traffic policemen and others in similar position, whether in private sector or public sector, to carry on with such tasks which are usually taken as clerical or boring or routine. We must not forget it's the machine that's always praised but it's the grease which dirties your hand which always keeps it running smoothly. And applying this grease adequately is inevitable.
However, I reckon that we've not done enough to keep people, involved in such greasy jobs, motivated. We are well aware how lucrative government jobs are; no wonder one way to keep themselves motivated is to take bribes or indulge in petty malpractices. And that's what is rampant. This is indeed combined with widespread numbness towards general public (because we've treated them only like grease). When we ever encounter them, for any traffic-related offence or breaking of traffic rules and regulations, most of treat them only with disgust. So, you see there's not enough reason for them to be very good to us.
What can bring about a change? Recognition. Yes, that's what people are hungry for. Recognition for trying to keep our life hassle-free. Recognition for standing in heat and pollution. Recognition for small tasks done over and over again.
What are the means of recognition? Felicitation monetarily and otherwise. While some public/administrative departments have worked out models for monetary felicitation in some ways, it's the other type of felicitation that's missing. We need to honour these men in public, in mass media. These men should get a sense that they are being hailed, being thanked for their work among general public all across the territory. Give them awards of excellence in public and acknowledge their importance; use newspapers and television and the internet.
Doesn't sound that tough, isn't it? Yes, it doesn't. But it takes some doing. Last Diwali, I planned making a small gesture. I thought I would offer sweets to all the traffic policemen that I see on my way to office. Since it's a long stretch I would have had to stop at many junctions. Lazy as I am, I didn't do it. May be, this time I will.
Naming comes the hard way for me. Am simply trying to reflect the contents of the blog in the name. While earlier I felt I would be thinking and writing only on education, I realized that I would like to write on other issues like governance and policy-making too. The subjects of governance and policy-making are comprehensive in their scope and therefore would allow me the space to share some critical thoughts on various issues important for the country, perhaps even the world.
