Experience worth having!

Today, i am writing about my teaching experience at a district government school. I have taken class before, and this won't be the last, still i feel there was something worth mentioning about this class.
In classes i have taken earlier, students were mature and perfectly understood the key take ways of the class, but this was different. It was a class of forty students, all boys, between ten to twelve years of age.

It all started with my anticipation. I knew my class was over and above their class schedule, so i expected some restless in class. Boys will be more interested in going out and play, rather than attending my boring planet science class. Portrayal of a government schools in movies made my apprehensions worse. I could visualize boys jumping on their desks, throwing chalks, arguing among themselves and in all this process, never missing a chance to vanish from the class.

I landed in the class on the stipulated time and was pleasantly surprised. All boys stood up at their seats and  wished me good afternoon. It was a good omen, i thought. I put my laptop on the table and introduced myself and subject and how we are going to take it forward. Again i was taken by surprise when one student stood up and asked what's the use of studying planet science? I smiled to buy time and gathered all my experience as space scientist to answer the question.
And then went the class. I taught them basics of planetary movements, relative positioning, who discovered what and told them interesting stories behind those discoveries. Those 45 minutes changed my perception.

"Kind of questions you ask, reveal your understanding" goes the proverb  Looking at kind of questions i was asked during the class, i can happily say that my anticipation was wrong, apprehensions misplaced.

There i returned back, hopeful of India's future. If this is the generation, which will hold reins of this country tomorrow, then i am sure, they will not disappoint us. They are not studying in schools with world class facilities, where teacher to students ratio is best or where computers and laptops are regular features. This was a typical government school, like millions others in this country, but the kind of students, nonetheless were not an inch behind any other student studying in any international school. They were enthusiastic, they were captive and most importantly, they were willing to learn.

So, let's make information and knowledge accessible to these students, let's share whatever little we have learned with these millions of waiting receptors. Swami Vivekanand said and i quote "Education is manifestation of  one's inner abilities". So it does not matter, which school student is in, what matters is his/her potential, his/her inner abilities and access to information as information is currency of this age.



  

It was first rain since I was born or for that matter, conceived. Rains are not very common in desert but this one took too long in coming. It is never an easy period to survive. But when rains arrived, they came with all their glory. Deafening thunder, glaring lightening and then came the first drop of water from sky after an interval of four years. Following down-pour was so heavy that, in half an hour, all my village rivulets were billowing and roads, as if they were waiting for it, were blocked.
Rains had rejuvenating effect on everything, inert or live. Trees, which were on verge of falling, found a new foothold in drenched soil. Birds bewildered with thirst, got respite. Cattle, living on mercy of persons who donated for their fodder, mooed in hope of verdant fields. Farmers were relieved for they can grow something in their fields now, although the soil had been charred by heat in last four years. Wells were replenished with water and level increased, houses were naturally washed and dust settled to ground.
Nothing caught my eyes but this. Children, half naked and bedraggled, were out on the roads, blocking water wherever they could, so that they could wallow in stagnated water. They jumped into the water so that it splashes onto others. No one can enjoy rains as children do. I know this as I was one of them, a four year old girl.
“Roads leaving village are blocked.”
It was my grandfather. “Nobody can leave or come into village till the rains subdued and waters goes under bridges. “ He announced it to my mother.
My grandfather was sixty or may be sixty five year old, his body belied his age. He was tall, sturdy and a brave man. He spent his life taking his livestock for gazing and usually lived months in jungle. Everyone in our clan and village respected him for his integrity. He was a medicine man, at least he was able to suggest for pain reliever if not heal the malaise completely.
Few moments from that conversion, a young boy came where I was playing and asked if my grandfather was in there? I just nodded and pointed inside.
They had some conversation and both left in hurry.
They had gone to see a boy. He was son of farmer, who broke his right arm while learning cycling. His parents had taken him to local doctor in nearby village and had him plastered. But the plaster was too taut, it pressed blood vessels firmly and had blood flow to the palm blocked, compounding the agony of the boy. They could not take him to the doctor till rains subdued. So the question was what to do in this situation? Everyone was worried but no one knew anything. So they sent for my grandfather.
After closely examining the situation, my grandfather told them to remove the plaster.
“But what if he loses his hand and becomes crippled for life? Who will marry his daughter to my son in that case?” asked boy’s mother.
“In that case I will marry my granddaughter to him, whatever condition he may be in” retorted my grandfather. He was so like him, he made promises at his whims and other’s expenses.
That was the day. It decided my life, if it qualifies to be one.

Another week Passed by

Another week passed by,
Leaving memories,
Some cheers, some worries.
My duaghter is now a week older,
trying to stand on her floudering feet,
everytime her attempt little bolder.
She kisses my head, where there is a grey hair,
grown and flourished in last few days,
I tell myself you woun't be young always.
Time slips down like water from hills,
before you realise, it kills,
kills your childhood, your youth,
your dreams, your pleasures,
your virility, your feminity.
This week like many others before,passed without any disquietude,
that's what dicomforts me.
Because transquality is for lakes, not for oceans.
oceans, there are troughs and crests,
tides flow low and high.
Another week passed by,
Leaving memories,
Some cheers, some worries.

Farewell 2010

This is the penultimate day of this year, rather this decade. 30 December 2010. New decade will begin with new hopes, new aspirations, and new opportunities along with new problems, new challenges and new hardships. Before I start traversing the future, this is a good junction where I can stop. Stop and reflect on the past. Stop and prepare for the future. Next time when I will stop on similar junction, I would be emaciated, settled with life and in age bracket which is not considered young. Next time when I will stop, priorities would be changed but directions fixed, there would not be any course correction then.

So this is the day, this is the moment for me to see in which direction my sextant points. Is that the path I have to tread? If yes then how close I have inched towards the destination. If not then what are the amends for course correction. You can bring a ship to harbor without a light house and compass but you cannot lead a life without a goal. To achieve that goal, one has to do the cost-benefit analysis for each of the actions he has done in past and plans to do in future. Days like these are the perfect opportunities to do such arithmetic. You miss it and you lost it for a decade and by then life turns upside down.

White Tiger

Sometimes good things come to you when you expect them the least.In this context that good thing was a book: The White Tiger.
I was never very fond of reading fiction. I can read newspaper editorials as they deal with current and real issues but i can't stand some lengthy, verbose and imaginary novel.
Then out of nowhere i found this novel. A novel that's real, hard hitting and compels you to think. To think about this country, its people, its culture and more importantly its future.
It is a success story of a village boy from darkness ( we are privileged ones to be born in lighten India) who comes to Bangalore and starts his own enterprise. Between two ends of the story of this boy, lies the real truth of India. India is not we see or perceive. It may be the country growing with more than 8% annually and may boast of being the single largest and secular democracy of the world but it's not the country that is presented in the pamphlets distributed to the foreign delegates and state guests. This book gives you better insight of the plight and suffering of the less glorified and neglected areas of the country. It mentions each and every aspect of the life of less privileged; from abject poverty to discrimination based on caste ; from indentured labor to dowry; from booth rigging to malfunctioning education system or health care system.
If we don't want another partition of this country in future, we shall understand that all that glitters is not India. India is much more than it. We have to bring those left outs in main stream before the widened gap between the haves and have-nots leads to another fragmentation of country. India is not all about malls and multiplexes, it's is also about huts and slums near railway tracks. India is not all about millions of dollars made out of outsourcing business, it's about people struggling to get square meal a day.
Let's not forget hardships of those 3/4th of us while enjoying the luxuries we get because we are privileged.

Pursuit of happiness

Some days are different from normal ones and when they occur in life, we shall always stride to get full worth of it. Today was one of those for me. I had lots of fun, flying kites whole day. I never had experience of kite flying. So i was slightly hesitant about it. However, as behind every goof up a man makes, there is a woman, my wife insisted. I bought kites and thread.
we got up the terrace early in the morning, only to find that other were more quicker and eager than us. I saw whole sky covered with colorful kites of different shapes and sizes. We started our sail, wife giving 'Kanni' and i having hands on kite flying. We struggled for almost one hour before we could fly our first kite. Withing 2 minutes, somebody cut it down and we have to tie the next one.Fell on electricity wire and torn out. We lost 2 in 2 mins. This trend continued and we lost our kites one by one as BJP lost seats in parliamentary elections. After losing 8 we decided to go down and have lunch. Before that, we successfully flown two kites which came to our terrace after being cut by others.

Situation didn't get better after lunch, and we lost seven ours and 5 others in just two hours. Fifteen (all I had) were gone and i was left with thread, I came down.
So what was the fun i had, if i lost all the way? I would reply to that as,we shall be very clear on the point, that fun and happiness doesn't depend on losing or winning. If you have won, after cheating yourself or compromising your moral or doing what you never wanted to do, it will never lend you in peace or for that matter, bring happiness. It might seem correct at that time but you will regret it some day. If you keep your integrity intact and don't rob or cheat anybody and still you lose ( chance are less), then you shall take lesson from that. But i assure you, you will definitely have peace of mind and eternal happiness at your side. I had the same.

Uttarayan

Tomorrow is 'Uttarayan'. Huh? What Uttarayan? It's the day when sun shifts rising position towards North of east from current south of east.This is a natural phenomenon, days start getting bigger and nights smaller, till May 21 when we have longest day of year. This day is celebrated in different parts of country, with different namesof course. In Punjab, its Lohri, in other parts of North India, it's called Makar Sankranti and in Gujarat it's Uttarayan. As we Gujjus are very fond of food, we never let any festival to go by without having special cuisine associated with it.
With Uttarayan, Undiyo, kind a mixed vegetable but differs in types of vegetables put in and its sweet taste, is closely associated. That's why, vegetable prices ( now i know atta dal ka bhaav) have sharply gone up in view of Uttarayan. Jalebi and Basundi are other two delicious food items loved as much as Undiyo.
So what we all do whole day? Consume food? No. You won't find a single Gujju idle in house on the day. Everybody will be busy with his own kite on his terrace. Whole day it will go on, after all it's Kite flying day which will last for a week. Office attendance will be at minimum in week to come.
Looking forward to it, as i have also invested in kites, so called Manza and vegetables for delicious Undiyo!!

Science of Yoga

Day started as usual as I left for Yoga classes at 5 AM. Today was last day of my beginner’s class and I am now eligible for advance classes starting tomorrow.

I feel good and proud that I did it. From first day of this new year to this day (tenth), I regularly learned basics of Yoga. After attaining classes for ten days, I got better insight about it and discovered that it’s a pure science nothing spiritual or mythological. The Pranayaams, you perform have relation with our major systems in body and their functioning. There are reasons why a particular Assan will be beneficial for particular disease or person and take my word, its all science, no exaggeration. And being a scientist and an educated person, I am bound to be skeptic about it, but I could not find a point to debate on. Moreover, I can feel changes in my life and body, I feel light and relaxed in day, get sound sleep at night, can concentrate on my work, control my thought process and most importantly I have become more organized and disciplined. I find abundant time at my disposal to do all those things what I always wanted to do, particularly helping my wife in kitchen. And yes I did, somewhat succeed to achieve the goal, to reduce my pot belly, for which I joined the class in the first place.

Truth

Its been long since this blog been updated as i was busy with my technical blog.
In new year (2010), i would try my best to be regular and clear on my ideas.
Few days back, i read autobiography(My experiments with truth) of most impressive person in modern history of India, Mahatma Gandhi. I may not have learned anything from that book, but from bottom of my heart felt that if truth is on your side, sooner or later, success will follow you. It corrects the famous dialogue of movie "3 idiots". Now, for me, it's like "Seek excellence and keep unaltered truth on your side, success will follow you." If a meek lawyer, who could not defend his case and conceded defeat without uttering a word, for fear of public speaking, became the leader, having capability to take on colossal British Empire and defeat it, it was because he tread the path of truth.
'So nothing much has to be done', i resolved. Speak the truth and absolute truth only. It might hurt someone temporarily but will benefit both, him and me in long run. If you could not speak truth, it's better to stay mum than uttering a lie. This is my new year resolution apart from one which is to reduce my pot belly and learn Yoga (inspired by the book mentioned above).

Remember the past

Actually this post was written yesterday but due to connection failure I couldn’t post it on to blog.

Today, 28 Feb 2009, Gujarat morns the 9^th Anniversary of the ill famous riots which left nation in a shock. These were the incidents which tainted humanity. In no book of religion whether that is Geeta, Kuran or Bible, they can be justified. How one can justify killing of innocent and guiltless children, old people and women. If any body justifies those deeds must not be a human being leave alone Hindu or Muslim.

But the fact that still not divulged that a particular community was not doing the deeds against another community. I can say this with so much of the confidence because I know that a common Gujarati doesn’t keep a bottle of petrol in pocket to burn somebody’s house or a sword in hand to cut somebody’s throat. No mother will give a sword in his son’s hand and will tell him to kill people, no matter how extremist she might be. It was some insane goons who run the show and fooled people of world that entire community was with them to take so called “Revenge”. I ask them a simple question that, these terrorist blow up the whole train, how many of them thought of picking up a weapon and guard border or go across the border to kill those responsible for that, after all the believe in ‘Revenge’. If they can kill 2000 people for one coach then what about 7/26.Terrorist blew up 7 coaches, how many did they kill? None. Because they were not as gullible or blameless as people living on streets of Ahmedabad or Godhara.

For these people I have only one message

‘ki hai ladna hi to milke lado is bhook se jo bhook hum sabko khaa rahi,

hai jhagadna hi to milke jhagado is aag se ,jo aag hamare ghar jalaa rahi,

Hai khelna hi khoon se to aao phir ,

Seema desh ki tumhe bula rahi.’

People who say that they did it in the name of ‘Ram’ are maligning the name of Ram. Ram himself never attacked anybody. He gave Ravana three chances before killing him.

If someone says he is follower of Ram and kills people, he is lying. Ram lives in heart and doesn’t demand blood. He lives in prosperity and peace.

I feel pity on people who try to earn political brownie points from these things. Like an Hon’ble M.P. stated in the parliament that Army was called in Gujarat on 1 March, three days after the outbreak of riots, but in hurry he forgot that there are only 28 days in February and Army was deployed on the very next day. Please stop these kinds of things, Pseudo secularism and appeasement. If we are equal, we should be treated as equal.

No matter what were the political consequences of the events but I know we cannot fill the void which has been created in the lives of mothers who lost their sons, of sister who lost their brothers or small kids who become orphans and have to face this cruel world alone in this early in life. No compensation can do justice to them. Only thing we can do is to be more sensible and responsible in our acts so that they are not hurt any more. And pray for people whether ‘Ram’ or ‘Rahim’ who were killed in these heinous acts.

Recession??Who cares!

As we all know India's growth story is unique because grows in spite of dire state of Govt and virtually no co-operation from their side.There is a saying in our country that "India grows in nights when our govt sleeps!"This is a sentence you get the meaning of when you read this story.This is a small experience but it clarified to me how this whole economy runs by itself.How the money is getting transfered from the riches to the poor.
One day after office, i went to a barber shop.When i reached there, i saw barber was preoccupied with another customer. I decided to sit there and read Gujarati newspapers till my turn comes.
As the person just ahead of me was about to be done, there came an Inova in front of the shop.A kid not more than 10 year old came along with his maid for his hair cutting. Barber finished the person an ask that boy to sit on to the chair.I told him that i came before so i should be serviced first.He told me that it will take hardly take 10 minutes and then he will cut my hair with peace.
I decided to go by what he said.And i waited.It took exactly 10 minutes.It was time to take the money. Barber charged him Rs 75!After that i had the same cutting,and he charged me Rs 25 .The only difference between me and that kid was that i walked into the shop and he came in a car.
This thing clarified me how the flow of the money is in our country.It doesn't requires the State to collect tax from riches,invest them into policies to help the needy and the poor people.People anyway will directly take that from the source itself.If it would came through the Govt,those Rs 75 would have reached as 75 paisa to the barber.Our most popular prime minister accepted that !.This is why we are least affected by the on going recession.Money circulates in the market like this.It is taken out from the big bank balances and added into small saving schemes.Those extra Rs 50 would have triggered that barber to buy fresh fruits on that day thus increasing the earning of that vegetable vendor, who in turn will spend that money buying some sweets home in turn increasing the earning of the sweet vendor.So now with the same efforts three people have gained and their spending power has increased.Hence we fully utilize the fact that India is poor country where rich people live. We take out from riches and directly pump it into the chain without involvement of the Govt.If we can grow in nights like this,what if we start our development in days when state supports us!World leader has to be aware of India's potential.!

Nostalgia!!!!

It's been almost 11 months since my last post,in this period life has taken an U turn!From a care free life to a life which has responsibilities, from a group of rogues to mature gentlemen(at least we have to pretend like ones) , from a group of interesting four to a lone traveler.
It's seems to me that u can find those silly things interesting when u can't do them.Now , i can't go to Gupta's room in mid night and search for something to eat, i can't wake up Chhaila early morning and ask him to give my mug back.I can't sing unbearable songs in front of Tosif's room's door,i can't blame Pallavi for all the bugs in the project.The thing i can do is to preserve those moments,close to my heart and wish for few more!
But i know i will never get Tosif's techy brain ,Gupta's Jaleel Muskan, chhaila's "yaar hamare bacche family friends honewale hain" every time we fought, Akshay's planning or Yadav's Haseen looks,Gari's 'hahahahaha',Pallavi's "Express yourself" tagline every time i being diplomatic,Sakhee's bollywood infomation,or kati's honesty.
I won't get any chance to be the same with them ever after.Now our conversations will be more about work, more diplomatic, more measured.I sometime we all will forget everything in our preoccupied lives,thinking about offices and bosses and projects and jobs and etc etc...But i will relish the moments i had in hostel, with friends because in six month's time i have realised that it's not all that easy outside the college gate![:D] I mis you all! Comp 2008!

A story I wanted to tell......

This is the story which i was a part of though only a guest appearance.But it has deep impact on my mind that i was compelled to write a post on it.

Life comes in all colors.If you have bright doesn't mean that every thing in this world is shining!
There are areas which are gray rather black.You never get a straight line in life.You have to join distant points to get a smooth curve at least.
It was an usual afternoon when i went to near by village to have some dabelies there. The shop was very famous in near by villages so i decided to try it.So I spent i guess Rs 12 to go from my village to shop(taking my scooter average to be 35Km/ltr) and had dabelies there !Three exactly costing me Rs 9!!

When I was leaving my house my grandmother told me bring some of her medicines from the medicine shop there! After satisfying my appetite i went to the shop to buy those medicines.
There stood a middle aged person, probably he was coming back from work. He asked for paracetamol(He just said 2 bukhaar ki goliyan dena ) When shopkeeper gave him two tablets he asked him for Rs 3.I realized that the man had severe fever.I just felt from his body language and body temperature that was so high that i could feel the heat standing there. The man thought for a while and then came a helpless voice nahn ek vapas rakh lo ek se theek ho jayega!!!
It took me by shock!!! Can anybody be so poor that he cant afford Rs1.50 in a country which claims to be one of the fastest growing economies of the world???Those Rs 21 were nothing for me but if i would have asked that man, it would have meant a lot for him.That day i just realized that we are fortunate that we got more than that we need to be content.
We are always complaining and just complaining, but have we ever thought of those who don't have anything!!!We are bored of same games but they have no options,we are not thankful for the bed we sleep in, they wish not to wake up, we hate vegiterian food, they starve from hunger!!! Consider a man doing labor work in those conditions. But when God gives you troubles ,He makes sure that you have enough courage to bear them.

Lets try not to fed this endless cycle of consumerism and immorality in which this modern,advanced and well to do society forget the one third of our brothers and sisters who cannot afford two meals a day.

Abhi aur bhi hain!!!!

Yeh meri aakhari manzil nahn,
mere khwab aur bhi hain!!
Poochne ki yeh had nahn sawal,
abhi lajawab aur bhi hain!!

Kya hua jo toot gaye mansubo ke taare,
ummeedon ke aaftaab aur bhi hain!!
Kya hua jo ek phool murjaya hai to,
baag me gulab aur bhi hain!!!

Ek hum hi nahn bure zamane me sanam,
log kharab aur bhi hain!!!
Sivaye aapke chehre ko yaad karne ke,
hume kaam janaab aur bhi hain!!!

Abhi to kitno ko pehchanana baaki hai,chehere,
pehne nakaab aur bhi hain!!!
Abhi to kuch hi mile hai hume zamane me
heere kai nayaab aur bhi hain!!!

Elections in WonderLand

My village - a wonderland but being a part of this great nation election are held there also!!!!
Those were the days after SE examinations when i went back to my village . The air was filled with the enthusiam, walls were painted with slogans and posters . No no that was not the parliamentary elections but that was a small "panchayati Raj Chunav(elections).

The primary contenders were two rich and dominant personalities of the village. Both had money, power and relations upto GandhiNagar( For those who dont know -"GandhiNagar is capital of Gujarat"). The campaign was on the full flow. There were rallies ,bhashan and big big promises which as an external person(i dont have voting card) i knew never going to be kept.

But the real face of the democracy came before me when i saw contenders offering money to poor people ,offering jobs to their underage children in their mines and asking those poor people to vote them. I felt pitty on this system, these big words "democracy,secularism,equality " etc.This are words in books only until we provide those people food and security. It was totaly unfair on my side to expect those people to behave in ideal way when there was nothing to cook on that evening in their house.How can i expect a person who doesnt have money to buy salt to be honest.If he is getting money for nothing( Indians believe that right to vote is nothing for them).he will definitely earn that money i dont mind that because that is not his fault its fault of us , the educated lot of this country . we have to do something for them instead of going abroad and settle there.
That day i wondered how this country functions. When bottom to top this is the way to work,this is the way we elect our representative how this country is growing at the rate of 8-9%
every year. Its nothing less than a miracle.
But soon after results of the elections i got my answer.The both the contenders who were offering money didnt win the election.The third guy a moneterory average but a nice guy won that.
Whatever be the system we Indians( atleast my village people) take maximum out of that(perfect example of the greedy algorithm),they took all the benefits given by those two and voted according to their own wish..
That day i got the reasons why even though there is so much of corruption, so unorganised election procedure, we are growing at the pace at which China is growing.(Hats of those poor but responsible people of the country).

Episode 1: Ladoo or Rock

Wonders are everywhere..people believe that there are only seven wonders in world but i do believe something different . My village is the eighth wonder of the world . A small village in the
west most part of the country, it is most amazing place to be at.A village where everyone is so innocent that you can extract humor from their most serious a attempt to do that thing.

Here is the one incident i observed during my Deepawali break in Second year.

I was studying in my room when i saw a group of children standing in circle and discussing something among themselves. When i looked closely i found they were trying to break a laddoo(A sweet made by mothers in my village during festivals) .I heard someone saying i will get a hammer and then we can break it. I was surprised what they are trying to do but still i found itinteresting.Suddenly an aunty entered the scene and started pulling away children telling them they can be hurt if ladoo goes into the air after hitting.She started to hit the ladoo with hammer but ladoo was a like hard rock only pieces were being removed from the above surface.She started giving those to children and they were chewing pieces as if they were chewing some chewgum. I saw them chew the same piece till evening.After some time aunty got frustrated and threw that on a wall, but alas!! the cement from the wall was removed but oh god ladoo was intact!!!!
Later on when aunty saw me watching all drama, told me " beta kuch nahn inke mama ke ghar se mithai aayee thi mene nahn banai!!! But her son was too honest to tell me that ladoo was made by her mother herself.

Acknowlegment to SomeOne

This is an article to acknowledge contributions of a friend in my life...
I am not talking about my girlfriend but someone whose memories are very faint in my mind but i still remember her.I don't know how she looked, where did she live but i remember her teaching me lessons after classes, having lunch with me in breaks, sitting next to me so that she can show me her homework, who checked my pronunciation every time spoke .

These were the days when i was a young boy lacking confidence in myself, depending on others for every small thing. Not able to communicate with my classmates, i was alone.No friends ,no companions , they didn't even consider me as their classmate.I was a totally dumb boy who can't do anything at his own.

But everybody has someone in life who changes them. I had that little angel name Saranya
my first friend in life whom i always remember as a person who believed me,who encouraged me, who sat with me for hours when i stuck in one problem giving me confidence that i can do that,who understood me.

That one year, my fourth standard, changed the whole scenario.I got the self confidence, i realized my potential.That all due to a girl not even 10 years old that time.

Whatever i m today or whatever i be tomorrow i will always give credit to that small girl(i still remember her as that small girl whose lunchbox i used to eat).Thanks a lot for being there............
i still remember u my little angel!!!!!!!!

This is the first article i know a bit serious but watch out for my adventures in my wonderland
that is my small village where i am always eager to go, where everyday a comic incident happens,everybody is in his own league!!!