A Collective Sin of Our Time: Need to teach Humanities.

A collective sin of our time
--By P Venugopal from http://www.news.in.msn.com/
Mumbai: A promising Naval officer murders a young professional in cold blood out of sexual jealousy, the body is cut into easily transportable pieces, his lady love goes out to shop for a bag to carry the body pieces away.Delhi: A reputed dentist hammers his daughter to death to conceal his extra-marital affairs with a professional aide. What did society gain by educating these well-placed individuals at the cost of the public exchequer? Crimes like liquor-induced murders, atrocities on women and dowry harassment are reported commonly among poor and unlettered families. Such crimes are now spreading to highly educated and elite sections. This is a cause for serious concern. Education is not merely acquisition of knowledge and skills. It is supposed to subdue man’s animal instincts and groom him as a decent, cultured human being. If an educated man behaves like a beast, what use education? In the first instance, the Navy man used the skills in man-to-man combat and use of knives imparted as part of his naval training to overpower and murder a youth. In the second case, the dentist used his expertise with clinical instruments to take away two lives. In both the cases, they used their professional skills to perpetrate serious crimes. This should make society sit up and think.According to official statistics, crime rate in urbanised societies is on the rise. Love affairs and sexual causes are the top motives for most murders and culpable homicides. In olden times, moral teaching was an inalienable part of education up to the high school level. Teachers themselves were living examples of the ethical values they taught. They were a source of motivation and inspiration for their wards to lead a worthy life. Great teachers moulded great minds. On the home turf, parents were the role models for children. Most children growing up in modern society are deprived of the positive influence of ideal teachers and enlightened parents. Children are forced to be an instrument to realize the unfulfilled ambition of their parents—-to become a doctor, engineer or civil servant and get rich fast through means fair or foul. Fewer parents explore the real aptitude of their children before they are compelled to follow a particular course of study. The inevitable result is the children not only don’t evince any real interest in studies, but adopt a rebellious and defiant attitude once they grow up and become independent. They don’t mind going to any length to realize their burning ambition. This is the reason why more and more people from the so-called educated strata of society are landing up in jails, spoiling their future and corrupting the society. If this tendency is not nipped in the bud, nation’s future will be in peril. There is no short-cut to it other than inculcating values in children in the formative period. This task cannot be left to the government alone. Teachers, parents and cultural bodies do have an equal responsibility in moulding the future generation. Dr Rajesh Talwar and Lieutenant Jerome Mathew are products of the syndrome `knowledge without character’, which the Father of the Nation described as a `collective sin of our time’.

Use of ICT by PMC

Techno-skeptics have always believed themselves and forced others to believe that technology has failed to improve the quality of life. A.C.Clarke seems to be more relevant today. He wrote in Technology and Future, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has done that magic with technology. It will inspire many to make use of Google’s hotly debated maps services for betterment of society and public woes. PMC has launched a website making use of google's earth software and gave satelliete picture of Pune city. This map has all the road cleary demarked. Now, any citizen has any sort of complain regarding bad-roades, pot-holes etc, they can register complain with location on the map. The concerned officer in charage of that area received the complaint and his actions are also recored on the website.
What an innvative way to use satellite images? The techno-skeptics always feared the misuse of such technoogy by terrorists. PMC has seen the glass half fulled and has changed the entire scene.

Food Grain Crisis: Grain Pain

The world is facing grain pain. We, the dwellers of the 21st century, had never thought in our seventh dream that we will face food grain crisis. Green Revolution and new genetic scientific technology boost our confidence that we, the Man on the Earth, can play wonders. But the curren crisis for food grains in US and to some extent in India has raised serious concerns. We need to relook at the way we are misusing natural resources. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said that Nature has everything to satisfy the need of all but nothing to satisfy the greed. Global warming is nothing but the result of the greed. Green house effect is the result of the greed. Change in global climate is the result of the greed. Food grain crises is also the result of the greed. To get more meat for non-vegetarians, grains are fed to animals and birds. To build more and more residential houses, fertile land in acquired. If only man learns to control his greed, there won’t be any crises.

Education for All ...

Education for all….
There is a paradox. Either you go for education for all or quality education. Constitution says about fundamental right to education. Committees are against expansion of education infrastructure. The situation in this paradox remains – ‘rich can buy better education and poor are compelled to receive substandard education’.
Well, the best way (perhaps) to crack this paradoxical puzzle is to pour money into it - Money for infrastructure and for salary. It’s still easy to pour money for infrastructure and develop it. More difficult is to pour money for salary. When the sixth pay commission has submitted it report and a committee is set to revise its guidelines, it’s perhaps best time to restructure pay scales of teachers working in government aided schools. Once government aided teachers are paid handsomely, the private players must increase their salary. Once the salary is better off, talented young will be attracted towards working in schools. I would suggest better salary packages for rural schools as compared to that in city schools. We want better teachers to work in rural and semi urban schools. In cities, there are better opportunities to ‘buy’ education, villages don’t have such options.

Like, India's Education system, Legal system of India is also facing crunch for best brains. As best of the best brain opt for medical or engineering, and the left out of standard 12th are in queue for being teachers in schools and colleges, similarly successfully lawyers never give up their practice to don a judge's robe. In the last meeting of the chief justices of high courts of India pay hike was prominent demand of one and all.

Money is not the root of all the evils. Lact of it is. Money is one of the best motivators. It is pay packages of IIM and IIT graduates that insire more and more young and brilliant brians to adopt the profession of management or IT.

If attractive packages are availed to teachers, most of, if not all the problems pertaining to education can be solved in India.

IPL: a sect in the Religion of Cricket

I doubt if IPL will lessen nationalism. The worst form of it will be reflected in spectators’ loyalty to their city/club teams. We have seen in the first three days of IPL that when the Mumbai Indians lost wicket, there was pin drop silence in the Mumbai stadium which was roaring like sea on gale at the wickets of opponents. Similar silence and uproar were observed at Bangalore and Mohali.

This phenomenon will surely lead to hooliganism. Regionalism is already on sprawl in India due to political colors. This form of cricket will add fuel to the fire. Culturally divided nation like India, whose unity lies in its diversity, may experience further divides because of new form of cricket. Cricket is considered as one of the unifying catalyst in the diversity of India. Unanimously, all agreed that Cricket is a religion where all other religions dissolve. IPL will create more sects in this religious spirit associated with the game of cricket.

Obscenity and nudity in The Times of India news daily

For some times, I have observed that 'The Times of India' is giving more space to nudity and obscene photographs and news stories. It all begin with small pics of some glamour dolls in ‘News Digest’ (first page) or in graffiti (last page). Then it was Page 2 ‘cinema gossips’ where every other day a nude picture of Holly/Bollywood diva is posted.
Now, it’s even in the main news item that TOI doesn't miss a chance to print obscene, indecent, and lewd pictures. Quite ironically, tt all began under a beautiful name of ‘Save the Girl Child’ and see where has TOI gone. Is it necessary to print naked female figures to save the girls and women? Every now and then TOI bring sensual story in the name of ‘save the girl child’. Their representation of the story which is illustrated with similar kind of picture is so lascivious, voyeuristic and libidinous that at times it raises serious suspicions in the mind of readers. What is the intention of TOI in ‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign? Is it really to save girls and women or to give worst schemes and designs to woo, seduce and molest more girls and women?
What happened in Patan or is happening with females in society is a matter of a grave concern. But is it proper to give such a prurient coverage of entire episode? Worst were the photographs TOI printed with these stories.
Similarly, in the coverage of love affairs of political leaders of France and Russia, is not TOI crossing the boundaries of decency and decorum? If your answer is no, have a look at the nude pictures of their love ladies posted in TOI. After ogling over the pictures, if you don’t agree with me, ogle again with your parents and children.
The Times of India has the largest circulation in India. It is most read English daily in India. It’s not because of chauvinist approach to sexism. It is because of respect and reverence this news paper has in the eyes of readers. Is not TOI falling in high opinion and esteem of readers? Is not the value and worth of TOI decreasing because of such news items and photographs? If TOI is viewing to increase viewer ship by such mean attempt, I would say that those who are viewed as target readers for such content are surely not reading TOI. There ia a lot of such stuffs available in market ( and almost free on web), which is far ‘better’ than what TOI offers.

__________________________________________________________________

This blog post was cited om www.naavi.org on Feb 13, 2010:

It is in this connection that we need to take note that TOI has been a purveyor of a new culture on soft porn in India preint media. I spotted one online petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-reading-times-of-india-the-pornographic-paper.html which had been floated some time back on this issue. I also spotted a interesting blog enttry at http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2008/04/obscenity-and-nudity-in-times-of-india.html also highlighting the same.

The blogger Dilip Barad lamented

“…Now, it’s in main news item that TOI don’t miss a chance to print obscene, indecent, and lewd pictures. It all began under a beautiful name of ‘Save the Girl Child’ and see where has TOI gone. Is it necessary to print naked female figures to save the girls and women? Every now and then TOI bring sensual story in the name of ‘save the girl child’. Their representation of the story which is illustrated with similar kind of picture is so lascivious, voyeuristic and libidinous that at times it raises serious suspicions in the mind of reader. What is the intention of TOI in ‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign? Is it really to save girls and women or to give worst schemes and designs to woo, seduce and molest more girls and women..”.

How can TOI get away with this sort of journalism? Is there no Press Council which can take action? Or is Press Council powerless?

Source: http://www.naavi.org/cl_editorial_10/edit_feb_13_2010_savita_3.htm

______________________________________________________

Your comments are welcome.

IAS officer praised for work on higher education

Apropos to ‘IAS officer praised for work on higher education’…
Its rarest of the rarest happening in academic arena. None has ever seen or heard of education commissioner being commemorated with laurels, that too by the intellectual elite of the state. It’s true that even the highly motivated require motivation and such praiseworthy event motivates other too. Hats off to Times of India for giving good space to such better news in higher education of Gujarat. Otherwise, we are witnessing that higher education of Gujarat is in the news for all the worst kind of things.

Farewell Speech

The farewell speech delivered on 5th April 2008 at Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English, Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar.(Gujarat – India)

Mr. and Mrs. Rameshbhai Mehta- retired Judge, Respected Prof . Purnimaben V. Mehta-Head of the Department, alumni Hetal Mehta and Chetan Trivedi and dear friends,

Before I give my vote of thanks to the chief guest of today’s programme, I would like to share a few ideas with the students who are leaving this department.
Dear Friends, most of you are going to make your career in the field of teaching. You would be teachers in schools, colleges and universities. Please remember, somebody is always watching you, and learning from you – not from your words but from your actions. As a child watches its parents and learns from them – not form their words but form their actions, similarly students watch their teachers and learn from them – not form their words but from their actions. So, friends, don’t forget to build your character along with your career.

Your exams will begin on 5th May, 2008. In these last 30 days of ordeal, you may face innumerable tribulations, trauma and troubles. But remember, it is when things get worst that one must not quit. Quitters are never Winners, and Winners never quit. Remember the lines written on the wall of NDA – Dehradun: “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”

On this day, I remember lines quoted by Shiv Khera in You Can Win:
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger ad faster man,
But sooner or later the ma who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Always think that you are Born to Win.

Coming back to the onus of giving vote of thanks, Sir (Mr.Mehta), this is one of the most memorable days for our students. We are grateful that you have spared some valuable moments with us. On behalf of, Bhavnagar University, Department of English and all the students & staff, I am heartily thankful to you for gracing this occasion with your esteemed presence.

Thank you, one and all.

Incredible Puppet Show of Life and Death

Apropos to the fornt page news in The Times of India dated 29th Feb 2008, ‘Life and Death', I would like to share my views on the two incidents which took place on the railway track. A mother gave accidental birth to a girl child in the toilet of railway and child drops down on the track on a moving train. In the other incident, 16 workers form Bihar or UP were waling on the track and suddently a train came rushing and killed all of them.
What an incredible puppet show by the ‘President of the Immortals’! The Railway track breeds one little life with care and consideration whereas the same track becomes the viewless & voiceless annihilator of so many human lives. It is truth universally acknowledged that there are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamed of in our philosophies. It is well said by Shakespeare: “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances.”

WiFi in Rajkot city (Gujarat - India)

iApropos to ‘WiFi in Rajkot City’….

Its belated yet a welcome move by municipal body to implement WiFi facility in Rajkot city. What’s so inspiring about this move is the selection of place. Their giving priority to University area is in real sense a commendable act. At a time, when else in the world, governments look forward to give better infrastructure in IT for business and corporate world, here is an example, noteworthy, provided by Rajkot Municipal Corporation, to give importance to the educational infrastructure development. In the heydays of economical advancement in India, it’s laudable to think about providing a better wifi-internet infrastructure to University students. Isn’t it?

Virtue Rewarded: India wins Test match against Australia

Virtue Rewarded.
Kudos to Indian Cricket Team for their bounce back ability! Winners are not know from how high they reach in their achievements, but from how high they can bounce back after falling. Indian cricketers have proved their champion’s spirit. After molestation by grave decisions of umpires, vicious victorious celebration of Australians and rueful coverage of Australian media, it required terrible amount of courage and mental strength to bounce back. And see the way Indians have done it! This victory is symbolic of triumph of virtue over vice.
If Sydney was the graveyard of virtue in ‘gentleman’s game’, Perth is the re-birth of virtue. The nemesis has ultimately rewarded with poetic justice. And what a way to give justice! Symonds, who was given several ‘lucky’ benefits of doubts in Sydney, was given LBW even if ball sneaked bat. Again, Australia is devoid of making a history of seventeenth consecutive test victories, both times by India.
Kumble’s cool composure in interviews outwitted Ricky Ponting’s pointless ramblings. Kumble reflected the culture of decorum and majesty which symbolizes Indian culture. Thus, not only on the ground but even off the ground, nemesis favored India to give its virtuous poetic justice. Today, Indians all over the world are proud of Kumble’s and his boys for making tri-colour flag fly high with dignity and self-respect.

Dilip Barad

Sydney Test Cricket Match: Defeat of Honesty and Integrity of Gentleman's Game

At Sydney Cricket Ground, it’s not India who is defeated, but it’s Cricket. The identity of cricket as ‘Gentleman’s game’ is under sprain since long. What happened in last five days was nothing less that cold-blooded murder of the spirit of Gentleman’s game. Umpires played an imperative role, but they are not the only human agency to be blamed for this bloodbath. They being human beings are prone to err – to err is human. But the way Champions of the Cricket - the Australians, especially the captain Ponting and Symonds bamboozled at the crucial moments of the game is the matter of grave concern. Pointing was caught behind in the first innings and got Ganguly out on the dropped catch in the slips – thus twice, the captain of the world champion team deceived himself, umpires and above all the spirit of the game. The signals sent by this champion team are that of trepidations. It is not the point of worry that the Virtue went unrewarded, but it really concerns that vice has won.

Dilip Barad
Bhavnagar

Interview Techniques

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUESGenerally to check the skills, experience, qualification, hobbies etc., an Interview will be conducted and to select a suitable and best deserved candidate for the position in a Company who can handle the job efficiently, independently. Remember that the interviewer (s) are of great experience. They are fully acquainted with the nature of the duty and qualities required of a candidate for the particular job. They can judge a candidate’s capabilities from his words and expressions.In this matter, the candidate must be well prepared to give the answer briefly, point-to-point, with suitable examples so that he can impress the Interviewer; The following are few techniques which are generally observe at the time of Interview;1. There are generally two types of interview, (a) Verbal and (b) Written.2. Be Confident, be Bold, be Polite, be Positive while facing the interview.3. Your fear & tension are the main drawbacks in getting the job, so try to avoid it completely.4. Soon after receipt the Call from the Company, you should prepare/revision the relevant subject matter.5. Inquiry about the Company’s background and to whom interview at what exact time, date & Venue.6. One day before the interview, visit to the said Company and know the exact location and collect some information about the Company, their main business activities, about Product, Service, how many branches, their locations, how many staff working (Technical/Non-technical), Salary range etc. complete so that, at the time of interview you will have more confident to give the appropriate reply.7 Think that, you are going to attend the Interview but not to beg anything from the Interviewer.8. Never claim false expressions of any hobbies or interest, actually you don’t have.9. Don’t lie any matter at any cost, which leads to leave a bad impressions.10. Dress smartly with combination tie, shoe (polished), cut the nails, use light scent/spray, combed well etc., Avoid strong scent/after shave lotion.11. In case if you may have mouth-smell, then Pl. use mouth-refreshing tablets/syrup before interview. Advise not to use the onion, garlic & other food stuffs which gives smells while speaking.12. Reach the interview location at least half-an-hour in advance.13. Wait patiently up to your turn comes in the Waiting Hall/Room. And don’t discuss any technical/subject matter with your colleagues this will loose your confidence. 14. Enter in the Interview Hall/Room duly knocking the door. Don’t enter the room neither very hurriedly nor very slowly. Normal pace and dignified entry must characterize the candidate’s appearance before the interview board.15. After saying usual salutation like, Good morning/Afternoon/Evening as per the situation, give brief introduction and the reasons to come here, and don’t wait till the Interviewer to start the discussions.16 Don’t shake hand until and unless the other side is offer first.17. Occupy the seat quite normally - when the Interviewer requests you. And don’t forget to say him ‘Thanks’.18. In case, if you wear a Hat or sunglasses take it off as you enter the Room/Hall.19. Sit comfortably with more confidently and don’t keep any File, Testimonials, or Bag on the interview’s table. You should keep it down at your side.20. Listen very attentively & carefully the question and give answer in natural & normal ways.21. If you don’t understand the question properly, request him to repeat, tell frankly & don’t shame/hesitate here. If you don’t understand at all any question then, simply keep quite, don’t try to give false reply/information. 22. The First Impression is the Best Impression, so try to give good impression.23. Speak in a soft but very clear tone. Your words should be well chosen. You should convey your ideas very clearly. Maintain the normal pitch and normal speed.24. During interview, see the Interviewer’s eyes and give reply suitably.25. The Interviewer read your body language, don’t bend so or don’t sit so comfortably freeing the legs, hands or shoulder, so be careful.26. Keep the friendly & good atmosphere in the Room/Hall with smile face, and some-time laugh and don’t so close with the Interviewers, otherwise bad impression count.27. Your every moments will be checked by the Interviewer.28. Don’t complain against previous Employer/Co. at any stage, which give a negative thought on the Interviewer.29. Some-times the Interviewer ask about why you leave the previous Co. what are the main reasons etc., so give appropriate and correct answers like; for bright prospectus or good working atmosphere etc., Never say, salary not in time, not good Company, this will give again the negative points.30. Apart from the subject matter, they may ask other general & social questions, so give the right answer.31. Don’t keep any kind of mental tension while facing the interview, which leads to fail the interview.32. Some-times, they may ask personal and general questions at a time, to confuse the candidate, so listen carefully and give one-by-one answer, & don’t loose your temper.33. Advise to Rehearsal for Interview with your Master or friend, so that confidant will come and can face the interview in perfect manners.34. Don’t ask any questions/quarries until and unless you have been requested.35. Don’t ask first about the salary/package and other service benefits etc.,36. Memorize all the passing dates of Qualifications & Experience, sometimes they may ask, what you have mentioned in the CV.37. Don’t play with the items place before the Interview’s table.38. Don’t change your seating directions frequently; this will loose attention of the Interviewers.39. Don’t blame your Fate, Fortune or your family background or financial matters; this will count another negative point on your part.40. After Interview finished, leave the premises immediately, and leave a impression that, you have to attend another interview at another place.41. Try to cover your weakness through the presentation of other achievements.42. Develop your personality to suit the post for which you have applied.
GENERAL INFORMATION:- Until and unless you have not prepared well, you are unable to face the Interview.- At any stage, don’t fear, be confident in you, be polite, be positive this will leads to success the interview.- In fact there are number of opportunities in the Market for the right, deserved, well qualified, talent, energetic, well experience candidate only.- Communication is the only way of _expression your skills & talent.- To get any success, definitely there should be hard work with more concentrations, and proper preparations.- Success is sure and definite for those who himself check their negative points and changed into positive attitudes.- Dear, if you can't change your attitudes then no one can help you and you never succeed in your Career/Life. Pl. accept the facts.- Wishing all the Best in your Career.- You may please add some relevant information to this text to complete the information in all respect.