Meet Rathish v3.o

Before marriage, I had a lot of free time and money at my disposal. Also, as I was not hooked to any of the vices like smoking etc., I put in all my efforts in developing this site and write content for it.

Things have changed now. I am crunched for time and the purse strings have tightened. Also, times have changed further. With Facebook dominating the social network area, I feel that my thirst to publish stuff can be quenched using Facebook.

So it is time to bid adieu to this site. It will remain online till July 1st 2012 as I have already paid for it till then. Thanks for following me

“Its not the constitution that has failed us, but we have failed the constitution.” Former President of India, KR Narayanan might have regretted for saying this had he been alive now. Not that he was wrong but the fact remains that the only thing constant in this world is change and it is better to embrace change than to run away from it. The life of Indians and the governance has had a turning point. That turning point was on November 26th, 2008 or famously known as 26/11. This date is etched on the mind of intellectual Indians. We came to know of how insecure we are. I agree that there had been terror attacks prior to and after 26/11. Those were mainly in the Kashmir valley (the news of attack there were so frequent that it became a way of life for the rest of the Indians). Apart from the valley, there were infrequent bomb blasts across the major cities. However, the 26/11 attack was the most brutal one where highly sophisticated and armed terrorists annihilated scores of innocent citizen and security men.

The media and the government was merely interested in finding if it was a breach of security or failure of intelligence; rather than bringing in rules to avoid future attacks. Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured by the police is still alive and enjoying the security provided from our tax money. Some people still argue if hanging Kasab will bring justice to people who lost their lives in the attack or eradicate terrorism. No. Killing one person doesn’t bring justice and definitely doesn’t terminate terrorism from our soil. But for sure it brings immense satisfaction to some extent for people to see that cursed life finally end. I am sure even you are one of those who believe in feeling good in taking an eye for an eye. If you are, then the rest of my writings will surely be interesting to you.

I am one such Indian who feels that we have had enough of it. I do not have the financial might, political power or legal brain to bring about a change. But neither do I like to just start cursing and then tossing the news paper away forgetting it. I want to use my writing in spreading awareness among the common men. I’ll be publishing my views every week or if time permits, more frequently.

Hello readers,

As you have been noticing, there were not much activities going on this site. Partly this was due to laziness, busy work schedule or simply nothing much to write. More recently, much of my time was spent in marriage preparation (and of course, speaking to her for hours!). Now that I got married and turned to a new chapter in my life, I feel it makes sense in refurbishing the site, adding new content and get back to updating the site frequently.

With the new changes, it is prudent to bring in a new look and feel. The site will be in maintenance till July 1st, 2011.

I installed the WordPress software in my phone. This finally makes my dream of publishing blogs, while on move, come true. The only hiccup being usage of the words sparingly. Since typing and then later editing the text is a real pain, need to think things in advance before jotting it down.
One of the main reasons for blogging through phone is the power to publish things in mind instantly. For example, last Saturday, there was an incident in the train. I really wanted to highlight it over the blog. Unfortunately I had to wait till I had access to Internet. This problem is now resolved (though my actual problem of beating laziness is left unresolved;-) )
Everything seems cool apart from the fact that I got to hold the phone in one hand straining it and also my finger is too large for the buttons on the touch screen. Needless to say the absence of spell check makes things difficult. Nevertheless, the adventure and the satisfaction received in publishing one’s mind tread away easily through these difficulties.
I’ll stop for now. Thanks for reading. Take care!

My niece Ammu, who will be four years in a couple of months will need to join Kindergarten. We had a particular school in mind, the BPDAV School in Midhani Township. The school had certain regulations and restrictions on the age factor. Last year, she was not a qualified candidate as she hadn’t attained the age of 3 by March. Now that she has the right age, we were looking forward to enroll her in the school. This is what we came to know – There are only 120 seats. 60 of them are reserved for the pupils of MDN and BDL employees while the rest for others. The application form was supposed to be distributed, at the cost of Rs. 150,  at 8:30 AM on the 28th of Jan. Since we are not the only persons who wish to have our ward join the school and that the application forms will be given on a first come first serve basis, a long queue was expected. Of course, there will be an interview the following month to filter them further. Who says competition begins only after 10th grade?

So our master plan was for me to return from office at around 5:00 and stand in queue. Dad will back me up at around 7:30 and I’ll leave for home to retire for the day. But the plans were changed the last moment and I was asked to come home directly. Dad was unable to sleep the whole night. So got ready and left at 4:30 AM. By the time he reached, he could see a long queue. Someone started writing down the names and gave each person a number. Dad received #73. Four hours before the scheduled time and still getting way out of the stipulated number!!! By the time I reached home, I got this news. So change in plans, after refreshing myself, I was supposed to join dad at around 5:30 and relieve him. At around 7:30 he’ll return to relieve me.

I joined the queue at around 5:30. Still dark, cold and foggy. The person who wrote the numbers started making us sit on the ground. Some sat, some stood other slept. Being humans, the first priority was to acquaint ourselves with the person in front and behind. At first all was quiet. Then someone cracked a joke about the queue and there were bursts of laughter here and there. Soon, some stood up, line became circles and groups. The core matter with most groups were about the possibility of getting more than 60 forms. People began to debate if there are only 60 why are others standing and why are they allotting numbers to more than 60. Some tense, while other jovial. The first persons to reach there, I heard, was standing as early as 2:00 AM! I was wondering with a person behind me that we, being in 70s we were like, “had we come a little early, we’d be somewhere in 60s”. What would be in the mind of the person who is #61 All through, he’d have been cursing and praying.

With sunshine kissing our face, we could look in to face of more and more people. Some very tense, some with care-a-damn looks while some in a world of their own discussing about prices and others. By the time it was 7, the discussions reduced and whatever people were speaking was about whether or not we’ll get a form. A friend of mine had recognized me and came to me. He came at around 5:30 and was #106. With a company of someone you know, time was passing by.

The feelings, even after trying hard to protect, was evident in many faces. My state of mind during my Stock Market days were reminded to me. There were only two emotions in every mind – Fear and Greed. Fear of not getting the application form and greed in getting the forms come what may. The group in 60 – 65 were of the opinion that exact 60 is not a must, there might be a possibility of getting more. We, in the 70s, were of the opinion that there needs to be a buffer so that even if candidates are disqualified, there will be no shortage. Someone near-by was heard saying that at least 90-100 will be given as there is a chance that all 60 from the reserved sections might not fill up. While Mr. 152 was arguing why won’t school give the forms. Each form, not even a rupee in cost for printing, is going to fetch Rs. 150. It is makes business sense in giving form to all and shortlist the merit students. Makes absolute sense though. I was of the opinion that at least there won’t be such talks in the first 60s. The talks there were of the other way round. People were giving team huddles to recognize and remember the persons around them as there is a chance that people from last might barge in when the gates opened up. Then what about the list we were enrolled? It was the brain of #33 who didn’t want intruders in the queue who came after them so had a pen and paper and made a list. Insider secrets, huh!

At around 8 AM, the gates were opened. The gatekeeper was given the list and he let everyone one by one based on the number. The queue now formed in front of the office that was distributing the application forms. It was still shut. Soon many more people, who were unaware of the demand started pouring in. I believe the number ended somewhere between 180 and 200. Apart from random incidents of one or two persons trying to pretend and get ‘in to’ the line, everything was cool and everyone were civil. Just at around 8:30, dad came to relieve me. I had called up home asking not to send dad as I’ll be taking care. But dad, as he is very stubborn when it comes to welfare of family had still come and asked me to drop Ammu to school and go to sleep. I bid farewell to my newly formed acquaintance and left for home.

I heard in the evening that that last year, there were only 60 forms distributed and people had resorted to stone pelting. So this year, management decided to give forms to everyone and scrutinize kids on merits. Interview, I heard, will be with kids and parents. On top of all these, the school charges Rs. 30000 as donation and monthly fees of around Rs. 1200.

Frankly speaking, I started this post with something in mind but the experience there was worth-while as well, so it started pouring in. The title, here is not irony about the management’s decision or the fees. The irony here is that the huge queue, high fees and all the inconvenience experienced is not for a private corporate school. It is a Government funded school. But this is run by the Central Government. This is one more instance about the issue that I highlighted in my last post. The reason why this school is in demand is not because it charges huge fees but because it gives children what they deserve. Well qualified teachers, huge playground, grand library, project works, well maintained (if not posh) toilets. The result? Minimal or nil drop-outs, highly intelligent students and more practical minds. You may have in mind the thought that only people who afford such high amounts can get in to it. True, but this trend started recently after the Corporate / International schools are in to being. When I was a student (in another school) I heard about this school and I remember that the concept of Government funded school was never understood by me.

I would like to take opportunity to highlight one more instance. Our servant-maid’s daughter, Sravanthi, used to help her mom in our house-hold chores after-school and in holidays. Her parents wanted her to study so my sister-in-law (being a teacher in a private school) started teaching her. At the after-market hours, when I used to come down, I noticed that she had a hard time learning stuffs and my sister-in-law was wondering how to cope up as she was carrying then and it was time for delivery. So I took up the role of teaching her. Since enlightening people was a passion for me, I took this opportunity to transform her. I realized that she was not aware of the basics as the teacher was just going through chapters and giving homeworks (which mainly was copying from text book). So I asked her to bring her third standard book. Crammed in to her the very basics. It was a hard time for me to control my temper! Slowly she started getting better. But as I joined IBM and didn’t have the time to teach, my sister-in-law took over from there. Now I heard that she is one of the best in the class. Responds easily to questions (still a long way to be the best, though).

These instances reinforces my idea that if given a right platform and a good environment, students can excel in their field. Only a slight push is needed to the students and a strong jerk is required for the reformation of our educational system. Well, I’ll have mercy on you and leave you here without boring you further (if at all you’ve read so far…lol). Have a nice time!