The Education Revolution

Why do we need this community?

2011-02-02T11:04:00.001-08:00

I formed this community to reach out. I am in search of people who believe, like I do, that our education system needs to reform. I am looking for people who have a nagging feeling that it is not worth spending 18 years of our life and then some more, studying things that might or might not have any bearing on our lives, who believe that we have narrowed down the definition and path of success so much that children start getting slotted as successful or unsuccessful from the age of 5. I want people to take a step back and think if we are doing justice to our children and their children by not teaching them to think on their own and survive in this increasingly complex world.

My intention is not to make you agree or even to ridicule the system that has got me to where I am today. What I am trying to say is that our world is changing, its needs are changing and our systems need to change too. We don’t need factory-produced mass manufactured workers. We need innovators and creators. To survive in the ever-competitive world, our children need to learn to fail, they need to learn to think out of the box, to get along in teams, to create goals and achieve them and to communicate their vision powerfully as leaders of tomorrow.
In general, this community aims to target basic problems in the education system like high teacher absenteeism, high student absenteeism, poor teacher-student ratio, high student drop our rates, poor average scores of students in assessment tests, poor infrastructure in most schools, lack of emphasis on extra curricular activities, lack of customization of syllabus to rural and regional needs, lack of vocation training courses, poor teacher training, lack of student and teacher feedback system, lack of technological use and interactive tools to improve understanding of basic concepts, lack of teaching by experience and experimentation, lack of education about environmental and other societal issues, lack of opportunities for building careers in most fields except for a few selected ones, lack of training in basic life skills such as overcoming failure, creating possibilities, communicating with people and listening to people and lack of parent education.

However, the real question is – what should an ideal education system for the 21st century look like? How exactly would an education system that solves all above problems be defined?
This is the question that bugs me continuously. This is the answer I am seeking. This community was formed in the hope that by gathering bits and pieces of changes in education across the world, we will piece together the ideal education system. The hope is not of an overnight miracle, but that of making those small changes and taking those small steps that will lead to a transformation in education, as we perceive it today.
For this, I need your support. I need you to add people to this community who can support this cause. I also need you to help me collate the amazing work being done on education from across the world. You could post these links in the community. You could also share information about the existing problems in education systems. But, most importantly, I hope that you will share your idea of an ideal education system that we can pass on to our children to ensure their happiness in the world that we are creating for them.

Why Revolutionize?

2011-01-15T03:32:00.001-08:00

As a kid, I loved hovering around trees. My mom advised me not to pluck leaves and flowers from tress at night. She told me that trees too need sleep. At the age of 8, everybody in my class laughed at me, when I repeated my mom’s advice to my science teacher Ms Rita. When I was 3 years old, I colored an apple black. My teacher laughed when she saw my notebook. Later my brother teased me about my ‘lack of common sense’. Guess what? When I was 14, I saw black apples, especially produced with extra iron content half way across the globe. Growing up, I did not play much with the kids in my locality. I didn’t read any books except my course books and I didn’t watch enough TV. As a result, I scored very well in my exams including standing third in the city of Mumbai(Bombay). I thought I knew a thing or two about the real world. But time would teach me better.

When I started interacting with the real world, I quickly realized my lack of general knowledge and current affairs. What however was not so apparent was my lack of creativity, social skills and life skills. I did not relate well to people. I could not understand how things worked on my own. I needed to read about everything. My observation was poor. I simply didn’t know how to educate myself through experience and observation. I couldn’t deal with failure or the ability to dissect things down to their core.

Slowly it dawned on me what I had missed. If I had played enough, I would be able to get along with people, be healthier, sportier, and good at strategies and would also learn to deal with failure. If I had read enough fiction, I would be able to think of the unknown and the unheard, firing my imagination to the next level. If I had noticed how my mom makes butter or dusts the carpet, I would use science and not just learn it. If I had watched TV and read enough books and magazines, I would know how the real world works. I would know that wars have nothing to do with peace. I would know that foreign aid has nothing to do with aid. I would know that friendly relations between nations have nothing to do with friends. At the age of 21, I understood what I had missed out on.

Don’t get me wrong though. I am proud of everything I got and everything that I chose to do with it. I am thankful for the very best in education that my parents provided me. But that is my problem – Is this was what the very best of education provides?. We can’t even comprehend what the very worst provides, where 1 in 3 teachers in governement schools have not gone to school for the past whole academic year. Our education needs reform.

Will be continued… :)

Right to Education

2010-12-22T19:17:00.001-08:00

A good resource on Right to Education act - http://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/rteindia

McKinsey Research in Education

2010-12-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

How does a school system improve?

New research suggests that common sets of interventions can help systems move from one performance level to the next, without regard to culture, geography, politics, or history.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Public_Sector/Education/How_does_a_school_system_improve_2713

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Purchasing lessons for schools

Districts that improve their purchasing processes can capture significant savings.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Public_Sector/Education/Purchasing_lessons_for_schools_1350

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The economic cost of the US education gap

Gaps in academic achievement cost the US economy trillions of dollars a year. Yet there is reason to think they could be closed.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Public_Sector/Education/The_economic_cost_of_the_US_education_gap_2388
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Attracting and retaining top talent in US teaching

Only 23 percent of entering teachers come from the top third of their graduating class. What would it take to do better?

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Public_Sector/Education/Attracting_and_retaining_top_talent_in_US_teaching_2673

Foreign management schools will train Indian Uni Admins

2010-12-07T10:51:00.001-08:00

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article937992.ece

Promise Center

2010-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Visited the promise center yesterday near Banaswadi Bangalore. Absolutely loved the place. It is made of clay bricks. The nursery looked like a house more than a school and surely the children felt at home too. Seeing the Steiner kindergarten in reality was a dream come true. Spoke to the founder Lalitha for a long time and she explained the concept of Steiner education to me. Makes so much sense. The education system must reflect the nature of man and follow the natural process of growth. May all children go to a school that they love to go to. Would love to see the school evolve to include all grades upto 12th. Right now its only till standard 1. However there are Steiner schools in Mumbai and Hyderabad that have classes till grade 10th. Also met a few happy parents and the other teachers - Jyotsana, Usha and Gopa. The Waldorf teacher's community in India, although small seems to be growing fast. There is an IPMT conference in Bangalore from 12th to 18th December which has a separate series on Waldorf Kindergarten. Wish I could attend! If only I had known earlier. The school was a dream come true. Wish I have a similar one some day :)

Right to Education

2010-11-29T23:58:00.001-08:00

The Right to Education (RTE) Act threatens the very existence of about 300,000 budget schools. Their fate now rests with the states, says John Samuel Raja D ....

http://www.peerpower.com/et/2927/Notice-Period

Helping young learn media arts

2010-11-26T01:42:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/streetsidestoriessf

Community colleges in Tamil Nadu

2010-11-26T01:09:00.001-08:00

http://www.thehindu.com/education/article907549.ece

Teaching through computers

2010-11-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

The Concord Consortium has amazing simulations and models that teach basic concepts. Must try!

"The best part about it? Hundreds of our resources are free, research-based, and available for you to use today. As a non-profit organization, we’re committed to quality science and math. And we’re focused on showing the world how technology can lead to better learning."

http://www.concord.org/about/information-for-teachers

How Technology is Improving Education

2010-11-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Don Knezek, the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, compares education without technology to the medical profession without technology.

“If in 1970 you had knee surgery, you got a huge scar,” he says. “Now, if you have knee surgery you have two little dots.”

Technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained “computer class” into a versatile learning tool that could change how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and assess progress.

Despite these opportunities, adoption of technology by schools is still anything but ubiquitous. Knezek says that U.S. schools are still asking if they should incorporate more technology, while other countries are asking how. But in the following eight areas, technology has shown its potential for improving education.

.............
Read more - http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education

How we learn - Ted Channel !!

2010-11-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.ted.com/themes/how_we_learn.html

Five dangerous things for kids

2010-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Tinkering School

2010-11-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Alternative Schooling in India

2010-11-19T02:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.lifepositive.com/mind/education/alternative-education/education.asp

My Green School Dream

2010-11-19T02:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzllVlzzeuo

Hole in the Wall

2010-11-18T03:45:00.001-08:00

101 uses of a quadratic equation

2010-11-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

http://plus.maths.org/issue29/features/quadratic/index.html

Teaching Math with Computers

2010-11-17T05:48:00.000-08:00

Let the Revolution Begin

2010-11-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

Planning to do something to cause transformation in the education sector during the next one and a half years at college. Really excited about it. The details however are not clear as yet. There are so many things to be done in this sector that I am finding it difficult to choose one problem to go after. Also planning to build a community of individuals to take on the change. Visiting the Promise Foundation next Friday to find out how they are implementing the Steiner system of education.

Saw an awesome Ted video by Sir Ken Robinson on the need for revolution in education -

Also joined a facebook community with like minded people - http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-hate-Indian-Education-System/307332222995

Bouncing ideas like opening a small school in Bilekhalli for children of nearby colonies and test alternate education. Seems far fetched right now though. Lets see what the visit to Promise reveals.

Haven't read something so amazing in a while!

2010-10-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

http://rbalu.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/58-appiraj-and-his-mid-day-meal/

Appiraj and his mid-day meal

October 8, 2010

On a recent trip to Hosahalli, Kumar, the head master was proudly mentioning that the average daily attendance at the tribal school was always over 90%. This was indeed impressive considering that it was the cotton-plucking season and most of the children would have normally been away plucking cotton at this time. He was telling me that the school was not only ensuring giving our children education but had also worked quietly in breaking the cycle of child labour. I was not sure if I could agree with him. I was unwilling to believe that poverty alone forced the child to pluck cotton. I always felt that the schooling system also contributed in keeping the children out of school. Dull monotonous teachers, non-creative curricula, dingy and suffocating classrooms, and fear of punishment – all contributed. Our tribal school not only had large open cottages, creative learning facilitators, sumptuous meals and clothing, but also ensured that the curriculum was child centric and that the teaching-learning happened in an environment of fun. It was only natural that after more than two decades of running a school on these lines, the attendance of children would naturally improve. As I was thinking about all this and the plight of thousands of other children in mostly Government schools in rural and tribal areas, my mind was drawn to a special child called Appiraj.
Appiraj was a Jenukuruba child from Alanahalli, a distant tribal colony whom I first met more than 10 years ago at Hosahalli. Malathi had pointed this shy child to me and explained that he was proving to be a challenge to keep engaged in the classroom and outside. On one of my visits to Hosahalli, I found Malathi and all the other teachers flustered. It was just after lunch-time and they found Appiraj missing. The whole school went into a tizzy. Being situated on the fringes of the Bandipur National Park, one had to be anxious, as this was tiger and leopard territory. The whole campus was searched and one could still not find little Appiraj. As we were contemplating reaching out to the tribal colony that he came from, one of the cooks found him sleeping soundly in the room that housed the steam generator. Cooking in the school was done by using steam that was generated in a room just outside the kitchen complex. Appiraj was woken from his slumber and given a scolding for scaring all the teachers. As he was being sent to the classroom, I asked Malathi to find out what the child was doing in that room.
Appiraj narrated an extraordinary story. He told Malathi that he was tired of the ‘vegetarian’ fare that was dished out to him three times daily. He longed for some meat and knew that the school could not provide him with any. He only had himself and his Jenukuruba instincts to help him get some. He then scouted around the thickly wooded school campus and located the trees that had a sticky resin. Using the resin, he built a bird trap and placed it on trees that nested small birds. The next day, nature rewarded him with a small bird large enough to whet his appetite. Being just five years old did not deter him from climbing up this tree and bringing down his prized possession. He had quietly put the dead bird into his pockets and spent the morning classes planning his next steps. Just before the lunch break, he had quietly slipped into the steam generator room. There he defeathered the bird and cleaned it up. Using a small iron rod that he had found nearby, he had barbecued the bird in the fire that was burning in the generator. Having had a sumptuous meal, he could not resist sleeping in these warm environs.
Listening to him was such a revelation. Here was a 5-year-old child who knew exactly which resin to use and which tree that it was exuded from. He also knew which trees small birds nested in and how to make the trap to catch them with. He was independent enough to decide that he had to provide for himself and knew exactly how. Isn’t this what schooling aspired to do for our students? Why did Appiraj have to spend the next 10 years of his life in our school forgetting what he already knew and adding on something that was possibly going to help him succeed in an environment that he did not care much about? To echo the words of Mark Twain, I was desperately hoping that our schooling did not interfere with Appiraj’s education.
Education needs to be context-specific and engage hundreds of children like Appiraj. We need to make sure that the school system builds on the creative energies of such children and not make them stereo types of each other, competing in a world that they neither desire nor benefit from. Skills and competences should be added to what children already have and empower them to cope and flourish in a constantly changing external environment. Like Swami Vivekananda said, we need to make sure that “Education brings out the perfection already inherent in man’.

- Balu

Success is it?

2010-09-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

Activist and publisher of Zubaan Books, Urvashi Butalia suggests that whether she is a corporate executive, a model, or a village panchayat head, a woman usually has to pay a deep personal cost for success; she is often forced to make a choice between her career and family. The tragedy is that she can't seem to have both. "I have no doubt that the hollowness of success at the cost of all other things hits men also, but it hits women very differently," says Butalia. And that is, perhaps, where the "soul-starvation" comes in. "When the image in the mirror - of beauty, success or talent - doesn't match the image inside, you have the breeding ground for vulnerability," says literary critic and writer Nilanjana Roy. "Many of the great women writers had this: not so much a fragility as the lack of an extra skin, coupled with an abnormal sensitivity to their environments. I think of writers like Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf; all of them struggled and often overcame their tendencies to depression, learned to use their insecurities and fragilities as material, but in the end were brought down by this."

Roy questions the prevailing culture "which insists that the beautiful and the successful should be placed under the burden of also having to be flawless - why they can't always ask for or get the help and support they need. We still live in a society where it's considered a sign of weakness to ask for help, or to admit to having problems; the surface counts for more than what's going on inside, and that burden is doubled for the beautiful and the successful."

Read more: Smart women, unsmart choices - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/man-woman/Smart-women-unsmart-choices-/articleshow/6124049.cms#ixzz10q3UhmDv

Education?

2010-02-26T03:07:00.000-08:00

Wrote another article for Viewspaper -  http://theviewspaper.net/education/

I studied in one of the most expensive schools of Delhi. All through my school life, I saw my parents struggle to pay my fee on time. Not only did they sacrifice their leisure to get me an education, they also made sure that I got everything that proper schooling might ever require. Be it money to buy books, pens and notebooks; or to afford outings, picnics, fests, annual days and birthday parties; or even extra tuitions, swimming classes, robotics and dance classes – they never let me feel the scarcity which lurked in our middle class household.

Now that I meet a lot of people, I realize that there is nothing unique in this unique story of mine. This is in fact, the story of every middle class Indian household. Education is seen as the only means of ensuring a successful life. Parents spend their life savings, toil extra hours and even sacrifice holidays and television shows to ensure that their children study hard and fare well in school. But, what do our schools provide in return?

Does your child’s school teach them the art of relating to people and understanding what the other person wants? This is undoubtedly the most important aspect of any successful business conversation. Does their school teach them acting spontaneously under pressure? Life isn’t always predictable you know! Does their school teach them the importance of learning from experience rather than memorizing all the right answers? Are there any right answers in life? Can your children introspect their day and understand what could have been done differently? Does their school teach them the importance of taking risks and failing in life, or is it always about succeeding, winning and getting more marks? Most importantly, does their school teach them to listen to their hearts and understand their desires, or is it just about following rules and winning the game set for them?

Our country has always held knowledge in high esteem – “Balihari Guru Aapki, Govind Diyo bataye” (I bow to you my teacher, before I bow to God, because you are the one who told me about God). History brings with itself years of experience, Mathematics sharpens the mind, Science helps raise curiosity, Geography entices us to explore, and Languages aid in communication. However, the essence of these subjects must not be lost in the race to get more marks to prove a child’s worth. Are their calculus sums and geography maps really educating the children to lead a happy life? Or have we started confusing financial success for happiness? Why is it important to get straight A’s in all subjects? Why is not important to succeed in fulfilling the basic human traits of loving our own parents, taking care of our planet and ensuring our own health?

A child who has walked through a slum knows humility better than a child who has memorized essays on Nelson Mandela. A child who has seen his mother make butter knows centrifugal force better than any book could describe. It is these small experiences that form a child’s education. Is your child experiencing the world around him? Are schools centers of learning, that enhance a child’s experience of the world or do they construct a gigantic system of 70 books that a child must rote by heart just to delay their arrival into the real world? Its high time we answer these questions and start bringing about a change in the way we perceive education. Education is a part of living not a means for living in this world.

To begin with, schools could encourage ‘teaching by experience’ as against book learning. This system has been piloted in a number of schools across the country and is slowly maturing. Companies like iDiscoveri even provide books that recommend classroom activities for each topic, for each subject and for each class. Parallel systems of education like the Waldorf (Steiner) Education are gaining popularity. The Steiner system of education focuses entirely on experiential learning.

It is important to generate awareness amongst parents as well. Parents should focus on the all round development of their young ones. I would personally recommend keeping aside some time in their schedule to watch shows on Discovery Channel, for playing outdoor games and for engaging in different activities like gardening, painting, drawing, dancing, sewing, pottery and even cleaning. Inculcating a reading habit in children could also go a long way in contributing to their future. Reading opens up the mind to new ideas and thoughts. Encourage the child to read books apart from his textbook.

Ensuring these small changes in our schools and homes could go a long way in ensuring that our children are strong, creative and happy individuals; who will bring about inclusive growth in our society, eradicate poverty and unemployment, cure cancer and AIDS, reduce environmental degradation and make this world a better place.

Allahabad

2009-12-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

Been out of action for the past one week. My granny was really unwell. Went to visit her. Thankfully, she is recovering now. Here is an article I wrote before I went - http://theviewspaper.net/allahabad-the-holy-city/

Allahabad, also known as Prayag, is one of the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on an inland peninsula, surrounded by the rivers Ganga and Yamuna on three sides. It is one of four sites of the Kumbh Mela, an important Hindu pilgrimage. The ancient name of the city is Aggra (Sanskrit for “place of sacrifice”), as it is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. The name ‘Allahabad’ is derived from Ilāhābād – the name given to the city by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. ‘Ilah’ is the arabic for ‘god’ and ‘abād’ is Persian for ‘to create’. Allahabad is thus the ‘God’s creation’.
Allahabad was the first city that I explored on my own and in my four years stay there, the city never ever failed to surprise me. I was initially overwhelmed by men who seemed to have no qualms in staring blatantly at each passing female, sometimes not even bothering to close their mouths. I felt alienated in this city away from the busy Mumbai life. I missed the obscurity that Mumbai offers to each one of its fourteen million inhabitants. Here, people cared about everything and everyone. However, as I gained confidence and started blending in the colors of the city, I started loving every bit of its quite and peaceful life.
Allahabad’s star attraction is Sangam – the confluence of three rivers. This is one of the most sacred spots for all Hindus. Every year millions of people travel to Allahabad to take a dip in the holy waters. However, don’t be surprised if you can’t find the third river of this confluence. This is the point where the Yamuna, the Ganges and a mythical river of knowledge and intellect called the Saraswati meet. At a very nominal rate, one can hire a wooden boat with a canopy and be rowed up to Sangam. You can also buy bird food and feed hundreds of migratory birds that come to Allahabad in the winter season. The best time to take this trip is around sunset. When the last rays of the sun touch these holy waters, a strange calmness seems to descend on the city.
From the Sangam are visible the towering walls of the Allahabad fort. The Mughal emperor Akbar built this magnificent fort. The Indian army currently occupies it. However, a small portion is open to visitors. In this section are situated the Patliputra temple and the Akshaya Vat. Patliputra, is a multi level, ancient underground temple and it houses the Akshaya Vat or the ‘immortal tree’. This is one of the oldest trees in the country. It has religious significance as it is believed that Lord Rama himself visited this tree. It is also believed that the leaves of this tree bring good luck. I still have one of those tucked away between the pages of my favorite book.
It is hard to be in Allahabad and not visit one of its ghats. There are a number of ghats on the river, each having its own offerings. They have attractions like children’s parks, or boat clubs or clean grass lawns to relax in. The most visited of these ghats is the Saraswati Ghat. The city has numerous temples out of which the ‘Lete Hanuman ka Mandir’ (Temple of the reclined Hanuman) is the most famous. This temple is near the main Sangam and gets flooded every year when the river rises. The temple as the name suggests, has an idol of God Hanuman in an unusual reclined posture. Another temple worth a visit is the ‘Bada Hanuman Mandir’ (Big Temple of Hanuman) in Civil Lines.
The city is not just a religious center. Allahabad boasts of being a renowned center for education and politics. Seven out of India’s first 14 prime ministers have had associations with this city. The Allahabad University campus is a site in itself. Spread over hundreds of acres, the magnificent main building is a mix of Victorian and Mughal architecture. It is one of the most imposing college buildings I have ever seen. The university was once considered the best in Asia, and its alumni include some of India’s greatest leaders and nationalists. Once the breeding ground for the Indian freedom struggle, the campus now witnesses active student politics.
The Chandrashekhar Azad Park or the Alfred Park is where the legendary Azad shot himself on being surrounded by the Britishers. This park has sprawling lawns, a museum, a library and grape gardens, all within the same compound. Here one can find obscure species of trees as well as obscure volumes of Indian Literature.
The Civil Lines area in Central Allahabad, initially constructed under the Colonial rule, retains its air of prosperity. This area has the classy hotels, restaurants, cafés, malls, shops and pubs of the city. In the evening the place is a bustle of activity with youngsters and adults flocking to its various hangouts. The other parts of the city are a mix of old and modern construction. One of the must visit sites boasting of modern construction is the Naini Bridge of Allahabad which is India’s biggest cable-stayed bridge. Beautiful rose farms on one side with cement aqueducts flank this bridge with its numerous columns. During the Kumbh Mela and the Maha Kumbh mela, one can stand on top of this bridge and see miles and miles of riverbed covered with pilgrim tents and temporary pontoon pulls.
The city has a thriving sports culture as well. There are a number of multipurpose sports complexes, the prominent one being the Mayo Hall. Others include the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium, Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex, an international standards swimming pool and the National Sports Academy. The city has produced several outstanding cricketers like Mohammad Kaif and Hyder Ali. Others prominent sportsmen from Allahabad are international badminton player and Arjuna awardee, Abhinn Shyam Gupta; gymnast, Vikas Pandey and athlete, Pramod Tewari.
The best time of the year to visit Allahabad is in the winter season. The weather in the months starting from December to February is pleasant with the minimum temperature around 12 degrees Celsius. I used to love the dreamy winter morning walks in Alfred Park amidst the slight fog. Allahabad is well connected by rail and road. One can reach Allahabad from Delhi via an overnight train journey. Within Allahabad, cycle rickshaws are the most convenient public transport. For a mere 5-6 rupees, you could also get a ride in the local tempos between fixed spots in the city. Hotel accommodations range from Rs. 500 per day to Rs. 10,000 per day. Ajay International, Milan Palace and Kanha Shyam are among the most famous hotels in Allahabad. Most of the new restaurants are located in and around Civil Lines. The Chicken Biryani at Spicy Bites is absolutely mouth watering and the Tandoori Chicken at Tandoor is a must try. I would also recommend North Indian food at Connoisseur and El Chico in Civil Lines. However, no meal is complete without the sweet and tender Maghai Paan from Civil Lines crossing! Allahabad is a city that can magically transport you to the pre independent India where life moves at its own leisurely pace; and at the same time provides all modern amenities for comfort and leisure.
Allahabad was the first home that I discovered away from home during my four years of college that I spent here, and I feel it is a part of my personality. Thinking about the city will always bring back a flood of bittersweet memories.

Rocket Singh : Salesman of the Year

2009-12-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

Wrote this one for Viewspaper too. Original here - http://theviewspaper.net/rocket-singh-salesman-of-the-year/

Have you ever felt that your potential is not being utilized fully in your job? Are there some processes in your organization that you don’t approve of? Have you always dreamt of starting your own venture where working will be fun and fulfilling? If your answer is yes, this movie is a must watch for you! If your answer is no, this movie will surely leave you thinking.

Produced under the Yash Raj Films Banner, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year has been directed by Shimit Amin. Shimit Amin who has previously directed award-winning movies like ‘Chak De India’ and ‘Ab Tak Chhapan’ has etched the characters in Rocket Singh very craft-fully. The star cast of the movie includes Ranbir Kapoor as the main protagonist, Gauhar Khan, veteran actor Prem Chopra and the the much-awaited debut of Shazahn Padamsee, daughter of critically acclaimed theatre personality Alyque Padamsee and pop diva Sharon Prabhakar. Ranbir Kapoor as always is indistinguishable from the character of young Harpreet who always follows his heart. Gauhar Khan’s role as the office receptionist Koena, who handles customer relations, is impressive. She represents the discrimination that pretty women face in some offices being judged more for looks than their work potential. Prem Chopra plays Harpreet’s father. Shazahn Padamsee has a minor role in the movie as the owner of a design firm, which does not give much room to evaluate her performance. However, she does look absolutely stunning. Other characters whose roles credit a mention are D.Santosh as Giri – a computer engineer addicted to pornography; Naveen Kaushik as Nitin – an industry hardened sales manager, and Manish Choudhary as Puri, the shrewd owner of AYS.

Rocket Singh is the story of an average Indian student. It is the story of Harpreet Singh Bedi, a fresh BCom. graduate who just about manages to pass in his final exams. Unfazed by his academic performance, Harpreet, confident in his ability to negotiate with people, chooses to become a salesman. After a number of interviews, he lands himself a job at AYS computers, which is the market leader for assembled computers. Harpreet’s interview at AYS is interesting too (I will not spoil it for the readers by divulging details!). Soon the story takes a turn as Harpreet finds himself in the midst of corrupt corporate practices, unsatisfied customers and hostile colleagues. He however does not believe in giving up. He fights his way through all odds and in the process, discovers the key to running successful organizations and a lifetime of happiness.

The movie is about following one’s dreams and fighting against all odds, giving high priority to customer satisfaction, valuing people and their skills, standing up against corruption and dishonesty at the workplace and believing in oneself. Cheers to the writer Jaideep Sahni for packing so much wisdom into such a simple story line. Although a comedy, the movie subtly addresses a lot of serious issues and stereotypes. “Number kam hain, Dimaag nahi” (My marks may be less, but my brains aren’t) – a simple dialogue that aims to shatter the mindset of linking a student’s intellect to his marks. “Superman ko bhi risk lena padta hai, Main to phir bhi ek salesman hoon”(Even superman must take risks, I am only a salesman) – inspires us to take risks in life. The movie also tries to romanticize the job of a salesman by exploring its challenges.

Rocket Singh seems to have a number of product placements, inline with the current industry trend. Products like Apple Mac Books, a Chroma store, a red TVS Scooty, and a lone Pepsi Can stand out but at the same time gel well with the script. Maggi seems to be a likely sponsor too as Shanzahn can be seen with a Maggi bowl in three different frames! All said, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, is a feel good and entertaining comedy, which is very well written and directed. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking forward to three hours of fun.

The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay

2009-12-15T02:16:00.000-08:00

Wrote this article as part of my internship with Viewspaper. You can view the original here - http://theviewspaper.net/the-lost-flamingoes-of-bombay

Finished reading “The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay” today.

Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, the 32-year-old author of the book, has been compared to the likes of Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith and Vikram Seth. He is an Indian who holds an MA in international Journalism from the University of Westminster and an MS in Mass Communications from San Jose State University. He has worked in the past as a chef, a storyteller and even a kennel boy. Shanghvi has been voted as one among the “Fifty Most Powerful Young Indians” by India Today; “The Next Big Thing” by the Sunday Times, U.K.; “Fifty Most Stylish People” by Elle; “Ten Most Creative People” by Hindustan Time; “Ten Best Dressed Men” by La Stampa, Italy and “Fifty Global Indians” by The Times of India.

Lost Flamingoes is Siddharth’s second book. The first book – ‘The Last Song
of Dusk’ has been translated into ten languages, won the Betty Trask Award (UK); the Premio Grinzane Cavour (Italy); and was nominated for the IMPAC Prize. The book is a mesmerizing tale of love and loss. The prose has a lyrical quality to it. The author has developed extremely fascinating characters in this book. I was truly intrigued by the mystical character of Nandini sketched as an overtly ambitious girl who has “the blood of a leopard in her veins”.

Siddharth’s second book struck a chord in my heart as well. With this book, the author has again proven his knack for revealing the most intense human emotions without any brush-ups. It portrays our survival instinct as human beings, amongst the utter chaos and futility of life. It grips the political and social events, which we read about in newspapers as distant occurrences happening in an unreal world far away; and brings them to reality. Lost Flamingoes is a bold, gripping and powerful account of the contemporary events and issues; ranging from the Mumbai floods, shooting of a young model in a crowded pub, a menacing monkey, the failing Indian legal system, AIDS, homosexuality to politics.

The book is the story of Karan Seth, a naturally skilled photographer who moves to Bombay to work for ‘The India Chronicle’. He has a passion to capture Mumbai in his camera. During one of his assignments he meets Samar, a failing celebrity pianist and Zaira, a successful Bollywood actress. While finding the ‘Bombay Fornicator’ in Chor Bazaar on Zaira’s suggestion, he meets Rhea Dalal, who is a homemaker, passionate about pottery. The story starts with the problems Karan faces in adjusting to his new lifestyle and forgetting his troubled past. It moves on to unfold a series of events that take place in Zaira, Samar and Karan’s lives. Karan falls in love with Rhea but this relationship like all the others is also a roller coaster ride. Zaira’s murder and the trial put Samar and Karan through a lot of struggle. They fight a desperate battle amongst a biased judiciary, retracting witnesses and false allegations.

It can sometimes be shocking to see reality up close and the characters in these stories as people – as actual human beings – with feelings, sorrows, dreams and hopes. The amount of pain, hatred, betrayal and loss a person could withstand and still go on to live is unbelievable. With the pages of this book, I took a ride out of my dream world into the naked, hissing reality – the delicate thread that life is – and the futility of it all. “Only the end of the world is the end of the world”.

Algae Biofuels

2009-12-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

Wrote this article as part of my internship with viewspaper. You can view the original here - http://theviewspaper.net/algae-biofuels/

Algae biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels. These carbon neutral fuels are cheap and easy to use. In a world of rising oil prices and increasing concern over environmental pollution, algae biofuels are gaining a lot of momentum.

Algae are unique species that are neither classified as flora nor fauna. These organisms use photosynthesis to transform atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy. There are more than 30,000 known species of algae. They reproduce tremendously fast and can effectively double their weight several times a day. Algae can grow in salt water, freshwater or even brackish water, in sea or in ponds, and on land not suitable for food production.

As part of the photosynthetic process, the absorbed carbon dioxide and sunlight are used to produce sugars and lipids. Excess of these lipids are stored as fat inside the algae cells. This fat can be used to produce vegetable oil, which is further distilled to produce many other forms of fuel. Different species of algae can be used to produce different varieties of oils. Algae can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn and switch grass.

There are many small companies producing algae biofuels around the world. Some of them are GreenFuel Technologies, Solazyme, Blue Marble Energy, Inventure Chemical, Solena, Live Fules, Solix Biofuels, Aurora Biofuels, Aquaflow Binomics, Petro Sun and Bionavitas. In India, a Kerala based company; Enery Microlgae is producing algae fuel commercially. Last year, in a unique experiment, jet algae fuel was used to power a two-hour test flight of a Boeing 737-800 of the Continental Airlines. These fuels are absolutely carbon neutral, which simply means that the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the algae is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide produced while burning the fuels. Hence, they do not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, in turn slowing global warming.

Scientific interest in producing fuel from algae has been around since the 1950s. Most previous and current research on algae biofuels has used the open pond system. In this system, the alga is allowed to grow in open water bodies with just the naturally occurring inputs of atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight. This approach results in a rather low yield of oil – about 1 percent by weight of the algae and also prone to contamination by unwanted species. As opposed to this, scientists are now proposing the helix photo bioreactor, which is a closed indoor system. This however increases the cost of production and moves away from the use of natural sunlight. Some other scientists prefer the ‘Vertigo’ technique, in which the algae crop is vertically oriented and controlled.

The greatest benefit of algae biofuels over other alternative fuels comes from the fact that they can be used in cars and airplanes without any modifications to the currents design of the machines.

However, only a few studies are publicly available on the economic viability of algae biofuels. It is estimated that algae oil would only be competitive at an oil price of $800 per barrel. The cost of production varies according to the specie of algae used, the system of production, the method of harvesting and even the amount of sugars and carbon dioxide fed to the crop. Some entities have reported capital costs as low as $10k/acre, while others have shown costs approaching $300k/acre.

The problems in accurately determining the economic viability are accentuated by the fact that there are no large-scale commercial algae biofuels production systems with which to develop and substantiate data. The companies that are developing new technologies and architectures are very protective of their detailed financial data.

One acre of algae can produce enough oil to make 5,000 gallons of biodiesel in a year. It is estimated that an area equal to half that of the state of Mexico, would be enough to meet the energy demands of the entire USA. The potential of these biofuels cannot be overlooked. It seems too good to be true. For the time being, scum powered cities do seem to be overpowering my imagination. Algae biofuels might prove to be the clean and scalable energy solution that we have been looking forward to for so long.

Education?

2009-11-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

I believe that our education system has a pressing need to undergo a complete redesign.
The present education system was developed in the 19th century with the dawn of the industrial era to churn out academi-cians, engineers, doctors and managers. Formal education thus got created as an agent to aid the growth of capitalism. Our schools hone the ability of individuals to memorize information and reproduce it. However, they also destroy our ability to think beyond the obvious and to innovate.
Contemporary education needs to focus on developing the creativity in individuals such that we can nurture entrepreneurs, environmental scientists, space engineers, art directors, social activists, and sports players. We need to transform the rote learning culture to one that fosters imagination, compassion, peace, leadership and self-expression.
“The future of our world lies in the hands of our children”. We have heard this over and over again. It is the truth! It’s high time we step back and question the capability of the schools, to where we push our children for 18 years of their lives. Are these revered centers of learning really preparing our children for the world that they live in? I think the answer is very clear. We just need to acknowledge its existence.

People over the World

2009-04-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

I think a lot about people. I feel that people are the most dynamic variables in the equation of my day-to-day life. I have a lot of opinions and theories about people. However, this topic still never fails to surprise me. Every day I learn something new about someone. In my world, I have created certain kinds of people. This classification however, is not objective enough to be based on their caste, religion, creed or nationality. It is based on how they react to situations in life.
Everyone is distinct. There are people who think so creatively that sometimes I just can’t decipher how their brain could come up with such ingenious ideas. There are people like my mother, who manage to love their children no matter what they do. Their commitment surprises me. Also, there are some who fight adverse circumstances so bravely and with a smile that their presence in this world leaves me feeling stronger.
To understand this diversity and uniqueness, I created a classification for people –
1. The people who don’t care about anyone – These are the people who will do only what they want to do. Re-belling is their favorite pass time. Staying away from people is their natural protection against the complexities of human interaction. They are inconsistent in their relationships. They love to spend their time with themselves.
2. The ones who firmly believe that they are not good enough – These are the people who are always bent on proving that they are good for nothing. Even if they could land on the moon, it may not be enough for them! They are extremely difficult to please and the easiest ones to blame.
3. The people who need attention and have a constant need to fit in – These are the ones who need to be-long. They need to surround themselves with friends at all times. They talk loudly, they laugh out loud and they spend hours in front of the mirror. They usually possess excellent interpersonal skills. They have a need to be extra sweet all the time. These people can do well in jobs involving client interactions.
4. The ones who are always trying to prove themselves – These are the hard workers who need to get things done. Sitting idle is such a waste of time! These people are usually successful in life, but then there is always the next big thing to be achieved of course. These people can be really painful managers and very promising employees.
5. The people who have a major superiority complex – “Oh my god! He is so dumb!” These are the people who firmly believe that their point of view is supreme. People around them exist to make them happy. They are usu-ally very assertive and possess a strong opinion about everything.
This is my effort to classify the people in my world. I know that it may not be perfect and applicable to all. But then there is one advantage while developing your own theories. You can always change them! Most of the times these traits are apparent in the people I meet. Some people could also be compounds showing a combination of two or more of these traits in varying proportions.
In spite of these similarities, everyone is unique and that’s what makes it all the more interesting. People are special. They are the fighters. They are the ones who survive in this world while learning, adapting, pretending, enjoying, fighting, trying, car-ing, hating, loving and living continuously. Its amazing how they manage to do all that and yet some more.

On Wings of Eagles

2009-04-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Read the book "On Wings of Eagles" by Ken Follett recently. It is an incredible real life adventure story, the story a group of highly successful executives of EDS corporation who went beyond the obvious, to save the lives of their collegues. It left me really touched. It showed me another side of Americans - a brave side, a side where each and every life is valued and treasured. It relates the values that a huge and great company should stand for. It relates how Ross Perot, the inspiring leader stands for his employees. A true leader is not the one who has a great vision and who can get the work done, but the one who also lives the lives of his employees - who relates to employees as his own. Ross believes that he is lucky, and will always be - If before doing a task, I sit and think about all the things that could go wrong, I would never complete my task. The book is gripping, full of thrills and entirely true! Loved this one!

kavya

2008-09-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is Kavya who works in Sangama and is learning computers with us....

Computers!!!!

2008-09-11T03:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday was an incredible day for me and my project. We got the donation of 5 computers from Yahoo! As soon as I saw them, I was so happy. Pentium 4s with 512 Mb RAM and 17 inch monitors and they looked so sexy in their black outfit! Lakshmi at Sangama also could not hide her happiness. She said she had expected me to get one or two computers. But here we were there with 5!! :) It was awesome. She has converted one of the Dining Halls in the office into a computer lab especially for computer training. We were installing Windows on the systems, but the electricity kept on going and then the graphic driver was not there. But still, we hope to get our lab in working condition soon and accelerate the process. Cheers to Yahoo!!! Thank you.

One of the most touching speeches on world issues

2008-08-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

This one really made me sit back and think - think about sharing and caring. Hats off to this 12 year old. You are more intelligent than most 50 years old I know girl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0

My Project

2008-08-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

It all started on one fine morning when I was late for office as usual. Sitting at the back of the auto rickshaw, I was blaming myself for missing the cab again and again and using the immense parallelism of my mind, also thinking about my community project. I had no idea what I should be taking up and what could be worth causing in a planet full of problems. As the auto stopped on the crossing, one Hijra woman came to beg. I looked at her and thought about everything my mom had told me about their community. Ever since I was a kid, my mom always use to give these people money on crossings telling me how sad their life was and how they are even denied the basic right to be criminated in the day time. The same thought crossed my mind and I just knew what my project would be.

This was followed by a week of searching for an organization where I could find some Hijras to work with and where I could get a peek into their lives. I spoke to my friend Akash about it and he was delighted with the idea. He gave me Jace’s reference. Jace asked me to contact the Alternative Law Forum from where I was redirected to Sangama. Sangama is a reputed organization in Bangalore working for the sexual minorities. I shot out a mail to Sangama briefing about my project and I got a prompt reply asking me to come down and discuss it personally.

The next day, Tuesday evening, I decided to visit the Sangama office in J. C. Nagar. I spoke to a woman named Lakshmi on the phone, took the address and an appointment and went alone. I was very excited going there and knew that this could be an amazing experience, but as I reached the place, I felt a little apprehensive. I wasn’t all that sure that I should have gone there alone. My mom’s advice that I should be careful while working with this community kept flashing in my mind. Anyways, I went beyond this fear and went inside. I met Lakshmi and Rex there. I also met a few transgenders, gays and lesbians. It was a totally new world and I wasn’t really sure how to react. Rex asked me to hang around for a bit and get an idea of the life of transgenders in Bangalore. He said I could take up any project after that with Sangama’s help. They gave some notes and pamphlets on Sangama’s work. I also got to interact with a few of these people. As I was sitting there and reading the pamphlets, I was observing them talk and banter each other. I really liked being in that space. It was a space full of people who are choosing their own lives. I related to these people like those human beings who not only respect themselves and their choices but others as well. I was extremely happy and relaxed and all the initial apprehensions vanished. I could keep coming back to this place. This was followed by a week of study into the lives of these people. I went through the material again and again.

The next weekend, I visited Sangama again along with a friend. I needed to nail down my project goals. We discussed the community problems, and Rex suggested that it would be extremely helpful if we could take computer sessions for a group of 13 transgenders and also personality development sessions for some members of the Sangama community, so that they could express themselves well and also go out and get jobs easily. I took this on along with an awareness drive about the transgenders in Bangalore. Lakshmi invited me for the Pride March the next Sunday for the queer people. I was not very sure if I would go, but I anyways agreed.

On the next Sunday morning, for the first time, I spoke about my project in Soapbox Bangalore, with a group of 11 people. The intensity and passion with which I spoke surprised myself. The session was amazing and people were surprised and touched to get to know the ground reality of transgender’ lives. They had no idea as to how much torture these people undergo at the hands of the law and society. The state denies them their basic rights such as ration card, passport, voters card and they can be booked under a number of laws and brutally tortured anytime at the hands of the police. Apart from this they are discriminated against by the society and denied any kind of jobs or right to normal life.

From here, I went straight to the Pride March along with Noopur and a few of her friends. Arvind from Soapbox also joined us later. The march was an experience of a lifetime. I mean I had never ever marched before for anything! Shouting slogans, holding banners, distributing pamphlets, and singing songs we walked for a good 3-4 kms. It was like an expression of protest, an expression that I had never known. The march signified standing for one’s rights and beliefs and rewriting the definition of right and wrong. It stirred me completely and was truly amazing.

After this I visited the Sangama office once before the computer sessions started. This time I met with a male to female transgender, with whom I spoke for almost an hour. She is a great individual and she helped me understand a transgender’s feelings better than I had ever understood before. She explained to me how they grow up mostly to hate their own bodies and how they feel trapped inside a body, which does not match with their soul. I could understand that feeling and the choice, which these people make in their lives sometimes at the risk of losing their families, education, homes and everything that they ever possess.

The computer classes started happening every Saturday at the J. C. Nagar office of Sangama. Akash took up the leadership of the course material and teaching in most of the classes. My other friends Vaibhav, Avinash, Shivku, Deepak, Hari and Ajith also came to take the sessions along with us. Each week in the class, is a new experience. Not only do we get to touch the lives of the students, but also each of the teachers gets touched and moved by the experience and the enthusiasm of these people to learn. We started with what a monitor and keyboard is and have just completed teaching them Microsoft Word. To do something in life without any gain or agenda is very fulfilling.

Soon we realized the need for setting up a small lab in the office, because the two hours of classes were not providing enough practice. I wrote a mail to Maitri and Yahoo! Bangalore HR asking them to donate five old computers for this cause. Yahoo! Agreed to the donation and the request is still under process. We hope to get the computers by next week.

The project also changed the way people around me relate to me as an individual. They could see the possibility of love and difference in the world, which I stand for. Most of them are always willing to help me with it.

Deepak referred me to Badri for the personality development sessions and I followed up with him on the phone. Badri is a very enthusiastic individual who takes personality training for pre final year engineering students. He was already looking for an apportunity to do something for the underprivileged. Initially, I wasn’t really sure how I would organize these sessions without any money. The second time I was speaking to Badri, he asked me if any money was involved in my project. I was a little saddened but I told him that none was and that I could look for sponsorship if need be. To this, to my utter surprise, he replied – no because most of my friends would not want to work if money is involved here! Wow! And so it was on. Badri visited the Sangama center on one of the Saturdays along with Tejas, and decided to take on English classes for this community. He took on the complete responsibility of this part of the project and it was touching for me to see his enthusiasm.

The project still continues and I hope that it always will. Each and every human being has an equal right to live in this world and its high time we create that tolerance and let the people be. We need to change our attitude our thinking and accept people for what they are, as they are. The world is a lovely place to be in ☺

Vijay TV has a transgender anchor

2008-08-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.chennaionline.com/film/tv/Nov07/11article54.asp

One of my friends in office told me about Rose, his friend, is a transgender and works as an anchor on a show. This sure is inspiring!

Thai school offers transsexual toilet!!

2008-07-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

This is amazing. Strengthens my belief in how the society could accept transsexuals as "normal" people and allow them to co-exist

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7529227.stm