By Chinnaa
Greetings!
According to the reports in vernacular newspapers in Tamil Nadu, there were three reports of women killing their husbands with the help of their illicit lovers. The gullible lovers lost their precious lives with no fault of theirs except that they were legally married to these women.
Of course, there is a law to protect domestic crimes committed against women in addition to the existing dowry harassment laws. Under these laws women can complain to the police for action against men. Very many women have already established their rights effectively using these laws and have kept the erring husbands at a distance.
But there is the other side of the coin. Some women persecute their husbands either for money or to cover their own illicit relationship with their former or present lovers. There are already allegations that these laws are misused by educated and employed women. Even there were reports that the affected men have formed an association and they are fighting for legal and moral safeguards including protection from the women who are misusing.
Where does the problem lie? Is it because of the present arranged marriage system? Or is it because these men have not lived up to their women’s expectations? All of us should give a thought to these social issues.
June 29, 2009
Bureaucratic Corruption has become an incurable parasite in India
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
I am going to share with you one of commonest cases of bureaucratic corruption but with the slight twist in the sense that it relates to religion and naturally a sentimental one.
‘Deputy Commissioner of Hindu Religious Endowment held for accepting a bribe of Rs.50000’
The headlines indicating similar meanings appeared in the newspapers of Tamil Nadu dated 27.06.2009. What are unique and different in this case is that the higher corrupt official involved happens to be the Deputy Commissioner of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment, whose duty is to regulate, control, maintain and settle the day to day issues pertaining to Hindu Temples in his jurisdiction.
In this case the private Marriamman temple which was owned and maintained by a trust of private people was subsequently taken over by the Deputy Commissioner in question for proper control. Then the trust members appealed to the official in question to return back the control of the Temple to the former for which the latter demanded a bribe of Rs 200000. Unfortunately the power to retain the temple with the department or to return back to the private trust lies with the official. It is this power that made the official to demand money.
Our question here is: why should he have demanded money in addition to his salary for performing his duty? If he feels that the Temple should have been with the Government, the official could have easily rejected the appeal. Or else he could have allowed the appeal and handed over the control to the trust members.
It is said in India that even political corruption is time-bound, i.e. as long as a party is in power, whereas bureaucratic corruption remains for ever. Bureaucratic machinery is the executer of the government projects, policies and programmes. They are the servants of and at the service of public. That is why they are called to be in civil service of IAS, IPS, and IRS.
But are the bureaucrats in reality behaving like servants of the public? People don’t expect too much from them in terms of their service to them. Their only expectation is that they should not be corrupt at least.
Greetings!
I am going to share with you one of commonest cases of bureaucratic corruption but with the slight twist in the sense that it relates to religion and naturally a sentimental one.
‘Deputy Commissioner of Hindu Religious Endowment held for accepting a bribe of Rs.50000’
The headlines indicating similar meanings appeared in the newspapers of Tamil Nadu dated 27.06.2009. What are unique and different in this case is that the higher corrupt official involved happens to be the Deputy Commissioner of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment, whose duty is to regulate, control, maintain and settle the day to day issues pertaining to Hindu Temples in his jurisdiction.
In this case the private Marriamman temple which was owned and maintained by a trust of private people was subsequently taken over by the Deputy Commissioner in question for proper control. Then the trust members appealed to the official in question to return back the control of the Temple to the former for which the latter demanded a bribe of Rs 200000. Unfortunately the power to retain the temple with the department or to return back to the private trust lies with the official. It is this power that made the official to demand money.
Our question here is: why should he have demanded money in addition to his salary for performing his duty? If he feels that the Temple should have been with the Government, the official could have easily rejected the appeal. Or else he could have allowed the appeal and handed over the control to the trust members.
It is said in India that even political corruption is time-bound, i.e. as long as a party is in power, whereas bureaucratic corruption remains for ever. Bureaucratic machinery is the executer of the government projects, policies and programmes. They are the servants of and at the service of public. That is why they are called to be in civil service of IAS, IPS, and IRS.
But are the bureaucrats in reality behaving like servants of the public? People don’t expect too much from them in terms of their service to them. Their only expectation is that they should not be corrupt at least.
June 27, 2009
From college students to robbers; changing Indian values?
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
My today’s sharing is rather shocking and unbelievable, but some times truth is stranger than fiction.
‘College students rob doctor, held; loot victim of cash, mobile phone and credit card’
The Chennai edition of The Times of India in its issue dated 26.06.09 reported the above story. This type of crime is commonly reported these days. One cannot simply shrug off this report as any other crime report which involves youth.
It is unfortunate that this type of crime is committed by the youth. More so it is shameful that in this case four college students, one from Arts & Science College and the other three from Engineering colleges, are involved in it. The worst part of the story is that all of them belonged to the elite and the higher status sections of the Indian society.
Why did they engage in this crime? They need more money to enjoy life with sex, alcoholism and easy-going. With the stolen cash, credit card and the mobile phone, they ate in a luxurious hotel, bought cosmetics and T-shirts, drank alcohol and finally landed up in police custody.
What are the values that these youth have got from our educational system? Have they learnt anything from the cultural roots of their elders? How are they going to become the future leaders of India? Who are to be held responsible for their act? Parents, teachers, Media or society…
7eu2zb4itn
Greetings!
My today’s sharing is rather shocking and unbelievable, but some times truth is stranger than fiction.
‘College students rob doctor, held; loot victim of cash, mobile phone and credit card’
The Chennai edition of The Times of India in its issue dated 26.06.09 reported the above story. This type of crime is commonly reported these days. One cannot simply shrug off this report as any other crime report which involves youth.
It is unfortunate that this type of crime is committed by the youth. More so it is shameful that in this case four college students, one from Arts & Science College and the other three from Engineering colleges, are involved in it. The worst part of the story is that all of them belonged to the elite and the higher status sections of the Indian society.
Why did they engage in this crime? They need more money to enjoy life with sex, alcoholism and easy-going. With the stolen cash, credit card and the mobile phone, they ate in a luxurious hotel, bought cosmetics and T-shirts, drank alcohol and finally landed up in police custody.
What are the values that these youth have got from our educational system? Have they learnt anything from the cultural roots of their elders? How are they going to become the future leaders of India? Who are to be held responsible for their act? Parents, teachers, Media or society…
7eu2zb4itn
June 25, 2009
Indian elections 2009 -From Democracy to ‘Moneocracy’ and to ‘Dynastocracy’
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
The recent parliamentary election in India has proved, once again to the world, that here in this part of the globe, called India, nothing strengthens Indian democracy than money power (stress ‘muscle power’ as well) and of late, the glittering dynastic politics. This is in addition to criminalization of politics.
It is alleged and reported widely in the media that the entire political class cutting across party affiliations did indulge in bribing or literally purchasing votes from the gullible citizens as if they are purchasing a five year rule at New Delhi. There is not even a single party which was exceptional to the above allegation. All parties except some name-sake parties were engaged in this shame-game. What is the propriety of parties in claiming that they stand for values in public life?
So you should have a party and a lot of money to win elections, no matter of whether you have principles or not. You do not care from where the money comes from and where it goes. And somewhere in the stream it is exchanged for votes, which results in a party coming to power. Kudos to Moneocracy!
Starting from Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi to Karunanidhi, and Farooq Abdullah, Indian democracy is strengthened by dynastocracy. The argument goes like this. ‘Just like as in any other profession, dynastic rule in politics is also unavoidable.’ But we must understand that other professions are for private earning and profit whereas the office of politics is towards a public service. That is the difference between other professions and political office.
The main thrust of democracy is defeated in the sense that only those who are in a popular party, those who have enough money to spend in elections, those who have caste support, and those who are given tickets to contest are the only ones winning elections ending up as representatives of the people or the MP.
The common belief in India is as follows:‘In a democracy all are kings’; ‘democracy is for the people, by the people’. ‘By which type of people?’ is The Million dollar question.
June 11, 2009
Commercialized primary education in Urban and semi-urban India
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
There are two educational sectors in India, private and government. Starting from nursery up to collegiate in general, polytechnic to engineering in technical, medicine and law and professional education there is a big division between private and government, in terms of quality, quantum and infrastructure.
Though education is a fundamental right up to a certain level, primary education in urban and semi-urban India is highly commercialized and market-driven.
The haves are enjoying private English medium education, whereas the have-nots are doomed to the mercy of government-run schools and colleges.
In primary education, the scenario is worst with parents doling out heavy fees in terms of tuition, capitation and infrastructure; leave alone the books, uniform and etc. etc.
People are crazy about sending their kids to English medium schools thinking that fluency in English will give the latter the required knowledge and intelligence. For them, fluency in English will fetch their kids all knowledge. This is a myth.
No where in the world, children in the primary level are given education and orientation in English. Mother tongue is the preferred language. If you force a language other than the mother tongue at a tender age the children are forced to learn other language, when they are already conversant with their mother tongue. It is an exploitation and sheer fraud on their childhood.
The concern should for all of us would be to look the way these ‘education shops’ are commercializing primary education. Sheer and crass commercialization though they claim that education is a service! Their institutions are registered as charitable, educational society!
They employ English-medium convent educated men and women as teachers. They are cheaply available in India. They are also obedient, subservient and not assertive.
Construct or hire a building, sometimes without even play ground and other facilities, to attract the parents. Hence they include capitation or donation or building funds.
Next they invest in buses and vans, prompting the parents that there are no transportation problems. There is a separate collection in this regard. Each primary maintains one or two buses. There are law-enforcing officials who have got scant regard for enforcements. Even a building collapse killing many children may not wake them up from their deep slumber.
At the receiving end, there are gullible parents hoping against hope thinking that this type of education will redeem their children and put them into bright future with job in a Multi National Company, preferably an IT one.
The final go-by is the ‘value based education’ which is the need of the hour in India
Greetings!
There are two educational sectors in India, private and government. Starting from nursery up to collegiate in general, polytechnic to engineering in technical, medicine and law and professional education there is a big division between private and government, in terms of quality, quantum and infrastructure.
Though education is a fundamental right up to a certain level, primary education in urban and semi-urban India is highly commercialized and market-driven.
The haves are enjoying private English medium education, whereas the have-nots are doomed to the mercy of government-run schools and colleges.
In primary education, the scenario is worst with parents doling out heavy fees in terms of tuition, capitation and infrastructure; leave alone the books, uniform and etc. etc.
People are crazy about sending their kids to English medium schools thinking that fluency in English will give the latter the required knowledge and intelligence. For them, fluency in English will fetch their kids all knowledge. This is a myth.
No where in the world, children in the primary level are given education and orientation in English. Mother tongue is the preferred language. If you force a language other than the mother tongue at a tender age the children are forced to learn other language, when they are already conversant with their mother tongue. It is an exploitation and sheer fraud on their childhood.
The concern should for all of us would be to look the way these ‘education shops’ are commercializing primary education. Sheer and crass commercialization though they claim that education is a service! Their institutions are registered as charitable, educational society!
They employ English-medium convent educated men and women as teachers. They are cheaply available in India. They are also obedient, subservient and not assertive.
Construct or hire a building, sometimes without even play ground and other facilities, to attract the parents. Hence they include capitation or donation or building funds.
Next they invest in buses and vans, prompting the parents that there are no transportation problems. There is a separate collection in this regard. Each primary maintains one or two buses. There are law-enforcing officials who have got scant regard for enforcements. Even a building collapse killing many children may not wake them up from their deep slumber.
At the receiving end, there are gullible parents hoping against hope thinking that this type of education will redeem their children and put them into bright future with job in a Multi National Company, preferably an IT one.
The final go-by is the ‘value based education’ which is the need of the hour in India
Ayudha Pooja advice
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
I travelled with my son in a city bus.
He is ten years.
On seeing the cleaned and decorated vehicles on the road in view of the Ayudha Pooja celebrations, including some MTC buses, he asked me why Ayudha Pooja is done only once a year and why can’t be done daily.
I told him about the water scarcity in our city due to over population and more than that only once a year the festival comes.
I don’t think I have convinced him, because from his body language I could understand that he is not fully convinced.
He is from a different faith but his interest for Ayudha Pooja can not be undermined
Greetings!
I travelled with my son in a city bus.
He is ten years.
On seeing the cleaned and decorated vehicles on the road in view of the Ayudha Pooja celebrations, including some MTC buses, he asked me why Ayudha Pooja is done only once a year and why can’t be done daily.
I told him about the water scarcity in our city due to over population and more than that only once a year the festival comes.
I don’t think I have convinced him, because from his body language I could understand that he is not fully convinced.
He is from a different faith but his interest for Ayudha Pooja can not be undermined
Are the TV channels tresspassers of Children's space?
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!,
I am going to share my thoughts on Indian TV channels, the heroes of the 'home theatre' concept that are most wanted and heavily consumed by one and all, irrespective of whether one is literate or illiterate, rich or poor, this caste or that caste (Indian contribution to the world, forget about Apartheid) , from America or India, Tamil or Malayalee (see the phenomenal growth of malayalees in Tamil film industry), woman or man ( what about transgendered persons?), elite or subaltern, person working in a BPO or rickshaw puller.Is it true that these TV channels become aggressive trespassers of the valuable space and time of our children, whom we are supposed to format in to a good human being and a better citizen for others?
I asked some of my neighbour parents whom I know, about their most difficult job in in their household. Pat came the similar type of replies from many of them 'Controlling our children regarding their TV viewing habits'
'What's wrong in TV viewing?. I was really inquisitive and enquiring in my thought.
'Nothing wrong if consumed in a limited way. we have problems only when they resort to more hours and it really affects their other growing attributes as children'
'What are the 'other' problems?'
'They don't eat well, interpersonal relationships with us is poor, with cartoon shows they are always grim-faced, they are lazy, stationary and fixed to their seats, they don't read books and newspapers, we are afraid they may develop personality problems in future,'
These children spent three to four hoursin front of TV sets in addition to what they spend for their education. Robbing them of their full-fledged, all round, holistic, child development will be a crime of grave nature. Later, we will be held responsible if we don't intervene now with possible alternatives.
What are these alternatives?
We have to tell them that we love them more than anything in this world. we should also do some sacrificing to be a role-model so that children believe and follow us. we should spend more time with them chatting, playing, sharing and making them understand that we are for them.
In this way we can bring them to us, from the aggressive tresspass of the TV channels. Once they are brought to positive habits away from the addictive TV programmes we can definetely win back our children's space. With this I remain. With warm regards, Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!,
I am going to share my thoughts on Indian TV channels, the heroes of the 'home theatre' concept that are most wanted and heavily consumed by one and all, irrespective of whether one is literate or illiterate, rich or poor, this caste or that caste (Indian contribution to the world, forget about Apartheid) , from America or India, Tamil or Malayalee (see the phenomenal growth of malayalees in Tamil film industry), woman or man ( what about transgendered persons?), elite or subaltern, person working in a BPO or rickshaw puller.Is it true that these TV channels become aggressive trespassers of the valuable space and time of our children, whom we are supposed to format in to a good human being and a better citizen for others?
I asked some of my neighbour parents whom I know, about their most difficult job in in their household. Pat came the similar type of replies from many of them 'Controlling our children regarding their TV viewing habits'
'What's wrong in TV viewing?. I was really inquisitive and enquiring in my thought.
'Nothing wrong if consumed in a limited way. we have problems only when they resort to more hours and it really affects their other growing attributes as children'
'What are the 'other' problems?'
'They don't eat well, interpersonal relationships with us is poor, with cartoon shows they are always grim-faced, they are lazy, stationary and fixed to their seats, they don't read books and newspapers, we are afraid they may develop personality problems in future,'
These children spent three to four hoursin front of TV sets in addition to what they spend for their education. Robbing them of their full-fledged, all round, holistic, child development will be a crime of grave nature. Later, we will be held responsible if we don't intervene now with possible alternatives.
What are these alternatives?
We have to tell them that we love them more than anything in this world. we should also do some sacrificing to be a role-model so that children believe and follow us. we should spend more time with them chatting, playing, sharing and making them understand that we are for them.
In this way we can bring them to us, from the aggressive tresspass of the TV channels. Once they are brought to positive habits away from the addictive TV programmes we can definetely win back our children's space. With this I remain. With warm regards, Chinnaa
Rituals cost us dearly?
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Come the summer month of May, there are plenty of celebrations in India. As for celebrations there is no difference between rural and urban Indians; caste wise celebrations are certain to be observed with minor variation between different castes.
Whether for majority Hindus, or minority Muslims and Christians, the celebrations are many and more in this land of mysteries. Poor or rich, literate or non-literate, educated or not so educated, employed or unemployed, domestic celebrations are given highest priority in India. Celebrations are a must, but the rituals and the quantum of money and time spent is only different.
Different types of celebrations are there between umpteen numbers of castes and their unique rituals. For the understanding of my non-Indian friends, there are four varnas or castes, the top most or the purest in the hierarchy is Brahmins, the priestly class (born of the forehead), the second in the ladder is Shatriyas, the ruling or warrior caste (born of chest), the third is Vaishyas, the trading community ( born of thighs) and the fourth is Sudras, the menial or serving class to the above three castes (born of foot). Below these four varnas are the dalits(born out of the system)
Under each of the above four categories there are thousands and thousands of sub castes. Hold on to your breadth, even the Brahma the God of creation does not know the number of sub castes falling under each category. Each sub caste has its own ritual in birth, puberty, marriage, pregnancy, and death. In addition to that, there is house-warming ceremony, sixtieth marriage anniversary and so on and so forth.
Nobody claims that celebrations per se are unwelcome, unnecessary and unwanted. When these celebrations are converted into rituals that demand a big money, lot of time and energy and a heavy burden on the exchequer, one will have to dump it as a non-developmental expenditure.
The habit of pompous spending starts in the home as ‘charity begins at home’. Conducting a family or domestic ceremony is a prestigious issue in India. It speaks of the prestigious tradition of the family of the sub caste of the caste of the State.
‘Celebrate or perish’ is the slogan. If you don’t have money, borrow heavily and become a debtor for life time. It is better to be ‘a debtor with rituals than a miser without rituals’.
Even the so called atheist and rationalist Indian is no exception to ritualized celebrations. Their common excuse is that they are celebrating these functions because their other members of the family demand such things.
Stating with the prime minister and down to the ordinary citizen of India, this infectious disease is unavoidable and inevitable.
‘Spend more than what you earn’, is the coveted slogan in this country. With only one exception, that is, the country is repaying the loan with interest to World Bank with the people’s money, whereas the citizen is repaying his loan with interest to another citizen. Long live India(ns) with a ‘borrowing attitude’. With warm regards, Chinnaa.
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Come the summer month of May, there are plenty of celebrations in India. As for celebrations there is no difference between rural and urban Indians; caste wise celebrations are certain to be observed with minor variation between different castes.
Whether for majority Hindus, or minority Muslims and Christians, the celebrations are many and more in this land of mysteries. Poor or rich, literate or non-literate, educated or not so educated, employed or unemployed, domestic celebrations are given highest priority in India. Celebrations are a must, but the rituals and the quantum of money and time spent is only different.
Different types of celebrations are there between umpteen numbers of castes and their unique rituals. For the understanding of my non-Indian friends, there are four varnas or castes, the top most or the purest in the hierarchy is Brahmins, the priestly class (born of the forehead), the second in the ladder is Shatriyas, the ruling or warrior caste (born of chest), the third is Vaishyas, the trading community ( born of thighs) and the fourth is Sudras, the menial or serving class to the above three castes (born of foot). Below these four varnas are the dalits(born out of the system)
Under each of the above four categories there are thousands and thousands of sub castes. Hold on to your breadth, even the Brahma the God of creation does not know the number of sub castes falling under each category. Each sub caste has its own ritual in birth, puberty, marriage, pregnancy, and death. In addition to that, there is house-warming ceremony, sixtieth marriage anniversary and so on and so forth.
Nobody claims that celebrations per se are unwelcome, unnecessary and unwanted. When these celebrations are converted into rituals that demand a big money, lot of time and energy and a heavy burden on the exchequer, one will have to dump it as a non-developmental expenditure.
The habit of pompous spending starts in the home as ‘charity begins at home’. Conducting a family or domestic ceremony is a prestigious issue in India. It speaks of the prestigious tradition of the family of the sub caste of the caste of the State.
‘Celebrate or perish’ is the slogan. If you don’t have money, borrow heavily and become a debtor for life time. It is better to be ‘a debtor with rituals than a miser without rituals’.
Even the so called atheist and rationalist Indian is no exception to ritualized celebrations. Their common excuse is that they are celebrating these functions because their other members of the family demand such things.
Stating with the prime minister and down to the ordinary citizen of India, this infectious disease is unavoidable and inevitable.
‘Spend more than what you earn’, is the coveted slogan in this country. With only one exception, that is, the country is repaying the loan with interest to World Bank with the people’s money, whereas the citizen is repaying his loan with interest to another citizen. Long live India(ns) with a ‘borrowing attitude’. With warm regards, Chinnaa.
Freebies the Indian way?
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Indians, majority of them and not all, are habituated to live along with freebies. These freebies are more and more visible and common after the privatization, localization and globalization processes have begun.
‘If you purchase one material, you will get another free’ is the common reference in the shops, markets and every other purchasing place.
‘Pay for one shirt and take another free’, ‘Buy one pocket of cooking oil and take one toilet soap free’, ‘Buy a product in our store and take a free coupon for a tournament’. These are the very common announcements in India, where anything and everything free is welcome with folded hands.
Whether in politics or in business or in social life announcement of concessions, freebies, something extra is always welcome and liked by Indians.
Why this phenomenon? Is it the fallout of our socialistic pattern of constitution and democracy where people always look for help from the government or the governmental agencies? Or is it the mentality of Indians to expect concessions and grace discounts and freebies?
In Tamil Nadu, the present DMK government led by Mr. M. Karunanidhi, very old Dravidian leader, who had seen many ups and downs in political life, has introduced and implemented partially many freebies.
‘Free TV sets for all the families of middle and lower middle income group, free cooking gas connection along with Gas Stove, concessional price of Rs.2 per kg of rice, free land of two acres to poor etc and etc’
Mind it; all these concessions are for individual families, private purposes and family benefits. These things are not going to help the nation-building in the developmental arena. These are purely personal, individual fulfilling and private in nature. Why should a government use the tax payers’ money for familial pleasure of luxury?
In addition to creating expectations, it also develops an attitude of taking everything free without working for it. Instead the government could have created employment opportunities, set up industries, developed small businesses.
Take the case of social sector. In every other celebration or domestic function people expect heavy sumptuous feast so that they can remember and cherish for a very long time.
In a religious function also, people are fed freely and made to believe that 'Annadanam’ is always godly and to be welcomed.
No where in a developed society these things are possible, wasting public money for private purpose by the government and wasting or doling out concessions to lure the public by institutions, thereby developing ‘free in everything mentality’ which is not good to the nation. Warm regards Chinnaa!
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Indians, majority of them and not all, are habituated to live along with freebies. These freebies are more and more visible and common after the privatization, localization and globalization processes have begun.
‘If you purchase one material, you will get another free’ is the common reference in the shops, markets and every other purchasing place.
‘Pay for one shirt and take another free’, ‘Buy one pocket of cooking oil and take one toilet soap free’, ‘Buy a product in our store and take a free coupon for a tournament’. These are the very common announcements in India, where anything and everything free is welcome with folded hands.
Whether in politics or in business or in social life announcement of concessions, freebies, something extra is always welcome and liked by Indians.
Why this phenomenon? Is it the fallout of our socialistic pattern of constitution and democracy where people always look for help from the government or the governmental agencies? Or is it the mentality of Indians to expect concessions and grace discounts and freebies?
In Tamil Nadu, the present DMK government led by Mr. M. Karunanidhi, very old Dravidian leader, who had seen many ups and downs in political life, has introduced and implemented partially many freebies.
‘Free TV sets for all the families of middle and lower middle income group, free cooking gas connection along with Gas Stove, concessional price of Rs.2 per kg of rice, free land of two acres to poor etc and etc’
Mind it; all these concessions are for individual families, private purposes and family benefits. These things are not going to help the nation-building in the developmental arena. These are purely personal, individual fulfilling and private in nature. Why should a government use the tax payers’ money for familial pleasure of luxury?
In addition to creating expectations, it also develops an attitude of taking everything free without working for it. Instead the government could have created employment opportunities, set up industries, developed small businesses.
Take the case of social sector. In every other celebration or domestic function people expect heavy sumptuous feast so that they can remember and cherish for a very long time.
In a religious function also, people are fed freely and made to believe that 'Annadanam’ is always godly and to be welcomed.
No where in a developed society these things are possible, wasting public money for private purpose by the government and wasting or doling out concessions to lure the public by institutions, thereby developing ‘free in everything mentality’ which is not good to the nation. Warm regards Chinnaa!
June 9, 2009
More-marks syndrome
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
With the advent of admissions in Indian schools every year , parents of children of all ages and courses are running from pillar to post to fix their kids in the best schools or colleges hoping that these institutions will be a smooth platform in future to land up in a profitable career.
In the process, they forget to inculcate value-education for their kids. Truthfulness, honesty, dignity of labor, respect for others are some of the attributes that are to be observed sincerely by a boy or girl to be groomed into better citizens.
The tendency to compare everything in terms of marks is highly illogical and irrational. Every where in the world students are evaluated in grades so that they are placed in a scale. But in India students are given marks as percentage as if they are accurately evaluated of their knowledge, calibre and capability in a subject.
That is why we see students who score lesser marks compare their marks with others and sometimes are taking the extreme step of committing suicides as the media reports suggest. Parents scold their kids for scoring low marks. Schools display the highest mark scorers in the media and in their own notice boards so as to get more admissions in future. Any way it is wrong to come to a hasty conclusion on the basis of marks.
The greediness for more marks compel the students to go for private tutorials, schools to arrange for extra coaching, and the parents to invest more. Once the exam of the course and the admission into a new course are over ever body forgets the subjects.
In the 10th and 12th levels there are marks. In professional courses such as engineering, medicine, technical, law, management, arts and sciences there are cut off marks. The 'more marks-syndrome' has affected the students mentally, psychologically and to some extent physically, making them sleepless, tiresome and dejected in life.
The other aspects of childhood are completely given up. They don’t enjoy picnics, read novels, and engage in creative faculties they like. For some students, these marks land them up in a profession they don’t like.
“I wanted to pursue a career in media but my parents wanted and put me in medicine”
“I loved to be a pilot but my father put me in Information technology”
These were some of the observations that were made in media which serve to substantiate the concept that 'more marks-syndrome' does not encourage real development of a human being, rather a competitive and market driven career.
With warm regards, Chinnaa.
Greetings from Chinnaa!
With the advent of admissions in Indian schools every year , parents of children of all ages and courses are running from pillar to post to fix their kids in the best schools or colleges hoping that these institutions will be a smooth platform in future to land up in a profitable career.
In the process, they forget to inculcate value-education for their kids. Truthfulness, honesty, dignity of labor, respect for others are some of the attributes that are to be observed sincerely by a boy or girl to be groomed into better citizens.
The tendency to compare everything in terms of marks is highly illogical and irrational. Every where in the world students are evaluated in grades so that they are placed in a scale. But in India students are given marks as percentage as if they are accurately evaluated of their knowledge, calibre and capability in a subject.
That is why we see students who score lesser marks compare their marks with others and sometimes are taking the extreme step of committing suicides as the media reports suggest. Parents scold their kids for scoring low marks. Schools display the highest mark scorers in the media and in their own notice boards so as to get more admissions in future. Any way it is wrong to come to a hasty conclusion on the basis of marks.
The greediness for more marks compel the students to go for private tutorials, schools to arrange for extra coaching, and the parents to invest more. Once the exam of the course and the admission into a new course are over ever body forgets the subjects.
In the 10th and 12th levels there are marks. In professional courses such as engineering, medicine, technical, law, management, arts and sciences there are cut off marks. The 'more marks-syndrome' has affected the students mentally, psychologically and to some extent physically, making them sleepless, tiresome and dejected in life.
The other aspects of childhood are completely given up. They don’t enjoy picnics, read novels, and engage in creative faculties they like. For some students, these marks land them up in a profession they don’t like.
“I wanted to pursue a career in media but my parents wanted and put me in medicine”
“I loved to be a pilot but my father put me in Information technology”
These were some of the observations that were made in media which serve to substantiate the concept that 'more marks-syndrome' does not encourage real development of a human being, rather a competitive and market driven career.
With warm regards, Chinnaa.
Moral policing in the name of discipline?
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
The media, both electronic and print, in Tamil Nadu recently reported an event, in which a girl student of a government higher secondary school from Maraimalainagar, about 30 kilometres south of Chennai, was corporally punished by one of her teachers, a woman by herself.
The punishment was an instant hair-cut by the teacher in question in the school premises, presumably with the concurrence of other teachers including the headmaster. The crime was that the girl did not comb the hair as two pigtails as prescribed in the discipline rules; rather she came with a single pigtail.
Subsequently the teacher got the girl, giving in writing that the latter did the cutting by her self, which was denied by her father. Thanks to the media exposure and the timely intervention by educational authorities, the teacher was suspended and the headmaster transferred.
One can definitely agree to the fact that similar or more harmful incidents are happening in every other Indian State in the country; some of these may be still worse! Degree and amount of the crime may differ but not the occurrence itself.
Behold, the girl and her parents had the guts to go public through police complaint and press briefing, the matter came to light. Imagine the gullible ones who, out of fear of rejection and other punishments including public humiliation, do not report but digest unwillingly.
Bearing with this type of onslaughts from educational institutions has become a necessary evil to students and parents. For, students and parents are always at the receiving end in an educational system which has become highly commercialized and inhumanly institutionalized.
One may wonder what this is all about! Or to put it another way, ‘what does the present educational system give in terms of value and moral education to the wards?’ and ‘why does a student put up with this kind of treatment in addition to a hefty payment in the form of quality education fees and capitation fees?’
The attitude and behaviour of educational personnel, with a back up from their powerful institutions and a high competition for English medium education, are not up to the mark. These are rather below average and uncivilized to the core.
In many instances, sheer arrogance of personnel of educational institutions, welcomes students and parents with this kind of negative attitude. This is apparent and acute during admission time. This is to suggest as if these personnel were in- born educational gods, without whose grace the mankind will not be resurrected!
Down with the attitude of these self-appointed moral police and disciplinarians!.
Greetings from Chinnaa!
The media, both electronic and print, in Tamil Nadu recently reported an event, in which a girl student of a government higher secondary school from Maraimalainagar, about 30 kilometres south of Chennai, was corporally punished by one of her teachers, a woman by herself.
The punishment was an instant hair-cut by the teacher in question in the school premises, presumably with the concurrence of other teachers including the headmaster. The crime was that the girl did not comb the hair as two pigtails as prescribed in the discipline rules; rather she came with a single pigtail.
Subsequently the teacher got the girl, giving in writing that the latter did the cutting by her self, which was denied by her father. Thanks to the media exposure and the timely intervention by educational authorities, the teacher was suspended and the headmaster transferred.
One can definitely agree to the fact that similar or more harmful incidents are happening in every other Indian State in the country; some of these may be still worse! Degree and amount of the crime may differ but not the occurrence itself.
Behold, the girl and her parents had the guts to go public through police complaint and press briefing, the matter came to light. Imagine the gullible ones who, out of fear of rejection and other punishments including public humiliation, do not report but digest unwillingly.
Bearing with this type of onslaughts from educational institutions has become a necessary evil to students and parents. For, students and parents are always at the receiving end in an educational system which has become highly commercialized and inhumanly institutionalized.
One may wonder what this is all about! Or to put it another way, ‘what does the present educational system give in terms of value and moral education to the wards?’ and ‘why does a student put up with this kind of treatment in addition to a hefty payment in the form of quality education fees and capitation fees?’
The attitude and behaviour of educational personnel, with a back up from their powerful institutions and a high competition for English medium education, are not up to the mark. These are rather below average and uncivilized to the core.
In many instances, sheer arrogance of personnel of educational institutions, welcomes students and parents with this kind of negative attitude. This is apparent and acute during admission time. This is to suggest as if these personnel were in- born educational gods, without whose grace the mankind will not be resurrected!
Down with the attitude of these self-appointed moral police and disciplinarians!.
How can one use Cell phone wisely?
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Since the number of people using cell phones is increasing day by day, it is important that we know certain tips on how to use them wisely. These tips do not pertain to any specific area or region or ethnicity or society, but to all who are using Cell phones day in and day out.
1) Use only when there is absolute and unavoidable need.
Think twice before using it for any purpose. Think about the use, utility, need and the monetary benefit of such use. Be a strict and disciplined cell phone user. Whether it is official or personal, it should be used only when there is absolute and unavoidable need. Using official cell phones either for personal need or for avoidable need is against the principles of propriety.
2) Maintain a payable account if your cell phone is sponsored by somebody else.If you are using a sponsored cell phone, say, either as students and employees or as government servants, maintain an account of your use as if it is a payable account by you. Have an eye on that account so that you can spend reasonably well within the allowable limit and with the feeling that the money does not belong to you.
3) Use it in a safe place.
Avoid using it during walking, driving, travelling, eating, jay walking and working. Avoid using it in a public place or in a meeting process. Always maintain confidentiality and privacy in using it and therefore keeping it under ’silent mode’ is welcome.
4) Time and money are precious
Time used for cell phone use and the money spent on its investment including recharge coupons are never to be retrieved and duly compensated. These precious time and valuable money could have been spent for some other worthy causes and purposes.
5) Addiction to Cell phone is to be avoided
Keep always unattached connection with cell phone. Addictive practices such as unnecessary dialing, sending SMS to groups for all purposes, keeping aloud the ringtone sounds, profane camera cell operations and talking aloud in a group are to be avoided. Maintain a balanced distance with the cell phone. Too much dependence on it is a human weakness and therefore an example of ineffective personality.
6) Own only one
The lesser the number of cell phones, the better. Too many cell phones may cost you heavier in terms of money investment and more man days in terms of duration which will result in many stress-related problems.
A word of caution: These tips are directed against individuals who can contribute towards better cell phone environment.
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Since the number of people using cell phones is increasing day by day, it is important that we know certain tips on how to use them wisely. These tips do not pertain to any specific area or region or ethnicity or society, but to all who are using Cell phones day in and day out.
1) Use only when there is absolute and unavoidable need.
Think twice before using it for any purpose. Think about the use, utility, need and the monetary benefit of such use. Be a strict and disciplined cell phone user. Whether it is official or personal, it should be used only when there is absolute and unavoidable need. Using official cell phones either for personal need or for avoidable need is against the principles of propriety.
2) Maintain a payable account if your cell phone is sponsored by somebody else.If you are using a sponsored cell phone, say, either as students and employees or as government servants, maintain an account of your use as if it is a payable account by you. Have an eye on that account so that you can spend reasonably well within the allowable limit and with the feeling that the money does not belong to you.
3) Use it in a safe place.
Avoid using it during walking, driving, travelling, eating, jay walking and working. Avoid using it in a public place or in a meeting process. Always maintain confidentiality and privacy in using it and therefore keeping it under ’silent mode’ is welcome.
4) Time and money are precious
Time used for cell phone use and the money spent on its investment including recharge coupons are never to be retrieved and duly compensated. These precious time and valuable money could have been spent for some other worthy causes and purposes.
5) Addiction to Cell phone is to be avoided
Keep always unattached connection with cell phone. Addictive practices such as unnecessary dialing, sending SMS to groups for all purposes, keeping aloud the ringtone sounds, profane camera cell operations and talking aloud in a group are to be avoided. Maintain a balanced distance with the cell phone. Too much dependence on it is a human weakness and therefore an example of ineffective personality.
6) Own only one
The lesser the number of cell phones, the better. Too many cell phones may cost you heavier in terms of money investment and more man days in terms of duration which will result in many stress-related problems.
A word of caution: These tips are directed against individuals who can contribute towards better cell phone environment.
Use Bicycle for a better living
By Chinnaa
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Bicycle is one of the oldest and yet the best mode of transportation for an individual. In this era of automobile revolution, people may laugh at the idea of using a bicycle in preference to two wheelers and four wheelers. Some people of the affluent sections of the society may even think that the idea is Utopian and old-fashioned
But the bicycle is preferred for the following reasons. The tips may be routine but worth repeating for the purpose of recall and memory.
Take care of your health through cycling
By cycling every day one’s health is actively maintained and protected, for the unnecessary and unwanted calories in the body are eliminated. Blood purification is done on a daily basis and as a result it is assured that a healthy heart is in place. One can therefore keep at bay the deadly diseases of diabetics and Blood pressure and other heart-related health issues.
Contribute towards a peace of mind through constructive time-spending by cycling:
We will have to spend our time constructively in this period of hectic activities. Instead of spending our valuable time in front of TV sets and on the vehicles on transit, and in tension-gripping work environment, it is worth and highly rewarding for us to spend some time daily in cycling, which is both art and science. In this way we can also experience life differently.
Cycle for an environment-friendly earth: There is no pollution, what so ever, in using bicycles. By using bicycle one is directly contributing for a better environment.
Financially help nation-building by saving money through Bicycles: Comparing other automobiles. Bicycle is not costlier and the maintenance expenses are manageable. In this way the huge investments on automobiles (Imagine our cities with less cars and motorbikes on the roads) can be reduced.
Help protect our children from deadly diseases by encouraging them to take up cycling: children are our human resources and are future assets of the country. It is our duty to protect them from juvenile diabetics.Teach them the art of cycling so that they develop a healthy heart and a sound mind.
Greetings from Chinnaa!
Bicycle is one of the oldest and yet the best mode of transportation for an individual. In this era of automobile revolution, people may laugh at the idea of using a bicycle in preference to two wheelers and four wheelers. Some people of the affluent sections of the society may even think that the idea is Utopian and old-fashioned
But the bicycle is preferred for the following reasons. The tips may be routine but worth repeating for the purpose of recall and memory.
Take care of your health through cycling
By cycling every day one’s health is actively maintained and protected, for the unnecessary and unwanted calories in the body are eliminated. Blood purification is done on a daily basis and as a result it is assured that a healthy heart is in place. One can therefore keep at bay the deadly diseases of diabetics and Blood pressure and other heart-related health issues.
Contribute towards a peace of mind through constructive time-spending by cycling:
We will have to spend our time constructively in this period of hectic activities. Instead of spending our valuable time in front of TV sets and on the vehicles on transit, and in tension-gripping work environment, it is worth and highly rewarding for us to spend some time daily in cycling, which is both art and science. In this way we can also experience life differently.
Cycle for an environment-friendly earth: There is no pollution, what so ever, in using bicycles. By using bicycle one is directly contributing for a better environment.
Financially help nation-building by saving money through Bicycles: Comparing other automobiles. Bicycle is not costlier and the maintenance expenses are manageable. In this way the huge investments on automobiles (Imagine our cities with less cars and motorbikes on the roads) can be reduced.
Help protect our children from deadly diseases by encouraging them to take up cycling: children are our human resources and are future assets of the country. It is our duty to protect them from juvenile diabetics.Teach them the art of cycling so that they develop a healthy heart and a sound mind.
Chennai, I love you
By Chinnaa
I am going to share my experiences of Chennai. the capital of Tamil Nadu
It is always nostalgically heartening to read, and hear about Chennai.
The word Chennai brings about mixed feelings, emotions and thoughts, both positive and negative, traditional and modern, classic and folk, elite and subaltern, rich and poor, cinema and drama, Dravidian and Aryan, Tamils and Non-Tamils, Bus and Train, earth and sea, flats and slums, hand-rickshaw and auto-rickshaw, hotels and fast foods, religious and atheists, pothole roads and cement roads, rented houses and own houses.
All are coexisting peacefully, amicably and rhythmically.
Chennai unites everything and everybody into its fold.
Chennai has been shaping and protecting me to this day.
I thank Chennai for this gesture. I love it so much. I am concerned about it
I am going to share my experiences of Chennai. the capital of Tamil Nadu
It is always nostalgically heartening to read, and hear about Chennai.
The word Chennai brings about mixed feelings, emotions and thoughts, both positive and negative, traditional and modern, classic and folk, elite and subaltern, rich and poor, cinema and drama, Dravidian and Aryan, Tamils and Non-Tamils, Bus and Train, earth and sea, flats and slums, hand-rickshaw and auto-rickshaw, hotels and fast foods, religious and atheists, pothole roads and cement roads, rented houses and own houses.
All are coexisting peacefully, amicably and rhythmically.
Chennai unites everything and everybody into its fold.
Chennai has been shaping and protecting me to this day.
I thank Chennai for this gesture. I love it so much. I am concerned about it
MTC, the Omni-potent Traveller?
By Chinnaa
The presence of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses is one of the main features of Chennai.
They are inseparable from the lives of Chennaites. When ever Chennaites travel to other parts of the city, they will have to invariably depend on these buses. They can take you to places where Suburban trains are not available.
MTC buses are the last resorts of the upper middle class, middle class and poor Chennaites. Though there is a complaint that the fares are hiked and high, still they are the cheapest among all road travel modes such as call-taxis, taxis, auto-rickshaws, share-autos.
The complaints against them are many: that their services are bad, staff are arrogant, buses are not punctual, they are overcrowded during peak hours, and of course the higher fare.
They are at every nook and corner of Chennai.
You can get the ticket from where you are by passing the money through fellow passengers to the conductor. There is no guarantee if you are caught in between by the checkers for illegal traveling. Beware these checkers may intervene at any time, anywhere.
They are coming in a variety of colours. They are ordinary, express, deluxe, air-conditioned, double-couch; of course the double-decker was withdrawn.
Long live MTC buses! ; For you provide solace to millions and millions of Chennaites and others who are visiting Chennai.
The presence of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses is one of the main features of Chennai.
They are inseparable from the lives of Chennaites. When ever Chennaites travel to other parts of the city, they will have to invariably depend on these buses. They can take you to places where Suburban trains are not available.
MTC buses are the last resorts of the upper middle class, middle class and poor Chennaites. Though there is a complaint that the fares are hiked and high, still they are the cheapest among all road travel modes such as call-taxis, taxis, auto-rickshaws, share-autos.
The complaints against them are many: that their services are bad, staff are arrogant, buses are not punctual, they are overcrowded during peak hours, and of course the higher fare.
They are at every nook and corner of Chennai.
You can get the ticket from where you are by passing the money through fellow passengers to the conductor. There is no guarantee if you are caught in between by the checkers for illegal traveling. Beware these checkers may intervene at any time, anywhere.
They are coming in a variety of colours. They are ordinary, express, deluxe, air-conditioned, double-couch; of course the double-decker was withdrawn.
Long live MTC buses! ; For you provide solace to millions and millions of Chennaites and others who are visiting Chennai.
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