By Chinnaa
Greetings
The recent submission of Yash Pal committee report on higher education and the subsequent reactions for and against it through out India has become controversial in the sense that all stakeholders of the education such as students, parents and teachers are already confused.
There is not an iota of doubt in the minds of all concerned that the stress and pressure of education on the children should be reduced and the children should feel that education is not a burden but a desirable vocation.
Cancelling SSLC exam is not as easy as it involves the cooperation of all State governments and Union territories of India. Respective federal governments are answerable to their local citizens, teachers, parents and students themselves.
Lessening the educational related stress and pressure is one thing and this need not necessarily be related to the removal of SSLC public examination. The public examination can be continued with diverse methods of final examination. Like introduction of continuous internal assessment for 30% evaluated by external examiners secretly employed by education dept and by projects and assignments for 20%again evaluated by external examiners can be thought of.
Remaining 50% can be for public examination. Instead of marks, different grades can be introduced beyond 40%, with each different grade for every 5 marks difference. This will be a level playing exercise and there will not be a feeling of cut throat competition.
But doing away completely with the SSLC public examination will be a great deterrent as our students in India work seriously only when there is a legal requirement. If there is no public exam, they will cut the classes, while away the time in spare time activities including cricket related affairs.
From pre-LKG to Ninth standard, say, 12 years there is no external exam. Only in their 13th year that is for SSLC, they write their first government examination. Let them have it.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
July 1, 2009
Understand the sexual minorities-Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender
By Chinnaa
Greetings!
The recent rally in Chennai by sexual minorities such as Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender has opened our eyes in sympathizing with these people. They do not want any extra rights and benefits but only sympathetic consideration from us with regard to their problems, issues and concerns so that they can also live a normal life.
There are legal hurdles in the form of Article 377 which prohibits physical and marital relationships between the same sexes. India being a country of religious, cultural and traditional bearings, it will be very difficult for the government and the society to easily allow such liberal practices. But the government can sympathetically consider their case, for it will be the duty of any government in the world to look after all sections of the society including the minorities. Giving in to the demands and threats of the religious fanatics will amount to doing injustice to these gullible minorities.
The government should balance and take a decision in such a way that both the religious sentiments and the rights of these sexual minorities are not affected much.
And of course there is cultural police. They should also be properly handled. It is really very difficult for the government. But with sense of commitment and responsibility, the government can do justice to all parties. Let humanity prevail upon all other things.
Greetings!
The recent rally in Chennai by sexual minorities such as Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender has opened our eyes in sympathizing with these people. They do not want any extra rights and benefits but only sympathetic consideration from us with regard to their problems, issues and concerns so that they can also live a normal life.
There are legal hurdles in the form of Article 377 which prohibits physical and marital relationships between the same sexes. India being a country of religious, cultural and traditional bearings, it will be very difficult for the government and the society to easily allow such liberal practices. But the government can sympathetically consider their case, for it will be the duty of any government in the world to look after all sections of the society including the minorities. Giving in to the demands and threats of the religious fanatics will amount to doing injustice to these gullible minorities.
The government should balance and take a decision in such a way that both the religious sentiments and the rights of these sexual minorities are not affected much.
And of course there is cultural police. They should also be properly handled. It is really very difficult for the government. But with sense of commitment and responsibility, the government can do justice to all parties. Let humanity prevail upon all other things.
June 30, 2009
Increasing domestic crimes against men in Tamil Nadu-Gullible husbands
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.
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 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
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!
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