Are we really educated ?

The everlasting debate about the Indian education system never seems to take a backseat. This time the indirect, yet significant error of the Indian education system was evident in the recently concluded elections of Kerela. A state which as always boasted of the highest percentage of "educated" people has shown patterns of very polarized voting. The Hindu centric majority districts voting for one party and the muslim and christian centric voting for another. This pattern obviously raises the big question - "How do we define education in India ?". Is it the possesion of a degree, or is it aquiring vasts quantities of information and data which can be retrieved at any point of time to convince people of your capability to do a job, or is it more philosophically speaking the wisdom to differentiate between what is wrong and what is right. The last possible definition is obviously not the one that is prevalant and also does not seem very practicle. However, not seeming practicle does not attenuate its importance. The other aspects of education i.e earning a degree, learning about your subject is definetly an important tool for sustaining life. But, the basic education or value education is the foundation on which we build our life.
Many of you might say ,"hey its good to hear, but it dosen't really work out that way in the real world". Well, in that sense tell me this, if you tommorow you were promoted to a big position in an organisation without the basic value education, then what is to stop you from taking a bribe at the risk of putting a lot of jobs at stake. Look how much we like Mr. CWG Suresh Kalamandi or Mr 2G Raja. According to our education system they are educated but obviously not value educated. The lack of value education of just two people has costed our country over RS.2000 crores.
Looking not very far back the recently closed case of the Jessica Lal murder is an example that epitomises how important value education is. On one hand you have the guilty who, right from committing the crime to covering it up, showed how dangerous the absence of value education is in the hands of the powerful. While, on the other hand we have people of democracy who refused to accept the injustice to a rather unkown girl and stood up against a seemingly unfallible enemy - the corrupt politician. The clash between the two that was highly publicised and resulted, as quoted by the news papers, in restoration of faith in democracy.
There are many such instances in our history from which we can conclude that for the very sustainance of the people in the democracy of India, value education must be given equal if not more importance than the other forms of "education". Maybe, only then can we say that yes we are a little educated.

When it all comes back !!!

The past of a person never leaves him. In fact, it is one of the most important character building component of life. For example the planet earth cannot be described without life, a person's outlook, thoughts and actions are always related to his/her past life. These experiences never leave the person who is affected by the action - directly or indirectly.

About five years back such an incident happened that influenced many voluntary and even involuntary decisions of my life. All that happened was that someone very close to me had simply decided to walk out of my life. As stupid and insignificant it may seem today, it really drove me into the pits of self pity and self loathing. Loneliness became my favorite companion and empty rooms became my abode. Everything in my life was affected-my studies, family, friends. It completely changed the impression people had about me. I continued to live in the state for many years. It was miserable.

However in college it did take me some time but the new place and people made me feel better. Slowly I got over and became a whole new person. Life had turned pleasant and it was actually fun living it. An introvert now actually had the capability to speak out out his mind in front of a crowd of thousands. It seemed everything was back on track.

Although there was always a part of me that still thought about those times, I had never felt so lively before. But as Chetan Bhagat says "Life screws you exactly at that point when you think you figured it all out " , that person came back into my life. Like the water from a collapsed dam all the feelings for that person came rushing back. Logic of the brain said to stay away from the possible thunder storm that could possibly shake the foundations of my very existence on this planet. But voice of logic was a mere whisper compared to the cries that were echoing inside my head. Cries that pushed me towards the possible thunderstorm. Everything else tried stopping me from taking the step, but in the end it really did not matter for everything that i had valued had come back.Back from the past that can never leave a person....

The attraction between Mars and Venus

"Men are from Mars and women are from Venus"
-John Gray
Now days the above line has sort of become a cliche. And their is no reason why it should not. As all of us are aware that men and women are fundamentally different in many areas - right from the body structure to even emotional reactions. But, this does not mean that they are two completely different species. They in fact form the two important elements of roller coaster journey called life.

In almost all spheres you will find that every human, male of female, to a large extent is affected by the opposite sex. Look back in history - Jawaharlal Nehru was greatly "influenced" by lady Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley, the wife of Lord Mounbatten, the last viceroy of India. It is also speculated that Lord Mountbatten took advantage of this "relation" to actually influence many decisions taken by Nehru. Even the fairy tale story of Narayan Murthy, the CEO of Infosys, can never be told without the invaluable contribution of his wife, Sudha Murthy. Even Hillary Clinton would not have chosen a career in international politics , had it not been for her husband, the former President Bill Clinton.

In more than may ways it seems that the two sexes were actually built to complete each other. While men are considered physically strong women on the other hand have an advantage at handling emotionally challenged situations naturally. Although difference between them exist, and they even curse each other, it is very natural for them to fall for each other.

What you mean to me

What does light mean to the eyes?
What does fragrance mean to flowers ?
What does flight mean to a bird?
What does water mean to the fish?
What does the wind mean to sails?
What does forgiveness mean to penitence?
What does music mean to the ears?
What do tears mean to sorrow?
What does company mean to misery?
What does hope mean to the fallen?
What do emotions mean to the heart?
What does happiness mean to life?
What does purpose mean to existence?
That is what you mean to me...................

From a no to a yes...................

This happened in school. Many days back. I'll try to bring it out to u in the best possible way i can. I don't exactly remember the exact date but this is how it all happened......

Raman and Sunny were the best of friends and they were spending the night together in Sunny's house....

Raman : Hey do u have any idea how metal detectors work ??
Sunny : I don't know and sure as hell, I don't care..
Raman : Oh ! come on dude .... take a guess...
Sunny : Ok ...... may be they can detect the change in magnetic flux.
R: Yes!! they do that . But how do they do it- that is real question u moron.
(Sunny looks into a mirror)
S:Hey,hold on..... take a look at my face.
R:Wat ???
S:Does it by any chance say that I give damn to wat u are asking...
R:(irritated) I don't kno man.... I mean , I have been seeing your face for like the past 7 years and it still looks the same.
S: So, its simple - I haven't cared for anything that u have said in the past seven years.
R:Save your boring and stupid sarcasm for the girls. It will just give them all the more reason to giggle around you..
S: Why! u don't like girls in a happy mood.......Dude u cannot find a damsel in distress always.
R:No, its just that ......they giggle as though a rat is nibbling into its food.
S:What!!! dude you are totally weird, do u kno that.
R:Well, actually i was fine until i met u!!!
S:Yeah right . So temme do all girls " nibble like a rat ".
R:Hmmmmm........well actually i guess ..............yup almost all of them!!!
S(suddenly showing intrest):Wait!!................ almost .............. who is not included in that.
R: Well......u know..........there is Manju and........ and...........uh..........well.....
S:Manju.......our class Manju???
(Raman nods his head)
S:Are you aware of the fact that over half the guys in our class have a crush on her.
R:What are you getting to...................
S:Okay fine tell me why isn't Manju the rat nibbling types ????
R:Well i don't know, how do you expect me to answer that???
S:Well u singled out her name from all the possible girls in our school.........dude even a monkey would expect u to answer that.
R:U don't need a reason to single out someone from a set....
S:Of course u need a reason........Now tell me or i will spread the rumour that U r gay and U made a move on me...
R(completly taken aback):Ok !!! that is threatning.....
S:Trust me I won't hesitate........So in your intrest i suggest u to tell why is Manju not in that list???
R:Alright!!! Well u kno her smile is like that 1000 watt smile...........whenever she smiles its like something pleasant is happening..........And then there are her eyes u kno, its like they maintain that gaze which is so so............... trapping.....u simply cannot take ur eyes of them.
S:Oh my god !!! dude u r totally head over heels for this female..........
R(defensively):What!!! no way man. It's just some charecteristics of her that i seemedto have noticed.....
S:Hey don't bullshit me...........U totally have a huge crush for Manju.
R(really worried):Holy shit !!!! u are right...........oh my God I have a crush on Manju......
S(really excited):No dude, U have a HUGE crush on Manju.
R:What am I going to do.........How do I get rid of this...
S:Are u crazy!!! I'll tell u wat u r going to do....u r going to ask her out...............
R:Yeah right !!! U actually expect me to do that ????
S(wickedly):That is wat a person who is "NOT GAY" would do..........
R(irritated):What is the matter with U????
S:Wrong question bro.What in God's name is the matter with you????? Listen man just ask her out...........what can possibly go wrong.
R(immitating sunny):What can possibly go wrong !!! Well she could say NO for starters......and that would totally ruin the little friendship we have right now...........besides i wouldloose my reputation................
S: Reputation of what ............ being a wuss.!!! losing that would actually be good for a change. Look you know what ur problem is ............u think too much!!! Just get it done .......go up to her and blurt it out..........okay may be not blurt it but u know wat i mean...
R:I don't know man.........i don't even think that i would be able to talk to her now..
S(irritated):Stop being a coward...............Be a man..........face ur fears like batman........Spin the web of love like spiderman............and u could probably even "do it" like He-man
R:OH SHUT UP.............wierd is an understement for u!!!
S: Oh!! i can go on and on...........so if u want me to shut up just say that u will ask Manju out.
R(giving in):Fine I'll do it...........
S:Hey that's the spirit...........and just incase if u don't---
R:Yeah i know i'll be the first gay in school............seems like i have no choice!!!
S:Tommorow is going to be fun day......
R:You measn doomsday.......
S:MAy the force be with you mate.............
R:May cupid be with me..........
S:oh! he is with u man..........
R:yeah !!! Im going to ask a girl out .....tommorow
S:you are bro.........
R:I'm going to have a girlfriend.............
S:Well maybe ............
R:I'm going to be a man.........
S:ok now that is creepy......tell u wat why don't u go to sleep.....okay.....................u need some rest
R:yeah like im going to get sleep now.
S: oh u better get some sleep now............
R:okay okay...............man this is awesome...............
S:OH God What is going to happen.................

The "System"

During the days when my innocent mind was being nurtured in primary school, the world for me existed between a school and home. It was probably during this period that I realised that the government and its various bodies were always criticized by almost everyone. Irrespective of the fact if a person worked for the government or not, every single person was a part of this government's critics committee. Naturally, I too became involved in this. As a matter of fact I excelled in finding faults in the so called "system", and expressing them vocally whenever i was given the opportunity. Corruption, red tapeism, inefficiency were usually the hot topics to scathe the "system". To make things better I was always appreciated by the people around me.

Then I came to college. Believe me at the beginning i found more and more reason to scald the "system". The conditions of the rooms, the infrastructure, the mess food - it was all worth criticizing, and it was - very vehemently. The company new friends was the one positive thing made distress pass away rather easily . In a few days I got used to my new environment.

Then various events happened; various events that changed everything. It is really hard to single out one particular event. It is because the "system" , which I had so chauvinistically criticized was actually everywhere around me. It included everyone, involved people of every profession and even influenced the key life changing decisions of individuals.
Greed of money was satisfied through refunding of overpriced bills. Even for a mere attention of the opposite sex, jealousy was felt so profoundly that people could back stab their own friends. People took immense sadistic pleasure in the art of chaos creation. Fights, even cold wars between people was a spectator sport.

Every single person was a part of the so called system, and the same people criticized so brutally, unaware of the fact that they were and still are a part of that "system".In the process of abusing the system we continue to make ourselves more and more shameless. In many ways this is all that we deserve. The only problem is that we have no idea of what levels of disgust we have actually fallen to. To make matters worst even if we become aware of this many of us would probably ignore it, for most of our conscience has already been destroyed.