Let them be learners, not earners.

     Recently when I paid a visit to my mentor and teacher from my school time, I felt just as I always felt meeting her - happy. We discussed about various things from our daily lives. At one point I strongly felt, this is something everyone around should pause and think for a while. So, I've made an attempt to put my thoughts into words.

     Not long ago, when we were taught at school, teachers always emphasized we underline important points. They never gave us notes to mug-up (as we called during childhood). Instead, we were told to read the entire lesson and frame our own questions and answers. This not only helped us to be prepared for questions from any corner of the lesson but also induced a habit of self-learning, reading books and being inquisitive.

     Present day - the same teachers no more follow this method. Instead students are given notes, answers to questions in specific. Students no longer wish to read the entire lesson/chapter on their own since they know they can score just by reading the Q&A a hundred times. They aren’t worried what the lesson has to teach as long as they are aware of the important questions that can fetch maximum marks. Students are content with this approach. Even the teachers are forced to follow this approach by schools and parents.

     Now, one may feel these are 2 different methods of teaching during 2 different times. What big deal is it? However, I personally would like to question, is the present day approach going to do justice to the future generations? Are students gaining knowledge or merely scoring marks to satisfy parents and the society? Is the purpose of education just to score and compete in this mad race of life to stay ahead of others? Are marks the true measure of knowledge one possesses? Also teachers today are strictly instructed not to punish the students. But isn't it good to have some healthy fear in every student? Does fear not make us do things better and correct?

     Either you are a parent today or would be one tomorrow, pause and think for a moment. Do you want your kids to win in school or in life? If you want them to win in life, teach them the importance of being knowledgeable, wise, honest and mentally strong instead of teaching and preaching the importance of marks and ranks.

PS: Let the future generations be learners, not just rank earners.

Your Someone !!!

Every one of us wishes to be ‘someone’ at some point of time in our lives. Some wish to be rich, some wish to be famous, some wish to be successful and some happy. Here’s a tale of one such person who just wanted to be 'someone'.

Far or near

You are always to me dear

Thoughts of you

That wander in my mind

Make me look

Into the days behind

Memories or experiences

None that I can find.

At the end of the day

When the sunlight fades away

Giving way to the dark night

With stars twinkling

In the moonlight

I want to be your someone.

When the first drizzle of monsoon

After the sweltering summer’s noon

Brings hope of happiness

And pleasures unknown

I want to be your someone.

The moments that you grizzle

The hours when you are feeble

The days when you want to giggle

I want to be your someone

When the world

Seems to have ended;

Bringing onto your face

Smiles hundred

Holding your hand in mine

Making all things fine

I will be your someone.

PS: Written on the 11th of July 2005, copy rights reserved.

the Moment

     ‘Jungle jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai…tu ru ru…tu ru ru’… His Blackberry screamed shivering in sync with the song; the title song of his all time favorite animated series Jungle Book. He quickly grabbed the mobile and dismissed the alarm, making sure it did not disturb her sleep. It was 7’O clock. Birds chirped happily outside giving an assurance that it was a beautiful morning. Slowly he put his mobile back onto the table besides the bed. He took a glance at her and could see a beautiful smile on her face, one which was natural and similar to that on a babies face. Gazing at that smile he started to recollect the days that passed by.

     He was a movie freak. Apart from visiting scenic places and admiring the beauty of the nature, watching movies was his major activity. Movies were a medium of relaxation and a chance for him to escape from this real wicked world. On that Saturday evening he planned to go for the latest release. His friend turned up on time, however not alone. She was with his friend. It was not the first time he saw her. But it was the first time they ever came face to face and spoke a word. He watched her admiringly without her knowledge for the rest of the evening. Later to that they met every day at the office. Meeting for a small talk, for a cup of coffee or during lunch was part of the routine now. They have been going out accompanied by friends. Though in a group, he loved spending those few moments with her. After a long time there was a feeling of tranquility within him. He started feeling positive and a new hope blossomed that things were going to be better. Life would be filled with happiness again and days would not just pass without a motive. After all the agony he has been through for some time it was soothing to be feeling this way. Finally he understood that he developed feelings for her.

     They say if you like a person you can never say any reasons. But he did not believe in that theory. He had enough reasons to say what got his attention. It was her cheerful and jolly nature. Confident, the way she carried herself. From the conversations they had she seemed independent and ambitious. It was her sense of humor that was most appealing. During couple of occasions when he felt low and blue, though unknowingly, she provided the moral support he needed. She cheered him up saying “Stop whining about things and enjoy the moment”.  That might not have solved his problems but made him blithe. Enjoy the moment, this phrase did the trick. Life always hits you hard and you may not be in a position to hit back. But with some support you will surely stand up to fight back and he got that support from her. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. She too might have some feelings for him but neither of them did express anything to each other, as actions were speaking already.

     This is not their first date. He saw someone quote on a social networking site ‘A good date ends with a dinner but a perfect date ends with a breakfast’. And this was going to be a perfect date. It was forty minutes past seven. He moved close to her and whispered Good morning into her ear. Placing her head over his chest she embraced him with her left arm. Without opening her eyes, she whispered back with a smile Good morning. He had a fear of the future and if things would work as expected, however paused for a moment and said to himself “To hell with future, enjoy the moment”.

PS: The above is a work of fiction and does not bear any resemblance to live or dead. Any resemblance is purely co-incidental. :)

Tagged !!!

     The journey has been tiring. How do you feel when you shell out good amount of money for a bus ticket and experience a ride similar to one in an old truck on a bumpy road? Though the bus started an hour late in the night, I was happy it was reaching Hyderabad on time. This was the first trip to my hometown after returning from UK.  I could not sleep properly throughout. I felt like I was put in a box which could hold a 5 ft 5 inch person tight enough that he can move only an inch or two. Half asleep I opened my eyes when the bus came to a halt. I could see a man in his mid-twenties get down and wait, while his luggage was being taken out. Immediately my eyes fell on his belt which had something hanging. Coming to my senses I realized it was his identity card from where he works. I was shocked. I was completely taken by surprise as he would have been wearing it since he left for office the other day morning and has been wearing it all the way from Pune to Hyderabad.

     I have seen many such instances where people flaunt their identity cards wearing them around. I have seen people wearing it and travelling to and from office. Can understand this. Once seen someone coming to give send off to his friend at railway station and had the tag around his neck. Not sure if the railways did not allow him to enter without his tag. But what I saw when I was travelling completely shook me and provoked me to write this post. Travelling to a different state with his identity card on, he really must be kidding me. I wonder if he would wear it throughout his stay in Hyderabad. Seeing such people around, I feel they are ‘Tagged’. Organizations provide us with identity cards so that they can identify us as their employee and let us in. They do not expect us to flaunt or show off with them around our necks everywhere else. There are a number of disadvantages by showing off our tags at irrespective places.  However, I prefer not to discuss all those now as most of the organizations cover them during induction. I do not understand the point behind people doing this. Are they trying to boast that they are employed with so and so organization? The same organization has thousands of other employees, what is so great in it? Else are they so much loyal towards their company that they would wear the tag while sleeping too? I’m not sure. World has become materialistic and everything branded has got a value today. So are they trying to brand themselves and associate to something?

     All I would like to say is even animals are tagged using some means, so that they are not lost and can be easily identified. Being animals they cannot remove their tags when roaming from place to place. But, are we not in a position to judge where we should be wearing and where not? After reading this post if you feel you too are tagged and feel offended, please do not expect an apology from me. Instead remember we are humans and not animals. Give value to people and not to brands. After reading this, hoping someone will put their card back into its place where not needed.

PS: I wear my identity card just before reaching office and remove once I am out.

Cocoon

     It’s been a lazy day. Since the day I have landed in UK, I wanted to write something. Thoughts kept pouring from all directions about what I want to write. Alas, there are very few things that I can pen down and share. These days I feel like yelling on top of my voice just to bring out the frustration and suppressed emotions. But I am scared and hide myself inside the cocoon. Yes, cocoon. Every one of us has created one for ourselves without our knowledge and feels cozy in it.

    Scared. Every one of us is scared of something or the other. Most of the times we don’t want to try something new or different from the routine. How many times did we really think of trying that new outfit shown on TV but felt it would never suit us. You come across a situation where 9 people in front of you share an opinion and you wouldn’t agree with it. But many a times you would have felt it’s better to keep your mouth shut instead of making a fool of yourself. Although these kinds of situations keep your mind occupied and make you uneasy, often we feel so relaxed and free once we come out of routine and do something different. Deviating from our regular sometimes can do wonders. Not just does it boost our morale but also give us confidence for the next time. Come out of that tiny cocoon of yours, stretch your wings and breathe some fresh air. Confess if you like someone, say NO if you don’t like something, take a break and admire the beauty of the nature, feel free and feel the difference. Live your life the way you want to, not the way others want you to. After all, you have only one life and you just can’t waste it.