Doomed Education in 'Deemed' Universities

Providing education has become just a business/source of revenue in recent times. Education has relegated to a saleable commodity which increases one’s marketability and educational institutions (especially seats of higher learning) are mere business centres offering the "trendy" and "marketable" courses without the basic infrastructure and churning out 'commodities' called the ‘degree holders’. The way some institutions are operating and advertising reflects on the commercial motive behind establishing these enterprises. These institutions are selling hopes and dreams to the future generation.

No one is bothered of the credibility/authenticity of the institutions before joining for post graduation or PhD. Many of us go by the attractive labels or tags, as 'flies are to fire'. Its strange that lots of fake institutes have been getting the status of University and more ironically the status of ‘Deemed’ University. The Centre's decision to withdraw the deemed university status to 44 DUs seems to be a good move to cleanse up the rotten educational system. What ever be the aim behind the decision by the Centre, it's ultimately the students who have to pay the price for their decision to join these institutes for a secure future. Implementing such decisions one fine morning will be endangering the future of innocent students. It’s the authorities who had given the nod for establishing such institutes and granted "Deemed" or what ever status to some institutions. Why in the first place the authorities had made judgemental errors/ improper decisions having far-reaching implications in the society? Why there was no early scrutiny/ monitoring of these institutes? Realisation has dawned late.

In the name of education many business centres had mushroomed in many parts of the country producing some degree holders and mocking at those students who are admitted to good institutes after a tough competition and who pass out from such institutes of repute. Again how admission is obtained in such institutes is a different issue to be addressed. If you have money you can even buy a medical seat, you can enroll in a medical college and safely complete your studies and become a doctor. This applies to other professions as well. Once in the profession you can get back all the money you had spend for getting a degree. Or why bother? After all your marketability and status in society is improved with such a degree. This is the aim and attitude of many of the students and parents. The investment made by parents for the education of their children is huge. Sprouting of innumerable private tuition centres for even primary classes, mushrooming of entrance coaching centres charging huge fees (even for IAS there are rigorous coaching classes... ridiculous or even worst?), screening the students for admission in the nursery classes etc only reflect upon the demeaning commercialised education and the erosion of values in totality from the system. (The rut in the educational system is discussed else where in the blog, Ref: Ethics, Education and Religion). As a result, education has become inaccessible to a major chunk of the impoverished population who are economically weak and lack a political clout. Higher education is an affair meant only for the upper strata of the society. Anyone can start an educational institution in his/her own name, a short-cut and an easy way to fame, reputation or social recognition. The functional autonomy provided by the 'deemed' status enables them to work as they please. If it is not exaggeration, there are educational institutions established in the name of liquor barons and other such ‘noble’ people. And then we have all sorts of technologies and specialisations now a days. We have hair dressing technology, catering technology, cleaning technology, washing technology, cloth-cutting technology and what not. Hope no one starts an IIT to offer such 'professional' courses.....Specialisations/specialists who treat the disease and not the patient (failing to look at the whole) are so common now a days. We have engineering colleges at every nook and corner. Do we require these many engineers? Ultimately the scenario in the job sector becomes grim. Those with higher educational qualifications end up doing petty jobs, the years spend on education becoming a sheer waste.

When the government itself is encouraging privatisation in the name of quality, establishing self-financing colleges even in medical or engineering or other professions, and exercises absolutely ineffective monitoring of state-run educational institutions or is the least concerned to improve the working conditions of government institutions, why blame the private colleges/ institutions? The situation in some of the institutes (Government) of high repute is not different. A total revamp is needed in all aspects of higher education. Let this be the first step.

Fortunes In a Far Away Land

Dreams and hopes unlimited !!!! Beckoning are the glories of life in far away lands, opportunities galore, to work/study in better conditions, with good facilities and exposure, to realize the dreams of a good career, recognition and financial reward. These may be the expectations and concepts of anyone choosing to work/ study abroad.

The greener pasture of the dreams is far from the reality as pictured by the flooding reports of robbery and attacks (especially from Australia) against the Indians. Numerous cases might not have drawn our attention as they go unreported. It is not clear at this stage whether its racism or some other issue which is behind these attacks. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated with much pomp. The week (Jan 7-9, 2010) of glitters and gala is over. The authorities did succeed in showing their concern to the NRIs/ PIOs abroad and in pleasing as well as wooing them by offering dual citizen ship.

Indian diaspora is one of the successful, influential and efficient professional/ work force. The intellectual and managerial capacities of the people from the “land of saints, snake charmers and bullock carts” are now recognized world wide. Thanks to the Indian diaspora who, through their outstanding and remarkable work have overcome the ignorance the west had of this nation and succeeded in leaving an indelible footprint in all the sectors in which they have chosen to work. Thanks to the highly motivated hardworking individuals abroad who keep their cultural and emotional contact with the country of origin. Indian diaspora is as diverse as the nation itself. Living abroad as such is easy for the people of India and they find it easy to fit into the different cultural and social background in alien lands. The boundaries of language, region and religion fade away. The question is to merge with a larger world, a world which is very different from that of our own. Skilled labour have migrated to the developing countries while less-skilled ones have opted for the Middle East countries. Nearly 30 million people live in the US alone!! The investment made by NRIs in India is as much as $50 billion as per the recent statistics. With all appreciation for the efforts and contributions of the Indians abroad for the development of the country, let the focus be shifted to some major issues which need to be addressed keeping politics at bay. The ground realities are neither as glittering as the celebrations nor are so heart-warming.

It needs immense hardwork to succeed in unfamilar terrain adjusting to the different time zones, food, cultural and social conditions. The laws of the land are entirely different. It takes time to familiarize, to accommodate and reorient one to such conditions. But why majority of Indians choose to go abroad and permanently settle over there? Is it in our genes? Education in esteemed Institutes of repute seems to be a mere gateway to life abroad. Population in the country is exploding at a disastrous pace and at this rate we are definitely going to surpass China. There are fewer opportunities in India for even the well-educated. With favoritisms and unbridled politics, only the rich, mighty and the powerful can live in India comfortably. The fantasies and fascinations about better conditions abroad makes one to take any risk to reach there. Leaving the country in search of greener pastures seems to be the only way out…. a golden ray of hope or a meek straw to hold on for a sinking life… A better life abroad is like chasing a mirage for these unfortunate!!!!

The financial crunch back home might have driven many to work in pitiable conditions especially in the Gulf countries. Property, land and other valuable possessions are sold in total, just to obtain a visa. But all the woven dreams are shattered by the harsh realities. Many are cheated by the unscrupulous agents; many chose to work/ in inhuman, appalling conditions risking their lives just to support their family back home. Many are stranded and trapped in these countries as their passport and visa are confiscated by the employers. Luring the foreigners with false promises of a decent job, employing them in petty jobs, illegal detention of the workers etc have become very common. Some surpass all these and make a life abroad, some just stay back never wanting to return to the more dreaded conditions back home, but some (majority) may yearn to return to their home land at any cost. There are many many real life stories (especially of the people from Kerala who chose to work in Gulf countries). The recent issue is that of Indian brides duped by NRIs. There may be still many issues which need considerable and serious attention by the authorities concerned (not written here due to inadequate exposure or lack of experience).

Offering dual citizen ship with an eye on the cash is just ridiculous and reflects the irresponsible attitude of the concerned. Votes for cash or cash for votes? How many of the affluent NRIs do want to return to their home land? Whether the people who leave their roots for ever for a better life, need to be given votes is a different issue altogether. Again it’s India, a democratic country where anything and everything (read as ‘bad’) is possible. So why not sell democracy itself in return for money? That was not new, but happening in our incredible India and will happen in future too. Only new areas for corruption need to be identified. Instead of only wooing the affluent NRIs, why not the concerned focus on the problems of millions of NRIs toiling and trapped in foreign lands on occasions such as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas!!

Let us come out of the fascinations and fantasies and face the realities as they are!!!!

At the Altar of Aging: Sorrows of the Senile

It’s a poignant issue which needs to be addressed through deeds and not words. It’s about a grave issue encountered by the helpless at the twilight of their life; it’s about the plight of the elderly. (This article is written in response to the news reports of dumping the elderly by their relatives). Aged or senile as they are referred to, population of this section of citizens is on the rise and so also are the atrocities against them. How can one determine age or aging? Aging is simply not an inevitable biological process. It may be chronological, emotional, physiological or psychological. Age makes men wise. As a fruit becomes sweeter on ripening, so does a man. (“Fruits sweeten only when they ripen, Old age is one such fruit”., Ref: Ageless mind and spirit by Samar. S. Jodha). In spite of their physical frailties, they form a generation rich in life experiences and wisdom but unfortunately are neglected and least cared for. Vulnerable to the insensitiveness of none other than their own kith and kin, the senior citizens are left with no choice, but to tolerate them. Seldom does the younger generation realize the need of the elderly and require their presence in this self-absorbed world, lacking any empathy.

Poverty is the deadliest ‘disease’ in the society. Everything has value except human life. But at present, old age has assumed the status of a miserable phase and dreaded experience in one’s life, poverty adding fuel to the fire. Why? Because of the way society has ‘progressed’. In the world of globalization and consumerism, where the whole globe has denigrated to a market, where nations are built on economic power; every individual seems to be a customer in one or the other way. We are taught how to dress, how to speak, and how to conduct ourselves before our customer. The plastic smiles are not inherited but acquired to please our customer. Unfortunately; no one had trained or taught us how to behave with the elderly or for that matter the under-privileged. Does age deprive the elderly of their dignity and fortunes and ring in a world of miseries? For many death is better, death emancipates them from the weary world of wickedness, loneliness and isolation. In India it is just considered destiny and not a social evil. Many lives end on roads, footpaths, besides temples and other public places. There are in fact a lot of real life examples to quote here regarding the inhuman acts meted out by the senior citizens of this country which have become common, predominant and at the same time heart-wrenching (only for some one with a good heart). There are but a few lucky exceptions, those who end their life peacefully and with due respect.

We were always proud of the joint family system, the strength of relations and family bonding, but it seems everything has evaporated out, with the gush of time. We are busy, too busy for even fulfilling our needs, a day is not sufficient for most of us, then how can it be spent for someone or even bothering for someone if that someone is dependent on us either for the basic needs or emotional needs or if they are unproductive on the basis of monetary benefits? We don’t have enough time, time to stop and stare or care. Once they were everything for us, supporting us, struggling to meet our needs, we were dependent on them; part of their life, for some of them may be life itself. What has become so important for us, our life, our false pride or our struggles of life? We have come to live life through our parents. There should not be any excuses to discard them from our life for what ever reasons. One cannot shirk of responsibilities. Our elderly are not bundles of burden; we would not have existed if we were regarded as burden. It is the most heinous crime against humanity. It is very clear, very evident we are least concerned of our senior citizens, we have transformed to insensitive brutes that we are into another social evil and are not even aware of that.

The news, nay the reality that our elderly are left to suffer, deserted in the footpaths, in the roads, in beaches, in the temples or places of worship and in old age homes (the more sophisticated form of isolation), is thought-provoking. How many students of medicine do opt for geriatrics as a subject of study? No one who wants a lucrative career for sure would take such a decision. It has recently become highly fashionable and a contagious practice to desert our elderly or dump them into old age homes. Are the old age homes garages or prisons for the senior citizens? The situation is not different for those who had led a life of grace and have enough to support themselves. The senior citizens (even affluent) are haunted by the loneliness and the “empty nest syndrome”. The solace seems to be pets; at least animals are far better than humans. The affluent living alone in cities are vulnerable to attacks from antisocial elements and live in constant fear of being looted.

Maimed is their mind and wrecked their hearts, but still they have become hard enough to bear the trauma of ostracism by their own children. The government has taken small but laudable steps to culminate this “social” (or attitude?) disorder by providing incentives and health care to the senior citizens. It is plain ridiculous, the idea of compelling the younger generation or family of the elderly to feed or take care of the elderly. How many elderly will be content or happy to live with such a family who are just for grabbing the money government is providing? But that seems the only option left in a “democratic” country like ours. Something is better than nothing. Our conscience is dead. All are mortal. This is the eternal truth. In this short journey of life, change is the only thing which is constant. Why don’t we realize that we are also walking to the ultimate destination of death and will soon lose our youthfulness, vitality and energy and pass through the same stage, the dreaded old age? Why do not we feel the pain and suffering that they undergo? How pathetic and miserable it would be to live a lonely life when they need us the most. Unfortunate are those mothers, those fathers who have to meet such a fate as to be cut off from their family, to spend their rest of life begging in the streets, none to provide food, clothes or shelter. Cursed are those lives that cannot oblige or acknowledge the love and care provided by their fathers and grand fathers. Such criminals should be dealt toughly by law, if they have not learnt their lessons. Old age is a debilitating phase of life, a phase sans eyes, sans ears, sans taste, or sans senses. Usher in the ambitious, self-oriented younger generations, the purely mechanical machines, who have precociously become senile sans the mind, conscience, emotions, feelings and kind or an empathetic heart. Whither to without our elderly?

A mighty flame can result from a far away spark. Let us hope that millions of sparks can be ignited with powerful words. These words, let them be not borne out of hypocrisy, or for writing sake, but from the depths to find their true destination, let these at least alter the attitude of the concerned so that there will be hands to hold on for those hapless aged humans, there shall be hands to wipe out the tears rolling down those wrinkled cheeks, that there will be shoulders to support those frail bodies, an act of kindness or at least a word of concern which they long for!!!

Ethics, Education and Religion: The Indian context

We live in a world, of vagaries and ambiguities, of lop-sided attitudes and obscure visions. Intelligence, is it the wisdom to live in this world? Then we require it badly to thrive in among the inadequacies of this little world. Values and good thoughts are eroding from the society in general. Succumbing to ethics is considered as weakness in the practical world. The priority is success, success by what ever means. What ultimately matters is the destination, success, and not the path, the means to achieve it. So what gives people the courage to do wrong in spite of knowing that these are wrong? It’s the majority because majority is thriving on the filthy. The greed for power, fame and money exists in various forms in various grades in the society. The role models for this generation are icons who therefore achieve success and stand in the pedestals of victory. What’s wrong? For any man would want to be successful. ‘Might is right’ is the rule prevailing in this part of the world where the successful and the mighty expand their empires and no one for sure has a voice.

India is a sacred land of saints. And there was a saint who spoke at Chicago and changed the norms and prejudices of the western world. Ours is a great nation but in deep sleep. We have lost our identity and demoted our selves as the blind followers of the west. The richness of our tradition, cultural values and social ethos are fast lost to be the alien. Why to ape the west? Is it just because they are successful? They are successful due to their dreams, their attitude and their work. We were fragmented. Now also the situation is not different. We are fragmented on the basis of religion, caste, creed, colour, language and sex. When others focus on their frailities and plunder over the world to become the super powers, we in India are still asleep absorbed in such filthy things, not having a greater picture. Years back, foreigners looted our land and made us slaves. Today we are ready to become slaves in any other country which offers us a better opportunity, better exposure, and rescues us from the clutter that prevails within. Who is to blame? We needed foreign rulers to awaken us from our slumber. Which monster can whip us from this insensitivity? India has come a long way since independence. Our country has the potential and talents to emerge as the global power. So what is needed to gear up?

Clarity of mind, clarity of vision, prudence of thoughts and the philosophies which one clings to are needed for a righteous living. Therein lies the relevance of education. In this world of fierce competition where only performance matters, education is relegated to a saleable commodity which increases one’s marketability. Educational institutions have unfortunately demoted themselves to business centres or factories churning out commodities, the so-called degree holders or catering to the whims and needs of global markets. Is our educational system strong enough to impart the right knowledge? So the concern is not of mere degrees which is relevant, but the right kind of education, values and ethics inculcated in a generation. How many educational institutions are now focusing on this aspect, in a system fraught with blind competition where marks, grades and intellectual capacities out-weigh the basic human feelings? The only aim seems to survive the brutal struggles of life and emerge successful. To consider the larger picture, our country as a whole, things are really disheartening. The so-called visionaries and policy-makers in the process of nation building are to decide for reservation in Parliament for the so-called weaker sections of the society. But who made her weaker? There were also reports that Indian schools are worst because of the caste-based prejudices of teachers. How many buds have been scorched down by the very hands that have to nurture them? So who is to be educated? Such contradictions prevail and are rampant in India alone . As a Chinese saying goes, “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, Teach a man fishing and you feed him for life”. Our focus should be on humans as resources for developing the nation and not as feeds for the rusty politics where corruption never ends. In future one should be identified by his qualities and not by the labels attached to him by birth, on which one has no choice or control. It is what one has achieved through in his life, the right kind of living that one should be recognized for. Long back, there were days when there was no hardwired or heavy syllabus. So what guided people then? Religion? Is it a significant one? What the Bible, the Koran and the Geetha preach is relevant in today’s world.

Religion is mysterious when furled in, admirable when unfurled, the intricacies inexplicable. Religion preaches for the purity of mind and sanctity of thoughts. Thoughts frame and mould you to the person you are. Religion assists a person in breeding better thoughts and for that matter a better living. A truly religious person follows what is being preached in by the predecessors and what he believes in. The atheist also is a follower, following his school of thought, what his mind says is right. The difference lies in whether one is a blind follower of religion or understands the true essence of religion. The essence of what religion is all about. Else we have blatant followers struggling and indulging in violence to fetch a piece of land for ‘God’ oblivious of what ‘God’ symbolizes, forgetting opportunistically that he should reside in their mind and not confined to a particular region. No religion is framed for human suffering or to discard it into the dungeon. And no religion should violate the individual’s freedom of thought or living. The boundary that demarcates religion and atheism vanishes then. When it is said that ‘I don’t believe in a particular thing, it is that ‘I believe’ in some thing else, may be quite contrary to some prescribed thoughts or actions. But then certainly ‘I believe’. This belief or faith is the true essence of religion. Faith which is not blind but framed after a thorough understanding of what was preached added with your own thoughts and wisdom as inputs. So the question is what you believe in. When Science is the quest for knowledge about the world, religion is the quest for the self, the divine soul in each one of us.

Science for Whom?

Kudos to this great yet simple human !!!. Not much fuss, not much frills, his foot firm on the ground. The way Dr.Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, the nobel laureate of Indian origin handles his new found fame is appreciation-worthy. Remarkable is his science and more impressive are his genuine thoughts. We are so good at marveling on reflected glories. Not to say of our hero worship. When someone of Indian origin achieves we here are in a festive mood and there are reports and stories on the greatness of this particular person flooding in newspapers for a few days. It may even go to the extent of silly details like what he eats/ drinks. Everyone tries to relate to him/her, run after him/ her, catch hold of the faintest roots of connection/ relation… only to be forgotten after the initial frenzy/ sensational news. Yes, winning a nobel is not easy. It is truly admirable.

Success is not achieved overnight. A battle is to be fought before the prize is won. Dr. V. Ramakrishnan seems to very well understand that (though his years of hardwork was not aimed at winning a nobel prize). He seems to have imbibed the true spirit of science. As rightly remarked by Dr. V. Ramakrishnan, there is a lot of good science and research work done at many labs all over the world. A problem based-approach is what is required. Science is not about cramming information and in this era of exploding technological advancement, it is practically impossible to use the brain for feeding all the information generated at an alarming amount. Rather it is important to identify the real problem and solve it in the best possible way. Our society is diverse and dynamic. Problems whether scientific or societal exist in myriad forms. When we focus on these and find solutions we become extra ordinary/ great and not by imitating the prestigious prize winners or the successful of the west. Science is for society and through science even if a small problem of common man could be rectified, it is truly great. A scientist is judged now by the number of papers published in high impact factor journals/ the number of patents/ the number of talks or invited lectures he/she has given or even the number of symposiums or useless seminars he/she has attended and all that. A different and a high profile culture is being created. It’s high time for us to introspect on what kind of rut we are entering into.

Nobel prize shouldn’t be the reason for choosing a career in Science. Nobel prize is not to be won by aping but it should be only an inspiration to conduct good research. Every word and thought of Dr. Ramakrishnan seems to reflect his wisdom. Learned is he and as wise is he. Think all these felicitations (ceremonials??) will not surely distract the nobel laureate from his mission!!!!.

GM crops for India : Some Views

World wide there is an upheaval or furore against GMOs especially genetically modified/engineered plants. There has been much mud slinging between the opponents and proponents of Genetically Modified (GM) crops. As a student who had the opportunity to work in the field of agricultural biotechnology am jotting down some thoughts which may be relevant.

The views expressed here are only of the author and not associated with any third party or institution.

The article was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI as an opinion from the Public.