It’s a shame! It’s a blasphemous scandal!
It was more relief than shock when uniforms were imposed in my alma mater. And it felt good that I didn’t ‘live’ to see myself in those black trousers (of course, I love to wear jeans and I hate trousers)!!! Previously, uniforms were a part of college life only till the ragging period wasn’t over, indicating a tab on the freedom of freshers. It now seems that the teachers are hell bent on ragging the students for whole 4 years…
When in school, we were made to understand that the purpose of uniforms was to ensure a sense of uniformity irrespective of everyone’s background which essentially meant one’s financial condition. What they never told us (but was always between the lines) that no matter what we do, no matter how brilliantly we performed we would all always remain on the same level – uniform! Does it ring a bell? Does it click somewhere in your mind? Heck, doesn’t it sound socialist…one has to perform for the sake of performing and there shall be no rewards, until there’s time for everyone’s promotion!
They have put a tab on our creativity, on our freedom to perform. It is a violation of our rights, of our choices. The students who enroll in colleges are mostly of age and have a moral understanding of the facts and conditions of life. Never in my college life, did I witness one incident of misbehavior based on financial differences. Perhaps, we are more mature than the authorities think; perhaps, we are more mature than the authorities. If at all, those at the top realize their true duties than they should instill the sense of equality and morality on the primary level. To cut the wings of freedom when it aspires to reach the zenith, will bring the downfall of aspirations.
It instills them with a false sense of order, I believe. How beautiful it must be to look from atop the pyramid at your subjects – everything in order and under control. To fetch the true sense of evolution, however, a chaos will always be necessary. A chaos of choices – to make one’s own mistakes, to learn one’s own lessons, to achieve one’s own success – unscathed by the teething leeching rules.
However, the choice to shun authority and the choice to win their freedom shall always reside with the ‘subjects’! After all, it’s a free world out there…
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Mohan ke Das Gandhi
Gandhi – Keshav! I sometimes feel jealous…
Krishna – Jealous??? Of me???
Gandhi – Yeah…they don’t make such delicious, mouth watering panchamrita on my birthday down there, do they? All they do is flag hosting and sing some songs…I mean what’s the use if you don’t even mean it…
Krishna – Haha…don’t let chitragupta hear you say that, he’ll put you in detention in hell! Always looks for a reason…and anyways, off late the quality of every panchamrita they make on earth has deteriorated, ruddy adharmis…so there’s no need to be jealous!!!
Gandhi – Hell…and we thought we were dying for a good cause! It’as all shown negative results – this freedom event, hasn’t it?
Krishna – I don’t know, all negative as it may seem, but there are still some people…what do they call them these days – old fashioned! Whoever tries to do some good…
Gandhi – If only, fashion had to do with morality…
Krishna – Don’t know what you are frowning about! At least, you spent good time on earth…and even made exit in style!
Gandhi – Don’t tell me you were not pleased with yours…I mean, you could have changed it, couldn’t you? After all you are perhaps the most popular incarnation of Vishnuji!
Krishna – Like hell I am! And people still won’t listen to me…Specially Brahmaji, tried to bribe him to write the script in a better manner, but no – I am Lord Krishna, my comforts are immaterial as compared to the process of infusing earthlings with sense of dharma and karma…
Gandhi – And wasn’t it? Remember those lines –
Sab Janm mujhi se paate hain
Sab Laut mujhi mein aate hain
Yeh dekh gagan mujhmein lai hai…
I mean, your choices are immaterial – literally!!!
Krishna – That’s ruddy unfair, trying to quote earthly words on me. But I expect no less from you – you used to quote and misquote me on earth as well…
Gandhi – Hey, anything for bringing people on the right path! And you yourself are mayapati – didn’t you use tricks sometimes to use situations to your advantage…
Krishna – I am allowed that, all for the well being of universe, you see (winks)!!!
Gandhi – By the way, what was the thing that you wanted to change about your stay on earth?
Krishna – Well…you know!!! After that hours long speech on Karma and Dharma (Read Bhagwad Gita), ‘least some one could have done is to offer me a glass of water…but no – (mockingly) Madhusudan to Vishnu ke awatar hain. He won’t need anything as simple as water. None of the idiots thought that even Gods feel the earthly needs when on earth!!!
Gandhi – Hahaha…why didn’t you ask for it? I mean, Arjun was there…All he needed to do was to shoot one arrow inside the earth!
Krishna – (Frowning) Vyaasji forgot to put it in script! So couldn’t ask for it…
Gandhi – Brahmaji should’ve consulted a better script writer…but anyways, it was worth every effort. Perhaps, only text worth following practically and religiously…
Krishna – Hey, what about the speaker? Will it kill you to praise me sometimes?
Gandhi – Frankly, you are too much Keshav! You are supposed to be above these common ‘earthly’ feelings…
Krishna – Doesn’t hurt you much to do it, does it anyway?? And would have been happier had people really been following it…I mean some of them really do, even partially doing it is good but such a miniature fraction…God!!!
Gandhi – Is that why this recession precaution? To bring people back to the temples?
Krishna – Not really actually, recession is just a temporary crest in the economic cycle. But it does test one anyways…
Gandhi – Hmmm…Its really taking the hell out of people to be precise (looks down) – people without water, electricity, swine flu to top it all…
Krishna – I won’t really care if I were you. They deserve it – all for Karma and Dharma…
Gandhi – You don’t mean it! Just flash your finger and it’s all gonna be good.
Krishna – No, they all have the opportunity to mould their fates. They should’ve acted when they had chance. I didn’t ask them to vote on caste lines…did I?
Gandhi – What ‘as it got to do with leaders?
Krishna – Everything, you see! Had they chosen a better leader, they would’ve got better living opportunities. And some of them are lazy enough, that they don’t even bother to go to polling stations. So much for the pains of remembering and then oozing every word of Gita. I lost a major quantum of my energy assuming that vishwaswarup, and they have forgotten it all…
Gandhi – Though, they all bother to go to temples regularly, offering sweets and lots of other things. What was the cost of those ornaments that businessman offered…1.2 crore! I wonder what the income tax people are doing…
Krishna – Wealth and offerings are the least that matter to me! If I were content with sweets, I’ld have told them…they are supposed to keep the karma cycle running – smoothly. Now, have they been doing it? If only, they would all do their work honestly…damn, these people!!!
Gandhi – I understand, it’s frustrating having to look at all these misjudgments, misdeeds…but that’s all we can do.
Krishna – Say for yourself, mate! I am here only till the paap ka ghada fills itself. Then, I’ll be off to earth, once again.
Gandhi – I do hope, it serves them good. Oh! And Bhagwan, Happy Birthday, by the way…
Krishna – (Smiles) Thanks a lot, dude! And a Happy Independence Day to you…
Gandhi – Independence!!! (rolls eyes…looking around) Yeah…
Krishna – Jealous??? Of me???
Gandhi – Yeah…they don’t make such delicious, mouth watering panchamrita on my birthday down there, do they? All they do is flag hosting and sing some songs…I mean what’s the use if you don’t even mean it…
Krishna – Haha…don’t let chitragupta hear you say that, he’ll put you in detention in hell! Always looks for a reason…and anyways, off late the quality of every panchamrita they make on earth has deteriorated, ruddy adharmis…so there’s no need to be jealous!!!
Gandhi – Hell…and we thought we were dying for a good cause! It’as all shown negative results – this freedom event, hasn’t it?
Krishna – I don’t know, all negative as it may seem, but there are still some people…what do they call them these days – old fashioned! Whoever tries to do some good…
Gandhi – If only, fashion had to do with morality…
Krishna – Don’t know what you are frowning about! At least, you spent good time on earth…and even made exit in style!
Gandhi – Don’t tell me you were not pleased with yours…I mean, you could have changed it, couldn’t you? After all you are perhaps the most popular incarnation of Vishnuji!
Krishna – Like hell I am! And people still won’t listen to me…Specially Brahmaji, tried to bribe him to write the script in a better manner, but no – I am Lord Krishna, my comforts are immaterial as compared to the process of infusing earthlings with sense of dharma and karma…
Gandhi – And wasn’t it? Remember those lines –
Sab Janm mujhi se paate hain
Sab Laut mujhi mein aate hain
Yeh dekh gagan mujhmein lai hai…
I mean, your choices are immaterial – literally!!!
Krishna – That’s ruddy unfair, trying to quote earthly words on me. But I expect no less from you – you used to quote and misquote me on earth as well…
Gandhi – Hey, anything for bringing people on the right path! And you yourself are mayapati – didn’t you use tricks sometimes to use situations to your advantage…
Krishna – I am allowed that, all for the well being of universe, you see (winks)!!!
Gandhi – By the way, what was the thing that you wanted to change about your stay on earth?
Krishna – Well…you know!!! After that hours long speech on Karma and Dharma (Read Bhagwad Gita), ‘least some one could have done is to offer me a glass of water…but no – (mockingly) Madhusudan to Vishnu ke awatar hain. He won’t need anything as simple as water. None of the idiots thought that even Gods feel the earthly needs when on earth!!!
Gandhi – Hahaha…why didn’t you ask for it? I mean, Arjun was there…All he needed to do was to shoot one arrow inside the earth!
Krishna – (Frowning) Vyaasji forgot to put it in script! So couldn’t ask for it…
Gandhi – Brahmaji should’ve consulted a better script writer…but anyways, it was worth every effort. Perhaps, only text worth following practically and religiously…
Krishna – Hey, what about the speaker? Will it kill you to praise me sometimes?
Gandhi – Frankly, you are too much Keshav! You are supposed to be above these common ‘earthly’ feelings…
Krishna – Doesn’t hurt you much to do it, does it anyway?? And would have been happier had people really been following it…I mean some of them really do, even partially doing it is good but such a miniature fraction…God!!!
Gandhi – Is that why this recession precaution? To bring people back to the temples?
Krishna – Not really actually, recession is just a temporary crest in the economic cycle. But it does test one anyways…
Gandhi – Hmmm…Its really taking the hell out of people to be precise (looks down) – people without water, electricity, swine flu to top it all…
Krishna – I won’t really care if I were you. They deserve it – all for Karma and Dharma…
Gandhi – You don’t mean it! Just flash your finger and it’s all gonna be good.
Krishna – No, they all have the opportunity to mould their fates. They should’ve acted when they had chance. I didn’t ask them to vote on caste lines…did I?
Gandhi – What ‘as it got to do with leaders?
Krishna – Everything, you see! Had they chosen a better leader, they would’ve got better living opportunities. And some of them are lazy enough, that they don’t even bother to go to polling stations. So much for the pains of remembering and then oozing every word of Gita. I lost a major quantum of my energy assuming that vishwaswarup, and they have forgotten it all…
Gandhi – Though, they all bother to go to temples regularly, offering sweets and lots of other things. What was the cost of those ornaments that businessman offered…1.2 crore! I wonder what the income tax people are doing…
Krishna – Wealth and offerings are the least that matter to me! If I were content with sweets, I’ld have told them…they are supposed to keep the karma cycle running – smoothly. Now, have they been doing it? If only, they would all do their work honestly…damn, these people!!!
Gandhi – I understand, it’s frustrating having to look at all these misjudgments, misdeeds…but that’s all we can do.
Krishna – Say for yourself, mate! I am here only till the paap ka ghada fills itself. Then, I’ll be off to earth, once again.
Gandhi – I do hope, it serves them good. Oh! And Bhagwan, Happy Birthday, by the way…
Krishna – (Smiles) Thanks a lot, dude! And a Happy Independence Day to you…
Gandhi – Independence!!! (rolls eyes…looking around) Yeah…
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Dwarahat to Dilli
In the past two months, life has undergone a sea change. Till June, earlier this year I was in the process of becoming a bachelor, now I am one, with an additional tag of unemployed. And as if one and a half months of self-grating was not enough, I have landed in Delhi in order to see if I am really…employable. In between the calls (not that there have been too many) and a boring-like-hell schedule I have been eagerly noticing the sharp turns that my life here continues to take. Here, I try to gauge some:
• Unlike college, I am not the first one to rise from the bed – my partner has a class early in the morning and he doesn’t bunk it (yeah…KECians have started studying over here). He’s the one who wakes me up (and it’s a welcome change); I was the one who did that in college to him.
• The water supply is abundant, and one does not have to keep the buckets filled for ‘emergencies’!!!
• There is no more ready breakfast on the mess table; one has to get some from the market – an early outing ensured.
• The paranthas cost only Rs. 5 as compared to 10 back in college. Even the chai is Rs. 3 not 4 and almost double in quantity.
• Newspaper comes at 6 in the morning unlike KEC where by the time you really get to know the world around…it’as already moved by 180 degrees!!!
• No one charges Rs. 2 extra to keep the cold drink ‘cold’ and ice cream ‘iced’!
• A silent valley, occasionally echoed by the sounds of remote car or temple has given way to non-stop screams, cries and honking horns.
• What used to be a lonely walk in the campus is now a quest to reach one’s destination unscathed in the swarming ocean of people.
• Everyone knew everyone in campus and good evenings, good mornings of first years and the hi’s and hello’s of others were some things that punctuated the journey from Kailash to Mehra’s. Here, none knows any and even if they do – ignorance is bliss.
• The girls who wore salwar-kurtas and jeans tops in college would be hailed from Stone Age here. Tank tops, spaghettis and everything & anything out of the blue is ubercool and ‘in trend’ here. (Not that I am/was complaining)
• Spiky or long hair (low waist jeans too) were considered ‘stylo’ in the college and attracted reprimand sessions from the faculty. The one with short cropped hair, having a ‘maang’ on the left can be seen peculiarly seen in the crowd here, everyone else is ‘normal’.
• A 3 km journey from Gochar to Dwarahat that costed Rs. 8 is worth only Rs. 3 here…
• In college, you couldn’t see more than 10 cars a day (including the ones owned by faculty), here I see thousands including Mercedes, Bentley and BMW, Maruti, Toyota, Hyundai and Honda are more than common here.
• Shopkeepers are no more fretting if we go their shops, perturbing their solace, like they did in college. They are more than eager to have us inside and more eager to peep inside our wallets.
• Late night strolls and talks on the phones were the real time to find solace in college and occasionally I had the welcome company of the dogs and jackals. Well…this hasn’t changed much – I still am accompanied by dogs and jackals late nights, only they are disguised as humans. And…I find no solace.
I was ‘a known someone’ back in college and here, I am just another immigrant trying to keep up with the pace of bustling life in the capital, struggling to carve out a niche for myself- a career, a destiny, a life…
I miss you – KEC Dwarahat, I miss you badly!!! But, heck…I am too excited to be in the capital…
• Unlike college, I am not the first one to rise from the bed – my partner has a class early in the morning and he doesn’t bunk it (yeah…KECians have started studying over here). He’s the one who wakes me up (and it’s a welcome change); I was the one who did that in college to him.
• The water supply is abundant, and one does not have to keep the buckets filled for ‘emergencies’!!!
• There is no more ready breakfast on the mess table; one has to get some from the market – an early outing ensured.
• The paranthas cost only Rs. 5 as compared to 10 back in college. Even the chai is Rs. 3 not 4 and almost double in quantity.
• Newspaper comes at 6 in the morning unlike KEC where by the time you really get to know the world around…it’as already moved by 180 degrees!!!
• No one charges Rs. 2 extra to keep the cold drink ‘cold’ and ice cream ‘iced’!
• A silent valley, occasionally echoed by the sounds of remote car or temple has given way to non-stop screams, cries and honking horns.
• What used to be a lonely walk in the campus is now a quest to reach one’s destination unscathed in the swarming ocean of people.
• Everyone knew everyone in campus and good evenings, good mornings of first years and the hi’s and hello’s of others were some things that punctuated the journey from Kailash to Mehra’s. Here, none knows any and even if they do – ignorance is bliss.
• The girls who wore salwar-kurtas and jeans tops in college would be hailed from Stone Age here. Tank tops, spaghettis and everything & anything out of the blue is ubercool and ‘in trend’ here. (Not that I am/was complaining)
• Spiky or long hair (low waist jeans too) were considered ‘stylo’ in the college and attracted reprimand sessions from the faculty. The one with short cropped hair, having a ‘maang’ on the left can be seen peculiarly seen in the crowd here, everyone else is ‘normal’.
• A 3 km journey from Gochar to Dwarahat that costed Rs. 8 is worth only Rs. 3 here…
• In college, you couldn’t see more than 10 cars a day (including the ones owned by faculty), here I see thousands including Mercedes, Bentley and BMW, Maruti, Toyota, Hyundai and Honda are more than common here.
• Shopkeepers are no more fretting if we go their shops, perturbing their solace, like they did in college. They are more than eager to have us inside and more eager to peep inside our wallets.
• Late night strolls and talks on the phones were the real time to find solace in college and occasionally I had the welcome company of the dogs and jackals. Well…this hasn’t changed much – I still am accompanied by dogs and jackals late nights, only they are disguised as humans. And…I find no solace.
I was ‘a known someone’ back in college and here, I am just another immigrant trying to keep up with the pace of bustling life in the capital, struggling to carve out a niche for myself- a career, a destiny, a life…
I miss you – KEC Dwarahat, I miss you badly!!! But, heck…I am too excited to be in the capital…
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