Living it down-under

Apropos to the events unfolding in Australia, one wonders with awe the atrocities meted out to foreign students. In times when globalization speak for unification of different people, cultures and countries all over, these events come as a serious surprise to every rational being. What happened to Sharvan Kumar, or Sourabh Sharma and couple of other students evident the loop holes still widely prevalent in the so called multi-cultural, multi-ethnic world? But isn’t the hypothesis of calling these events racist too early a conclusion? Or is it pure stupor that India attaches to such events on foreign soil? Well, the answer lays in the future course of action and framework definition to protect the interests of foreign students and workers.

Before one can jump on to any conclusion that could be highly detrimental, one needs to weigh in all the reasons that caused all this to happen. Looking tangentially, I wonder if international cricket and specifically the rivalry between Indian and Australian cricket time resulted into this foray. With high decibel sledging by Australian cricketers ‘down-under’, and an un-equivocal status of BCCI in world cricket, the game between two sides give an impression of battle on the turf. Harbhajan Singh episode with Andrew Symonds in recent past has only proliferated tensions between the two countries. The correlation between sports world, specifically cricket and the social life is derived from the sentiments the sport drive on crazy spectators and game lovers. And that too in both the counties. We might not get to see an Australian beaten-up in Indian subcontinent, but can we really be optimistic about the same happening down-under? Or can we really forget what Indians have also done to foreign tourists in the past, even when they were not remotely connected to the world of cricket? Well, both the answers are right in front of all of us. Infact, Harbhajan singh’s cousin’s son, Utpal Singh also lost his life in Australia in one of those similar attacks.

Racism would set in when one enters into an elite territory, a superior state from a beleaguered or less prosperous one. But that case doesn’t fit for countries like Australia. Australia is first of all no one-culture nation, rather it has always been supportive of different people thronging from different countries all over the world. This country have had a tough past as migrants (Aborigines), one could not rebuke this country for few events which are unwanted. It has been for years that Indian students go for higher studies like hotel management hospitality industry to Australia in addition to a number of Bollywood movies being shot and screened there. So, in a nut shell, racism is uncalled for, but if indeed this evil is the grim reality, then one could only feel sorry for a foreign country like Australia who belied what they stood for.

At micro-level, an inspection would be highly full-filling. For we need to connect what was common amongst all the accidents no matter where they happened. Was it a clear demand of moolah (Australian dollars) by Australian students/ nationals which invigorated them to take such harsh steps? Or was it a personal vendetta or enmity of past? I strongly support the fact that culprits should be brought to book and framework needs to be defined which could help cultivate the on-going relationship between not just our two countries but also all over the world.

Wishing a speedy recovery to all the students/ nationals, and message from the heart of every Indian, ‘take care!!!’

Nurturing a new-born baby

The topic may seem out of place on this blog but surely a right guide for young mothers, for it would certainly help them relinquish few myths & strategies that need to be implemented when it comes to baby care. I’m not a father, but by nurturing my niece, or by taking care of her, I certainly have learnt a lot about children especially the newly born ones. And since I’ve seen the bud up-and-coming, I would certainly like to share my experience in form of few suggestions and advices.

Please do not consider any of these suggestions as the gospel’s truth, as they are entirely personal and just a ray of light to siphon-off perils of darkness for young mothers. Hope they come handy and feel free to reject any of them if not found suitable.

a)  First of all, the most important thing is to remember that the baby’s bones are highly fragile and should not ever be pulled or pushed too hard ever. They would generally take a long duration to develop and grow strong. Try taking care of them like a tender flower waiting to blossom.

b) A 5 month baby asks not just for attention, but also for toys or things that it can grab or hold. It would try clasping your fingers if offered, a small soft toys etc/ So kindly give due attention to babies during this stage so that they feel important and loved. They would not ask, but would give signals like:-

a. A yell would mean a sense of appreciation and enjoyment.

b. Constant or recurring yells would mean the wanting sign of attention needed to play

c. Open arms or trying to extend arms towards you would mean want of mother’s lap.

d. After playing for some time, a gentle cry would mean the time for a meal like milk/ceralac etc.

c)  A baby (my niece) would feel the most comfortable when kept in hand-driven prams (push-car) and taken for a light & gentle stroll. This generally makes them feel sleepy and go into a long slumber.

d) Never push the baby to drink the entire milk, but rather play with it to divert his/her mind so that it enjoys drinking the milk (for a baby of 4 to 5 months). Always use the right temperature for milk to be served and give adequate breaks to baby to have it drunk completely. Mantra would be: Slow and steady wins the race. Try not to rotate the milk bottle when in baby’s mouth, for rotation would only cause the uneven rate of milk flow into mouth and build up unnecessary pressure for baby to make larger gulps.

e)  Babies most often would respond to sounds like hand’s twitching, clapping and they find it a fun when done on recurrent basis.

f)  Please avoid showing babies mirrors to see themselves as I believe it only creates confusion and chaos in a small mind. May be a bit absurd thought but would still suggest avoidance of mirrors.

g)  A one to two month baby when crying feels most relaxed in somebody’s lap with a gentle care. Try giving soothing swings with care, without making them very shaky or vibrant but rather smooth and relaxing. This makes them go into a sleep.

   Please note the views are entirely my personal experience and expressed here. Please use all the logic, rationale and common sense in this world while taking care of your baby and above all, look at every perspective while taking care with love and emotions in your heart for the small stars. All the best!!!

 

A balancing Act

19th May, 2008: for the past one week, there has been no respite from scorching heat in Delhi. One wonder if this marks the peak of summers, or June has more sweltering blaze waiting to be gushed out? There is no denying the fact that as the time progresses the ecological system moves towards a more unstable state, the one with colder winters and hotter summers. Do two negatives make a positive? Well think twice when it comes to instability in weather. With more heat and intense cold, the equation isn’t a balancing one, but definitely the one which has its variables moving away from the state of equilibrium.

How an individual feel relieved from the inferno outside his/her home or working place? By using an air conditioned mode of transportation, or by drinking loads of drinks and juices, or by other means which can provide an easy respite. But are all these measures sustainable or are they really affordable by majority of the individuals on the run for major proportion of the day? The answer is a clear no. So what exactly are the sustainable measures that need to be taken care of?

One must realize that higher temperatures are a global issue and it can only be tackled if every individual understands the gravity of the problems it would result in near future. There would be 100’s of articles available explaining various methods of combating with scorching heat and keeping it cool, I would only like to enumerate the measures that would result in a balanced ecosystem & hence eliminate alternative ways to beat the heat.

a)     The most important task would be to plant as many trees as possible, or if possible, to plant one tree for every tree cut. For majority of us, as citizens of society, this is a long run practical approach concurred by most but rarely implemented by one. One needs to understand how important is afforestation/ reforestation and how important are trees in lowering the rising temperatures. It is evident from the scenario in villages (which also in fact are getting industrialized in today’s times) where lanes of trees provide a soothing touch of cool air just like an air-conditioner. Planting of trees has a multiplier effect. And not only does it result in stabilizing weather, it also result in creating jobs and improving work efficiencies and productivity. Planting more trees would result in preserving our ecological system. It would also help in lowering temperatures and hence more outdoor activities like going to work, undertaking field tasks etc would become easier. This would improve employee efficiency and organization’s productivity. Trees also provide natural home to diverse bird species & animals. Trees also help in preventing soil erosion and hence prevent floods from occurring. In a nut shell, one tree can solve multitude of our problems, think about having as many as possible? Wouldn’t that change the face of the earth and reduce the amount spent on developing alternative sources of energy to balance eco-system.

b)     Make use of car pools is another important measure that needs to be taken on a broader scale. Wisdom not lies in driving the most efficient (on mileage) car single handedly, but rather using any vehicle as a group most efficiently. With ‘nano’ stars waiting to be sparkled across every street and corner of the country, it is highly advisable to make use of each unit to its fullest capacity if possible. People staying in one colony should develop a car pool for to & fro journeys between the place of work and home. This would drastically reduce the fuel consumption and hence quash the ever growing constant demand on conventional sources of energy.

c)     Traffic signals provide an effective mechanism for conserving the limited fuel in each vehicle. Had there been no traffic signals, it would have only resulted in creating chaos on roads and increasing cases of accidents due to high speeds in addition to pollution burden. And high speed results in more fuel consumption, and hence more pollution. An individual should switch off the vehicle when the wait time period is at least 30 seconds. If all vehicles preserve fuel by above step, it would only result in saving up to tones of fuel on monthly basis. Hence increasing the supply, lowering the demand and hence prices.

d)    Make use of Metro trains as & when possible. Not only metro trains’ help in covering far reaches of a place, but they also provide a rather comforting journey at the most competitive prices. So shouldn’t the Metro trains be made use of if the distance to be covered is long enough to walk down?

Would come up with more sustainable measures which are present right in front of us, one just need the vision to make use of!!!

Till then take care and enjoy summer with cool drinks and loads of water….

Letter published in Hindu - Ragging

Here's the link to my letter (The hindu):-

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/17/stories/2009031755560804.htm

Full Article

It is a matter of grave concerns that issues like ragging still find place in institutes of learning and education. Whether it is news catching cases of Aman kachroo in Himachal Pradesh or agricultural institute ragging incident in Andhra Pradesh, the so called ice-breaking practice seems to only corroborate in evil sense.  One shudders on the mere thought of innumerable ragging cases that must be plaguing in different colleges in different parts of the country.

What needs to be in place in times today is not beat the culprit policy based on punishments like restrictions, expulsions or suspensions, for they would serve a short term goal of reprimanding the guilty, but an holistic approach to end ragging in long run paving the ways to restore peace and harmony within every individual in more stressful times to come.

There have been many initiatives in form of Raghavan Committee Recommendations taken up in past with achievements in form of anti-ragging squads formation in colleges, but with today’s highly pressurized life-style, one need to go back to basics to overcome this menace.

There exists a thin line between being immoral and being amoral. To root out both, one needs to lay emphasis on Primary school education. For this, the core requirement is to make every student a morality-literate individual right from the primary school education till he/she passes senior secondary school education. This would call for incorporation of a subject covering morals, ethics, principles, society dynamics & individual behavior. A span of one subject at various levels over a period of 8 to 10 years will lay the creation of law abiding, moral and honest human beings. The evaluation of a student in this subject would be based on grading scales and in order to encourage students to take up this subject more seriously, reward in form of certificates can be given to individuals scoring highest grades.  This would help every student to be sound and rational in decision making process at the time of higher education studies. In a nutshell, a slow but a robust process having longest positive impact on the society.

Another improvisation needed in today is to make anti-ragging squads (ARS) more vigilant and action oriented in various institutes and colleges. This entails providing an SMS service to students to report any startling ‘ragging’ activity in college/hostel premises to ARS before becoming victim to the menace. The major step to be taken in this direction is to grow the size of ARS in every college to address concerns like availability and place an inspection team of faculty/professors to check regularly over the activities of ARS.

Third initiative would be in form of mentor-mentee program wherein ever senior would be allotted a couple of juniors who can have a highly interactive sessions that will help in confidence building measures during the stay in the college. A group of two to three mentees would deter any senior from exploiting one individual’s integrity and a diversified group would deter any unforeseen regional bias. Moreover, under the aegis of this program, by making the education more professional and research oriented, students (read seniors) at various levels can be encouraged to take activities or assigned tasks with juniors (as subordinates) to have those strong bullet points written on CV’s/resumes in a professional course and references in research proposals (in form of apprenticeship ).

Last but not the least, innovation would come in form of ice-breaking sessions to be held between seniors and juniors in form of a grand scale function organized yearly right in the beginning by college authorities’ who will address the concerns of a timid junior and assertive seniors.

I certainly feel measures like these would pave the success of having rational and healthy mindset amongst the student fraternity in ever walk of life.

Pragmatic Response towards external developments

Software sector has been the prime engine of growth in our country. There is no denying the fact that this sector gave the much needed impetus to see India shinning in truest sense possible and showcased its talent to rest of the world. With Aryabhata contributing ‘0’ to the world, we are marching to rank ‘1’ in world when it comes to talent, clearly a toggle between the two numerical as highlighted in binary form in Indian software industry. Indeed a matter of pride!!!

We are living in turbulent times which have made it impossible for us to proclaim that our economy is a decoupled economy from rest of the world. Indeed, Globalization and financial integration has linked us to the outer world, and hence allowed both direct and indirect tremors to rein in our territory. The decisions of the most cherished leader in today’s time are be-fittingly misplaced especially when it comes to safeguarding the interests of his nationals, the Americans. The decision to prune the extent of outsourcing to other countries like India (implicit) may sound ambitious today but is highly impractical in long run. The revival of any economy is recessionary times lies in public investment and by creating avenues to increase demand, consumption and production. If the companies in US cannot afford to pay high pay packages to local technocrats why would it not want to outsource the project to offshore entities at highly cheaper rates? Today, the growth is so inter-related and inclusive that factors like outsourcing just can’t be ignored. It acts not only as a revenue earner for firms but also helps in job creation for local masses. Growth of Indian companies like TCS, Infosys, and HCL has resulted in providing employment opportunities not just in India but abroad by setting up centers in Mexico, Brazil etc. Hence, a bilateral growth for both the home and host countries.

However, there are few measures that need to be adopted by India’s corporate sector during the times of crises. Since India has a strong pool of talent in form of software engineers, hardware engineers, techno-brats like hackers, and researchers, what needs to be done is to truly decouple the economy from turbulence in rest of the world, at least in one particular domain determining the growth. There are a few intrepreneurial characteristics we need to mobilize within ourselves not just to alienate self from global impacts, but to provide the much needed public investments in recessionary phase. This could come in form of an autonomous research organization/entity that could be set up by employing the best talent mix from such a strong intellectual industry which will get the necessary government grant for conducting research in coherence with existing institutions for providing domestic solutions for our country.  Yes, calling I.T companies to provide solutions for country in as much importance as they do to others. The conceptualized research entity would provide solutions like connecting all the hospitals in country through online networking making it readily available even to the people living in most isolated areas. This may not cater to the needs of internet illiterate masses, but would certainly address the need of public investment in short run and improvement in health index in long run. Another solution the entity could offer would include designing state level centralized web-portals for meeting the regular needs of households like securing a gas connection, refilling of gas cylinders etc. This would help in making it highly convenient for a net savvy population in both short and long run and also address the issues like fuel thefts and usage of household cylinders for business purposes. Another solution the research organization would offer would be to provide education through networking in rural areas, semi-urban areas etc. The after effects of all these solutions will have a multiplier effect on the economy and pave the way for industrial development especially in manufacturing and infrastructure sector. This would truly make India the I.T hub of the world and an emerging market with no string attached.