Time goes by. Seconds, minutes, hours even. A lifetime has gone by, it seems. I can still hear the shrill of my screaming voice-the anger, the pain. Sometimes, I feel too much emotion. Too much loss of love. Yet, I pride myself in being able to conceal it and how. Here come the loose ends. They have to be tied. They cannot be left undone. No, not when it's with me.
Four years I've lived my life in shades of grey. Sometimes the darkest, sometimes the lightest. Each shade has taught me much. I dwell on my experiences and dive into my thoughts. They are my strongest supporters. I live to survive. Some things need to end, they need to stop-if you want to grow.
"Ms. Kurpad?"
But, then, each closure gives rise to a new beginning. =)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Half the man, twice the lawyer.
I had my 18th birthday treat last wednesday for two reasons. One, to celebrate the "coming of age" and two to celebrate the end of my childhood (or whatever I had of one anyway). One of my good friends happened to give me a really good book. Well, all John Grisham books are really good, atleast to me anyway, because for the last 18 years I've lived, loved and breathed the law. The book- Theodore Boone- Kid Lawyer, is engrossing, thought provoking and most importantly it made me feel extremely happy reading it. I could relate to Theo on a lot of levels, and that's what made me love the book even more. When I googled it, I found that it was the first part of trilogy! It made me sing- There's more? Yay! =)
So, I'm looking forward to reading more of Theo and his tryst with the law in the small town of Strattenburg. And all those law lovers out there, who haven't read it yet, get a copy now!
So, I'm looking forward to reading more of Theo and his tryst with the law in the small town of Strattenburg. And all those law lovers out there, who haven't read it yet, get a copy now!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Indian Education:the need for more choice.
Welcome to India, where cows eat hay and they drive auto rickshaws everyday and everyone is an engineer eh eh. MC Vikram wouldn't really like to have the last phrase in his song I guess, but nonetheless that's the scenario here.
It's like a another caste system. The brilliant kids take up Science and go on to become engineers. Science= engineers.("IIT?" says the aunty next door. "Wonderful!") The mediocre kids take Commerce ("It's so easy!" rave the science kids, well, if it was, why the hell are you not doing it you dumbarse!) and then the leftovers, or the brainless- the arts or the social sciences kids, who, mostly being girls, either end up teaching or, well, married with kids. This will not do, Mr. Sibal, it won't. And to all the education ministers and concerned educationalists, this is for you guys too. We need a more flexible choice. It's high time.
I hate accounts. I just can't take the subject. But, I have no choice. I wanted Mathematics and Economics. The only course that offered these two wants was Commerce, Accounts Math and Economics. What am I supposed to do? "Only two years," my mother said. Two years of doing something you don't like? I'm not a person of dispassionate interests. Hence, my blogging ( or crying out loud) for the need for more choice.
At this point, there is a desperate need for bringing out a more flexible method for offering choices to students. I like Political Sciences, but then, I like Math too. Oh, and I want Economics. Ugh, no honey, you can't study all three of them together, even if you like them. What people don't realise is that subjects of social sciences or commerce are just as important as the science ones. Without any one of them, the society, the economy, the world will not function. You need to know the social effects of everything you do, because at the end of the day, it's US, the people who are going to be effected by anything. In educational systems abroad, there is a mix of subjects from all three categories. This is the sole reason why there many things the Americans and the Europeans are far better than us in many ways. Their freedom of experimentation, use of more practical application, makes them better professionals, any day. Of course, learning by rote has never fetched us anyone, except maybe the title of "teacher's pet" in class. Many educational systems abroad have made it compulsory for students to write atleast one social sciences paper, because, the knowledge of the people is most important.
It's like a another caste system. The brilliant kids take up Science and go on to become engineers. Science= engineers.("IIT?" says the aunty next door. "Wonderful!") The mediocre kids take Commerce ("It's so easy!" rave the science kids, well, if it was, why the hell are you not doing it you dumbarse!) and then the leftovers, or the brainless- the arts or the social sciences kids, who, mostly being girls, either end up teaching or, well, married with kids. This will not do, Mr. Sibal, it won't. And to all the education ministers and concerned educationalists, this is for you guys too. We need a more flexible choice. It's high time.
I hate accounts. I just can't take the subject. But, I have no choice. I wanted Mathematics and Economics. The only course that offered these two wants was Commerce, Accounts Math and Economics. What am I supposed to do? "Only two years," my mother said. Two years of doing something you don't like? I'm not a person of dispassionate interests. Hence, my blogging ( or crying out loud) for the need for more choice.
At this point, there is a desperate need for bringing out a more flexible method for offering choices to students. I like Political Sciences, but then, I like Math too. Oh, and I want Economics. Ugh, no honey, you can't study all three of them together, even if you like them. What people don't realise is that subjects of social sciences or commerce are just as important as the science ones. Without any one of them, the society, the economy, the world will not function. You need to know the social effects of everything you do, because at the end of the day, it's US, the people who are going to be effected by anything. In educational systems abroad, there is a mix of subjects from all three categories. This is the sole reason why there many things the Americans and the Europeans are far better than us in many ways. Their freedom of experimentation, use of more practical application, makes them better professionals, any day. Of course, learning by rote has never fetched us anyone, except maybe the title of "teacher's pet" in class. Many educational systems abroad have made it compulsory for students to write atleast one social sciences paper, because, the knowledge of the people is most important.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Butcher of Bhopal
Turning over to the editorial page of today's newspaper (The Hindu, dated 15th June 2010. "Games big corporations play") I read through the atrocities of infamous Bhopal Gas Tragedy of December 1984 which left over 20,000 dead and thousands disabled and maimed. The effects of Bhopal's worst nightmare can still be felt, even today.
Quarter of a century later, there is still no trace of justice. The city still suffers from the long term impact of the gas tragedy, which includes various health, economic and social conditions. And, the only justice they are supposed to be satisfied with is a bailable two year prison term for the seven former officials of the then known Union Carbide Corporation. What if the Bhopal gas tragedy had happened in the United States? Would the House of Justice and the people let him off that easily? Is our judicial system, famed for it's delay in delivering justice, flawed in the case of ensuring justice as well? Answer me, Mr. Anderson, do you not feel anything, anything at all for the shit you've done?
Mr. Anderson may not have been punished for his criminal acts, however there is a title he will have to live with. He will and will always be known as the butcher of Bhopal. I bet he's proud of it, aren't you Mr. Anderson?
Quarter of a century later, there is still no trace of justice. The city still suffers from the long term impact of the gas tragedy, which includes various health, economic and social conditions. And, the only justice they are supposed to be satisfied with is a bailable two year prison term for the seven former officials of the then known Union Carbide Corporation. What if the Bhopal gas tragedy had happened in the United States? Would the House of Justice and the people let him off that easily? Is our judicial system, famed for it's delay in delivering justice, flawed in the case of ensuring justice as well? Answer me, Mr. Anderson, do you not feel anything, anything at all for the shit you've done?
Mr. Anderson may not have been punished for his criminal acts, however there is a title he will have to live with. He will and will always be known as the butcher of Bhopal. I bet he's proud of it, aren't you Mr. Anderson?
Monday, May 24, 2010
Daddy and Triptin Biscuits
When I was 7, I thought Triptin biscuits were best thing ever invented by man, even if it was a medicinal biscuit. The circular thing tasted awesome. Amazing, in fact. I'm glad the doctor told daddy to eat them, because if he hadn't I wouldn't have gotten to taste the most amazing biscuit in the world (wholly my opinion) but, more importantly, I wouldn't have gotten to spend some of the best afternoons with my father.
Triptin biscuits came a pale green and brown tin box. It did look like it contained some sort of medicine from the outside, but once you open the box and tear apart the plastic foil, voila! The best biscuit on the planet. I also liked the biscuit because it was soft and easy to chew and it just seemed to melt into your mouth. Yum!
Daddy never intended to give me Triptin biscuits. He knew he shouldn't be feeding a 7 year old nutrient supplement biscuits. He just got to know I liked it because he caught me eating them. I just wanted to see how they tasted. Honest.
So, Daddy and I spent many afternoons chomping over Triptin biscuits. I got only 2 though, while daddy had to have his dose. If I was lucky, or daddy was in a good mood, I would get three. We usually played Scrabble or I would sit near his knees and we would watch TV, mostly National Geographic (he was their lawyer, and was maybe expected to know something) or I would watch Cartoon Network while he intently read a book.
My mother and I had recently visited Mantri Square, and I noticed the familiar green and brown tin can in the medical store window. My mother walked a little front of me, obviously not caring or wondering why I was stopping and looking at an uninteresting tin can. To everyone else, it's just a stupid tin can with medicinal biscuits in them; but to me it's a whole lot of afternoons of memories. =)
Triptin biscuits came a pale green and brown tin box. It did look like it contained some sort of medicine from the outside, but once you open the box and tear apart the plastic foil, voila! The best biscuit on the planet. I also liked the biscuit because it was soft and easy to chew and it just seemed to melt into your mouth. Yum!
Daddy never intended to give me Triptin biscuits. He knew he shouldn't be feeding a 7 year old nutrient supplement biscuits. He just got to know I liked it because he caught me eating them. I just wanted to see how they tasted. Honest.
So, Daddy and I spent many afternoons chomping over Triptin biscuits. I got only 2 though, while daddy had to have his dose. If I was lucky, or daddy was in a good mood, I would get three. We usually played Scrabble or I would sit near his knees and we would watch TV, mostly National Geographic (he was their lawyer, and was maybe expected to know something) or I would watch Cartoon Network while he intently read a book.
My mother and I had recently visited Mantri Square, and I noticed the familiar green and brown tin can in the medical store window. My mother walked a little front of me, obviously not caring or wondering why I was stopping and looking at an uninteresting tin can. To everyone else, it's just a stupid tin can with medicinal biscuits in them; but to me it's a whole lot of afternoons of memories. =)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The "decisive" year.
Oh jeez. I'm in 12th now. It's THE year. The year in which we not only have to write the BOARD exams but also various, may I add, screwing entrance exams, where a quarter mark makes your life, or breaks it.
Welcome to hell.
Courtesy:- the Indian educational system.
Welcome to hell.
Courtesy:- the Indian educational system.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)