Author: Capt. Shaji Kumar

It is rather sad to see that like Politicians, the Cricketers especially the Indian Cricket “stars” make such a humbug over their retirement. There is a bunch of “cricketing experts” who make it such a big issue. Competitive Cricket like any other sport ought to be hinged with the youth. Sports is something which we can excel only if we are fully fit in the mind and body. For all the others it is just a leisure and ways to keep fit. The latest has been the Laxman grouse. His so called retirement was in fact a pre-emptive move and it was proved when he made such a big weather of it by “not” inviting the Captain to his home for dinner. Not that Dhoni had to go without food for want of this Invitation, but I really do applaud his strength of character as a Captain to have the spunk to call a spade a spade. Yes VVS was Very Special, but then he was past his prime, and we cannot always be living in the past as we seem to be doing so often. Whenever someone who has laboured for 15 or more years has to quit the “pundits” et all start wondering as to who would replace the vaccuum. Reflecting back, they too did come in for someone who gave way…the old hand changeth giving way to the new…or somewhat similar the idiom goes. Things will keep moving on, is that not proved by the fact that we had “great” cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar. Vishwanath, Kapil Dev but we did not achieve the status in World Cricket that we have achieved today. We need to bury sentimentality and allow “professionalism” to be the basis of bilding the Team. Now that Hockey is a “lost” sport it would be in the Interest of the Country to have at least one Sporting event in which we excel in. In fact if we need to regain the World Cup then it would be better if we replace most of the players who would have crossed over into the 30’s club.

Now the Political Parties want to make a mockery of the Office of the President. The President of India is a coveted post, which even though may not be politically valid from the point of governance, yet it holds a certain amount of “sanctity”. As a proud Indian, I certainly would want a President who can hold the image. We have had a Dr. Rajendra Prasad or Dr. Radhakrishnan, and quite a few such stalwarts holding this office of high esteem. Congress changed the trend when it decided to bring Giani Zail Singh as a first puppet “President”. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam too was quite a decent choice. But post Dr. Kalam the choice of the current incumbent was horrific. Now again the Congress wants to play around with the sentiments of the nation. The people of this Country need to collectively voice their opinion and curtail any such ridiculous move by a party which has become quite a useless bunch. I just hope that good sense prevails on our electrol college to vote in a capable and competent President. However it might only be wishful thinking as in the present scenario it would seem highly unlikely that there remains any kind of sense in the present system of political theatrics which is currently prevailing. I am sure when the current potrait is removed from the Offices of Government establishment (good riddance) it is replaced by a more worthy one.

The Government should really be bonkers if it wants the “Private Schools” to take on the responsibility of imparting basic education. Basic education should be made complusory for all in the age group between 6 to at least 16 (if not 18), and it should be provided “free” of cost to the entire population. Almost all Countries in the World have a system of State run Schools providing basic schooling “free” of cost. In fact on an average only 6% to 8% Children across the World comprising of G-10 group go to “Private” Schools. We in India in fact have a very disturbing trend, where the Basic schooling has taken control and has networked into a mushrooming business opportunity. The Industry is now milking this very promising “business” where the ROI is a foregone conclusion. It has become a fail safe business opportunity.

The recent judgement by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, making it mandatory for the Private Schools to reserve 25% seats has emphatically stamped its approval of this failure of the Government. instead of rapping the Government hard on its knuckle to get its act together and improve the system of basic education in the Country. This is going to trigger a very disturbing trend which would spell doom for the future of basic education in this Country.

When is it or rather what factors lead one to decide that it is time to move on. What is the satisfaction factor !! What is it that we yearn for ? If you just stay right where you are, how will you end up getting anywhere else. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. Sometimes too, they fail to happen even for a better reason. Our disappointments are often blessings in disguise.

What is it that we want eventually ? Do we actually ever try to fathom this, or we are just content with leading the existence as it is. Why do we have hopes & aspirations. Why are we always embroiled in achieving more than what we achieved yesterday. Where is the final satisfaction quotient ? Do we have any upper limit. How much ? And for what ? Where will all this lead to eventually. The answer to this is indeed ambiguous ? Man has never been content. Man by nature is not only a social animal, Man is also a selfish animal. We actually do not know When to Stop. Never have !

What is wrong with this Government. MacTeam is hellbent on going the extra mile to prove its incompetence beyond doubt. Political issues blunderings notwithstanding, it has decided to go a step further and question the fundamental democratic rights. What business does it have of going and mixing up with the Lit Fest? The Salman Rushdie episode does indeed leave a smear on the World’s largest Democracy. I would say that comparatively the Indian cricket team has performed much better Down Under.

If we are asking the mid 30’s club of Seniors in the Indian Cricket Team to retire on their own, then we should demand the 100+ Congress Party to not contest in any election hereafter.

Does the Government or the Political set-up of this Country have the guts and the political will to abolish and strike out this system of “caste” based reservation in one swift final blow. Well I certainly am into wishful thinking. Definitely NOT, it most definitely would be a political hara-kiri, and no one party would ever bell this big cat ever. Reservation which was started when it was started by the stalwarts of yester years did so with all the well meaning intentions. However the error in judgement that they comitted was by keeping this open ended. The policy should most definitely have been with a close ended deadline of 30 – 50 years. It would have been a sufficient enough period which would have allowed at least two generations of the “backward” community to uplift themselves within the time-frame given the opportunity. Instead today it has became a matter of right somewhat like a democratic right, something which has come to a state of birth right of the “backward” community. Even though the class divide today is more from an economic perspective rather than a caste divide. Paradoxically, we on one hand want to abolish the caste system and keep making such observations and hold conclaves etc, while on the other hand keep it alive by keeping the practice of reservations intact.

Has the political or bureaucratic set-up ever bothered to monitor or collect and analyze the data of how much positive impact this system of reservation has had? To what strata of society does the people who use this system actually belong?
We may be neighbours living in the same apartment block. But when it comes to “admissions” thy neighbour’s child does hold the ace – a Backward Caste Certificate, despite having performed way below par than his classmates. Such is the practical use or mis-use of the system of Reservation.

Yes the Government should have a very strong socio-economic policy for the upliftment of the poor or the citizens living in the lower strata of the society, but it should not be based on caste or creed, but be drawn on the people who live below the poverty line. Poverty does not differentiate between different caste, so why should the Government? The entire policy needs to be relooked, re-drafted and re-implemented. If India should attain the position of relevance and play a significant and vocal role then it needs to alleviate poverty and not stoke the fires of casteism and reservations just to keep political ambitions alive.

I somehow have always been fascinated by the old world charm of Kolkata. True it is a bursting city, quite chaotic and filthy, but all the same it holds a definitive attraction. Be it the congested streets, or the colonial aura that it has managed to retain. Shakespeare Sarani, Tollygunj, Park Street, The Strand, there definitely is an attraction.

Even before the British it had been a major trade centre. It still is the Head Quarters for Birlas and its contemporary Companies. True today it is a city in shambles, but it still retains the oompj of yesteryears.

I have visited this city many a times. A few visits physically and of course many a visit through the pens and imagination of Rabindranath Tagore & Co. Their writings certainly transforms this bustling City situated on the banks of Ganga as she finishes her journey here.

One of my main purpose this time has been to visit Dakshineshwar. The temple of Godess Kali and the abode for over 16 years of one of her most ardent devotees Sri. Ramakrishna Paramahansa. I have been planning this visit for quite some time now, but have been able to fulfill only today.

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Location:Kolkata

I have often heard, read and listened to this term – Good Parenting. Have always wondered why suddenly this is becoming so very important. My parents may not have had to deal with this term as much as I am confronted in dealing with my elder son, I am sure of it. Why then has parenting (which is the most natural and integral part of existence for mammals). Cows, goat, sheep, monkeys, dogs and humans. Why then has parenting in humans become such a complex issue, so much so that it now definitely is quite a lucrative career avenue for many. What has happened over the last 10 years that the entire concept of parenting has undergone such a radical change. How have we managed to convert this natural process into a complex one.

Being father to two adolescent boys i find it quite exasperating. Where do I draw the line? Just how much is too much? Are we scared of our Children? Or is there some inner subconscious yearning to re-live our own childhood using our children as the medium? In the process we end up creating something of the child where it becomes difficult for us to accept and by then it has almost gone out of hand.

But then if that be true then it should affect both my sons and not diametrically opposite natures. I guess there is more to it than just this matter of fact explanation. How do you explain being blamed for anything and everything? No matter what you end up at the rsceiving end. It actually is quite a precarious situation. You cannot decide on how to deal with the situation ?

So I guess there must have been some radicAl and drastic socio economic changes that must have taken place not slowly but at a alarmingly fast pace. It is like the viruses that spread viciously – medically or in computers alike.

I do not have any answers, but do seek them. I hope that I find them fast before it loses its relevance altogether.

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