Are you proud to be an Indian?

On Republic day, I got a SMS from a dear friend which goes like this:

"50% of the population is still under poverty. Corruptions of new magnitude, for example :2G spectrum. wealth of lakhs and crores stacked up in Swiss bank by a few. Caste, Religion still a criteria for Admissions and Job. Another Republic Day. Not sure if i am proud to be an Indian."

I replied back saying: If Indians are not proud of their own country, How would you expect it to develop?

No reply.

The question still remains at large. "Don't ask what the country can do for you. Ask what you can do for the country" - John F Kennedy. It is high time that Indians adopt this quote into their lives. Instead of being couch potatoes and back seat drivers, get out there and create a change in the society.

India is a rapidly growing economy. It is high time that Indians realize that than just brood over scandals, poverty, unemployment. Aren't these situations prevalent in developed countries too?

Be the change rather than asking for a change!

So, Are you proud to be an Indian?

Emphasis on Right to Education

Imagine the President of India as a bonded laborer or a Nobel Prize winner as a slum dweller or Nightingale of India as a beggar. It is even hard to think, isn’t? But, these are situations arising from our Indian society where our future citizens are denied their basic right to education.

This shows how our society doesn’t have the minimum knowledge about our basic rights. Would child labor occur if the society knew the value of child‘s education? Yet, we complain somehow or the other, when our country doesn’t fare well in Olympics. Now, as an Indian citizen, I am taking a few steps forward to teach the public about the fundamental rights of India where the emphasis is more on Right to Education.

The six fundamental rights recognized by the constitution are:

1. The right to equality

2. The right to freedom

3. The right to freedom from exploitation

4. The right to freedom of religion

5. Cultural and educational rights

6. The right to constitutional remedies

Now let us read a few basic questions rose about Right to Education.

Q. Why is the RTE Act 2009 significant and what does it mean for India?

A. The passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 marks a historic moment for the children of India.
This Act serves as a building block to ensure that every child has his or her right (as an entitlement) to get a quality elementary education, and that the State, with the help of families and communities, fulfils this obligation.
Few countries in the world have such a national provision to ensure both free and child-centered, child-friendly education.

Q. What is 'Free and Compulsory Elementary Education'?

A. All children between the ages of 6 and 14 shall have the right to free and compulsory elementary education at a neighborhood school.
There is no direct (school fees) or indirect cost (uniforms, textbooks, mid-day meals, transportation) to be borne by the child or the parents to obtain elementary education. The government will provide schooling free-of-cost until a child's elementary education is completed.

Q. What is the role envisaged for the community and parents to ensure RTE?

A. Few countries in the world have such a national provision to ensure child-centered, child-friendly education to help all children develop to their fullest potential. There were an estimated eight million six to fourteen year-olds in India out-of-school in 2009. The world cannot reach its goal to have every child complete primary school by 2015 without India participation.
Schools shall constitute School Management Committees (SMCs) comprising local authority officials, parents, guardians and teachers. The SMCs shall form School Development Plans and monitor the utilization of government grants and the whole school environment.
RTE also mandates the inclusion of 50 per cent women and parents of children from disadvantaged groups in SMCs. Such community participation will be crucial to ensuring a child friendly "whole school" environment through separate toilet facilities for girls and boys and adequate attention to health, water, sanitation and hygiene issues.

Q. How does RTE promote Child-Friendly Schools?

A. All schools must comply with infrastructure and teacher norms for an effective learning environment. Two trained teachers will be provided for every 60 students at the primary level.
Teachers are required to attend school regularly and punctually, complete curriculum instruction, assess learning abilities and hold regular parent-teacher meetings. The number of teachers shall be based on the number of students rather than by grade.
The state shall ensure adequate support to teachers leading to improved learning outcomes of children. The community and civil society will have an important role to play in collaboration with the SMCs to ensure school quality with equity. The state will provide the policy framework and create an enabling environment to ensure RTE becomes a reality for every child.

Q. How will RTE be financed and implemented in India?

A. Central and state governments shall share financial responsibility for RTE. The central government shall prepare estimates of expenditures. State governments will be provided a percentage of these costs.
The central government may request the Finance Commission to consider providing additional resources to a state in order to carry out the provisions of RTE.
The state government shall be responsible for providing the remaining funds needed to implement. There will be a funding gap which needs to be supported by partners from civil society, development agencies, corporate organizations and citizens of the country.

Q. What are the key issues for achieving RTE?

A. The RTE Act will be in force from 1 April. Draft Model Rules have been shared with states, which are required to formulate their state rules and have them notified as early as possible.
RTE provides a ripe platform to reach the unreached, with specific provisions for disadvantaged groups, such as child laborers, migrant children, children with special needs, or those who have a "disadvantage owing to social, cultural economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factor." RTE focuses on the quality of teaching and learning, which requires accelerated efforts and substantial reforms:

• Creative and sustained initiatives are crucial to train more than one million new and untrained teachers within the next five years and to reinforce the skills of in-service teachers to ensure child-friendly education.
• Families and communities also have a large role to play to ensure child-friendly education for each and every one of the estimated 190 million girls and boys in India who should be in elementary school today.
• Disparities must be eliminated to assure quality with equity. Investing in preschool is a key strategy in meeting goals.
• Bringing eight million out-of-school children into classes at the age appropriate level with the support to stay in school and succeed poses a major challenge necessitating flexible, innovative approaches.

Q. What is the mechanism available if RTE is violated?

A. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights shall review the safeguards for rights provided under this Act, investigate complaints and have the powers of a civil court in trying cases.
States should constitute a State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) or the Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) within six months of 1 April. Any person wishing to file a grievance must submit a written complaint to the local authority.
Appeals will be decided by the SCPCR/REPA. Prosecution of offences requires the sanction of an officer authorized by the appropriate government.

Q. How does RTE translate into action and become a reality?

A. Substantial efforts are essential to eliminate disparities and ensure quality with equity. UNICEF will play an instrumental role in bringing together relevant stakeholders from government, civil society, teachers' organizations, media and the celebrity world.
UNICEF will mobilize partners to raise public awareness and provide a call to action. Policy and programme design/implementation will focus on improving the access and quality education based on what works to improve results for children. UNICEF will also work with partners to strengthen national and state level monitoring bodies on RTE.

Stay tuned to more information about RTE. Spread the message across India. Power of pen is mightier than a sword.

Tears In Heaven

"Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven " - Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton.

The hardest part in life is seeing your dear ones pass away from this world. I have faced this situation so many times. However, I don't have the courage to face the situation. It is a pain for me to go to any funeral. So, life goes on like this. As a kid, I knew so many people who were close to my heart. I remember one person who was a fatherly figure to me. His name was Ravi Fenn known to me as Ravichayan. I remember him as my dear uncle who used to dote on me. I would like to pen a few thoughts about him. Mostly my memories, and write a tribute to him.

This was when I was studying in the 9th grade. It was a time, when I needed a wrist watch, so that I could manage my time when writing my exams. Despite a financial crunch, my mother brought me a watch which did not last even a month. I used to pray day in and night out, for a wristwatch. One fine day, my mother announced that Ravichayan would be coming home. I was pretty excited and wanted to be in my best behavior to impress him. I always pictured him wearing a suit and in fact, he was wearing one when he came home. He was talking to my mother most of the time. Then, he called me aside and asked me about my studies. I was then a shy and timid boy who could only smile at whatever he asked. He opened his bag and took out a box which could fit a huge diamond ring. He opened it, and showed me a wristwatch. It was my dream come true. I was so thankful to him for giving me a gift which I had long yearned for. Over the years he continued giving me gifts which I still cherish and I appreciated the thought behind each gift.

The bond didn't end there. I had the privilege to stay with him for a few days during his final days when cancer was eating away his life. During my stay, I received advice on each and every step that I should take in my life. He was a storehouse of knowledge due to his reading habit and could talk for hours and hours on any subject.

All good things have to end sometime. Last week Ravichayan was called back by his maker. It was also a relief for him too, he had waged a losing battle against the deadly disease which had ravaged him. Now I only have fond memories of Ravichayan’s life on earth. He was a fond, benevolent person who had touched so many lives and done many things for each of them without thinking about the consequences. It is hard to forget him. I promise I will meet you in heaven. Love you and miss you a lot, Ravichayan.

Culture Shock : Easy Battle.

Culture shock is the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within a different and unknown culture such as one may encounter in a foreign country. ( Courtesy : Wikipedia).

As, the above definition states that it is encountered in a foreign country. I would like to state that it is encountered within different states of India.

Well, If you don't mind, I would like to share my personal experience.

After my results of 12th standard board examination were out, my next decision was to do my graduation in Bangalore as i will get maximum exposure. Well, let me share few instances of my culture shock in Bangalore.

When i met few super seniors, they were explaining the details of events in each fest. I called a commerce secretary whose name is Dipti ....... "Chechie" and other super seniors gasped and started passing comments "Dude! calling her chechie is a complete no-no". Though she said it is ok. I got my first share of cultural shock. In Bangalore, if you are introduced for first time, you give a hug or handshake at least. I felt it was really warm thing to do because you are being close to the person you are meeting up. I became a complete outgoing person, meet up people and become friends easily.

I had to do MBA after B.Com, unluckily i didn't get into any college in Bangalore. So, I came back to Kerala where the college is situated in Trivandrum. First few days were rosy to me and i enjoyed very well. I still had the thoughts of making friends in Trivandrum as it was in Bangalore. So, i tried doing the "Hug" with one of my classmates. The comments they passed were shocking as well as surprised. People in Trivandrum do have their very own personal space. I got to know through the hard way. The slang, they use is pretty confusing for me and also the language too. My relatives are shocked to know that i don't know how to talk my mother tongue very well. It is a difficulty when i talk to the bus conductors every time in the morning. But, I can handle it.

So,you can see the difference from 2 places in the same country. Is this the reason why people tend to be comfortable in their own state and not explore other states to experience culture shocks? Who knows. I feel having a culture shock experience creates knowledge or learning about the particular culture. A easy battle to be fought where there is a learning to it.

Sunny Sunshine

Sunshine has gone down

Got to leave this dreadful place

Walking down to the bus stop

Thinking what will happen next?

Yellow flowers on tree reminds me summer is coming

Wind drifts the branches

Beautiful yellow sunny flowers fall

And kiss my forehead

Saying Its okay, Life only comes once

There is still time to reach your destiny

Knowing you are not supposed to be here

Take a chance, use the opportunity

As it will never come back

So happy i am

Moved by the talking flowers

Thank you God for this wonderful creation

When do people become selfish??

A wondering thought came into my mind. Come to think out of it,this thought is something that has puzzled so many great thinkers. When do people become selfish and Why do they become selfish? A question that has been unsolved and unanswered and the people who have suffered because of other people 's selfishness.

Selfish means "Concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others" This meaning is from the Dictionary.

When i was little, I came to know the love from many people. I thought they liked who i am and how i looked like? Little, did i know that when i grow up, I will come to know the true colors of people who loved me. Competition everywhere, Selfishness brewing in each other 's families.

Oh! Oh! When is everybody going to realize that being selfish is not worth it at all.

Mother Hen and her Chicks

When you see this picture, you feel such warmth, cosiness. In fact, this picture reminds you of your mother when she took care of you.

There a other hens and roosters who are closely related to this mother hen. They were very happy when she hatched her little chicks. They exclaimed how beautiful they looked and Mama hen was proud of her chicks. As the her chicks grew , she became overprotective of her chicks thinking how cruel the world is and fearing if her chicks will go through the same situation which she went through. Her chicks felt really close to their Mama and would follow her everywhere she went .When Mama Hen was happy, her chicks were happy and when Mama Hen was sad, her chicks were also sad. They were closely knitted family and had their own world. They didn't care what others said. They said Mama Hen, you are spoiling the chicks to the core. This won't do. You have to make them stand on their feet. Mama Hen quite confused and loved her chicks a lot. She said to them, I don't want them to go through what i have experienced. Mama Hen's Mom said this is not how you are supposed to treat them. Mama Hen is still stubborn. She told what she had to tell. But,her closely relatives are not ready to listen to her.

Most people won't agree what Mother Hen is doing to their chicks.

But, just imagine

Will Mama Hen be able to love her chicks like how she took care of them when they were small?

Is relatives of Mama Hen jealous of how Mama Hen is living with her chicks?

Do you have any answer? I am sure you don't have. Leave them alone, thats all that you can do.They will figure something out.