Passage through Time
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Reservations
The reservation system in India is like a two-headed snake that spits out venom on itself and hurts the very people it is intended to protect. Arjun Singh, Union HRD minister's proposal (temporarily on hold because of the EC) of reserving 27% seats for OBC, in addition the the existing 22.5% would mean a total reservation for ST/SC and OBC, of 49.5% in centrally funded premier institutions of education. Even though the new law will apply to centrally managed institutions, state and local governments have been requested to follow suite.
Reservations in India, far from serving the purpose of national integration, create yet another caste, that of the academically disabled. The proponents of reservations state the obvious. The list of injustices inflicted on certain sections of society on account of their caste. There is no refuting this unholy truth in our society. Whole sections of society have been disadvantaged economically, socially and politically because of the caste system but the injustices suffered by one section of society cannot be perpetrated onto another section, in the form of reverse discrimination. There are middle class students who cannot afford exorbitant capitation fees or "donations" required by private colleges. They depend on government-funded institutions and the privilege of studying in a premier institute such as IIT is the right of every meritorious student, regardless of their background.
Fostering an atmosphere of entitlement rather than merit does not serve the purpose of a country trying to compete globally. India earns a vital part of its GDP from outsourcing and invisible exports of technical staff. It order to remain competitive with China and other South East Asian countries, it has to constantly foster an education system and work ethic that rewards effort, ingenuity and merit. Reservations, quota and other forms of so called affirmative action towards equality, applied inappropriately dampen the spirit of our youth. Students scoring as high as 90% are forced to take on streams of education they have no interest it while someone who scores a mere 50% can get into a premier institute. Social justice cannot be perverted and then justified. It makes a mockery out of the word justice.
So does this mean that the inequity that exists in our society, especially in the field of education and employment, should not be addressed? Not at all. Solutions when we seek them, should not be in the form of band-aids that conceal rather than heal the ailment. If we truly want to add value to our education system, it is primary education that has to be strengthened. Better teachers, access to public libraries, subsidised private tutoring, introduction of English medium even in government-funded primary schools, scholarships, mentoring, these are the steps that will get the underprivileged students to compete on an equal footing. Tertiary level of academics depends on the groundwork that has been laid by primary and secondary schools. IITs and other such institutions, comprise of peers who are highly competitive and intelligent with a body of knowledge which is a given. Someone who hasn't had the same opportunity to acquire this body of knowledge is disadvantaged much like a mackerel competing with a shark.
We have to admit that a certain inequity exists in life and that economic inequity influences all parameters of life. It is true that wealth brings with it access and exposure to education, information and influences that take place outside the classroom. Unless, we address the vast economic disparity that exist in India, we cannot solve the problem by diluting the quality of our educational standards. The old social concepts of "redistrubution of wealth" do not work in our new world model. We have to engage in "creation of wealth". The same applies for education and employment. We cannot redistribute inequities. We have to create more opportunities. ¶ 3:04 PM 1 comments
Reservations in India, far from serving the purpose of national integration, create yet another caste, that of the academically disabled. The proponents of reservations state the obvious. The list of injustices inflicted on certain sections of society on account of their caste. There is no refuting this unholy truth in our society. Whole sections of society have been disadvantaged economically, socially and politically because of the caste system but the injustices suffered by one section of society cannot be perpetrated onto another section, in the form of reverse discrimination. There are middle class students who cannot afford exorbitant capitation fees or "donations" required by private colleges. They depend on government-funded institutions and the privilege of studying in a premier institute such as IIT is the right of every meritorious student, regardless of their background.
Fostering an atmosphere of entitlement rather than merit does not serve the purpose of a country trying to compete globally. India earns a vital part of its GDP from outsourcing and invisible exports of technical staff. It order to remain competitive with China and other South East Asian countries, it has to constantly foster an education system and work ethic that rewards effort, ingenuity and merit. Reservations, quota and other forms of so called affirmative action towards equality, applied inappropriately dampen the spirit of our youth. Students scoring as high as 90% are forced to take on streams of education they have no interest it while someone who scores a mere 50% can get into a premier institute. Social justice cannot be perverted and then justified. It makes a mockery out of the word justice.
So does this mean that the inequity that exists in our society, especially in the field of education and employment, should not be addressed? Not at all. Solutions when we seek them, should not be in the form of band-aids that conceal rather than heal the ailment. If we truly want to add value to our education system, it is primary education that has to be strengthened. Better teachers, access to public libraries, subsidised private tutoring, introduction of English medium even in government-funded primary schools, scholarships, mentoring, these are the steps that will get the underprivileged students to compete on an equal footing. Tertiary level of academics depends on the groundwork that has been laid by primary and secondary schools. IITs and other such institutions, comprise of peers who are highly competitive and intelligent with a body of knowledge which is a given. Someone who hasn't had the same opportunity to acquire this body of knowledge is disadvantaged much like a mackerel competing with a shark.
We have to admit that a certain inequity exists in life and that economic inequity influences all parameters of life. It is true that wealth brings with it access and exposure to education, information and influences that take place outside the classroom. Unless, we address the vast economic disparity that exist in India, we cannot solve the problem by diluting the quality of our educational standards. The old social concepts of "redistrubution of wealth" do not work in our new world model. We have to engage in "creation of wealth". The same applies for education and employment. We cannot redistribute inequities. We have to create more opportunities. ¶ 3:04 PM 1 comments
Monday, March 27, 2006
OH MY GOD!
Has it really been five long months since I have blogged? Well not quite. There is the other blog. The secret blog. The blog even I don't want to visit on good days. And there are quite a few of them now. Like summer days, they keep getting longer and there is a tiny hope. Who knows?
This blog however is about my daughter. My beautiful daughter who takes my breath away. I still wake up in the dead of night just to hear her breathe. Just grateful that she's here. My love. My soul. My very existence.
I try not to think of my life before here. I barely remember it. And I try desperately not to think of my life without her. The latter thought is like a heavy albatross around my infertile mind. It hangs there permanently to remind me that barreness is a state of mind more than a state of reproductive incompetence.
Still. She is here. My love. My soul. My very existence. ¶ 8:30 PM 1 comments
This blog however is about my daughter. My beautiful daughter who takes my breath away. I still wake up in the dead of night just to hear her breathe. Just grateful that she's here. My love. My soul. My very existence.
I try not to think of my life before here. I barely remember it. And I try desperately not to think of my life without her. The latter thought is like a heavy albatross around my infertile mind. It hangs there permanently to remind me that barreness is a state of mind more than a state of reproductive incompetence.
Still. She is here. My love. My soul. My very existence. ¶ 8:30 PM 1 comments
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
This moment is your life
I don't know who said these words but they contain an existential truth, "enjoy this moment, this moment is your life". A truth that becomes all the more poignant when you embrace motherhood. Motherhood is a daunting task. One that requires tremendous courage. A tiny life afloat in a world of unpredictable storms is a vulnerable creature that clings to your mast for safety. And although every bone in your body and every pore of your being wants to protect her, you cannot always anchor her to safety.
If there is a synonym for the word mother, it must be "courage". Not the courage to weather emotional storms or the courage to endure physical hardship, or even the type of courage that enables a lioness to attack a herd of elephants to save her cubs. No, this courage we human mothers require is much more sublime. It is the courage to love in the face of defeat and the possibility of total despair. It is the courage to risk when you know you can lose your very soul, your every reason for existence, your fibre of being.
And so it is that I've learnt to "enjoy this moment because this moment is my life". This moment holds a smile from Lollie that shall never again return, this moment encapsulates a tear that shall never again be shed, a sigh that shall never again escape her lips..this moment shall never again return, and let me not live another moment without having lived this one.
¶ 9:06 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Je n'ai pas le dernier mot
I'd like to say I haven't visited my blog in days because dirty diapers, 2am feeds and milky burps have kept me away. The truth is, I could have sneaked in a post between naps but I didn't feel the need too. What is there to say about motherhood, that hasn't been said by far more eloquent writers than me. I have no insightful revelations to make about motherhood, no toasts to raise, no hymns to sing and I certainly don't have the last word. It is every bit as uplifting as it is promised to be, every bit as soulful as anticipated.
Yet, there is something I want to write about. My daughter's eyes. They are the colour of coal as yet unmined. Pitch black. Quite contrary to mine which are hazel brown. When I look into her eyes, she is as alien to me as another universe. A constant reminder that she is a human being in her own right, not an extension of my own dreams and aspirations. And yet, yet, when she looks at me, I know she's known me for a million years. She's held the soft cup of my soul, in the cusp of her hand for eternity and she's known every creased fear that has ever lined my heart. She is not the love of my life, she is the life from my love. She is the deepest part of my soul, she is the darkest part of my fear and my most luminous ray of my hope.
¶ 7:50 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Motherhood
Motherhood came calling on 16th July, 2005. Actually she came screaming with gusto and suddenly my world changed in the blink of a very black eyelash batting at me.
How do I describe motherhood.
It is strangers walking upto me and telling me my baby is gorgeous.
It is women nodding in a secret sisterhood of knowing and understanding.
It is learning new words like latch-on, biliburin count and even strangers phrases like periodic breathing.
It is having conversations with people called pediatricians and men with Billi lights.
It is seeing your husband as a father, totally in control of every situation as if he was born to do nothing else and nothing else before this ever mattered.
It is catching your husband secretly kissing another girl with the kind of love that would burn a hole in your heart.
It's not knowing who the Presidential nominee for supreme court is and not really caring either.
It is gazing for hours at another human being who weighs under 7 pounds and for the first time in your life thinking, perhaps I'm not quite the agnostic I always believed I was.
In the words of Shakespeare's Romeo, "has my heart ever loved before". ¶ 1:05 PM 0 comments
How do I describe motherhood.
It is strangers walking upto me and telling me my baby is gorgeous.
It is women nodding in a secret sisterhood of knowing and understanding.
It is learning new words like latch-on, biliburin count and even strangers phrases like periodic breathing.
It is having conversations with people called pediatricians and men with Billi lights.
It is seeing your husband as a father, totally in control of every situation as if he was born to do nothing else and nothing else before this ever mattered.
It is catching your husband secretly kissing another girl with the kind of love that would burn a hole in your heart.
It's not knowing who the Presidential nominee for supreme court is and not really caring either.
It is gazing for hours at another human being who weighs under 7 pounds and for the first time in your life thinking, perhaps I'm not quite the agnostic I always believed I was.
In the words of Shakespeare's Romeo, "has my heart ever loved before". ¶ 1:05 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 15, 2005
Les jours de espoir
The longer I keep away from my blog, the less I seem to have to say.
Are there simply no thoughts crossing my mind as the time draws nearer for me to have my baby. Yes, that's right, the last few days are upon me and they tell me that anytime now I could actually be a mother. This feeling is still surreal to me. Surely, it doesn't mean I am going to endure 16 hours of labour to push out the equivalent of a melon from my vagina. Surely, I'm not going to be responsible for the well being of another living individual when upto now all I've been responsible for and felt any emotional attachment towards is a bookcase full of books.
My feelings undulate between extreme anxiety and perhaps experiencing pure joy by stepping inadvertently onto a magic circle of possibilities. Both are frightening concepts. I can't remember the last time I felt pure joy. Years of infertility robbed me of the ability to feel pure joy.
I don't know how to end this post. There is no moral to it, no enlightened message at the end of it, no little humourous by-line. There is only the waiting...
¶ 9:52 AM 0 comments
Are there simply no thoughts crossing my mind as the time draws nearer for me to have my baby. Yes, that's right, the last few days are upon me and they tell me that anytime now I could actually be a mother. This feeling is still surreal to me. Surely, it doesn't mean I am going to endure 16 hours of labour to push out the equivalent of a melon from my vagina. Surely, I'm not going to be responsible for the well being of another living individual when upto now all I've been responsible for and felt any emotional attachment towards is a bookcase full of books.
My feelings undulate between extreme anxiety and perhaps experiencing pure joy by stepping inadvertently onto a magic circle of possibilities. Both are frightening concepts. I can't remember the last time I felt pure joy. Years of infertility robbed me of the ability to feel pure joy.
I don't know how to end this post. There is no moral to it, no enlightened message at the end of it, no little humourous by-line. There is only the waiting...
