The Covert agenda of Education

The education has been a part and parcel of the Indian history since the ancient times and this can be verified by the presence of the Takshila and Nalanda universities which still exist. But the point to take note of it is whether we are travelling the right path and motive on which these institutions were set up, are we keeping up the spirits of education.

To know that we have to understand what actually the motive was to start such a system where education was not just the mere experiences a person had in his life or the systems he learned via observing others practising it. Why the need arise for a systematic education? The answer to this in the ancient context would be the sharing of the eternal “gyaan” of the gurus and to keep it alive for the generations to come. Is this system dead by now, well not exactly some experts say that the existence of Aashrams and Madrasas are following the same path till now, and to a certain extent I feel that path is very right if considered in the right context.

As the people started to get more civilised (leaving aside the controversies of the subject civilisation), they felt the need of a better and strong education system. So the subjects like science, arithmetic, arts, history, civics, economics, political science, anthropology was introduced into the system and the trend of introduction still continues and it is very righteous to do so. People started to learn about the subjects with their own convenience they kept what they wanted form history and omitted the facts that they felt would create a wrong impression about the person or the era, same is the case with other subjects. When did all of this started happening? It was not the era were the man was still happy with his “Kheti-Kisaani”, this all started with very first wave of globalization through industrialization. The agendas that we have been talking about till now was the overt agenda. The covert agenda of education can be understood if we understand the industrialisation phase well.

During the time of industrialization there was a requirement of people because the industries had opened up jobs for many in the towns (for which some political leaders are throwing people out of “their own state” what crap!! ), which saw a huge flow of populations from rural areas to towns. Primarily these folks were just got trained about the job they had to do but later the crème-del-a-crème of the society thought of introducing this “system of education” and they showed all of us the rosy pictures through the overt agendas. So began the rise of premier institutes offering various courses under numerous heads but if all of this was the overt agenda what could be the covert agenda? It’s very simple just needs a little analysis and there you are in front of the truth.

Take a good note of all the subjects you have learned in your school and put it to a test. If all the subjects we study by now are put together for a reason and motive then they can be generalised under three heads: 1.Punctuality, 2. Obedience & 3. Repetitive work.

Why were these needed is much easier to understand- to create a better workforce for the industry. Well there can be no offences to this agenda also but where the pain lies is that it still continues to be the agenda of our education, the world is no more in the phase of industrialisation it has moved. We now have more entrepreneurs to the list then the numbers of industries in the whole nation. Then why we still stick to the same regime? This question can’t be answered in fact it doesn’t need to be answered. What we need today is the change where every individual is given the choice, the choice to decide what he wants to do. There should not be any social discrimination on the basis of the amount of books a person has read or the no of alphabets he/she puts beneath their name. We have always sited many examples regarding this like Bill Gates to Dhirubhai Ambani. Well some of the people still feel that basic education is necessary even I feel the same, but we have to be more precise about the term basic, to my understanding here the term basic is to be defined as the daily practicalities of a common man which he has to fight to earn a loaf of bread, now to combat that he needs basic education do you think that learning about the people of the history or of economic world going to earn him that? If yes, then think again.

 And why is there is always a set age to learn particular things, there should be no age barrier for studying something that someone likes at any point of age in his life. Some countries have taken a step towards revamping their education system, India is one of them, kudos to that but i feel devastated when I see the rate at which it is done. The action plan started in the year 1998 and a decade after that we are not any far from where we started. Every budget we have allocations for different things then why not spend a little money on this cause which will make us at par with the first world. The choice lies with us whether we want to be the first world or want to continue being the third world on some or the other fronts....

The Childhood Dreams

When a boy grows up he has a lot of things to take care of; his studies, sports, friends, parents, and if he is a fat boy like Rehan he has to think about his increasing weight and the never-ending list of girls he awaits. Rehan was a very smart fellow; all knew this, his teachers, parents & friends. But all had to say one thing that he needs to work hard. This was out of Rehan’s reach and understanding. He could only work for goals, targets and he would always set up a realistic target (achievable easily). He always knew that to go to the next class he just needed grades, not high but passing grades. He could never see a reason to burn the mid night lamp to be in class which has both grade holders a 40% and a 90%, he always prepared himself for a 65%, his mother was very disappointed with this, she also had a dream to distribute sweets to the whole “mohalla” after her son scores a 90% in a school exam but Rehan always saved the money of his father, Rehan’s father was never a brilliant student but he was a great man, a man who stood by the thoughts he cared for, he even regrets sometimes some of his decisions but he always stands tall against every odd. He always said to Rehan, “I would not be glad if you scored high and never knew concepts and basics, neither I would be satisfied with you just passing, but I would take it proudly if you score less and know whatever you have read thoroughly”. Rehan’s father was very strict but as Rehan grew up he metamorphosed and became a friend to him. Rehan always looks upon for his father whenever he is in doubt, he is the greatest support system to Rehan, Rehan wants his life fundamentals to be as clear as his father’s had been. Rehan is very close to his mother, he confides every secret with his mother. Usually it happens that a child is either close to one of his parent but Rehan being social and pleasing to everyone was close to both of them. Rehan had a huge group of friends and was never interested in studying. So after standard 7th his mother gave up on him and Rehan argued to take tuitions as all of his friends did. The tuitions were more of a home assignments completing session than anything else, it was fun for Rehan, more friends more masti. Rehan had always thought that his only motto was to have fun; most of the time alone without spending money, because he never had money neither he felt the need. He was growing up (all round), he was now worried of everything that could increase his weight, but being Rehan it was a crime to set a control on anything so there was no scope for dieting it was always die till eating. Rehan passed the exams again he scored well this time a 68%. Now he was in 9th standard and the tutor got changed, it was his brother’s friend who used to teach a bunch of children along with her brother;sonu, (never understood why so many people were called by that name!!).
Rehan had a keen interest in music, he used to lock himself up in the store room and bang the cartons which stored groceries with the iron rods which were used for making ‘seekhs’. He used to go to a friend’s place just to see the cable tv shows which aired new music. He happened to ask for a drum set to his father and got a condition in place; “You score more than 80% marks and the drum set is yours”. Rehan’s father knew if he had to get Rehan going for something he had to provide him with a short-term goal. So the aim in 9thstandard was to win a drum set.
It was a new session; thanks to the diet control put on Rehan forcefully he had lost some weight but still weighted 69 kgs. Rehan joined the tuitions and this time his life was going to change. He met a girl in tuition she was called Nina, till now Rehan believed that girls are total time waste and they are an obstruction to the fun of your life but when he saw Nina his theories went for a toss as the testosterone started to act forcefully. His whole world was shook and he could just see Nina and say wow!! He had never seen such a beautiful girl personally and she was much mature for her age. She had the perfect body, beautiful eyes, skin tone to put a fairy to shame, hair dark-black completely contrast to her fair skin tone and a voice that could put Sunidhi Chauhan at shame. Rehan wanted to be with this girl, so next day he goes to his best of the friends and asks for advice. Boys being boys what could have they advised. They said “Darr mat, baat kar, setting jama, aur side mein lele”. Rehan actually knew that they would said so but Mr. Rehan wanted to give his friends a chance. Rehan had completely different fear within him; he wanted to impress her and be friends with her so he called up a lady friend of his and followed her advice. He started by giving a thought to friendship (only).The best thing about Nina was that she always found Rehan as good guy and never cared about how stupid he was. Everything was going pretty well, Nina and Rehan became the best of friends and they always used to share glances in tuition over their notebooks, Rehan had no idea what Nina thought of him, he knew that she cared. Rehan got ill one day and Nina managed to cancel that days class just because Rehan didn’t turn up,Nina also wanted to meet Rehan but her brother was a pain, he also studied under the same teacher, Rehan came to know all this after two weeks. Everything was going well between these two, Rehan was sure to get the Drum sets, this time he had prepared well for exams. It was only one month to exams when Rehan came to know that the papers are going to go to Ajmer for regional checking, he was tensed because he never had prepared for more than 70% marks this time he was eyeing an 80%. A month back Nina had told Rehan that she might shift to Hyderabad with her dad but she assured that she will come back after two years. One day Rehan gathered all his nerves and asked Nina for a coffee (he had only Rs 100 with him), amazed by Rehan’s confident approach she agreed but that coffee date never happened. During exam days, one evening after it had rained the whole morning, the climate was cool and pleasant, when teacher didn’t turn up from work and Nina could not go home because her driver had left, Rehan and Nina spent the best time ever, they just took a walk and Rehan being the resident of that area showed her around. Nina got cosy that evening and placed her arms around Rehan’s body, Rehan first time kissed a girl. Nina did not felt anything offensive but suggested Rehan to stay as a friend because she didn’t had any friends, Rehan obliged and they stayed as friends. Just after the exams next year Nina went to Hyderabad and never came back. Rehan lost a friend and now knew the importance of a true friend. He scored very badly that year a 70% and had to promise his dad that he will try for better grades next year. His dad was happy with his efforts and bought him a new bicycle.

He met a bunch of new friends the next session but Nina still holds a special place in Rehan’s heart. No matter if the grades were not great to get a drum set but Rehan now had Nina in his life. Later on Rehan got along with his new friends and started scoring average marks and went on to complete the H Sc in science stream. He wanted to be a doctor in the beginning but ended up being a Microbiologist. He pursued his music interest through his friend’s guitar and now can play a couple of songs. He also happened to take lessons to play guitar and his mentor was kind enough to let him sing for their band quite often. It was only Nina who knew that Rehan wanted to be a musician the rest just felt that he was interested in music. Nina had once said to Rehan before going that she will definitely come and visit him one day asking for his autograph after Rehan finished his performance on stage. Maybe that is the motivation behind Rehan performing at different occasions with a band in Mumbai in-spite of being very busy with his office and married life. Rehan very often finds himself typing Nina’s name in google & facebook just to get a hint where she is, after all it was his childhood dream...his first true friend...

The Lady with a HOT RED BAG

Tuesday morning 10 o’clock standing at Bandra station, Rehan was getting late for his work. He recently started a new project with a leading telecom company wherein he had to go to different locations and collect information and make the necessary changes in the working system of the company. Rehan usually travelled in first class but this month the peon got him the second class pass for one month, now he is forced to travel with the populace which believes that the more the oil on their heads the more money they are going to make and he had to overlook the essence of human efforts which came out as their sweats while trying to enter the compartment. It was not like that he didn’t encounter such men in first class who sweat or released their essences, but it was less pungent because of the cover that cologne and after shave provided.

He was all concerned about being there on time because this was the first time he was going to meet the Sewree dealer of the distribution. His whole attention was on the indicator which still showed ‘ST 10.15 S 08’, he was worried and when Rehan gets nervous he also starts to sweat so to cover his mess up he gets his handkerchief out and wipes his forehead while doing all this he notices something, just beside the indicator where the stairs ended there was a distinct figure who was approaching towards the first class ladies compartment, it was a lady in her mid twenties, sporting a formal tight shirt on dark blue denims, hairs still wet from the shower which might have ended just half an hour back, glasses on her face made her look professional and her i-pod must have played the music she really liked because it created a smile on the pretty face, it was more noticeable due to the right amount of lipstick she had put on. Rehan was mesmerised by this lady. Suddenly he got a call; it was Zoya, Rehan’s hubby since the days they studied in college now Rehan stays in Mumbai after he came here for his management course & now he plans to marry her after getting a house of his own, while still on the phone Rehan realises that he just missed a very flashy thing with that lady, by the way Rehan has assumed by now that the lady is called Madhusmita just because he felt that lady was a Bong chick and her features resemble to someone in TV soaps which he used to watch during his collegiate days and her name was Madhumita,  so Rehan decides to add a ‘S’ and prove that he is an ass. Well the flashy thing was a ‘bag’ it was the first thing that Rehan had noticed but simply managed to get lost in the beauty of the lady. Still on phone, Zoya nagging on the other ends about the eating habits of Rehan and Lady busy on her i-pod. Rehan assumed her to be working in a corporate office but after he noticed the bag he added that she must be working with a media house, he was forced to do so because his office colleagues (ladies) never sported something as flashy as that. Rehan was really keen on observing his “Madhusmita” than talking to Zoya, Rehan never came to know how but Zoya could always tell what Rehan wanted at a particular time. Zoya hung up and Rehan continued...

Suddenly Rehan realised he had came here to board the train, but the indicator said more 5 minutes of waiting till the train comes so he again as a moron continued to observe. He considered this habit of his as a strength for him just because someone had said to him; ‘be a good observer of things’. Rehan as usual replaced ‘things’ with ‘Girls’. Suddenly the lady realises something and walks towards the store which sells the confectionary items, there she buys a couple of halls, puts one in the pocket and opens the other and puts it in her mouth and when she doesn’t find a place to throw the wrapper puts it in her pocket too. Now wasn’t she a good citizen?? Rehan realises that Madhusmita must have been eating halls regularly; why? Just because she could open it so easily, people who have eaten Halls know that it’s a trick in itself to open it. Now comes a bigger assumption, Rehan is worried whether Madhu smokes!! So he applies a litmus test by observing the lips (it was more of a ‘bahana’ for Rehan to look more closely at her lips, for it he didn’t want the guilt of looking at a hot girl’s lips without any reason) he enjoyed every moment of that halls moving around in Madhu’s mouth, Madhu was making pretty shapes with her lips while eating that mint. The train had come and the barrier of the ladies compartment came between the second class and first class ladies compartment which Madhu boarded. Rehan never knew where she will get down, so to get the glimpse of her walking by he chose to stand at the door. Three stations went by and he didn’t see Madhu getting down, the next station was Sewree, he had to get down here. He had lost all his hopes of seeing her again. But as fate had come to Rehan’s pocket, Madhu got down at Sewree and walked behind Rehan. Rehan as a gentleman, he allowed Madhu to take the lead and followed her, after the foot-over bridge ended she halted and looked back, took a few steps to stand by the side, probably she was waiting for someone. Rehan had no interest in knowing who was it, Rehan pulled out his phone and rang up Mr. Satish Pandey, the man he was to meet. All the way to the office he was thinking of the Lady with a Hot Red Bag. After a couple of traffic lights he realises that he has a meeting to attend and he is already late and still doesn’t have his tie in place, so he starts to put the tie in place wears the coat and gets in the office, he is welcomed with a coffee. The day ends with a few debates over the table and Rehan is on his way back to his rented apartment in Bandra. While he was on the train listening to his favourite tracks on his phone he again gets back to the thought of ‘Madhusmita’ and wonders who she was waiting for but suddenly Zoya’s thought strikes his mind and he realises that he hasn’t made a call to her during the busy day, this was nothing new for Zoya as Rehan tends to get engrossed in other things often and forgets to call her, but today it was different for Rehan, he was thinking of a girl he saw in the morning all day. Rehan again out of guilt calls Zoya immediately and tries to get into a sweet conversation ignoring the presence of smelly men around in the train, time passes and he reaches Bandra still online with Zoya, he walks pass through the same place where he was standing in the morning and again remembers the Lady with the Hot Red Bag. Zoya hangs up the phone because her dad called her. Rehan hails a rick and gets home. Never ever imagining what was in store for the next day.

Rehan had to go to Sewree for the next one week so as to complete the assignment. He gets up in the morning and reaches Bandra in time but he just missed the 9.55 train and the indicator is showing 10.15 again. He is standing at the same place as the day before and suddenly his heart beats goes up, there she is again, his Madhusmita carrying the same bag, maybe the same jeans but different top a green loose fit T-shirt, looking stunningly beautiful. Rehan never imagined that he would get to see her again but he guessed he was lucky that day. He kept the observation part a bit discrete today because he had seen last day some people looking at him when he was staring at her. He got down at Sewree and waited for some time and then followed Madhu and found out she waited for a colleague of hers’ at station daily, a sigh of relief came naturally to him, he himself could never found out what was that for. He hailed a taxi and saw both the women walking. It was quite obvious for Rehan to note that Madhu had a routine which she followed by waiting for the 10.15 train. For the next two days Rehan did the same, everyday noting something or the other that he missed on the day 1. Rehan was really enjoying his daily 10.15 train.

It was Friday and Rehan had asked for first-half off since he wanted to go for Friday Prayers but Rehan being the rascal he was, he woke up early and went to catch the train as usual in the morning. He had all the time in the world today to check on assumptions he made about Madhusmita, so instead of hailing a taxi he walks behind Madhu, strangely she was alone that day, after a few steps one assumption proved right, she smoked the brand he still can’t say but she smoked like the ladies in the bond movie, elegant as a princess. After a long walk as Rehan decided to gather the courage and talk to her he realises that she is wearing a flat shoe and she was really tall. Rehan had a complex with tall women he was really uncomfortable with them while talking and he always made an ass out of him by always blurting “you are so tall”. He had now realised that when he said that; he was saying I am a nobody in front of you and from there onwards there was no second talks ever because he could never gather the courage again, same thing happened here he lost all the courage to talk to Madhusmita but he decided to follow her till her destination, after a walk of ten minutes she entered in a compound and then the second assumption came true, she worked for Navbharat press; a media firm. Rehan did not enter the premise and walked straight. He also bought a smoke and sat smoking while he was lost in his thoughts; he received a message from Zoya it said, “whr r u? it’s frdy 2day, srch a masjid, n gv me cal whn u r dun, luv u jaan, tk cr”  Rehan’s confusion was solved, he knew what he had to do, he finished the smoke, got up and searched for a mosque and after that gave a call to Zoya.

It was Monday when he was back to Bandra but this time he was going to Churchgate and boarded a different train, till now he has not seen Madhusmita again. Rehan is still working with the same firm and is planning to buy a house, Zoya still calls her intermittently and the first thing he did after that Friday’s prayer was calling up Zoya and narrating her the whole one week incidents one by one and himself came to understand that Zoya was the one for him, Zoya knows that Rehan is an idiot but still trusts him, its long time love after all. But The Lady with the Hot Red Bag had become an integral part of Rehan’s life and he never forgot her and still assumes that she was named “Madhusmita”.