“Nirmala Mysore ” (NM) is a goal. A shared goal of all Mysoreans – both resident and the Diaspora. Not many times in the recent past had we, the citizens of Mysore, felt as realistic as we feel today, about achieving this target. The reason for the optimism is the awakened citizen and a responsive administration. Together, we have set out to launch an ambitious drive to make this historic city the best ever. An elaborate plan has been drawn out for the purpose, with all the stakeholders duly represented on a range of teams that will accomplish variety task, but with a, nay, the, common goal.

It must be acknowledged that similar earlier experiments, though not many, did produce results, but the results were not significant for certain deficiencies. Perhaps, the efforts were either sporadic or not sustained. But, the intent of those initiatives could never be questioned. The advantage of not being first in matters like this is hindsight. You look back and there is wisdom (we don’t call it mistakes). Our experiences may similarly help future endeavours of similar nature.

In order to optimize the resources available for making Mysore clean and beautiful and maximize results, we have discussed the challenges involved threadbare and preempted foreseeable tangles. We have broad-based the programme to cover all segments of civil society.  We have also proposed to outreach the Indian diaspora in general and Kannadigas among them in particular.  In fact, non-Indian tourists to Mysore are no less welcome to contribute to this pool of ideas we are generating for enriching ourselves with.

It is natural for any member of the diaspora to have the yearning to relink with their roots. In fulfillment of this urge, if they want to help the revitalization of this city, they are most welcome. They could do it by tossing up useful suggestions, or sharing their experiences that will be beneficial to Mysore. They could encourage their children to post pictures, say, of any ‘beauty spots’ in their country of adoption. Footages taken with the hand-held cameras will only further strengthen our belief in their willingness to pay back to the country/city of their origin.

This is just a brief, but fervent, appeal to all the readers of this blog to contribute. The best of your write-ups, suggestions or ideas, if found relevant for use in a special print edition, will be used with due credit given to contributors. Please visit again to find be updated on the campaign which is getting launched on February 8.

Editor

College Times

Mysore city’s only newspaper for students

“Indian dreams of private universities”: This is the headline of a dispatch by Tim Sullivan for the Associated Press today. The headline is both positive and flattering at once, but the story is more otherwise. The report is all about the mind-boggling extent of private participation in education in India, particularly at the higher levels.
“India’s higher education system is so hobbled by underfunding, corruption, outdated teaching materials and bureaucratic infighting that — except at a handful of hyper-elite, brutally competitive institutions — it often seems on the brink of collapse,” Sullivan writes. Only eight per cent of Indians of university age are in higher education, he says, quoting a recent government report. (The figure is half the average of the rest of Asia, with hundreds of thousands unable to find spots at schools).

This gloomy picture provides Sullivan the perfect background to introduce Ashok Chauhan, the founder chief of Amity University, Noida, “… far from the typical educator”, Chauhan is “an industrialist, a businessman — and a man wanted in Germany on fraud charges. He’s a self-proclaimed philanthropist who is often surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards, grim-looking men in polyester safari suits”.

The story, even when brings out a realistic portrayal of Indian higher education in the age of globalization – was the picture any different before 1991? – succinctly highlights its state of affairs. Private participation can only be driven by profit motives, despite the legal requirement that private universities make no profit.

Read on: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMCEpae_ezVxjXj49BgwppCloEBAD8TMKJ680 

So, there is festive fervour in the air and everybody is in a holiday mood. Why not spread the cheer, we thought, and decided to post this link:

http://www.flashfunpages.com/couple.swf

Did you enjoy?

This is quite akin to the previous item on this blog.  While Bangalore University is contemplating a system of grading teachers by their pupils, in the United States, principals, teachers and staffers – including custodians – at three Washington D.C. public schools where students’ test scores rose more than 20 per cent last year received $500,000 in cash awards delivered by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Tuesday.  Full story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121800907.html

Of course, Fenty correctly says, while giving away the cash awards, that they “don’t do it for the money. They do it for the love of children.”

Here is something for us Indians to emulate the Americans. Do we have the system of appointing the best and the most committed candidates as school teachers? Do we, first of all, realize that the school teachers, particularly at the elementary level, must be the most qualified? Yes, we do observe Teachers’ Day, but it has been reduced to a mere ritual. At best, the occasion is just a token celebration of one of the best teachers Independent India produced. And it is a matter of pride for us at Mysore that the teacher served in Mysore.

TIME was when job advertisements carried the proviso barring candidates from Bangalore University from applying. Today, news is that it is attempting something that might wipe off that bad reputation: In a bid to improve the quality of education, the university has decided to grade not just the students but the teachers as well. According to a CNN-IBN report, starting this year, students will rate their teachers in a confidential record, as part of a faculty quality-check programme.

“The world is going for 360 degree feedback. Feedback from the supervisor will tell us as to how well the student’s perceive his views. Then student’s feedback will tell us how much of impact the teacher’s guidance has had on them. Probably this can also help in improving the curriculum,” says Registrar Sanjay Vir Singh.

Each teacher will get an appraisal from their students and department heads on parameters like subject proficiency, teaching skills and innovative teaching methodologies. Students will fill in a questionnaire to grade their teachers on a scale of 1 to 100.

While welcoming this radial move, College Times only hopes that the student community will make the best use of this opportunity. Students have to look at it as power to improve the quality of education. They must stay away from turning either vindictive or mischievous, as both would amount to squandering a great chance offered to them on a platter for bringing about improvement in the system. CT also hopes that the University of Mysore would follow suit.

Candidates are to be tested for their English comprehension when they write the popular Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges in Karnataka (COMED-K) tests for seeking admission under the management quota in private professional colleges from next year.

This proposal is to discourage students seeking to take up professional courses years after doing their Final PU, says a Deccan Herald report. It is said that there are coaching centres, particularly in UP and Bihar, that specialize in offering crash course to those who want to appear for such entrance tests.

The thinking that English knowledge is indispensable, particularly for wannabe professionals, is perfect and was long overdue. But to single out some COMED-K aspirants just because they did their PU many years back is not right, for, some of them, at least, may be serious candidates who may not have been able to pursue their studies without a break for whatever distressing circumstances.  Worthy candidates must be there even in UP, Bihar, or any other state. It is singularly prejudicial to their interest to accord them negative weightage – as is being proposed – for the only reason that there was a gap in their academic career. The COMED-K tests are always there for selection of the right candidates and to cast aspersions on their worthiness is to question the foolproof nature of the tests itself.

Moreover, it is very well known that students aspiring for professional courses do so to the neglect of English studies. Their entire focus is only on the core subjects. Deeper focus on three of the four core subjects is not unheard of either, with engineering-aspirants relegating biology to unimportance or medical-aspirants throwing mathematics out of focus. (Even a few of those who paid equal importance to all the subjects, including the languages, did so with an eye on the ranks. For some, it is question of reserving their options until a later day: Do well in either of the fourth subject and then decide which course to take). Anyway, fact remains that acquisition of knowledge is seldom the priority of majority students. So, why discriminate against those desirous of pursuing their studies after a lapse.

Further, nothing can stop crash English courses being introduced (though we all know that such training centres are already there and all over). If a student can have a tailor-made course in physics, chemistry or any other subject, he can also have a similar course in English as well.

However, introduction of English test would be welcome for its own sake. It will encourage English learning and help our future professionals with felicity of the emerging world language. One can ignore English, communication English, only to one’s peril. It hardly matters who one is – professional or not. English is as essential as swimming. It is indispensable if one has to make the most of the ocean of global opportunities.

What the government will do if it receives a proposal

from a filmmaker to make a film on Mahabharata….

Government of India
Ministry of Human Resources Development
Department of Culture
Films Division

No. B1452/234/2003 Dt. 07.12.07

To:
Shri. B.R.Chopra,
Film Director,
Mumbai

Ref: Film story submitted by you, regarding financing of
films by Government of India, Your letter dt. 2.12.90

The undersigned is directed to refer the above letter and
state that the Government has examined your proposal for
financing a film called ”Mahabharat’. The Very High
Level Committee constituted for this purpose has been in
consultation with the Human Rights Commission, National
Commission for Women and Labour Commission, inaddition to
various Ministries and State Governments and have formed
definitive opinions about the script. Their observations
are as below:

1. In the script submitted by you it is shown that there
were two sets of cousins, namely, the Kauravas, numbering
one hundred, and the Pandavas, numbering five. The
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has pointed out
that these numbers are high, well above the norm
prescribed for families by them. It is brought to your
kind attention that when the Government is spending huge
amounts for promoting family planning, this will send
wrong signals to the public. Therefore, it is recommended
that there may be only three Kauravas and one Pandava.

2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has raised an
issue whether it is suitable to depict kings and emperors
in this democratic age. Therefore, it is suggested that
the Kauravas may be depicted as Honourable Members of
Parliament (Lok Sabha) and the Pandava may be depicted as
Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). The ending
of the film shows the victory of the said Pandavas over
the said Kauravas. The ending may be suitably modified so
that neither of the Honourable Members of Parliament are
shown as being inferior to the other.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology has observed
that the manner of birth of Kauravas is suggestive of
human cloning, a technology banned in India. This may be
changed to normal birth.

4. The National Commission for Women has objected that
the father of Pandavas, one Sri Pandu, is depicted as
bigamous, and also there is only one wife for the
Pandavas in common. Thereore suitable changes may be made
in the said script so that the said Sri Pandu is not
depicted as bigamous. However, with the reduction in
number of Pandavas as suggested above, the issue of
polyandry can be addressed without further trouble.

5. The Commission for the Physically Challenged has
observed that the portrayal of the visually impaired
character ‘Dhritharastra’ is derogatory. Therefore the
said character may not be shown as visually impaired.

6. The Department of Women and Child Development have
highlighted that the public disrobing of one female
character called ‘Draupadi’ is objectionable and
derogatory to women in general. Further the Home Ministry
anticipates that depiction of such scenes may create law
and order problem and at the same time invite strong
protests from the different women forums. Such scenes may
also invite penal action under SITA (Suppression of
Immoral Traffic Act), therefore they may be avoided and
deleted from the film.

7. It is felt that showing the Pandava and the Kauravas
as gamblers will be anti-social and counter productive as
it might encourage gambling. Therefore, the said Pandavas
and Kauravas may be shown to have engaged in horse
racing. (Hon. Supreme Court has held horse racing not to
be gambling)

8. The Pandavas are shown as working in the King Virat’s
employment without receiving any salary. According to the
Human Rights Commission, this amounts to bonded labour
and may attract provisions of The Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act, 1976. This may be corrected at once.

9. In the ensuing war, one character by name Sri
Abhimanyu has been shown as fighting. The National Labour
Commission has observed that, war being a hazardous
industry, and the said character being 16 years old, this
depiction will be construed as a case of child labour.
Also there is no record of his being paid any
compensation. This may also be deemed to be violatory of
the provisions of The Child Labour (Prohibition and
Regulation) Act, 1986 and Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Such
references in the film may be removed.

10. The character ‘Sri Krishna’ has been depicted as
wearing a peacock feather. The peacock is our National
Bird and wearing dresses made from peacock feather is an
offence under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. This
may not be depicted

11. Smt Maneka Gandhi has raised very serious objection
for using any elephants or horses in war scenes, since
there is every scope for mistreatment and injury to the
said animals. The provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Act, 1890 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(Amendment) Act, 1960 would be applicable in the instant
case. Suitable changes may be made in the script to
address the objections raised.

12. In pursuance of the Memorandum of Ministry of Finance
regarding austerity measures, it is informed that in the
battle field sequences, only ten soldiers may be allowed
for each side. Also, all the characters may be shown to
have obtained a valid licence under the Arms Act, 1959 as
well as the Indian Arms Act, 1878. You are therefore
requested to modify the script along the lines indicated
above and resubmit it to the undersigned at the earliest.

Sd/-
Under Secretary

***

(Contribubted by Chetan Sampat)

Thanks Chetan, but where do you get this excellent stuff from?

Gun culture in the United States is typical of the nation’s culture. If a robber is armed, so should be his potential victim. That’s the logic which makes purchase of guns in the US as easy as buying a drink in Mysore. A spate of violence, often in the form of some gun-toting man going berserk and opening fire in a crowded public place, does not change the country’s obsession with extreme freedom – the freedom which guarantees gun to anyone with the money to buy it. The latest such gory crime has been reported from a department store in Omaha. The culprit is a smart and likable youngster called Robert A Hawkins, not even 20.  Estranged from his family, the youngster had lost his girlfriend as also his job at a McDonald outlet – a recipe for disaster. The guy, after killing eight people, also killed himself. Life is worth a lot more than losing a job, girlfriend or being estranged. Yes, all three causes speak about the lifestyles of the American society. One cannot but feel intensely for what triggered the killing spree as also for his own loss of life. It’s something for us all, our parents and students, to ponder, when Mysooru is also showing distinct signs of going the Wild West way.

There is widespread rancour among medical students and it is spreading. Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has just said in an interview with Press Trust of India that it is pay-back time for the students of government medical colleges and they must serve in villages as they are paying “dismally low” fees.

It is not everyday that governmental moves deserve commendation, but this one is certainly an exception for “the government is heavily subsidising the education.” Ramadoss has a point when he says that the government is not asking much from medical students and many countries have two-three years of compulsory service in villages.

The point is the medical students have taken to streets in three states even before any announcement on compulsory rural service has been made. However, the agitation amply brings out the contempt the city-bred, notably the young, have for rural India. The divide between Bharath and India has always been there and come to draw increased attention only in the present era of digitization. (It is but a paradox that the divide also has the solution to the divide it has deepened. Digitization is at once both the divider and the bridge!).

There are innumerable solutions to bridge the gap, but a certain amount of concerned human intervention is essential to set the ball rolling. Health and Education are two critical areas which seek such intervention. However, we find that doctors and teachers are two communities that constantly look for ways and means of rural postings. What growth can the nation achieve with such apathy? On-going strike by our students who ought to carry our hope of a better India, is symptomatic of a major malady which has crippled India’s development. Any wonder our distressed farmers have joined the money-making bandwagon by being ever so keen to dispose of their landholdings for the huge sums in return? Everyone wants to be where the big bucks is?

Her Diary

Day night, I thought he was acting
weird. We had made
plans to meet at a
cafe to have some coffee. I was
shopping with my friends
all day long, so  I
thought he was upset at the fact that I
was
a bit
late,
but he made no
comment. Conversation wasn’t flowing so
I suggested   that
we go somewhere
quiet so we could talk, he agreed but
he kept quiet and
absent. I
asked
him what was wrong – he
said,
“Nothing. “I asked him if
it was my fault
that he was upset. He said it
had
nothing  to do with me
and not to worry.
On the way home I told him that I
loved
him, he simply
smiled and kept
driving.  I can’t explain his
behavior; I don’t know
why he didn’t say,
“I love u, too.”When we got home I felt
as if I had lost
him, as if he
wanted nothing to do  with me anymore.
He just sat
there and watched TV.;
he seemed distant and absent. Finally I
decided to go to
bed. About 10
minutes later he came to bed. I decided
that I could not
take it anymore,
so I decided to confront him with the
situation but he
had fallen asleep. I
started crying and cried until I too
fell asleep.  I
don’t know what to
do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts
are with someone
else. My life is a
disaster.

HIS DIARY
Today India lost the cricket match
against Bangladesh.
DAMN
IT.

(Forwarded by Chetan Sampat)