http://www.readwhere.com/read/c/4144103
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Kali KAla 7: Education and Success in Life
http://epaper.samyukthakarnataka.com/400746/Samyuktha-Karnataka/December-22-2014-Bangalore#page/6/1
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Government and Doctors: Healers Unhealed.
Government and Doctors: Healers Unhealed.
It is one thing to say that quite a lot of medical doctors are irresponsible, corrupt and exploitative. It is entirely different when young doctors in Karnataka State are up against poor working condition and go on a strike demanding better amenities. Government ridiculed them. What is worse, when nearly three thousand doctors in the State were driven to desperation and tendered resignation enmasse as a month's notice to quit the job, the arrogant and insensitive Health Minister says, "let them go, we have alternative plan". A few patient died in the meantime without medical attention owing to the strike by doctors and Minister's attitude. What is the guarantee that the new doctors the Minister is going to hire would also be driven to desperation with the same kind of Government's attention they are getting? Besides, the government and the people would be losing the benefit of experienced doctors. Further, the enmity, ill will and negative attitude between Government and doctors would persist which works against the interest of both the party and the people. May be all that would take two to three years and by that time the term of the present Government end and the Minister would care less thereafter. This is the problem with majority of our politicians and the planning they undertake in the Government: they do not want to think beyond their term, five years, let alone people and the State at large for a long term welfare. For, projects that go beyond five years for fruition, as most of the worthwhile projects for people's benefit and welfare at large are, politicians are not interested as it would not count for their vote bank, to their credits and benefits. No wonder that our Roads, Power, Irrigation, Health, Education and what not Works would not last for more than five years, such is the quality of work they get it executed with large amount of pilferage that goes to where, how and why that we know!
It is one thing to say that quite a lot of medical doctors are irresponsible, corrupt and exploitative. It is entirely different when young doctors in Karnataka State are up against poor working condition and go on a strike demanding better amenities. Government ridiculed them. What is worse, when nearly three thousand doctors in the State were driven to desperation and tendered resignation enmasse as a month's notice to quit the job, the arrogant and insensitive Health Minister says, "let them go, we have alternative plan". A few patient died in the meantime without medical attention owing to the strike by doctors and Minister's attitude. What is the guarantee that the new doctors the Minister is going to hire would also be driven to desperation with the same kind of Government's attention they are getting? Besides, the government and the people would be losing the benefit of experienced doctors. Further, the enmity, ill will and negative attitude between Government and doctors would persist which works against the interest of both the party and the people. May be all that would take two to three years and by that time the term of the present Government end and the Minister would care less thereafter. This is the problem with majority of our politicians and the planning they undertake in the Government: they do not want to think beyond their term, five years, let alone people and the State at large for a long term welfare. For, projects that go beyond five years for fruition, as most of the worthwhile projects for people's benefit and welfare at large are, politicians are not interested as it would not count for their vote bank, to their credits and benefits. No wonder that our Roads, Power, Irrigation, Health, Education and what not Works would not last for more than five years, such is the quality of work they get it executed with large amount of pilferage that goes to where, how and why that we know!
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Creative Centres as Cemetery !
Art and Cultural Centre as Burial Ground.
Jnana Bharati is becoming Smashaana Bharati, Kalaagrama is becoming Shavaagrama . Artistic creation and knowledge discovery are the moments of conquering death, yet such places are made celebration of death by the thoughtless and heartless in the Karnataka Government by converting Art Centre in Bangalore University Campus into a cemetery, cremating celebrities. Sanctity of culture and its men of letters are sullied, Goddess Saraswati is devalued by such acts. I had felt the same when my senior, highly revered friend and National poet GSS was cremated there. I feel the same now when my even greater friend, a literary giant and thinker URA is cremated there. I see that great creative theatre personalities, Prasanna and Janni also feel the same.
Government, if they so want, must identify an independent land to cremate celebrities who brought laurels to Kannada, Culture and Karnataka, shift the existing two also there rather than using land meant for Education and Culture.
ಕಲಾ ತಾಣ ಸಮಾಧಿ ತಾಣ.
ಜ್ಞಾನ ಭಾರತಿ ಸ್ಮಶಾನ ಭಾರತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ, ಕಲಾಗ್ರಾಮ ಶವಾಗ್ರಾಮವಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಜ್ಞಾನದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಗಳು ಮೃತ್ಯುವನ್ನು ಜಯಸುವ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು, ಆದರೆ ಅಂತಹ ತಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾವಿನ ವಿಜ್ರಂಭಣೆಯ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ ಬುದ್ಧಿಹೀನ, ಹೃದಯಹೀನ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ. ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಹರಿಕಾರರನ್ನು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಸ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಕಲಾ ಗ್ರಾಮ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಪಾವಿತ್ರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಘನತೆ ತಂದವರಿಗೆ ಕಳಂಕ ತಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಸರಸ್ವತಿಯ ಅಪಮೌಲ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನನ್ನ ಹಿರಿಯರು, ಗೌರವಾನ್ವಿತ ಮಿತ್ರರು, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ ಕವಿ ಜಿಎಸ್ಸೆಸ್ಸ್ ರವರ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಾಗ ನನಗೆ ಹಾಗನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಈಗ ನನ್ನ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಿತ್ರ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ವಿಚಾರ ದಿಗ್ಗಜ ಅನಂತ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಾಗಲೂ ಹಾಗನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಈಗ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲ ರಂಗಕರ್ಮಿಗಳಾದ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ಜನ್ನಿ ಅವರು ಇಂತಹದೇ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ
ಈಗಲಾದರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, ಕನ್ನಡ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಗೆ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ತಂದವರ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಿ, ಈಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿವರುವ ಇಬ್ಬರದನ್ನು, ಮುಂದೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಆ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಒಳಿತು
Jnana Bharati is becoming Smashaana Bharati, Kalaagrama is becoming Shavaagrama . Artistic creation and knowledge discovery are the moments of conquering death, yet such places are made celebration of death by the thoughtless and heartless in the Karnataka Government by converting Art Centre in Bangalore University Campus into a cemetery, cremating celebrities. Sanctity of culture and its men of letters are sullied, Goddess Saraswati is devalued by such acts. I had felt the same when my senior, highly revered friend and National poet GSS was cremated there. I feel the same now when my even greater friend, a literary giant and thinker URA is cremated there. I see that great creative theatre personalities, Prasanna and Janni also feel the same.
Government, if they so want, must identify an independent land to cremate celebrities who brought laurels to Kannada, Culture and Karnataka, shift the existing two also there rather than using land meant for Education and Culture.
ಕಲಾ ತಾಣ ಸಮಾಧಿ ತಾಣ.
ಜ್ಞಾನ ಭಾರತಿ ಸ್ಮಶಾನ ಭಾರತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ, ಕಲಾಗ್ರಾಮ ಶವಾಗ್ರಾಮವಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಜ್ಞಾನದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಗಳು ಮೃತ್ಯುವನ್ನು ಜಯಸುವ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು, ಆದರೆ ಅಂತಹ ತಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾವಿನ ವಿಜ್ರಂಭಣೆಯ ಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ ಬುದ್ಧಿಹೀನ, ಹೃದಯಹೀನ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ. ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಹರಿಕಾರರನ್ನು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಸ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಕಲಾ ಗ್ರಾಮ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಪಾವಿತ್ರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಘನತೆ ತಂದವರಿಗೆ ಕಳಂಕ ತಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಸರಸ್ವತಿಯ ಅಪಮೌಲ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನನ್ನ ಹಿರಿಯರು, ಗೌರವಾನ್ವಿತ ಮಿತ್ರರು, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ ಕವಿ ಜಿಎಸ್ಸೆಸ್ಸ್ ರವರ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಾಗ ನನಗೆ ಹಾಗನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಈಗ ನನ್ನ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಿತ್ರ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ವಿಚಾರ ದಿಗ್ಗಜ ಅನಂತ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಶವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಾಗಲೂ ಹಾಗನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಈಗ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲ ರಂಗಕರ್ಮಿಗಳಾದ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ಜನ್ನಿ ಅವರು ಇಂತಹದೇ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ
ಈಗಲಾದರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ, ಕನ್ನಡ, ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಗೆ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ತಂದವರ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಿ, ಈಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿವರುವ ಇಬ್ಬರದನ್ನು, ಮುಂದೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಆ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಒಳಿತು
Friday, August 22, 2014
URA ( 1932 - 2014 ): Quest-full and Intense.
When I joined Maharaja's College, Mysore, in 1959 for my Degree Course, U R Ananthamurthy ( URA ) had just joined as teacher in the English Department of Mysore University, in which he had studied his Degree and Post graduation. My close friends and school and college mates( also known as three inseparables ) since my secondary school days, Giri and G S Sadashiva, were prominent short story writers at that time itself and in whose circle of friends I always would be there as much as they were in my circles, took me to URA first in the College Canteen and subsequently to his residence, URA became a part my intellectual, social and personal climate ever since. What else! Being part of him is irresistible. Although he was a teacher and we were students, he treats us/everybody as equals and would jump into discussion on variety of issues with deep involvement and fresh ideas with a style that has a magical attraction for anybody who listens to him, and it is impossible not to be impressed and influenced, more often lastingly, or in any case in the initial stages at the least. Subsequently, much later, there were many functional relationship with us as well. When I was a President of the Federation of University Teachers Association, he was the President of on of its constituent Mysore University Teachers Association and together, among others, we used to conduct Meetings and even waged a demonstration and went on strike on some issues plaguing university teachers where URA was one of my staunch supporter. Later on, when I was Vice Chancellor, he came to Bangalore University as a visiting professor of English in the Kannada Department ( the post was vacant that time ) for full one year. He was also instrumental in getting Prof. Ramachandra Gandhi, renowned Philosopher ( also grandson of Mahatma Gandhi ) as visiting professor for Bangalore University.
The close interaction we had was of course in Mysore City, both at his residence and in Coffee House at Dasprakash Hotel circle. Almost every evening we used to visit Coffee House, two large tables were occupied by two groups each, one led by Poet and Professor Gopalakrishna Adiga where URA, K Sadashiva, P Lankesh(whenever he visited Mysore from Bangalore) and others formed the group. The other table is lead by D V Urs with V K Natraj, G N Ramu, and others with we triumvirate- Me, Giri and G S Sadashiva- shuttling between the two tables. Well known Kannada Literary Periodical, sakshi emanated from the Adiga group and an English periodical with socio-economic and political bent chanakya emanated from Urs group. ( Both the magazines are not in now ). Literary circle there was abuzz with URA, Girish Karnad, P Lankesh and C Kambar, besides Adiga, Bendre, Kuvempu, Kanavi, Putina, GSS and Karanth those days.
It was URA who introduced us to modernity and modern literature both in English such as T S Eliot, W B Yeats, J P Sartre, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka, and in Kannada such as Gopalakrishna Adiga andYashwant Chittala among others. There used to be heated discussion, as we walked from city or Crawford Hall to Saraswatipuram, all the heat by URA, on D H Lawrence to Simon De Bouvir, Shivaram Karanth to Rao Bahadur, R K Narayan to Rajarao. URA always bristled with fresh ideas, deep thinking and wide reading. His openness, affection and respect given to all around him is something astounding and endearing.
People have alleged URA as an opportunist, sides the power be to curry favour of awards or position. Whenever you interact with him or read his short stories, novels or other works he has written we at once realise that those allegation fall aside as irrelevant to his genius. His many short stories, novels and non fiction writings have brought light and freedom to many I have come across.
The close interaction we had was of course in Mysore City, both at his residence and in Coffee House at Dasprakash Hotel circle. Almost every evening we used to visit Coffee House, two large tables were occupied by two groups each, one led by Poet and Professor Gopalakrishna Adiga where URA, K Sadashiva, P Lankesh(whenever he visited Mysore from Bangalore) and others formed the group. The other table is lead by D V Urs with V K Natraj, G N Ramu, and others with we triumvirate- Me, Giri and G S Sadashiva- shuttling between the two tables. Well known Kannada Literary Periodical, sakshi emanated from the Adiga group and an English periodical with socio-economic and political bent chanakya emanated from Urs group. ( Both the magazines are not in now ). Literary circle there was abuzz with URA, Girish Karnad, P Lankesh and C Kambar, besides Adiga, Bendre, Kuvempu, Kanavi, Putina, GSS and Karanth those days.
It was URA who introduced us to modernity and modern literature both in English such as T S Eliot, W B Yeats, J P Sartre, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka, and in Kannada such as Gopalakrishna Adiga andYashwant Chittala among others. There used to be heated discussion, as we walked from city or Crawford Hall to Saraswatipuram, all the heat by URA, on D H Lawrence to Simon De Bouvir, Shivaram Karanth to Rao Bahadur, R K Narayan to Rajarao. URA always bristled with fresh ideas, deep thinking and wide reading. His openness, affection and respect given to all around him is something astounding and endearing.
People have alleged URA as an opportunist, sides the power be to curry favour of awards or position. Whenever you interact with him or read his short stories, novels or other works he has written we at once realise that those allegation fall aside as irrelevant to his genius. His many short stories, novels and non fiction writings have brought light and freedom to many I have come across.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
BKS Iyengar: A Tribute
World renowned Yoga exponent and teacher, B K S Iyengar, is no more. Remembering some thoughts on Yoga in honour of him.
ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಯೋಗ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕ, ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಬಿ ಕೆ ಎಸ್ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರರು ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವರ ಸ್ಮರಣಾರ್ಥ ಒಂದು ಯೋಗ ವಿಚಾರ ನಮನ.
1. yogah cittavrtti nirodhah ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2 )
Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. (Consciousness is made up of mind, intellect and ego)
ಯೋಗ ಚಿತ್ತ ( ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಹಂಕಾರ ) ದ ಚಲನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವುದು.
2. tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.3 )
Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour.
ಆಗ ಆತ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿರಾಜಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
3. yogasthah kuru karmani ( Bhagavadgita, 2. 48. )
Perform action being fixed in yoga
ಯೋಗಸ್ಥನಾಗಿ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸು.
4. yogah karmasu kaushalam ( Bhagavadgita 2. 50. )
Skill in actionis yoga
ಯೋಗವೆಂದರೆ ಕರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾಣ್ಮೆ/ಕುಶಲತೆ.
5. yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayah astau angani ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra, 2.29 )
Moral injunctions (external purity) fixed observance(internal purity), posture, regulation of breath, internalisation of senses towards their source, concentration, meditation, and absorption of consciousness in the self are the eight constituents of yoga.
ಯಮ(ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಶುದ್ಧಿ), ನಿಯಮ(ಅಂತರಂಗ ಶುದ್ಧಿ), ಆಸನ, ಪ್ರಾಣಾಯಾಮ, ಪ್ರತ್ಯಾಹಾರ, ಧಾರಣ, ಧ್ಯಾನ, ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಧಿ ಇವೇ ಯೋಗದ ಎಂಟು ಅಂಗಗಳು.
ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಯೋಗ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಕ, ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಬಿ ಕೆ ಎಸ್ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರರು ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವರ ಸ್ಮರಣಾರ್ಥ ಒಂದು ಯೋಗ ವಿಚಾರ ನಮನ.
1. yogah cittavrtti nirodhah ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2 )
Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. (Consciousness is made up of mind, intellect and ego)
ಯೋಗ ಚಿತ್ತ ( ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಹಂಕಾರ ) ದ ಚಲನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವುದು.
2. tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.3 )
Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour.
ಆಗ ಆತ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿರಾಜಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
3. yogasthah kuru karmani ( Bhagavadgita, 2. 48. )
Perform action being fixed in yoga
ಯೋಗಸ್ಥನಾಗಿ ಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸು.
4. yogah karmasu kaushalam ( Bhagavadgita 2. 50. )
Skill in actionis yoga
ಯೋಗವೆಂದರೆ ಕರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾಣ್ಮೆ/ಕುಶಲತೆ.
5. yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhayah astau angani ( Patanjali Yoga Sutra, 2.29 )
Moral injunctions (external purity) fixed observance(internal purity), posture, regulation of breath, internalisation of senses towards their source, concentration, meditation, and absorption of consciousness in the self are the eight constituents of yoga.
ಯಮ(ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಶುದ್ಧಿ), ನಿಯಮ(ಅಂತರಂಗ ಶುದ್ಧಿ), ಆಸನ, ಪ್ರಾಣಾಯಾಮ, ಪ್ರತ್ಯಾಹಾರ, ಧಾರಣ, ಧ್ಯಾನ, ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಧಿ ಇವೇ ಯೋಗದ ಎಂಟು ಅಂಗಗಳು.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Bangalore of Yore
I came to Bangalore in 1965 and I am living here ever since except for four years(1973-77) I was away, in all 45 years of residing in the city. In the 60s and 70s Bangalore was mostly cold and misty most of the day almost all through the years. In fact, a friend of mine from Bangalore married a Bombay girl when he was working there and his wife refused to come and reside in Bangalore as it is so dull and cloudy that even in the mid noon you have to have lights on in the kitchen. There marriage ended in divorce and I have a nagging feeling that Bangalore weather is one of the reason for it!
We used to take an evening walk right on the footpath next to Deccan Herald Prajavani Building from Brigade road end to Oriental Building and how: three of us in parallel swinging our arms with no obstruction or brushing off with people around which is unthinkable now!
I was residing in Wilson Garden then during my NIMHANS days(1965-1973) and used to reach any place from there in just 15 minutes on my Bajaj Scooter which would now take about an hour for the same distance.
All that leisure and luxury living has gone now. Old city of Bangalore exploded into a top global city with utilising at the centre almost the same size and dimensions of the old city, is now bursting with the seams.Bangalore was never built for a capital city, Mysore was the capital where even now we see broad roads and boulevards everywhere.
Leaders with far far sight and vision would have allowed the growth of Bangalore from the old city only as a parallel or satellite town with all amenities rather than crushed in the old city space.
Leaders with far far sight and vision would have allowed the growth of Bangalore from the old city only as a parallel or satellite town with all amenities rather than crushed in the old city space.
Monday, August 11, 2014
CSAT and FYUP: BJP's turn down on Reforms and Progress.
When people of India suffered years of misrule, Modi promised change, development and progress and they lapped it up. But once the BJP came to power we see the same old deafening silence and defeatist caution on the promises made even on the vital issues plaguing the country and what is worse, even the reforms plan emanating from autonomous institution are interfered with to belittle and stifle the same. Higher Education Sector is the case in point, especially its action on Civil Service Aptitude Test ( CSAT ) and the English Language in Civil Service Examination as well as on Four Year Undergraduate Program ( FYUP ), turning down both. Both are a reform in the right direction, if not the revolutionary change as our education scenario demands.
Education must reckon with the individual differences and the unique talent pupil has as they alone need to be honed up, they alone can contribute to quality and relevance in learning especially when they are related to self and National development. CSAT is a small step in that direction. It would not exclude any as every task needs multiple skills - technical, organisational, communication, relationship skills for example - and the aptitude test is ideal with adults to identify, develop and place accordingly in line with their talents, (although the Test may not be ideal with children as the aptitude and skills are still in the process of unfolding in them). CSAT would have replaced the present arbitrary and subjective way of doing the recognition, honing and placement of talents in the pupil. It would have brought the best fit between the person and job, thereby contributing to greater productivity and job satisfaction.
Similarly, FYUP. Degrees in General Education at present have become irrelevant either to self or to national development as they do not offer any skills or worthy experience. They are fit only to do Post Graduate Degrees who in turn good only to do PhDs which eventually ends up in only teaching and research jobs, they being disempowered to shoulder umpteen number of other jobs in the country. FYUP would have offered a focused development of a subject knowledge and skills in the chosen area with emphasis on hand on field experience. If Delhi University Program had any lacunae in curriculum development or all round preparation, one could always start it after rectifying the same instead of whole scale rejection and thereby putting a spoke on academic excellence and relevance. What is worse, the manner in which the Government went about doing so is so brash that it does not bore well to the dignity and autonomy of Higher Education in the country. Government not only asked the UGC to issue direction to the Delhi University to stop the course forthwith, bypassing all the University Bodies but also, what is worse, it has an audacity to ask the Indian Institute of Science, which has a proven longstanding history of quality and excellence in its programmes developed through the hard work by their highly qualified and dedicated staff, to stop its FYUP. At this rate, the General Higher Education in India will reach its depth of degradation.
Perhaps, BJP has its own idea of change, development and progress that is different from what Modi used to state in his campaign during General Election as well as from the globally accepted definition. If that is so, then, we will be isolated and excluded by the global community with running the risk of putting us in the dustbin of antiquity that is bereft of either the free, vibrant and creative pursuit of our upanishadic rishis that are adored by many modern scientist or of partaking in the best fruits of modern civilisation by our citizens.
Written and posted on 11 August 2014.
P.S.: Todays ( 13 August 2014 ) media reports say that UGC has allowed IISC, after going through the latter's explanation, to have their FYUP. At last, some sense prevailed at least in some aspects!.
Education must reckon with the individual differences and the unique talent pupil has as they alone need to be honed up, they alone can contribute to quality and relevance in learning especially when they are related to self and National development. CSAT is a small step in that direction. It would not exclude any as every task needs multiple skills - technical, organisational, communication, relationship skills for example - and the aptitude test is ideal with adults to identify, develop and place accordingly in line with their talents, (although the Test may not be ideal with children as the aptitude and skills are still in the process of unfolding in them). CSAT would have replaced the present arbitrary and subjective way of doing the recognition, honing and placement of talents in the pupil. It would have brought the best fit between the person and job, thereby contributing to greater productivity and job satisfaction.
Similarly, FYUP. Degrees in General Education at present have become irrelevant either to self or to national development as they do not offer any skills or worthy experience. They are fit only to do Post Graduate Degrees who in turn good only to do PhDs which eventually ends up in only teaching and research jobs, they being disempowered to shoulder umpteen number of other jobs in the country. FYUP would have offered a focused development of a subject knowledge and skills in the chosen area with emphasis on hand on field experience. If Delhi University Program had any lacunae in curriculum development or all round preparation, one could always start it after rectifying the same instead of whole scale rejection and thereby putting a spoke on academic excellence and relevance. What is worse, the manner in which the Government went about doing so is so brash that it does not bore well to the dignity and autonomy of Higher Education in the country. Government not only asked the UGC to issue direction to the Delhi University to stop the course forthwith, bypassing all the University Bodies but also, what is worse, it has an audacity to ask the Indian Institute of Science, which has a proven longstanding history of quality and excellence in its programmes developed through the hard work by their highly qualified and dedicated staff, to stop its FYUP. At this rate, the General Higher Education in India will reach its depth of degradation.
Perhaps, BJP has its own idea of change, development and progress that is different from what Modi used to state in his campaign during General Election as well as from the globally accepted definition. If that is so, then, we will be isolated and excluded by the global community with running the risk of putting us in the dustbin of antiquity that is bereft of either the free, vibrant and creative pursuit of our upanishadic rishis that are adored by many modern scientist or of partaking in the best fruits of modern civilisation by our citizens.
Written and posted on 11 August 2014.
P.S.: Todays ( 13 August 2014 ) media reports say that UGC has allowed IISC, after going through the latter's explanation, to have their FYUP. At last, some sense prevailed at least in some aspects!.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
God won't spoon feed!
ನ ದೇವಾ ದಂಡ ಮಾದಾಯ ರಕ್ಷಂತಿ ಪಶುಪಾಲವತ್,
ಯಂತು ರಕ್ಷತಿ ಮಿಚ್ಚಂತಿ ಸುಬುದ್ದ್ಯಾ ಯೋಜಯಂತಿ ತಮ್. ~ ಸುಭಾಷಿತಂ.
ದನಕಾಯುವನ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಲನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ದನಕರುಗಳನ್ನು ಕಾಯುವಂತೆ ದೇವರು ಸ್ವತ: ಬಂದು ಭಕ್ತರನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬದಲಾಗಿ ತಾನು ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ನೀಡಬೇಕಾದವರಿಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ತಮ್ಮ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಯನ್ನು ತಾವೇ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯ ಕರುಣಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
God will not protect by Himself the cowboy by giving the cane to his hand to tender the cows. Instead, for those He wants to protect, He will give the right intellect and ability to protect themselves by themselves. ~ subhashitam
Monday, August 4, 2014
Crimes of Government go Scot Free
ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಗೊಳಗಾಗದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ
ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಿಗಳು ಮಹಾ ಫಾತಕಿಗಳು. ಅವರನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಶಿಕ್ಸೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗದ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಮಹಾ ಫಾತಕಿಗಳು. ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನು, ಅನುಮಾನಾಸ್ಪದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಂಸಿಸಿ "ತಪ್ಪು" ಒಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಇಡೀ ವಾಸ್ತವವನ್ನೇ ಯಾಮಾರಿಸುವ ಪೋಲೀಸರು. ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಆಡಳಿತಗಾರನ ಲೋಪದೋಷ ಕಂಡುಬಂದರೂ, ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೆದರಿ ತಲೆಮರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ದೇಶವನ್ನೇ ಬಿಡಲು ತಯಾರಿ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವ ಆಪಾದನೆ ಹಾಕದೆ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಪರಾಧ ಮಾಡಿದವರು ತಾವು ಪಾರಾಗಬಹುದು ( ಹಣ, ಜಾತಿ, ಅಂತಸ್ತು, ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಬಲದಿಂದ ) ಎನ್ನುವ ವಾತಾವರಣ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾದಾಗ ದಾರಾಳವಾಗಿ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಅಂತಹ ಜನ ಮುಂದಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಿಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಮಹಾ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಚಾಯಿಸಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ, ಈ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ? ಐದೋ ಹತ್ತೋ ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸೋಲಿಸಬಹುದು, ಆದರೆ ಸೋಲು ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ ಆಗಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೂ ಅದು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗತವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ದುರ್ನಿರ್ಧಾರಗಳಿಂದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ, ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದುದರ ಫಲ ಆಯಾ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವಂತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಯಂತಾದರು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ. Justice delayed is justice denied/ನ್ಯಾಯದ ವಿಳಂಬ ನ್ಯಾಯದ ನಿರಾಕರಣೆ. 'ಪ್ರಭು' ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಏರ್ಪಡುವ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸದ ಕಂದಕ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವಕ್ಕೇ ಮಾರಕ. ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ, ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ, ಪ್ರಜೆಯ ಕಂಗಾಲು ನಿರಂತರ
ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಿಗಳು ಮಹಾ ಫಾತಕಿಗಳು. ಅವರನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಶಿಕ್ಸೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗದ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಮಹಾ ಫಾತಕಿಗಳು. ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನು, ಅನುಮಾನಾಸ್ಪದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಂಸಿಸಿ "ತಪ್ಪು" ಒಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಇಡೀ ವಾಸ್ತವವನ್ನೇ ಯಾಮಾರಿಸುವ ಪೋಲೀಸರು. ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಆಡಳಿತಗಾರನ ಲೋಪದೋಷ ಕಂಡುಬಂದರೂ, ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೆದರಿ ತಲೆಮರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ದೇಶವನ್ನೇ ಬಿಡಲು ತಯಾರಿ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವ ಆಪಾದನೆ ಹಾಕದೆ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಪರಾಧ ಮಾಡಿದವರು ತಾವು ಪಾರಾಗಬಹುದು ( ಹಣ, ಜಾತಿ, ಅಂತಸ್ತು, ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಬಲದಿಂದ ) ಎನ್ನುವ ವಾತಾವರಣ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾದಾಗ ದಾರಾಳವಾಗಿ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಅಂತಹ ಜನ ಮುಂದಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರಿಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಮಹಾ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಚಾಯಿಸಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ, ಈ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ? ಐದೋ ಹತ್ತೋ ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸೋಲಿಸಬಹುದು, ಆದರೆ ಸೋಲು ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ ಆಗಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೂ ಅದು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗತವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ದುರ್ನಿರ್ಧಾರಗಳಿಂದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ, ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದುದರ ಫಲ ಆಯಾ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವಂತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಯಂತಾದರು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ. Justice delayed is justice denied/ನ್ಯಾಯದ ವಿಳಂಬ ನ್ಯಾಯದ ನಿರಾಕರಣೆ. 'ಪ್ರಭು' ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಏರ್ಪಡುವ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸದ ಕಂದಕ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವಕ್ಕೇ ಮಾರಕ. ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ, ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ, ಪ್ರಜೆಯ ಕಂಗಾಲು ನಿರಂತರ
Friday, June 27, 2014
Bharadwaj Brandish Bow Out at last.
Chancellor of Universities, Governor of Karnataka, Hans Raj Bharadwaj's penchant for infamy appears to be congenital as it is impervious to amelioration in spite of public protest and legal nuances to amend himself. He flouted established norms, conventions and laws with alacrity, especially in the appointment of Vice Chancellors to Universities, and got away with it thanks to flaws in our political and legal systems on the one hand and on the lack of concern for probity in public life on the part of powers that be. Bharadwaj promoted and nurtured mediocrity and people with allegation of committing criminal acts were appointed as leaders in the institutions of higher learning.
For instance, a person facing trial in the High Court on charges of criminal acts was appointed as Vice Chancellor in spite of the dissent note by a member of the Search Committee bringing the issue to his notice. He could have considered the other members in the Panel who do not have any such charges. He also did not take the concurrence of the Government in this case as required by Law/KSU Act while appointing the candidate for Vice Chancellorship and the Government did a meek submission to his misadventure without asserting its right.
In another instance, a person with mediocre academic achievement and who misrepresented his academic credential to the Search Committee was appointed as Vice Chancellor. Matter went to the High Court, the Court appeared to be convinced of the malafide act but further action was prevented by the intervention of the Chancellor to rescue the Vice Chancellor by stating that he would conduct yet another inquiry and take appropriate action on its finding. After inordinate delay, the one man Committee of a person handpicked by Chancellor himself gets Vice Chancellor exonerated of the charges by a misapplication of the Act, taking recourse to a flimsy and innocuous technical reason that the Examination Regulation in practice since several years has not obtained Chancellor's assent although it has been approved by all the Bodies within the University such as Academic Council and Syndicate!. The same Vice Chancellor was given one more year of extension after the completion of his first term and who is now, after completing his extended one year term, again appointed for the second term of two years. What extraordinary merit in him that made Bharadwaj appoint him yet again. In fact, the candidate's name should not have figured in the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee, but the Committee was constituted in such away to favour incumbent person: Committee consisted of a member who was a Principal of a Engineering College in the same region and facing criminal charges, another member is in a subordinate position in the incumbent University ( KSU Act mandates that member should not be connected to University, the VTU Act is silent on it which was taken advantage of ), and to cap it all the Government nominee, did not attend the meeting as he wanted a reschedule of the meeting which was not acceded to.
Tainted persons must be avoided while offering the highest post in the University as there are many available who are not only have no taint in their career but also better qualified.
Further, in yet another instance, Bharadwaj flouted healthy conventions and norms while nominating members to the Search Committee to recommend panel of names to the appointment of Vice Chancellors. Invariably, retired Vice Chancellors and those who are not connected to the University are nominated as, otherwise, if any working Vice Chancellor of the University in the State is nominated he would have contact with the aspirants and hence would likely to be biased. Bharadwaj has put once not only a working Vice Chancellor from the State of Karnataka but even, in other instances, junior most Vice Chancellor from the same State in the Committee.
Bharadwaj always presented himself a persona in public as an upholder of higher values, tradition and philosophy of our country, but his deeds are to the contrary and hence his public speeches appear to be cover ups to his misdeeds of the nature stated above.
Government of the day has become a silent spectator to Governor's doings, in spite of having a comfortable majority on its own, it is unable to discipline the errant Chancellor, which reflects the rot that has set in in Governance and the meekness of the ruler in it.
At last, now, the viciously audacious era of Bharadwaj ends. Hope he will not be offered any opportunity further where his possible congenital defect would surface and sully the noble cause of our democratic institutions. Or, we hope, at least now, there is a change of heart with Bharadwaj and henceforth he would dedicate himself to uphold the higher values in public life by supporting and nurturing men of integrity to the leadership of our institutions, and atone his past sins, if at all he gets yet another chance to serve the Nation.
I hope better days - achche din - will come to the Chancellor Office in Karnataka.
For instance, a person facing trial in the High Court on charges of criminal acts was appointed as Vice Chancellor in spite of the dissent note by a member of the Search Committee bringing the issue to his notice. He could have considered the other members in the Panel who do not have any such charges. He also did not take the concurrence of the Government in this case as required by Law/KSU Act while appointing the candidate for Vice Chancellorship and the Government did a meek submission to his misadventure without asserting its right.
In another instance, a person with mediocre academic achievement and who misrepresented his academic credential to the Search Committee was appointed as Vice Chancellor. Matter went to the High Court, the Court appeared to be convinced of the malafide act but further action was prevented by the intervention of the Chancellor to rescue the Vice Chancellor by stating that he would conduct yet another inquiry and take appropriate action on its finding. After inordinate delay, the one man Committee of a person handpicked by Chancellor himself gets Vice Chancellor exonerated of the charges by a misapplication of the Act, taking recourse to a flimsy and innocuous technical reason that the Examination Regulation in practice since several years has not obtained Chancellor's assent although it has been approved by all the Bodies within the University such as Academic Council and Syndicate!. The same Vice Chancellor was given one more year of extension after the completion of his first term and who is now, after completing his extended one year term, again appointed for the second term of two years. What extraordinary merit in him that made Bharadwaj appoint him yet again. In fact, the candidate's name should not have figured in the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee, but the Committee was constituted in such away to favour incumbent person: Committee consisted of a member who was a Principal of a Engineering College in the same region and facing criminal charges, another member is in a subordinate position in the incumbent University ( KSU Act mandates that member should not be connected to University, the VTU Act is silent on it which was taken advantage of ), and to cap it all the Government nominee, did not attend the meeting as he wanted a reschedule of the meeting which was not acceded to.
Tainted persons must be avoided while offering the highest post in the University as there are many available who are not only have no taint in their career but also better qualified.
Further, in yet another instance, Bharadwaj flouted healthy conventions and norms while nominating members to the Search Committee to recommend panel of names to the appointment of Vice Chancellors. Invariably, retired Vice Chancellors and those who are not connected to the University are nominated as, otherwise, if any working Vice Chancellor of the University in the State is nominated he would have contact with the aspirants and hence would likely to be biased. Bharadwaj has put once not only a working Vice Chancellor from the State of Karnataka but even, in other instances, junior most Vice Chancellor from the same State in the Committee.
Bharadwaj always presented himself a persona in public as an upholder of higher values, tradition and philosophy of our country, but his deeds are to the contrary and hence his public speeches appear to be cover ups to his misdeeds of the nature stated above.
Government of the day has become a silent spectator to Governor's doings, in spite of having a comfortable majority on its own, it is unable to discipline the errant Chancellor, which reflects the rot that has set in in Governance and the meekness of the ruler in it.
At last, now, the viciously audacious era of Bharadwaj ends. Hope he will not be offered any opportunity further where his possible congenital defect would surface and sully the noble cause of our democratic institutions. Or, we hope, at least now, there is a change of heart with Bharadwaj and henceforth he would dedicate himself to uphold the higher values in public life by supporting and nurturing men of integrity to the leadership of our institutions, and atone his past sins, if at all he gets yet another chance to serve the Nation.
I hope better days - achche din - will come to the Chancellor Office in Karnataka.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Smriti Zubin Irani: Educational Qualification and HRD Ministry.
Controversy has been raised whether Smriti Irani, a XII Standard Pass, could hold Human Resources Development Ministry at the Centre. ( The different claim at different times by her on her education in her affidavit to Election Commission is a different issue, and in any case the different claims made out do not amount to any great or higher qualification ). Should the Minister possess appropriate educational qualification to the Ministry concerned? Many would not think so. As Omar Abdulla, a Chief Minister belonging to Opposition Party, says, a Civil Aviation Minister need not be a Pilot, or a Coal Minister need not be a Miner. Many highly successful Finance Minister, both at the Centre and States were no economists. The Constitution of India or any Law does not prescribe any educational qualifications to hold a Ministry concerned and hence it is not illegal to hold a Ministry without any relevant educational qualifications. Propriety? Probably not too. Minister offers leadership and executive skills, facilitation and implementation of programs evolved by the Experts' Body concerned. It is more so in the field of Higher Education which is run by autonomous institutions such as Universities and Institutes where government interference is least expected and mandated too. Minister's job is to oversee that those institutes are run by people of academic excellence who are competent, honest and committed. One of the main reason why the delivery of our educational system is poor in quality and relevance is that the system consists of people who are either poor in academic quality themselves or crooked and corrupt who use the system for personal gain rather than pupil's development. Minister must evolve strategies and mechanisms to weed out such elements by taking recourse to advice and confidence of honest and eminent people in the field to install competent and committed people in the Bodies of Institution governing education such as UGC, MCI, AICTE and Universities that are in her overall command. Therefore, a Minister must have more of leadership qualities of direction, persuasion, team building, identification of and support to talent, quality and excellence rather than educational/academic qualification and expertise.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Chancellor: Stink Getting Stronger
A former Syndicate member of Bangalore University is taken to police custody on accusations of criminal act involving Examination Malpractices. The accusations of a similar kind was there against him even before he became Syndicate member. Yet, he was nominated to the Syndicate by the Chancellor Sri. H R Bharadwaj although the University Act stipulates that the Chancellor's Nominee be from "eminent educationists, or persons from Commerce, Banking, Industry or other professions" ( 28.e ). The said member nominated did not belong even remotely to any of those category. This is one among the series of irregularity/illegality committed by this esteemed Chancellor in his tenure so far, some of which recounted already in my earlier blogs. Recently, a Vice Chancellor who was appointed by this Chancellor in spite of several accusation of criminality including plagiarism, even the same pending before the High Court, has now been made a member of the Search Committee to suggest panel of names for the appointment of Vice Chancellor of a University where a healthy convention is to nominate only the retired Vice Chancellors to Search Committee as the sitting Vice Chancellor would have connection with neighbouring universities by virtue of his office.The result is, as the news report reveals, the two among the panel recommended by the search committee involve persons with charges of plagiarism and other malpractices! Karnataka State has never seen such a depth of depravity in the highest office in Higher Education.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Glooms and Glitter of the Year that went by: A Personal Account
On the day of discharge after open heart bypass surgery ( CABG-1 graft/LAD ) done on 26 June 2013, at the age of 70, the Surgeon had assured me a ten more years of quality life and advised that I should be physically active. ( Those ten days of my sojourn in Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology is recounted in http://thimmappams.blogspot.in/2013/07/my-life-with-victory-gods-jayadeva.html ). I was put on nearly ten drugs every day as part of post operative regimen which eventually tapered down to four after seven months. In about five months after the Surgery I did feel a new kind of energy and stamina, started morning walk every day and was all eager to move out to my public interactions but for other health issue that cropped at this juncture.
Couple of years ago, the age related Prostrate Gland Enlargement was noticed but as it was hardly posing any problem, it was left as it is. Now, it started posing problems. A well known Nephro Urologist was consulted who after thorough investigation came to conclusion that it is benign ( BPH ), it is often a natural organic growth in advanced age, now worsened probably because of deposits of wastes of many cardiac drugs I have been taking and hence could be managed by an additional drug without recourse to surgery. The drug belongs to the category of Alpha Blockers which should not be combined with Monotrate ( mononitrate ) as there would be sudden drop in Blood Pressure if done. Monotrate was part of my cardiac post operative regimen. The Urologist did consult my Cardiologist on the drug I am taking and yet somehow cardiologist missed mentioning me taking Monotrate. On the same night I took the urology drug, on 27 October 2013, living alone at home, I fell down unconscious and woke up soon with a bleeding in the nose, I had hit my head against the wall. I got admitted to a nearby Nursing Home immediately, brain scan revealed a 'sub millimetre clot', that is no cause for worry. The unconsciousness and the fall is due to the sudden and abnormal drop in BP owing to the combination of alpha blockers with mononitrate. Soon, mononitrate was stopped as it was no more necessary now and I continued with alpha blocker for BPH with good result.
On 4th March 2014, in the early morning, I collapsed again with weakness, trembling and pain in the limbs and a sense of giddiness, no unconsciousness though. I rushed to the same Nursing Home nearby and after treatment for the same, it was discovered and diagnosed as fasting hypoglycaemia ( drop in sugar level when hungry ) and as I am not a diabetic and not on insulin, it is probably drug induced, prolonged use of cardiac and urological drugs. Treatment is to see that I do not get into state of hunger or react immediately with sugary intake when get into it! I had to stop my morning walk and exercises as according to National Library of Medicine under National Institutes of Health of the US Government, exercising under alpha blockers could induce hypoglycaemia!
I had not taken to allopathy for the last 35 years, all my ailments were treated by Alternative Medicine, principally with Homeopathy. ( My critique of allopathy may be seen:http://thimmappams.blogspot.in/2008/01/what-heals-and-ails-in-healing-system.html ). Blocking of cardiac artery forced me to consult allopathy and having undergone surgery, I had to follow their regimen of drugs which I did very promptly. In fact they even cautioned me that I should strictly go by drugs prescribed and not to take up any alternative medicine as they would interact adversely with the allopathic drugs. They even said, " Homeopathy drugs contains steroids and Ayurvedic drugs contain arsenic". Yet, the allopathic drugs have side effects, treatment for one ailment of a system will cause disturbances in other systems that you have to bear weighing the pros and cons. A necessary evil that has to be put up with!
I must acknowledge the great help rendered to me in such difficult times by my erstwhile student, Dr. (Mrs.) Gayathri Shabaraya Praveen, who is now in US with her husband and yet came down all the way from US for a month to take care of me during surgery days and on other crises stated above was taken care by her other members - two brothers and mother, Prof. Romate John of Central University of Karnataka at Gulbarga and my step brother Prof. M S Sridhara, ( LB College, Sagara ) who resides in Manchale, Sagara-Shimoga.
The main purpose of recounting all this here is to let know my friends, erstwhile students and colleagues what is ailing me whenever I have refused their request for a Function or Special Lectures or Public events. Some may even suspected that I am citing an excuse of health and am not interested with them any more. Meeting people in the University, Colleges, Public Affairs, Students and especially my erstwhile students is what I like most. I thought I owe it them all to let know why I decline their offer!
Couple of years ago, the age related Prostrate Gland Enlargement was noticed but as it was hardly posing any problem, it was left as it is. Now, it started posing problems. A well known Nephro Urologist was consulted who after thorough investigation came to conclusion that it is benign ( BPH ), it is often a natural organic growth in advanced age, now worsened probably because of deposits of wastes of many cardiac drugs I have been taking and hence could be managed by an additional drug without recourse to surgery. The drug belongs to the category of Alpha Blockers which should not be combined with Monotrate ( mononitrate ) as there would be sudden drop in Blood Pressure if done. Monotrate was part of my cardiac post operative regimen. The Urologist did consult my Cardiologist on the drug I am taking and yet somehow cardiologist missed mentioning me taking Monotrate. On the same night I took the urology drug, on 27 October 2013, living alone at home, I fell down unconscious and woke up soon with a bleeding in the nose, I had hit my head against the wall. I got admitted to a nearby Nursing Home immediately, brain scan revealed a 'sub millimetre clot', that is no cause for worry. The unconsciousness and the fall is due to the sudden and abnormal drop in BP owing to the combination of alpha blockers with mononitrate. Soon, mononitrate was stopped as it was no more necessary now and I continued with alpha blocker for BPH with good result.
On 4th March 2014, in the early morning, I collapsed again with weakness, trembling and pain in the limbs and a sense of giddiness, no unconsciousness though. I rushed to the same Nursing Home nearby and after treatment for the same, it was discovered and diagnosed as fasting hypoglycaemia ( drop in sugar level when hungry ) and as I am not a diabetic and not on insulin, it is probably drug induced, prolonged use of cardiac and urological drugs. Treatment is to see that I do not get into state of hunger or react immediately with sugary intake when get into it! I had to stop my morning walk and exercises as according to National Library of Medicine under National Institutes of Health of the US Government, exercising under alpha blockers could induce hypoglycaemia!
I had not taken to allopathy for the last 35 years, all my ailments were treated by Alternative Medicine, principally with Homeopathy. ( My critique of allopathy may be seen:http://thimmappams.blogspot.in/2008/01/what-heals-and-ails-in-healing-system.html ). Blocking of cardiac artery forced me to consult allopathy and having undergone surgery, I had to follow their regimen of drugs which I did very promptly. In fact they even cautioned me that I should strictly go by drugs prescribed and not to take up any alternative medicine as they would interact adversely with the allopathic drugs. They even said, " Homeopathy drugs contains steroids and Ayurvedic drugs contain arsenic". Yet, the allopathic drugs have side effects, treatment for one ailment of a system will cause disturbances in other systems that you have to bear weighing the pros and cons. A necessary evil that has to be put up with!
I must acknowledge the great help rendered to me in such difficult times by my erstwhile student, Dr. (Mrs.) Gayathri Shabaraya Praveen, who is now in US with her husband and yet came down all the way from US for a month to take care of me during surgery days and on other crises stated above was taken care by her other members - two brothers and mother, Prof. Romate John of Central University of Karnataka at Gulbarga and my step brother Prof. M S Sridhara, ( LB College, Sagara ) who resides in Manchale, Sagara-Shimoga.
The main purpose of recounting all this here is to let know my friends, erstwhile students and colleagues what is ailing me whenever I have refused their request for a Function or Special Lectures or Public events. Some may even suspected that I am citing an excuse of health and am not interested with them any more. Meeting people in the University, Colleges, Public Affairs, Students and especially my erstwhile students is what I like most. I thought I owe it them all to let know why I decline their offer!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
GOSSIP TESTING!
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"
"Hold on a minute", Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I would like you to pass a little test. It is called the Triple Filter Test"
"Triple Filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment and filter what you are going to say. That is why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No", the man said, actually I just heard about it and ...""
"All right", said Socrates. "So you do not really know if it is true or not, Now let us try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary".
"So", Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you are not certain it is true. You may still pass the test though, because there is one filter left: The Filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well", concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true, or good, not even useful, why tell me about it at all?"
"Hold on a minute", Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I would like you to pass a little test. It is called the Triple Filter Test"
"Triple Filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment and filter what you are going to say. That is why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No", the man said, actually I just heard about it and ...""
"All right", said Socrates. "So you do not really know if it is true or not, Now let us try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary".
"So", Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you are not certain it is true. You may still pass the test though, because there is one filter left: The Filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well", concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true, or good, not even useful, why tell me about it at all?"
From Tattvaloka, April 2014, P.38.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Lion's Roar and its Den, C R Simha No More.
YNK (Late Y N Krishnamurthy, Editor of Prajavani and later of Kannada Prabha, a renowned pun writer and brilliant columnist in Kannada), my friend for over forty years, was a connoiser of men of culture, of people in Performing Arts and Literature in particular, and he used to introduce and spend time with them with every friend of his and I was one such beneficiary of it. It was one of those meeting somewhere in 1977, in the evening in his house that I met a legend called C R Simha. Simha was already a well known dramatist then, later on went on to become equally well known cine actor and director of films and plays. We spent several evenings in Simha's place too and was a guest of his New year Parties in his house for number of years as well. When I wanted to purchase a house near his that was constructed by an uncommon but sturdy material which was also used by Simha to his house, I consulted him on whether or not to buy; it was he who assured me to go ahead with it and I did buy the house in 1995 and lived in it for next fifteen years.
Talking of house, Simha's house is unique both archetecturally and aesthetically. A circular structure built by red hallowed cement bricks, held as it were by a central stone pillar which is a statue of Charles Chaplin, with gods abode open to the sky allowing shine and rain. The Simha's/Lion's abode is aptly named ಗುಹೆ/Cave. When my nephew boy from Sagar-Shimoga went to see his house, without telling me, as it was featured in one of the Kannada Magazine which he had read, he got a royal treatment, Simha himself took him round each part of the house and explained and it was not because he was my nephew but because that is what Simha is, loving and appreciating life and people always.
When I first saw his Tughalak Play, it was an unbelievable experience, he was regal and theatrical, anguish and poignant, befitting the role; it was a great celebration of the stage itself. I had read Girish Karnad's Play Tughalak, but after seeing Simha's Play I really understood Tughalk and realised the truth of the saying that play is not meant to be read but is for the stage to be watched. In fact, I realized Tughalak as an epitome of European Existential Dilemma only after watching the play, I was not so sure when I had read it. It was simply Simha's magical performance on stage. Since then I have watched most of his Plays, if not most of his films, and each time I had wondered what a truly great actor he is.
Acting was his passion, his very nature. Once, a well known Kannada Daily Editor with whom I had been to Simha's house for a Party, asked him to enact an episode on an employee asking the boss G V Iyer for the due payment and what a scintillating act it was: slow, measured and elaborate depiction of that man and character that at once a veritable delight to watch.So also on Srikantaji. Incidentally, Srikantaji, though was a person in existence somewhat similar but was vastly a mythical figure created by YNK, although not as legendary and magnificent as the other YNK created, ಘ/Gha, Gha, an easily recognisable people anywhere and everywhere!
Simha was a very humble and loving person with extraordinary talent not only in acting but in keenly observing people and life, endearing himself to all that is human. It hurts that he is no more.
Talking of house, Simha's house is unique both archetecturally and aesthetically. A circular structure built by red hallowed cement bricks, held as it were by a central stone pillar which is a statue of Charles Chaplin, with gods abode open to the sky allowing shine and rain. The Simha's/Lion's abode is aptly named ಗುಹೆ/Cave. When my nephew boy from Sagar-Shimoga went to see his house, without telling me, as it was featured in one of the Kannada Magazine which he had read, he got a royal treatment, Simha himself took him round each part of the house and explained and it was not because he was my nephew but because that is what Simha is, loving and appreciating life and people always.
When I first saw his Tughalak Play, it was an unbelievable experience, he was regal and theatrical, anguish and poignant, befitting the role; it was a great celebration of the stage itself. I had read Girish Karnad's Play Tughalak, but after seeing Simha's Play I really understood Tughalk and realised the truth of the saying that play is not meant to be read but is for the stage to be watched. In fact, I realized Tughalak as an epitome of European Existential Dilemma only after watching the play, I was not so sure when I had read it. It was simply Simha's magical performance on stage. Since then I have watched most of his Plays, if not most of his films, and each time I had wondered what a truly great actor he is.
Acting was his passion, his very nature. Once, a well known Kannada Daily Editor with whom I had been to Simha's house for a Party, asked him to enact an episode on an employee asking the boss G V Iyer for the due payment and what a scintillating act it was: slow, measured and elaborate depiction of that man and character that at once a veritable delight to watch.So also on Srikantaji. Incidentally, Srikantaji, though was a person in existence somewhat similar but was vastly a mythical figure created by YNK, although not as legendary and magnificent as the other YNK created, ಘ/Gha, Gha, an easily recognisable people anywhere and everywhere!
Simha was a very humble and loving person with extraordinary talent not only in acting but in keenly observing people and life, endearing himself to all that is human. It hurts that he is no more.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Mind ~ Adi Shankara
Courtesy: G Balasubramanian. |
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
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