Just saw it in today's newspaper, Deccan Herald, Page 11, Inquirer column. To be honest, I was irritated.
How many hoaxes do these western people create? The heading says "There is almost no doubt Jesus spent some time in India", and the article provides no proof of the above statement. The article is about a producer, Kent Walwin (never heard of his name till date, IMDb though provides me the details that he has produced 19 movies and has written two plays, though the article says that he has made around 70 films?!). Well and good.
This producer, is now interested in making his most important movie which would explore if Jesus Christ spent his mythical 18 missing years in India!!??
Let me list some of the rumours connecting Jesus and India.
1. Jesus visited India and Tibet, served as a student as well as a teacher here and then returned back to Nazareth.
2. Jesus's body is buried somewhere in India.
3. Jesus will take his re-birth again in India.
(These are the major ones I accustomed, there may be many more...)
Googling more on the key 'Jesus in India' would provide you more results. I dont want to list them here. do it if you're interested. By the search I conducted, you get mixed responses. Some say yes, many say no.
According to a site I visited, it says that in 1894, some Russian Nicolas Notovitch, visited India and Tibet, broke his leg which made him stay long here. During this period, he found ancient records about a St. Issa (who turns out to be Christ), who studied and taught people over there. He took a copy those records in his journal, back to the West, as a proof to the expected controversy. It also says that it was also accepted by his skeptics... blah blah blah... Read the article if interested. It also calls him the Buddha.
Many other pages I visited (which deny the above statement) try to criticize Vedic philosophy on this topic rather than negating Jesus's visit to India.
Now, let me write my opinion on this.
Note:
1. I'm assuming that Jesus had existed, for some may argue on the contrary. I havent done much of research on that perspective. (Son of a virgin lady? One of my basic doubts... Sorry, I don't believe in miracles) But from the debate's perspective, lets assume he had existed.
2. I havent read the Bible but a few parts are brought to my notice, thanks to the Evangelists. I can't quote anything from it.
Of all the pages I read regarding this, they say that there were something called as missing years in Jesus's life. Since he was 13 till he completed 29, there is no record of where he was in those days.
If we consider him coming to India, that would have taken long. Coming all the way from Israel to India when you're 12 in those days where you didn't have flights? hmm! Assuming he had travelled that far. What made him travel? Why did he? For how he knew there was a country called India which is spiritually rich? (accepted by Mr. KW)
Okay, he came. They say, he learned what they called Indian philosophy, He became a teacher too. (Teaching Indian philosophy) Umm, Thats great. But didn't he teach something else back in Israel?
I know no details other than the above mentioned paragraph. Now the question thats hitting me is that after learning so much in India, why did he return back to Nazareth? Geographically if you consider, India, (Kashmir, Ladakh to be specific,) was a heaven when you consider Jerusalem. Okay let us assume, he wanted to teach what he had learnt here to his people over there. Again the same question, did he teach exactly Indian principles?
If he had visited, there should be some more documents referring him say like some pandit in a King's regime, some kind of Sthala Purana, anything. We see no major thing coz if it did existed, it should have been know by now due to the excavation conducted.
Here are some questions I'd like to ask.
1. Why did all of a sudden, people started linking Jesus to India?
2. What is the Pope's stand towards this?
3. What does the Bible say about the missing years as said by Kent Walwin?
My view for the above questions are as follows,
Christianity is suffering a blow in the West, specially in Europe by Islam as India is suffering from blows by both of these cemetic religions(Christianity & Islam) here in India.
People say that in near future, Europe will be named Eurabia as muslims are densly multiplyin in Europe. Due to the intrusion of Islam in Europe, the Christian leaders are trying to find new land for its new Vatican City and they're eyeing India as the prominent destination.
Thanks to the current Indian Politics, which is held by an Italian Lady, well supported by her two kids and the rubber stamp along with a heard of sheeps. Need more proof regarding this? What happened once Congress came to power in 2004? Evangelism was accelerated. Missionaries from all over the world started coming to India. You all remember that stupid Benny Hinn's visit to Bangalore at the Jakkur Aerodrome. Boy! what a mess it was?
Our government lauds the Pope who visits India, vows that he shall make India a complete Christian Nation. Duh! What a pity????
Missionaries started camping allover the country. Where else? At the base of Tirupati, thanks for the late converted Christian CM, YSR (remembering whom, the whole AP cries crocodile tears) Duh!
We were trekking in Nagamale, Male Mahadeshwara hills a year back, to find the hilly area evangelized to a great extent. Cel location indicator on my CellPhone was saying we're at 'Kristarajapuram' (imitating krishnarajapura?) while we were trekking, a few kids of age not crossing 10, came to us begging for money who refused the food we gave. They wanted money. We saw a cross around their necks. Thank evangelists. Hope you understood the whole situation.
They're trying to christianize India stepwise. Thats highly irritating. Don't they have care for us Indians? Doesnt it strike their mind that they're doing exactly the same as to what the muslims are doing to them in Europe?
We Vedics, have never gone abroad trying to evangelize. We dont believe in it. The west simply doesnt understand our philosophy. They need to grow up a lot. I pity them.
These intrusion of evangelists and missionaries is a further step in that path. Creating false communal issues by disrupting churches by their own people, blaming the Hindus for that is another step. Making this movie, is another step in that regard.
People are trying to eradicate Indian philosophy from the face of earth, but thanks to a lot in saving it.
I believe there will not be an end to the Sanatana Dharma by these meagre foreign creatures for it has faced more tougher situations in the past and is still existing.
Had more points. Will mention the relevant ones in the comments. Please have your say!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
On Currency notes
This post is the result of a forward SMS i got yesterday. It goes this way...
Pls don't write anything in our Indian Nationl currency notes.. Bcoz every year our govt is facing 2000 crore loss due to this.!! Pls spread it to All Indians.
I don't know how true it is but I certainly feel its a bad habit to write on anything that isnt writable. Ex: Currency Notes, Bus seats, Compound walls, lamp posts, whatever...
Well, atleast here in Bengalooru, BBMP is doing a good job in tackling the issue of illegal hoardings and writings on public walls by drawing paintings/artifacts and fining the illegals.
Lets concentrate more on currency notes for today.
Well, you might all have seen this. Drawing mustaches and beards on our infamous M. K. Gandhi, making him look like a punk such things are on a side while, writing personal messages, writing numerals on the other.
Let alone common man, even the bank officials are doing this. They count the bundle twice or thrice, after thorough checking, they'll write the count on the topmost bill. Now, whom should we blame? I've seen this in all banks including Axis, Vijaya, Corporation, HDFC, HSBC... what not?
All this made me search for information on the lifecycle of currency notes. After 10 minutes of searching, I found this interesting link from Reserve Bank of India (hereby referred RBI). I strongly suggest you all read that page to know more about Indian notes and coins. Do read it. I should thank the SMS to visit such an informational link.
After reading it, Here are the major points I inferred:
1. Actual money is just coins (Rupee coins and small coins).
2. All the banknotes/currency notes we deal with are mere readymade cheques provided by the RBI. Its like we asking the RBI governor to pay the payee the amount on the note. Its obvious. One can't carry bulky 500/1000 coins everywhere to pay up things. Technically banknotes have no value. The only advantage of a cheque might be the freedom to specify an amount which is fixed here. (Try giving it to a person outside the country, or a person who knows nothing of notes, he'll just throw it as a piece of paper)
3. Number of coins to be minted is decided by the Government of India while the number of currency notes to be printed is decided by the RBI.
4. Decision as to how many notes to be printed is taken based on the requirement for meeting the demand for banknotes due to inflation, GDP growth, replacement of soiled banknotes and reserve stock requirements. RBI also insists the Government of India in the number of coins to be minted every year.
6. We also had notes with 5000 and 10000 denominations for huge transactions which were last demonetized by 1978 (May be during Emergency??)
7. After Independence, we actually had three series of banknotes,
(i). Ashoka Pillar notes: Old notes which you might have seen, Now they've become obsolete. These were introduced in 1950 and continued till 1996.
(ii). Mahatma Gandhi series (MG series for short) produced in the period of [1996, 2005]
(iii). MG 2005 series produced since 2005 till date (2009).
8. How exactly is money transferred from RBI branches to currency chests and small coin chests.
9. Notes marked with a '*' (star/asterisk) in the number panel are actually reprinted ones, meaning notes with the serial number barring the star was already printed but was scrapped and reprinted because it was soiled/mutilated/imperfect.
Lot more...
After all this, what is the major cost of printing/reprinting of a currencynote?
1. RBI has to collect the soiled/mutilated/imperfect notes, keep track of it.
2. cost of producing the amount of paper (number of trees cut/machine cost etc)
3. Make sure that there are no notes with the same serial number. This means RBI should get the old note, scrap it and then print a new one. This might seem simple but in fact it isnt.
To be on the better side, all we can do is to lessen the number of notes getting printed every year. saving paper, saving money, saving time etc... What has RBI gotta say about it?
They say, about clean note policy [copy pasting with due respect to RBI].
What is the harm in us following such simple norms? They are simple things if we regularise in our lives, make sthe job of the bank a bit simpler... aint it?
Here are a few guidelines I would suggest for the interested.
1. Try to store it at max in a single fold. Preferrably in your billfold or wallet (whatever you call it). Do not fold it more than once.
2. Do not staple. use rubber bands instead.
3. If you work in a counter where transactions are very frequent and you've got to know the number of notes in every bundle, Instead of writing it on the banknote itself, attach a piece of paper to the rubberband, write the count/amount on the paper instead.
4. Do not press any seal onto banknotes.
Here are a few more guidelines to prevent soiling/mutilating:
1. Before washing clothes, thoroughly check all its pockets for valuables.
2. Do not carry sharp edged things inside your billfold. This might mutilate banknotes.
3. Store banknotes in less humid places.
Please suggest more guidelines which I might have missed.
Pls don't write anything in our Indian Nationl currency notes.. Bcoz every year our govt is facing 2000 crore loss due to this.!! Pls spread it to All Indians.
I don't know how true it is but I certainly feel its a bad habit to write on anything that isnt writable. Ex: Currency Notes, Bus seats, Compound walls, lamp posts, whatever...
Well, atleast here in Bengalooru, BBMP is doing a good job in tackling the issue of illegal hoardings and writings on public walls by drawing paintings/artifacts and fining the illegals.
Lets concentrate more on currency notes for today.
Well, you might all have seen this. Drawing mustaches and beards on our infamous M. K. Gandhi, making him look like a punk such things are on a side while, writing personal messages, writing numerals on the other.
Let alone common man, even the bank officials are doing this. They count the bundle twice or thrice, after thorough checking, they'll write the count on the topmost bill. Now, whom should we blame? I've seen this in all banks including Axis, Vijaya, Corporation, HDFC, HSBC... what not?
All this made me search for information on the lifecycle of currency notes. After 10 minutes of searching, I found this interesting link from Reserve Bank of India (hereby referred RBI). I strongly suggest you all read that page to know more about Indian notes and coins. Do read it. I should thank the SMS to visit such an informational link.
After reading it, Here are the major points I inferred:
1. Actual money is just coins (Rupee coins and small coins).
2. All the banknotes/currency notes we deal with are mere readymade cheques provided by the RBI. Its like we asking the RBI governor to pay the payee the amount on the note. Its obvious. One can't carry bulky 500/1000 coins everywhere to pay up things. Technically banknotes have no value. The only advantage of a cheque might be the freedom to specify an amount which is fixed here. (Try giving it to a person outside the country, or a person who knows nothing of notes, he'll just throw it as a piece of paper)
3. Number of coins to be minted is decided by the Government of India while the number of currency notes to be printed is decided by the RBI.
4. Decision as to how many notes to be printed is taken based on the requirement for meeting the demand for banknotes due to inflation, GDP growth, replacement of soiled banknotes and reserve stock requirements. RBI also insists the Government of India in the number of coins to be minted every year.
6. We also had notes with 5000 and 10000 denominations for huge transactions which were last demonetized by 1978 (May be during Emergency??)
7. After Independence, we actually had three series of banknotes,
(i). Ashoka Pillar notes: Old notes which you might have seen, Now they've become obsolete. These were introduced in 1950 and continued till 1996.
(ii). Mahatma Gandhi series (MG series for short) produced in the period of [1996, 2005]
(iii). MG 2005 series produced since 2005 till date (2009).
8. How exactly is money transferred from RBI branches to currency chests and small coin chests.
9. Notes marked with a '*' (star/asterisk) in the number panel are actually reprinted ones, meaning notes with the serial number barring the star was already printed but was scrapped and reprinted because it was soiled/mutilated/imperfect.
Lot more...
After all this, what is the major cost of printing/reprinting of a currencynote?
1. RBI has to collect the soiled/mutilated/imperfect notes, keep track of it.
2. cost of producing the amount of paper (number of trees cut/machine cost etc)
3. Make sure that there are no notes with the same serial number. This means RBI should get the old note, scrap it and then print a new one. This might seem simple but in fact it isnt.
To be on the better side, all we can do is to lessen the number of notes getting printed every year. saving paper, saving money, saving time etc... What has RBI gotta say about it?
They say, about clean note policy [copy pasting with due respect to RBI].
Reserve Bank of India has been continuously making efforts to make good quality banknotes available to the members of public. To help RBI and banking system, the members of public are requested to ensure the following:
- Not to staple the banknotes
- Not to write / put rubber stamp or any other mark on the banknotes
- Store the banknotes safely to prevent any damage
What is the harm in us following such simple norms? They are simple things if we regularise in our lives, make sthe job of the bank a bit simpler... aint it?
Here are a few guidelines I would suggest for the interested.
1. Try to store it at max in a single fold. Preferrably in your billfold or wallet (whatever you call it). Do not fold it more than once.
2. Do not staple. use rubber bands instead.
3. If you work in a counter where transactions are very frequent and you've got to know the number of notes in every bundle, Instead of writing it on the banknote itself, attach a piece of paper to the rubberband, write the count/amount on the paper instead.
4. Do not press any seal onto banknotes.
Here are a few more guidelines to prevent soiling/mutilating:
1. Before washing clothes, thoroughly check all its pockets for valuables.
2. Do not carry sharp edged things inside your billfold. This might mutilate banknotes.
3. Store banknotes in less humid places.
Please suggest more guidelines which I might have missed.
Monday, October 26, 2009
On Education [Part 2]
Well, was into microblogging andtt couldnt invest much time into this blog. You can see such excuses in almost all of my posts. I'm trying to break the habit of one post per month. Hopefully, I'll break it in the near future...
P.S: No point I mention here about myself is self boasting but a matter of fact.
After the formal, usual apology, lemme dive into where I had left in the last post. Things go a bit personal in this post. May be thats the way to continue explaining tution system...
I had seen some of my schoolmates going to tutions right from my first standard... (May be in the KGs, can't recollect exactly) There was one strict female whose name i refuse to take was one of our school teacher. She never took any classes to us in my whole tenure though but we used to hear her loud voice all day long in school coz she was the class teacher of the class nearby...
I saw ppl running from school to tutions where they were taught almost the same.
I had never bothered what they taught in the tutions coz i wasnt going to any, neither did I wonder what they teach over there. I was happy with my routine of getting educated in the school, comeback home, do homework in 30 mins, go out, play something and spend sometime chatting with sister and dad in hotel. Things were pretty simple and happening [So are now!]
I was experiencing the tution fever when I came to the high school, particularly in the 10th. Many of my peers were discussing topics which werent covered in the class much before in hand. I never cared for such things. I was in my own pace and way... Though I had a few companions who didnt go to tutions.
When it came to II PUC, it all began, Aaah! PUC PCM coaching, some also took for Bio/Comp/Elec too. Dont get surprised to know that I was the only person in the class (may be our college) to not go to tutions. I never found a reason to go. There were these Gururajs, Rameshes, Parthasarathis, Muniyappas who used to boast in college that we covered such n such a portions so fast... Everyone used to boast like anything...
Some used to come to me and ask, hey do you have any monetary problems? We can help you out (Duh!! I pity explaining them, me? Monetary problems?? Hahaha!). I wasnt finding a need to spend extra money on getting taught on same things what they used to teach in college.
Things started getting worse. Lecturers were never bothered to cover portions (as they were saying) as they felt that every pupil used to attend tutions. Many hilarious incidents took place.
I was called 'Gandhi' not to bunk any classes. I was staying back when almost 98% of the class were absent, everyone used to curse me to attend classes as they used to get shortage of attendance. Gradually, to exempt themselves from getting shortage, they used to attend classes just for the heck of it (cursing me of course). My intentions were not attendence but to attend the interesting classes by our lecturers. I should write each post on every lecturers who had handled us. Each of them were a different experience.
Some hilarious incidents:
1. Chem lecturer, Jayalakshmamma used to call names of me and another student, vasanth and compare both of us like, he is the bad one, i'm the good one. Reason, I concentrate in class while he goes to tutions and is never attentive. (Everyone were jealous of me for this issue, even girls used to curse me like hell for this)
2. One female, N3+#rani, came and spoke to me personally (when I was alone in the class, don't think dirty!) to bunk classes as she had serious attendance deficiency (busy chatting with American and Australian chatmates which I got to know later). This was spot by many of boys later and you know the obvious. They started teasing.
3. One of our math lecturer, Gururaj, known for his humour, asked us to bunk classes as he was not interested in taking one. (Studs took this point and asked me to bunk later)
More n more n more...
By then, enquiring some of my friends, they were paying 3K per subject making it a total of 9000 for 3 subjects, 1000 for CET special coaching. 10K totally.
Enquiring the current tution fares for II PUC, (my sister, Uncle's daughter is studying) the norm is 26K for 4 subjects... Help the parents...
Its a loot. These PU lecturers get paid in the college for teaching as well as tutions and the only investment is time. (May be a bit of fuel to travel if tutions arent arranged in homes)
There are scams too in tutions. Some lecturers are too greedy that they take multiple tutions in multiple batches. one in morning and other in the evening. Dont they get any personal time? What do they do earning so much if they don't have time to enjoy? May be their way of fun is different. Many lecturers were caught taking illegal tutions which you might have seen in papers 3-4 years back.
Previously, going to tutions were a matter of shame. Parents used to hesitate that their ward is going for tutions. Now, they boast in parties that their ward is taking tutions in such n such a prestigious academy. Bah!!
I was mentally strong(hope so) when I said no to tutions. but what about those who are monetarily insufficient? They getted bogged down and force their parents to admit them to tutions. Thanks for the pressure created by CET and COMED-K.
After all the drama, you just settle down in one pathetic, idiotic job which you don't like... Most of the cases atleast. I've never seen a person who is satisfied with the job.
All this struggling to study, crying to get good marks, crying for the results when you get what you don't expect, attempting suicide... All for a simple job? You get lots buddy! relax... No recession/depression can deny if you stay calm.
On top of it, I've seen lecturers taking classes negligently in college and teaching extremely well in tutions. Institutions should ban such lecturers.
All the education system present is doing is create more and more competition and with that more chaos...
Okay... What is the alternative? In simple words, isn't gurukula a better solution?
If you know a bit of Vedas/Upanishads there are instances where teachers made the students wait for a year before admission. You know why? It is for mutual observation. The teacher should grasp what the student is good at so that he can teach him corresponding subjects in more detail. not only that, he says, even the student should observe the teachers' work. He can join only if he is satisfied the way teacher explains things. If not, he is free to go to another teacher. Isnt is something great?
To add onto this, personal interest was shown on each and every student which is lacking today. I feel that we have gone many steps backward accepting the western style of education. There might be some merits/demerits on either way, but I feel Gurukula is better in any case.
[Will write more in the next part]
P.S: No point I mention here about myself is self boasting but a matter of fact.
After the formal, usual apology, lemme dive into where I had left in the last post. Things go a bit personal in this post. May be thats the way to continue explaining tution system...
I had seen some of my schoolmates going to tutions right from my first standard... (May be in the KGs, can't recollect exactly) There was one strict female whose name i refuse to take was one of our school teacher. She never took any classes to us in my whole tenure though but we used to hear her loud voice all day long in school coz she was the class teacher of the class nearby...
I saw ppl running from school to tutions where they were taught almost the same.
I had never bothered what they taught in the tutions coz i wasnt going to any, neither did I wonder what they teach over there. I was happy with my routine of getting educated in the school, comeback home, do homework in 30 mins, go out, play something and spend sometime chatting with sister and dad in hotel. Things were pretty simple and happening [So are now!]
I was experiencing the tution fever when I came to the high school, particularly in the 10th. Many of my peers were discussing topics which werent covered in the class much before in hand. I never cared for such things. I was in my own pace and way... Though I had a few companions who didnt go to tutions.
When it came to II PUC, it all began, Aaah! PUC PCM coaching, some also took for Bio/Comp/Elec too. Dont get surprised to know that I was the only person in the class (may be our college) to not go to tutions. I never found a reason to go. There were these Gururajs, Rameshes, Parthasarathis, Muniyappas who used to boast in college that we covered such n such a portions so fast... Everyone used to boast like anything...
Some used to come to me and ask, hey do you have any monetary problems? We can help you out (Duh!! I pity explaining them, me? Monetary problems?? Hahaha!). I wasnt finding a need to spend extra money on getting taught on same things what they used to teach in college.
Things started getting worse. Lecturers were never bothered to cover portions (as they were saying) as they felt that every pupil used to attend tutions. Many hilarious incidents took place.
I was called 'Gandhi' not to bunk any classes. I was staying back when almost 98% of the class were absent, everyone used to curse me to attend classes as they used to get shortage of attendance. Gradually, to exempt themselves from getting shortage, they used to attend classes just for the heck of it (cursing me of course). My intentions were not attendence but to attend the interesting classes by our lecturers. I should write each post on every lecturers who had handled us. Each of them were a different experience.
Some hilarious incidents:
1. Chem lecturer, Jayalakshmamma used to call names of me and another student, vasanth and compare both of us like, he is the bad one, i'm the good one. Reason, I concentrate in class while he goes to tutions and is never attentive. (Everyone were jealous of me for this issue, even girls used to curse me like hell for this)
2. One female, N3+#rani, came and spoke to me personally (when I was alone in the class, don't think dirty!) to bunk classes as she had serious attendance deficiency (busy chatting with American and Australian chatmates which I got to know later). This was spot by many of boys later and you know the obvious. They started teasing.
3. One of our math lecturer, Gururaj, known for his humour, asked us to bunk classes as he was not interested in taking one. (Studs took this point and asked me to bunk later)
More n more n more...
By then, enquiring some of my friends, they were paying 3K per subject making it a total of 9000 for 3 subjects, 1000 for CET special coaching. 10K totally.
Enquiring the current tution fares for II PUC, (my sister, Uncle's daughter is studying) the norm is 26K for 4 subjects... Help the parents...
Its a loot. These PU lecturers get paid in the college for teaching as well as tutions and the only investment is time. (May be a bit of fuel to travel if tutions arent arranged in homes)
There are scams too in tutions. Some lecturers are too greedy that they take multiple tutions in multiple batches. one in morning and other in the evening. Dont they get any personal time? What do they do earning so much if they don't have time to enjoy? May be their way of fun is different. Many lecturers were caught taking illegal tutions which you might have seen in papers 3-4 years back.
Previously, going to tutions were a matter of shame. Parents used to hesitate that their ward is going for tutions. Now, they boast in parties that their ward is taking tutions in such n such a prestigious academy. Bah!!
I was mentally strong(hope so) when I said no to tutions. but what about those who are monetarily insufficient? They getted bogged down and force their parents to admit them to tutions. Thanks for the pressure created by CET and COMED-K.
After all the drama, you just settle down in one pathetic, idiotic job which you don't like... Most of the cases atleast. I've never seen a person who is satisfied with the job.
All this struggling to study, crying to get good marks, crying for the results when you get what you don't expect, attempting suicide... All for a simple job? You get lots buddy! relax... No recession/depression can deny if you stay calm.
On top of it, I've seen lecturers taking classes negligently in college and teaching extremely well in tutions. Institutions should ban such lecturers.
All the education system present is doing is create more and more competition and with that more chaos...
Okay... What is the alternative? In simple words, isn't gurukula a better solution?
If you know a bit of Vedas/Upanishads there are instances where teachers made the students wait for a year before admission. You know why? It is for mutual observation. The teacher should grasp what the student is good at so that he can teach him corresponding subjects in more detail. not only that, he says, even the student should observe the teachers' work. He can join only if he is satisfied the way teacher explains things. If not, he is free to go to another teacher. Isnt is something great?
To add onto this, personal interest was shown on each and every student which is lacking today. I feel that we have gone many steps backward accepting the western style of education. There might be some merits/demerits on either way, but I feel Gurukula is better in any case.
[Will write more in the next part]
Friday, September 11, 2009
On Education... [Part 1]
This post was long back in my mind since June. Its a pity to have such a pathetic system for education here in India. Thank the British for everything.
Let us have a look at current education system. A child that is 3.5 to 4 years young, is all set to join the nursery. Some may have joined a bit early and very rarely, some kids have the opportunity to enjoy their childhood even a bit further. Some have the misfortune to join a pre-nursery or crushes at the age of 1.5 or 2 years or even earlier(Sad!).
There was a joke in one of the films I saw that one has to apply for schools while he was in his mother's womb. Strangely, in some schools, they have that custom (I have no idea about them. Enquire your neighbors if you're interested). They say that our's is a prestigious institution and getting a seat here is not that all easy. You have to reserve it 2-3 years before in hand. Some schools are a bit liberal here where they reserve just a year back to admission.
Admission into any school isn't easy. You should have taught the kid atleast a bit of the basics which might include the English alphabet, numerals and a few popular rhymes. If not, you're kid is unfit to join OUR school is what they say. Check out the irony. Its not that the parents haven't taught the ward anything, what are schools for?
Okay! You passed the test. Well and good. is that all over? The donation drama is yet to begin. There is building fund, school maintainence fees, etc which they force you to pay, lest your ward will not be admitted. And they do not forget to mention that they have a wonderful ground for the kids to play (at the max 50ft X 50ft ground), they teach him Karate, kung fu and all martial arts, classes for music, computer education, best infrastructure in the city for schools... I leave it upto you all to decide.
Middle class vanity wives force their hubbys to pay the donation amount so that their child gets a seat in that institution, just to boast in front of their friends and relatives that we have admitted the kid to such and such prestigious institute. Poor husband, pays the lumpsome arranging it through debts which are heaping on his head. Some wives who are working also share the load but vanity is for sure.
Okay, is that all over after the donation? NO!! you have monthly fees, transportation fees, sports day fees, and what not? They grab the opportunity to rob you with these fees at any cost. If you delay (or sometimes deny) paying them, your kid will be treated somewhat like a second grade citizen in the school.
Forget everything. I just enquired my own school, just a few steps from my home, where my brother (Uncle's son) is studying now in the 4th standard. He is paying monthly Rs. 450/- while I was paying Rs 25/- when I left the school in 5th standard in 1994. A whopping difference of Rs. 425, 17 times more in just 15 years.
Okay, coming to the core part of education... Paying so much, the foremost thing you expect is better education. Atleast, are they providing that? No is what I say (There might be exceptions as always). All I see is kids mugging things up. I've seen teachers asking the children to mugg up things they don't understand. I've seen a teacher mugging things up to teach as to what she would be doing in the class. Even you might know/experienced such things. There are a few students who really understand things and write answers in their own words. Such answers will not be entertained by the teacher as here are some quotes she says
1. This is not what I had taught you... (Well, is what I've written wrong??)
2. You havent written as you have it in the text... (Ask a robot to copy the text, not a human)
3. You havent covered the topic fully... blah blah blah
I've seen some teachers getting furious if any student asks a doubt. They ask him not to interrupt him while teaching and any doubts are to be asked at the end of the class or at the staff room. Some make a flying comment on the doubt posing that its cannot be categorized as a doubt, its just your foolish thought, I need not answer them. Kids get demoralized in such situations, stop asking doubts and become dumb in some fashion. Some joke at the doubt making the student a laughing stock in the class. I've seen such teachers.
If a student is dumb and not scoring in the tests and exams, the Class Teacher or the Principal of the school will call his parents asking them to look after their wards' education in a better way. Some notices will be sent to his house before doing that.
Once the parents come to the school to check the progress of their ward, teachers start complaining that he is poor in studies... Don't you take care of his studies at home? Please pay more attention to it... blah blah blah. What are teachers for? I'm not saying that parents shouldn't bother about the kids education, but teachers also play a major role. Aint it?
As a remedy to this, if both the parents are working and can't make time to teach the kid, they send him to tutions [a seperate post dedicated to this is near future].
Is it any better in tutions? NO! He's the same. Its the same teaching as they do it in school. Just a waste of money.
Education has become a business today. [Continued...]
Let us have a look at current education system. A child that is 3.5 to 4 years young, is all set to join the nursery. Some may have joined a bit early and very rarely, some kids have the opportunity to enjoy their childhood even a bit further. Some have the misfortune to join a pre-nursery or crushes at the age of 1.5 or 2 years or even earlier(Sad!).
There was a joke in one of the films I saw that one has to apply for schools while he was in his mother's womb. Strangely, in some schools, they have that custom (I have no idea about them. Enquire your neighbors if you're interested). They say that our's is a prestigious institution and getting a seat here is not that all easy. You have to reserve it 2-3 years before in hand. Some schools are a bit liberal here where they reserve just a year back to admission.
Admission into any school isn't easy. You should have taught the kid atleast a bit of the basics which might include the English alphabet, numerals and a few popular rhymes. If not, you're kid is unfit to join OUR school is what they say. Check out the irony. Its not that the parents haven't taught the ward anything, what are schools for?
Okay! You passed the test. Well and good. is that all over? The donation drama is yet to begin. There is building fund, school maintainence fees, etc which they force you to pay, lest your ward will not be admitted. And they do not forget to mention that they have a wonderful ground for the kids to play (at the max 50ft X 50ft ground), they teach him Karate, kung fu and all martial arts, classes for music, computer education, best infrastructure in the city for schools... I leave it upto you all to decide.
Middle class vanity wives force their hubbys to pay the donation amount so that their child gets a seat in that institution, just to boast in front of their friends and relatives that we have admitted the kid to such and such prestigious institute. Poor husband, pays the lumpsome arranging it through debts which are heaping on his head. Some wives who are working also share the load but vanity is for sure.
Okay, is that all over after the donation? NO!! you have monthly fees, transportation fees, sports day fees, and what not? They grab the opportunity to rob you with these fees at any cost. If you delay (or sometimes deny) paying them, your kid will be treated somewhat like a second grade citizen in the school.
Forget everything. I just enquired my own school, just a few steps from my home, where my brother (Uncle's son) is studying now in the 4th standard. He is paying monthly Rs. 450/- while I was paying Rs 25/- when I left the school in 5th standard in 1994. A whopping difference of Rs. 425, 17 times more in just 15 years.
Okay, coming to the core part of education... Paying so much, the foremost thing you expect is better education. Atleast, are they providing that? No is what I say (There might be exceptions as always). All I see is kids mugging things up. I've seen teachers asking the children to mugg up things they don't understand. I've seen a teacher mugging things up to teach as to what she would be doing in the class. Even you might know/experienced such things. There are a few students who really understand things and write answers in their own words. Such answers will not be entertained by the teacher as here are some quotes she says
1. This is not what I had taught you... (Well, is what I've written wrong??)
2. You havent written as you have it in the text... (Ask a robot to copy the text, not a human)
3. You havent covered the topic fully... blah blah blah
I've seen some teachers getting furious if any student asks a doubt. They ask him not to interrupt him while teaching and any doubts are to be asked at the end of the class or at the staff room. Some make a flying comment on the doubt posing that its cannot be categorized as a doubt, its just your foolish thought, I need not answer them. Kids get demoralized in such situations, stop asking doubts and become dumb in some fashion. Some joke at the doubt making the student a laughing stock in the class. I've seen such teachers.
If a student is dumb and not scoring in the tests and exams, the Class Teacher or the Principal of the school will call his parents asking them to look after their wards' education in a better way. Some notices will be sent to his house before doing that.
Once the parents come to the school to check the progress of their ward, teachers start complaining that he is poor in studies... Don't you take care of his studies at home? Please pay more attention to it... blah blah blah. What are teachers for? I'm not saying that parents shouldn't bother about the kids education, but teachers also play a major role. Aint it?
As a remedy to this, if both the parents are working and can't make time to teach the kid, they send him to tutions [a seperate post dedicated to this is near future].
Is it any better in tutions? NO! He's the same. Its the same teaching as they do it in school. Just a waste of money.
Education has become a business today. [Continued...]
Thursday, September 03, 2009
When a celebrity/icon dies...
Aah! I simply can't stand the people faking themselves in front of media/public just to win some sympathy.
I'm writing this post based on the incident or rather drama of YSR tragedy as they call it and the media reaction as always since two days.
To report the incident in one paragraph,
Yesterday, by 10 or so, a helicopter carrying the CM of Andhra Pradesh deaded Chittoor went missing near NallaMalla forest region AP. Every department went in search of CM but in vain. The copter was mapped this morning by 10:30 or so and the leftovers/victims were identified of whom the CM of AP was one.
The State lost its CM.
This would be exactly what a news reader would have told say, 15 years ago. All news were supposed to be covered within 15 or at the max 30 minutes and they wouldn't have much time to elaborate stories as today. Who had time to sit in front of TV and watch elaborate newscast. Everybody had better work.
Thanks to current media. They have lots of time in the world (so do those people who watch them) as well as bandwidth. They have multiple channels reserved for News exclusive. Many like me are getting bored to watch the same news in all channels, same repeated news clippings, almost same report etc...
While I was having my lunch this afternoon, someone switched over to TV9 a Kannada news channel, to get only news about YSR. Nothing else. My mom called me a bit early for dinner tonight, I sat in front of TV to get the same news. Relatives, family friends and fans crying in front of YSR's house literally chestbeating themselves. Even the opposition party leaders crying like anything. Let alone people of Andhra, even here in Karnataka.
I'd like to tell one thing now. No matter how bad or cruel a person be, he becomes a good hearted once he dies. Atleast when he is a celebrity. There would be some fanfollowing around his deadbody, flowers getting thrown for no reason.
For instance, the same people who criticized YSR in the legislative assembly, cry for his demise. I don't think they are natural tears but artificial. Just to win over the people in front of the media. They say, he was benovalent, brought some very serious reforms in the government et al bullshit... (The same people had complained that YSR is planning to churchify Tirupati by sending missionaries to its base).
To add on to the empathy, he got killed in an accident. A copter crash. May be he wouldn't have gained sympathy in this amount if he happened to die in any other fashion. May be the opposition leaders wouldnt have been so generous in praising him.
Present media, as always show fake sentiment exhibited by such people to get more TRP for their show. They might not be more interested in the content than TRP. Media is grabbing attention more by showing them be it newscast or reality shows. I would reserve a post on reality shows which would be published soon. It has become the norm to exhibit fake sentiment (which was deliberately edited before).
Thinking with a calm mind, no person would act fanatically if a person he respects dies. Rather he would've felt bad for the loss and at max would have cried. People watch stupid movies where characters act lunatically for any loss of life and tend to act the same in real life.
Finally, I'm indifferent for the loss of YSR not that I'm happy or sad. It doesnt bother me coz I don't know about him much. I'm not degrading him by saying this. I have no opinion on his death. May be I feel a bit bad for the people for losing its leader. Nothing more than that. Neither am I writing this post being happy for his death nor sad. This is my view for media coverage on his death's occasion.
Some blogs blog about how famous he was, google was filled up with requests for more info about the incident...blah!... blah!!... blah!!! This is another hype. You can't comapre this incident with MJ's death on June 25th. It had got way more number of requests.
So, stop creating hype. Act sensibly in front of media. Maintain dignity.
Have your say.
I'm writing this post based on the incident or rather drama of YSR tragedy as they call it and the media reaction as always since two days.
To report the incident in one paragraph,
Yesterday, by 10 or so, a helicopter carrying the CM of Andhra Pradesh deaded Chittoor went missing near NallaMalla forest region AP. Every department went in search of CM but in vain. The copter was mapped this morning by 10:30 or so and the leftovers/victims were identified of whom the CM of AP was one.
The State lost its CM.
This would be exactly what a news reader would have told say, 15 years ago. All news were supposed to be covered within 15 or at the max 30 minutes and they wouldn't have much time to elaborate stories as today. Who had time to sit in front of TV and watch elaborate newscast. Everybody had better work.
Thanks to current media. They have lots of time in the world (so do those people who watch them) as well as bandwidth. They have multiple channels reserved for News exclusive. Many like me are getting bored to watch the same news in all channels, same repeated news clippings, almost same report etc...
While I was having my lunch this afternoon, someone switched over to TV9 a Kannada news channel, to get only news about YSR. Nothing else. My mom called me a bit early for dinner tonight, I sat in front of TV to get the same news. Relatives, family friends and fans crying in front of YSR's house literally chestbeating themselves. Even the opposition party leaders crying like anything. Let alone people of Andhra, even here in Karnataka.
I'd like to tell one thing now. No matter how bad or cruel a person be, he becomes a good hearted once he dies. Atleast when he is a celebrity. There would be some fanfollowing around his deadbody, flowers getting thrown for no reason.
For instance, the same people who criticized YSR in the legislative assembly, cry for his demise. I don't think they are natural tears but artificial. Just to win over the people in front of the media. They say, he was benovalent, brought some very serious reforms in the government et al bullshit... (The same people had complained that YSR is planning to churchify Tirupati by sending missionaries to its base).
To add on to the empathy, he got killed in an accident. A copter crash. May be he wouldn't have gained sympathy in this amount if he happened to die in any other fashion. May be the opposition leaders wouldnt have been so generous in praising him.
Present media, as always show fake sentiment exhibited by such people to get more TRP for their show. They might not be more interested in the content than TRP. Media is grabbing attention more by showing them be it newscast or reality shows. I would reserve a post on reality shows which would be published soon. It has become the norm to exhibit fake sentiment (which was deliberately edited before).
Thinking with a calm mind, no person would act fanatically if a person he respects dies. Rather he would've felt bad for the loss and at max would have cried. People watch stupid movies where characters act lunatically for any loss of life and tend to act the same in real life.
Finally, I'm indifferent for the loss of YSR not that I'm happy or sad. It doesnt bother me coz I don't know about him much. I'm not degrading him by saying this. I have no opinion on his death. May be I feel a bit bad for the people for losing its leader. Nothing more than that. Neither am I writing this post being happy for his death nor sad. This is my view for media coverage on his death's occasion.
Some blogs blog about how famous he was, google was filled up with requests for more info about the incident...blah!... blah!!... blah!!! This is another hype. You can't comapre this incident with MJ's death on June 25th. It had got way more number of requests.
So, stop creating hype. Act sensibly in front of media. Maintain dignity.
Have your say.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Slangs I wish I could ban...
I'm writing this post inspired by this post from another fellow blogger.
I would list down phrases or slangs that we hear a lot these days wherever we go. Without much ado...
1. Jai Ho: You all know that this is another song from the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' (which my li'l brother repeats as 'Slumdog Gullenari' meaning slumdog wicked fox). I don't know whats so special in that song other than it won an Oscar. Now ARR fans calm down.This is just my opinion. If you've got your own, keep it to yourself.
This term is used by the politicians and the stupid media (as always) to praise a victory. Jai Ho Deccan Chargers, Jai Ho India, Jai Ho Congress... what not?
2. Chak De India: Aah! another movie song. Anytime India wins a match, even some of the telecasters as well as commentators use this term. If you're in the corporate and have been to watch the match on the screen in the reception, takin a break you could see lotsa them using this term when India wins a match. You should check out the enthu in it.
3. Anyways...: Though you might not find it in any of the standard dictionaries, you'll see many of the corporates use this term; specially those in the manegerial stream or the marketing team.
Some random chap in the US started this rubbish. Possible conversation goes...
Person 1: We have a PROBLEM.
Person 2: Yeah!
[After some discussion]
Person 2: Look, we have 3 possible solutions, one is blah blah... second boo hoo and the third is this...
Person 1: ANYWAYS, we cannot void this situation...
Actually he might have meant a space between any and ways. People started clubbing both of them and started using it.
Some of the people in marketing might have copied it from the Americans and started using it here just as a matter of exhibiting US accent and it caught up here in India. What crap?
4. Resources: Another corporate term. Every human as well as non-human in the corporate is mere a resource for these PMs and higher level. I get so much irritated when two managers pass by discussing that put one more resource into this module. That module needs no more than 1 resource. so, take two resources from that module and put him into this project...
All I say here is treat what you call as resources as Humans.
More related terms: Deadline, process, timesheet...
5. Whats up Da/Ra?? : This phrase in Bangalore was introduced by the tamilians/teluguites respectively for Da in tamil nearly means buddy so does Ra in telugu. There are some of the dumb localites who followed them in schools and it got prevalent as a Bangalore college lingo. So did the phrases 'chumma' et al... Feels like hitting the person to the face on using it.
6. Raa Raa...: Lemme come to our Kannada Film Industry. There was one stupid movie called 'ApthaMitra' which ran for 1 whole year just because that the heroine of the movie died in a helicopter failure. The unfortunate heroine was charming 'Soundarya'. The film producer Dwarakish (calls himself the dwarf of Karnataka. Huh!) had given an open statement that Soundarya died and gave a new life to me. Lest I would have died. I had plans to write about these stupid movies one after another. Dunno when I'll take that up. Okay, coming back to the topic of discussion,
This phrase is a song in this crap movie. Dwarakish always has a song in another language (specially telugu) in his movie. ( Check out 'Nagumomuganale' from 'Rayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege', or 'Yanchei quanchini lei lei' from 'Singapuradalli Raja Kulla') dunno what for. This was the turning point in the movie according to him. This song became so famous that almost all crap movies in Kannada have a scene reserved for this song wherein some stupid female dressed as a lunatic in a saree with a big 'bottu' as big as parvatamma, hair undid etc... comes in dancing to this tune. This scene will be totally unrelated to the movie but still most of these real estate producers need one such scene in their film. One thing for sure is that the mass go crazy listening to this song. I still havent found the reason why???
Do you feel I've left out any? please mention them... Do contribute your terms too. Would be happy to know that!
I would list down phrases or slangs that we hear a lot these days wherever we go. Without much ado...
1. Jai Ho: You all know that this is another song from the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' (which my li'l brother repeats as 'Slumdog Gullenari' meaning slumdog wicked fox). I don't know whats so special in that song other than it won an Oscar. Now ARR fans calm down.This is just my opinion. If you've got your own, keep it to yourself.
This term is used by the politicians and the stupid media (as always) to praise a victory. Jai Ho Deccan Chargers, Jai Ho India, Jai Ho Congress... what not?
2. Chak De India: Aah! another movie song. Anytime India wins a match, even some of the telecasters as well as commentators use this term. If you're in the corporate and have been to watch the match on the screen in the reception, takin a break you could see lotsa them using this term when India wins a match. You should check out the enthu in it.
3. Anyways...: Though you might not find it in any of the standard dictionaries, you'll see many of the corporates use this term; specially those in the manegerial stream or the marketing team.
Some random chap in the US started this rubbish. Possible conversation goes...
Person 1: We have a PROBLEM.
Person 2: Yeah!
[After some discussion]
Person 2: Look, we have 3 possible solutions, one is blah blah... second boo hoo and the third is this...
Person 1: ANYWAYS, we cannot void this situation...
Actually he might have meant a space between any and ways. People started clubbing both of them and started using it.
Some of the people in marketing might have copied it from the Americans and started using it here just as a matter of exhibiting US accent and it caught up here in India. What crap?
4. Resources: Another corporate term. Every human as well as non-human in the corporate is mere a resource for these PMs and higher level. I get so much irritated when two managers pass by discussing that put one more resource into this module. That module needs no more than 1 resource. so, take two resources from that module and put him into this project...
All I say here is treat what you call as resources as Humans.
More related terms: Deadline, process, timesheet...
5. Whats up Da/Ra?? : This phrase in Bangalore was introduced by the tamilians/teluguites respectively for Da in tamil nearly means buddy so does Ra in telugu. There are some of the dumb localites who followed them in schools and it got prevalent as a Bangalore college lingo. So did the phrases 'chumma' et al... Feels like hitting the person to the face on using it.
6. Raa Raa...: Lemme come to our Kannada Film Industry. There was one stupid movie called 'ApthaMitra' which ran for 1 whole year just because that the heroine of the movie died in a helicopter failure. The unfortunate heroine was charming 'Soundarya'. The film producer Dwarakish (calls himself the dwarf of Karnataka. Huh!) had given an open statement that Soundarya died and gave a new life to me. Lest I would have died. I had plans to write about these stupid movies one after another. Dunno when I'll take that up. Okay, coming back to the topic of discussion,
This phrase is a song in this crap movie. Dwarakish always has a song in another language (specially telugu) in his movie. ( Check out 'Nagumomuganale' from 'Rayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege', or 'Yanchei quanchini lei lei' from 'Singapuradalli Raja Kulla') dunno what for. This was the turning point in the movie according to him. This song became so famous that almost all crap movies in Kannada have a scene reserved for this song wherein some stupid female dressed as a lunatic in a saree with a big 'bottu' as big as parvatamma, hair undid etc... comes in dancing to this tune. This scene will be totally unrelated to the movie but still most of these real estate producers need one such scene in their film. One thing for sure is that the mass go crazy listening to this song. I still havent found the reason why???
Do you feel I've left out any? please mention them... Do contribute your terms too. Would be happy to know that!
Monday, August 03, 2009
Rant on Saving Paper...
I took this pic while I got some printouts for my uncle say half a year ago. I had asked for a cover for the printouts for which the shopkeeper had given me this.
Just have a look... You might have it elsewhere too...
It says, every ton of paper, uses 17 trees, 463 gallons of oil, 4077 KW of energy, 6953 gallons of water, 587 pounds of air (which gets polluted later) and acquires 3.06 cubic yards of space.
(Source: American Forest and Paper Association)
When one can store data electronically, why use paper which consumes so much of resources? Some of you might argue that even electronic data uses power and even that has a carbon trace. Carbon trace by electronic media is much lesser than that of paper. (If I'm wrong, kindly correct me)
Now, when you say paper consumption, what are the major areas paper gets consumed?
1. Newspapers/ Magazines/ Journals.
2. Notebooks (books in general).
3. Files maintained/Printouts taken by government and private enterprises.
4. Tissue papers ( or napkins as some say)
Have I left out any? Hoping that I've covered major chunk of it, lemme continue in discussing how can we minimize such usage.
1. Newspaper, People are going electric and many news firms have an "e" version of their newspaper. In the west, many have gone with e-papers banning hard copies of news, which is a step ahead towards saving our ecosystems.
(Many may have counter arguments which says, to save revenue, Even that might be the reason sometimes, but we should be happy that it saves the environment a bit)
Here in India, the younger generation might be okay with papers going online but those elders (exception always do exist) dislike such a change. They just want things as they were before. They find it hard to go to the PC/laptops, start the browser, type the address/click on their bookmark, login and read their newspaper. They find it easy to pick the hard copy which is delivered to their doorsteps by the delivery boy.
Newsgroup companies may feel that they may be under loss if they go online as one just logs in and reads their content. If they want to make money, they may charge a few bucks for the registered customers on a monthly/yearly basis which works out for both the parties (I strongly don't think this is gonna happen coz, news is available for free on the net, anybody would hardly pay and read) May be they can attract the customers by saying that we deliver you the complete, detailed news, first... Those will be market strategies which I'm not interested in...
Even if they do not charge, they might always get some money by going for ads on the net.
To sum it up,
Advantages of papers going online:
1. Saves lots of paper.
2. Saves the cost for the company for door-to-door deliveries.
3. Faster delivery.
4. Saves space.
Disadvantages:
1. Not all can read the content.
2. Media may go for a loss (If they do not go for ads and are giving a free a service).
4. Jobs of delivery boys are at stake.
5. Petty shop owners will have less papers to parcel.
6. housewives cannot get the money they get by selling old papers.
2. Books:this is another major part where paper is getting used. I might dissappoint a huge lot (even myself) when I say that books acquire a lot of space, and consume lots of resources as mentioned before. When we can save them, why can't we go for it?
So, again, what are the ways we can do such things. Let us split them into two parts.
a. Printed books (usually novels, texts that you read)
b. notebooks onto which you write.
Consider the printed books. How can we save them from getting printed?
1. Going online as newspaper. If you do not have any copyrighted material or you want everybody to know about your content, why not go online for free. You've got blogs, you can create your own websites...
2. If you own a copyright of the material, one can charge an amount to those interested and allow them to download the content. Terms and conditions apply to the consumer (He shouldn't make illegal copies of the content neither he should sell it. Add on more clauses you want)
3. If one finds it tedious to read from laptop/PC, you have devices like kindle, for your ease. I've heard its an amazing tool. try it out if you're interested.
4. All hardbound books can be digitized so that they can be stored in your CDs, DVDs, SSDs, HDDs whatever electronic media you're comfy with so that you can save the space taken by books.
When it comes to notebooks,
1. If you are taking notes on a book, I suggest you to carry a laptop. Nowadays, governments are planning 'one laptop per child' joining hands with MNCs like Intel, while some institutions like IISc, are planning some projects like a laptop for Rs. 1000. Hence, whatever notes one takes in class can be digitized using laptops. (Of course, one might do other things as well in the name of laptop, thats issue of ethics, let us not take it any further in this post)
2. Adding onto the last point, the burden on the student's back will be less. Many books will be replaced with one laptop which is an additional advantage.
To sum it up,
Advantages of storing books digitally:
1. Takes less space.
2. Weighs less.
3. Ease of access.
4. Ease of editing.
4. Easy to handle, sort, manage library...
Disadvantages:
1. Some might find it hard to gaze constantly at the CRT/LED screen.
2. Some won't find it a pleasing experience as of reading a book holding it in hand (If they cannot afford gadgets like Kindle).
3. Files maintained in Government and private firms, again, these can be stored electronically, even transactions can be made online. Issuing receipts, acknowledgments all can be done electronically. Almost all points discussed previously hold true here.
Regarding printouts, take them only when necessary. I've seen many taking printouts of huge texts in the corporate world just because they can't read the e-version. Ease rules over eco-friendly. Please don't do that.
Advantages:
1. Saves space.
2. Eases the transactions.
Disadvantages:
1. Not so educated people might suffer with the process. Government can educate them in this regard.
2. crime rate over transactions made might increase if proper security measures are not taken.
4. Tissue papers, sad to say that tissue paper culture has increased with the boom in IT since late 90s and early 2000s. It has become a norm to place a tissue paper container in all the restrooms. Some make complete(over) use of it. Some take 4-5 tissues once and just hover over their face once and throw it onto the dustbins. Lots of paper is getting wasted in such a filthy manner.
Alternatives are many.
Electric hot air blow, which ejects a jet of hot air everytime you keep your hands under it. This saves paper but consumes lots of power, thats a demerit.
Some hotels provide cloth that can be washed instead of tissues. This saves paper a lot while some amount of water gets consumed in washing them. Durability is lot, lot better (incomparable with paper). That's a plus point.
What I suggest is, I add onto the second point mentioned above. Instead of them providing a cloth, you can yourself carry a hand-kerchief saving lots of public resources.
I don't think this has any disadvantages as such but advantages, which are listed above with the alternatives.
To end the post, I suggest you to save paper and other natural resources as much as you can.
Now, the stage is open for your opinion/critics/suggestions. Please...
Just have a look... You might have it elsewhere too...
It says, every ton of paper, uses 17 trees, 463 gallons of oil, 4077 KW of energy, 6953 gallons of water, 587 pounds of air (which gets polluted later) and acquires 3.06 cubic yards of space.
(Source: American Forest and Paper Association)
When one can store data electronically, why use paper which consumes so much of resources? Some of you might argue that even electronic data uses power and even that has a carbon trace. Carbon trace by electronic media is much lesser than that of paper. (If I'm wrong, kindly correct me)
Now, when you say paper consumption, what are the major areas paper gets consumed?
1. Newspapers/ Magazines/ Journals.
2. Notebooks (books in general).
3. Files maintained/Printouts taken by government and private enterprises.
4. Tissue papers ( or napkins as some say)
Have I left out any? Hoping that I've covered major chunk of it, lemme continue in discussing how can we minimize such usage.
1. Newspaper, People are going electric and many news firms have an "e" version of their newspaper. In the west, many have gone with e-papers banning hard copies of news, which is a step ahead towards saving our ecosystems.
(Many may have counter arguments which says, to save revenue, Even that might be the reason sometimes, but we should be happy that it saves the environment a bit)
Here in India, the younger generation might be okay with papers going online but those elders (exception always do exist) dislike such a change. They just want things as they were before. They find it hard to go to the PC/laptops, start the browser, type the address/click on their bookmark, login and read their newspaper. They find it easy to pick the hard copy which is delivered to their doorsteps by the delivery boy.
Newsgroup companies may feel that they may be under loss if they go online as one just logs in and reads their content. If they want to make money, they may charge a few bucks for the registered customers on a monthly/yearly basis which works out for both the parties (I strongly don't think this is gonna happen coz, news is available for free on the net, anybody would hardly pay and read) May be they can attract the customers by saying that we deliver you the complete, detailed news, first... Those will be market strategies which I'm not interested in...
Even if they do not charge, they might always get some money by going for ads on the net.
To sum it up,
Advantages of papers going online:
1. Saves lots of paper.
2. Saves the cost for the company for door-to-door deliveries.
3. Faster delivery.
4. Saves space.
Disadvantages:
1. Not all can read the content.
2. Media may go for a loss (If they do not go for ads and are giving a free a service).
4. Jobs of delivery boys are at stake.
5. Petty shop owners will have less papers to parcel.
6. housewives cannot get the money they get by selling old papers.
2. Books:this is another major part where paper is getting used. I might dissappoint a huge lot (even myself) when I say that books acquire a lot of space, and consume lots of resources as mentioned before. When we can save them, why can't we go for it?
So, again, what are the ways we can do such things. Let us split them into two parts.
a. Printed books (usually novels, texts that you read)
b. notebooks onto which you write.
Consider the printed books. How can we save them from getting printed?
1. Going online as newspaper. If you do not have any copyrighted material or you want everybody to know about your content, why not go online for free. You've got blogs, you can create your own websites...
2. If you own a copyright of the material, one can charge an amount to those interested and allow them to download the content. Terms and conditions apply to the consumer (He shouldn't make illegal copies of the content neither he should sell it. Add on more clauses you want)
3. If one finds it tedious to read from laptop/PC, you have devices like kindle, for your ease. I've heard its an amazing tool. try it out if you're interested.
4. All hardbound books can be digitized so that they can be stored in your CDs, DVDs, SSDs, HDDs whatever electronic media you're comfy with so that you can save the space taken by books.
When it comes to notebooks,
1. If you are taking notes on a book, I suggest you to carry a laptop. Nowadays, governments are planning 'one laptop per child' joining hands with MNCs like Intel, while some institutions like IISc, are planning some projects like a laptop for Rs. 1000. Hence, whatever notes one takes in class can be digitized using laptops. (Of course, one might do other things as well in the name of laptop, thats issue of ethics, let us not take it any further in this post)
2. Adding onto the last point, the burden on the student's back will be less. Many books will be replaced with one laptop which is an additional advantage.
To sum it up,
Advantages of storing books digitally:
1. Takes less space.
2. Weighs less.
3. Ease of access.
4. Ease of editing.
4. Easy to handle, sort, manage library...
Disadvantages:
1. Some might find it hard to gaze constantly at the CRT/LED screen.
2. Some won't find it a pleasing experience as of reading a book holding it in hand (If they cannot afford gadgets like Kindle).
3. Files maintained in Government and private firms, again, these can be stored electronically, even transactions can be made online. Issuing receipts, acknowledgments all can be done electronically. Almost all points discussed previously hold true here.
Regarding printouts, take them only when necessary. I've seen many taking printouts of huge texts in the corporate world just because they can't read the e-version. Ease rules over eco-friendly. Please don't do that.
Advantages:
1. Saves space.
2. Eases the transactions.
Disadvantages:
1. Not so educated people might suffer with the process. Government can educate them in this regard.
2. crime rate over transactions made might increase if proper security measures are not taken.
4. Tissue papers, sad to say that tissue paper culture has increased with the boom in IT since late 90s and early 2000s. It has become a norm to place a tissue paper container in all the restrooms. Some make complete(over) use of it. Some take 4-5 tissues once and just hover over their face once and throw it onto the dustbins. Lots of paper is getting wasted in such a filthy manner.
Alternatives are many.
Electric hot air blow, which ejects a jet of hot air everytime you keep your hands under it. This saves paper but consumes lots of power, thats a demerit.
Some hotels provide cloth that can be washed instead of tissues. This saves paper a lot while some amount of water gets consumed in washing them. Durability is lot, lot better (incomparable with paper). That's a plus point.
What I suggest is, I add onto the second point mentioned above. Instead of them providing a cloth, you can yourself carry a hand-kerchief saving lots of public resources.
I don't think this has any disadvantages as such but advantages, which are listed above with the alternatives.
To end the post, I suggest you to save paper and other natural resources as much as you can.
Now, the stage is open for your opinion/critics/suggestions. Please...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
