Life as MBA student

Pursuing MBA has changed my life forever and I am convinced after two years I will be a different person. The struggle has begun. Everyday is a struggle. Shuttling between college life and household chores, I am having a tough time managing my relationship and career. Recently I got a chance to meet people from other management institutes and I got to know people have such beautiful minds. The basic difference between doers and complainers is that, when doers see a problem, they will not accept no as an answer. They will find all possible alternatives to solve any problem, even if it involves climbing an Everest. On the other hand the complainers will crib about all the problems, infact they will find new problems to complain about. I want to be a doer, I want to be the giver.

     There are times when I am overpowered by guilt. I feel guilty for not able to devote enough time to my family. My son waits eagerly for the rare weekends that we spend together. My husband needs my time, attention and care, which I am not able to give him. People tell me it is just a matter of two years, but surviving these two years is a challenge for me.

     I want to excel in studies and be a perfect homemaker, but how is it possible? or is it possible? I don't know. I am paranoid, what if in a bid to achieve success, I lose the people I love. I wish I could devote more time to studies as well as my family. I have high expectations from myself and my family has too. Let us see what life brings on. I will wait for it. 

    I see students in my college have so much time in life, they are surrounded with opportunities and have all the facilities which if used properly, will take them to higher levels in life. But they do not fail to realize it, they simply waste their energy and time in useless things like partying around, uploading tiktok videos and what not, except studies. I feel sorry for their future. I wonder what are they going to give to the society? Simply wasting away each day of life. 

   Only if you could see and understand, there are so many things you can learn from, there are so many opportunities around you, only if you had the courage to knock at their doors. But only a few will understand the value of time. I may sound like a preacher, but only time will tell if i am right or not.  

First day at MBA

I never thought I would ever again switch to blogging because with work pressure and busy family life I had almost made up mind to quit blogging. But here I am. I wasn't able to stop myself from sharing my first day experience at the MBA college.
After seven years of gap I was again back on the campus to learn and unlearn. All other students were younger to me, less experienced and also less educated than me. Baring a few, almost all of them were feshers, who simply wanted to do MBA for the sake of placement.
Initially, I had also joined MBA with a perspective of getting a well paid job, but the curriculum here changed my mindset.
MBA is not about mugging up your textbooks and scoring good grades in exams, it is how aptly you manage yourself, your life, your office and your surroundings.
Doing an MBA will change your outlook towards your colleagues (whom you see as your competition), you will learn teamwork and how important it is to work smart, not hard. MBA is an opportunity to learn how to be a good manager and a good leader.
Every person who wish to become a leader or good manager in life must do an MBA from a premium institute like mine.
After all, "You don't need to have the best men in your team to succeed, you just need to have right people around you" as said by Jack Maa.

Female literacy is the key....

It was in August 2017, a news story on 62 infant deaths in gorakhpur government hospital drew flak from one and all. And this year, Uttar Pradesh has earned the dubious distinction of state with highest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 64. This is followed by Chattisgarh (54), Madhya Pradesh (51), Assam (48), Bihar(48) and Jharkhand (44). While the media played stories after stories on dismal state of health affairs, our so called Netas tried to wash off their hands off  by playing the blame game. However, there is also a flip side to this, I googled and was zapped to find out that Kerala has the lowest infant mortality(IMR) rate. The state has consistently worked on to reduce it's IMR and has finally succeeded to bring it to single digit. In a nation where half of the women do not have access to proper health care during pregnancy, why and how does Kerala has low infant deaths. Here is what I found:
Even though Kerala stands lowest in terms of infant mortality rate, instead of basking in this glory, it has consistently worked on making it's IMR number to 6 by increasing it's health care budget every year. For this purpose the state government sought help of Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP).
Another major reason for low IMR was, high female literacy in Kerala. Going by the saying 'Educate a woman and you are educating a family', Kerala gives priority to women education. Even remotest areas of the state have well equipped school with educated teachers.
Third reason for low IMR is access to healthcare facilities. Women in Kerala have better access to health care facilities as compared to other states. This can be inferred from the fact that almost 90 per cent deliveries in the state are institutional.
It was all the more shocking that states with low IMRs have even lower female literary rates and  worse health care facilites. Over the years, states with low female literacy like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Assam have even lower IMRs. The main reason why Kerala has lowest IMR is because it has highest female literacy rate. Female literacy and IMRs are inversely proportional.
Then I googled the health care budget of these states over the recent years. Here is what I found:
Over the years, states with low IMRs and low literacy rates have been only marginally increasing the budget for sectors like education and health. The condition of education and health care continues to remain dismal in these states. This clearly shows rampant corruption and how Netas and government officials ensure no facilities are available for poor.
Even states with mediocre IMRs and literacy rates prefer allocating large budgets only to sectors like urban development. The amount alloted to urban development is easily siphoned off by Netas and corrupt officials. Shockingly, Modi's model state Gujarat has been religiously decreasing it's health and education budget in recent years. It is only in the election years 2018-2019 that the central and state governments have given a thought to increase the education and health budget, but only marginally. Enough for the government to garner votes.

Jab I met my guru....

Recently i made a short visit to my parent's home. Just a day before my journey back, we went to buy a few daily need items. While I was walking past a store, a heard someone call my name. I turned to find out it was our physics teacher, Davis sir. Once with dark black hair and thick moustaches, now with grey streaks and wrinkled eyes. I was surprised to see he has lost so much weight ( I was embarrassed as I had gained weight).
One thing that often leaves me awestruck about  teachers is they remember the name of each and every student they have taught. I mean just imagine, every teacher might have taught at least thousand students in his lifetime, (the number may be even more), but she or he remembers the name of every student he taught. And even though we change so much after school life, even if we gain weight or lose weight, grow moustaches or beard, get married, have kids, but they still recognise us in just one look.
So, It took me a while to realise that Davis sir, my class teacher who was among the most handsome teachers of our school, can grow old. And after looking at his wrinkled face I realise how time has flown.
I told him about other students of our class, about some of them with whom I was in touch.
Another thing about teachers I admire is, they are the only one in this whole world, after our parents, who feel so proud of the feats of their students. When I told Davis sir about our students, how many of them are working abroad and some of them have even cracked IAS, he smiled in amazement.
As we talked, he shared something that tore me from inside. He said that the company, that owned the school land and the surrounding township, was planning to demolish the whole township, including our school and colony. People and teachers here may be relocated to some other place. I was heartbroken, never thought that the school where I studied right from nursery to class twelfth, my kids won't be able to see that school again. I thought when my son would grow up I would bring him to my school, show him my classrooms, our school playground, our prayer hall, our chemistry lab where we broke something or the other everyday, our music room. The very thought of my school being bulldozed, filled my eyes with tears.
I wonder where will all the faculty members and staffs of our school go? Where will they find jobs and accommodation?
People suggested me to opt teaching as a career, but somehow I never settled for it. Not because it is the most cliché career option for girls, but because it requires a lot of patience and selflessness to become a teacher.

"A teacher is the most humble person on this planet who just earns enough to make both ends meet, while creating some of the best minds of this world."

A day with myself....

Five years, its been five fucking years when I left this city. The city that taught me to survive, to fly, and in these five years I had experienced every emotion, every crazy thing one can imagine. Late night drivings, random talks with strangers, dancing on roads, and even getting drunk. I had made up my mind to live my life to the fullest, on my conditions, and was in love with my city forever. But then my parents married me and this was the end of my story, my freedom, my ambitions. From a liberal, independent, happy go lucky girl, I became a bahu (a trophy) owned by a.prominent family. Every time I longed to enjoy something, or talked funny, I was reprimanded of the high status and respect of my in-laws. I thought I would suffocate to death amidst these traditions that were more of ordeals on how should I walk, dress and what should I eat. How should I address my my husband and all the fasts n puja I had to perform.
The only time I use to feel alive was when I came to visit my parents. I laughed without thinking how loud I was, talked without mincing words, and ate what I liked, slept till late in the morning, and for once, I wasn't worried about what to cook for lunch or dinner.

One morning I decided to take a stroll in the city. I wanted to see what has changed over these years. New malls, parks, metro station, and what not. The mere feeling of freedom... Roaming in the city on your own, doing what you like, gave me thrill. But this time, this feeling of being at home wasn't there anymore. Strange people, new places, a few unknown roads, even the famous paav bhaaji that I use to eat with friends, tasted different. The city where I found peace in chaos, love in its vibrant hues of daily life, and happiness in chit chats with friends, was now just another new city to explore. I still don't know what I missed the most, the city or myself. 

Of guts, glory and games....

Only a few weeks back the nation was all gaga over the overwhelming victory of PV Sindhu and Sakshi Mallik at the Rio olympics, but the historic win by our para athletes at the ongoing Rio paralympics has even failed to garner enough eyeballs. After a few tweets and 24hr hustle bustle on the internet, their feats fizzed out among other news. It wont be wrong to say that the paralympians dont get nearly as much attention as the olympians.  Not many of us must be aware about the guts and glory of these power players who have made nation proud. Here are a few mind-boggling facts about paralympics that will make you respect these people for their contributions.
INDIA never participated in paralympics till 1968, since then it has never missed any summer paralympics. But India has never competed in any of the winter paralympic games so far.
This time India has sent a delegation of 19 athletes (16 men and 3 women) who will compete in 10 different sports. This is India's largest delegation in paralympics so far.
Murlikant Petkar gave India its first ever gold medal in the 1972 paralympics held at Heidelberg, Germany. Petkar swam 50m freestyle setting a world record of 37. 331 seconds.
Devendra Jhajheria. This para athlete created history and made India's pressence felt in the 2004 Athens paralympics. Devendra bagged gold in javelin throw, setting a world record that remains unbroken till date. Also he is the first paralympian to be honoured with the prestigious Padma Sri award in March 2012.
Joginder Singh Bedi. Not many of us must have heard about this para athlete who has won maximum number of medals for India at paralympics. Singh created waves at the 1984 paralympics by clinching silver in short put and a pair of bronze in Javelin and Discus throws.
There are many other para athletes like Bhimrao Kesarkar, Rajendra Singh Rahelu and Girish Nagarajegowda, who have not got the much deserved respect and support, but this hasn't detered them from excelling at national and international sports. I hope they get same welcome as other olympians when they return back.

Of guts, glory and games....

Only a few weeks back the nation was all gaga over the overwhelming victory of PV Sindhu and Sakshi Mallik at the Rio olympics, but the historic win by our para athletes at the ongoing Rio paralympics has even failed to garner enough eyeballs. After a few tweets and 24hr hustle bustle on the internet, their feats fizzed out among other news. It wont be wrong to say that the paralympians dont get nearly as much attention as the olympians.  Not many of us must be aware about the guts and glory of these power players who have made nation proud. Here are a few mind-boggling facts about paralympics that will make you respect these people for their contributions.
INDIA never participated in paralympics till 1968, since then it has never missed any summer paralympics. But India has never competed in any of the winter paralympic games so far.
This time India has sent a delegation of 19 athletes (16 men and 3 women) who will compete in 10 different sports. This is India's largest delegation in paralympics so far.
Murlikant Petkar gave India its first ever gold medal in the 1972 paralympics held at Heidelberg, Germany. Petkar swam 50m freestyle setting a world record of 37. 331 seconds.
Devendra Jhajheria. This para athlete created history and made India's pressence felt in the 2004 Athens paralympics. Devendra bagged gold in javelin throw, setting a world record that remains unbroken till date. Also he is the first paralympian to be honoured with the prestigious Padma Sri award in March 2012.
Joginder Singh Bedi. Not many of us must have heard about this para athlete who has won maximum number of medals for India at paralympics. Singh created waves at the 1984 paralympics by clinching silver in short put and a pair of bronze in Javelin and Discus throws.
There are many other para athletes like Bhimrao Kesarkar, Rajendra Singh Rahelu and Girish Nagarajegowda, who have not got the much deserved respect and support, but this hasn't detered them from excelling at national and international sports. I hope they get same welcome as other olympians when they return back.