Friday, September 18, 2009

Young gurus rule the roost


WITH THEIR appeasing words, admirable erudition and never-ending energy, young teachers continue to rule the heart of students. They act more as a friend than as a teacher and hence are more understanding, that’s what many students opine about their favourite teachers. But what makes them popular?
A lot of students of students believe that young teachers are more affable and understanding as compared to the aged ones. Take for instance the famous Lucknow University, and the opinion seems to be true, while many students prefer bunking most of their classes, nobody wants to miss the Anthropology class of Rahul Patel sir, their young Anthropology teacher who has done his Post graduation from the university itself. For students he is just like someone from among them, yet very admirable.
And Rahul Patel sincerely admits this, “As a student I faced many hardships in my academics which I don’t want my students to face. I guide them, and try to make things simple so that they can easily open up and share whatever they want,” he says.
“I don’t think an unmarried teacher understands student better than a married one. The only reason why students think so is the age factor. May be students find young teachers more affable which gets replaced with respect in case of an aged teacher,” he says.
While Amity College is buzzing with routine activities, ask anyone about their favourite teacher. An immidiate reply you would get is Chander Mahadev Sir, their journalism teacher.
But what makes him popular among his pupils is his indefatigable attitude and exhorting and interactive personality. “He is like Dues ex machine, always there for his students. He is our hero, like a true friend and someone we always look forward to,” says one of his students.
And what the guru gyaan says on this? “I am a friend for my students and not their teacher. As a mentor, I want to bring out the best in my students and I always want them to do better in their career,” says Mahadev sir.
While for many marital status may not matter, but girls of IT College believe unmarried young female teachers are more understanding than others. Perhaps this is what makes Akansha Shukla, a young Geography teacher one of their favourites.
Another popular teacher is J Fernandis, the HOD of English Department in IT College. She is a teacher, whose class no one affords to miss. “Every student’s dream is to be a student of her class,” says Nupur Singh, a student.
Unlike earlier where student teacher relationship was dominated under respect and sincerity, today students try to find a friend in their teachers, this is the reason why young and unmarried teachers are their first choice.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

INDIA'S GlOBAL IMAGE


Some recent issues in the news have provoked me to write on this blog. The racist attacks in Australia and Barack Obama’s version about Indians have put me in a tizzy situation. And several questions have brewed up in my mind.
What image do we Indians have globally? Why do people flock to foreign countries even after hearing about racist attacks and swine flu? Why do the very thought of India for many is a country with exotic, chaotic, and schezopherinic people.
I read a chapter in my English book. The story of a family whose sole bread earner joins Indian army and dies. In a bid to find out about her brother, his sister meets an Indian and asks him a series of questions about India. One of them was: Is India full of snakes and mosquitos? And do people in India know black magic? After reading that question I immediately turned page to see author’s name. As per my expection the author was a European (though I don’t remember the name of the author now) Somehow I feel, infact it is true that majority of people in world have a typical stereotype image about India in their mind which is:

India is a land of barbaric villagers who don’t have the basic manners of how to talk to people. Even if somehow they manage to earn a position globally, you cannot remove their superstitious nature from them.
Secondly, India is a land full of snakes and big mosuitos and diseases and bacterias. The people in India don’t know even the H of hygiene.
A lot of people who visit India are so paranoid about this typical image of the country that they don’t prefer eating or drinking anywhere. Many foreigners have myriad instances to tell about their journey in India and how they fell sick there.
I would prove this by my personal example, an incident that happened with me. It was my birthday and I was coming out of a temple carrying the box full of prasad and flowers. I saw a foreign couple waiting for an auto. I went ahead to talk to them as I was too inquisitive to know about them. After talking for a while, I came to know they were from France and were here on India tour. I told them it was my birthday and I offered them the prasad which they were reluctant to take. They thought they might get sick eating the prasad or as if I was from drug n rob gang and would rob them. (Ridiculous!)
I felt so bad about it and I wanted to give them a lecture about how disillusioned they were about Indians.
Still I see many youths opting for foreign varsities. They are ready to face racism, discrimination, alienation, mocking remarks or even physical assaults, but then also like dogs tail dont want to change. Students still flock to foreign colleges and are ready to pay any amount of money to get admission there. Lured by the money, lifestyle, and comforts many move to other countries in search of greener pastures.
Recently I’ve read many articles about personal experiences of people who faced discrimination in other countries. Perhaps this is the reason why many opt for foreign education despite of racial attacks or swine flu fear.
While Europeans, Americans or any other country, all are proud of what they are about their culture lifestyle and their country.
I remember when I attended a seminar where US ambassador (though originally from India) was advocating how a foreign varsity degree is above the degrees provided by colleges in India.
One last thing, I Is there dearth of good teachers and educational institutions in India? Why every year there is increase in VISA applications? Why youths want to any other country when they can get the same education at a less price here in their own country?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Republic day special...

Recession...recession all around..
its Global Meltdown and India is taking cost cutting measures..
SO... Shouldn't the size of the government be reduced as well?
as i mentioned in my earlier post also, there shuld be a certain qualification to contest election, every political party should have a specific number of poitician members, and when its high time that Indian economy is facing crisis.. the first thing we need to do is reduce the size of the government and facilities provided to our politicians.
The amount of money spent on salaries and other facilities given to politicians is more than 300 crores, out of which the money spent on security of politicians alone accounts for a whopping 250 crore...what say? do you think its time to act and raise openions for initiating change of reactions? go ahead leave a comment...