Movies Review :- Manto

All ordinary or extraordinary fictions are a sum of author's life experiences when mixed with desires, prejudices, value systems and preferences. No writer is born with content or intent. Story of Manto is the story of a writer who was idealised by some and damned by many. He was a rare breed who did not sugarcoat his writings either in fear or for society's acceptance. Having read lot of Manto, I can understand that why some people can not digest his writings. There is sensationalism but it is not forced. His choice of words is also crude.


Coming to the movie, it made us wait a long long time. I remember seeing its first teaser around 2 years back, unfortunately the scene shown in teaser was not present in the movie. as far as acting performances are concerned, Nawazuddin Siddiquie disappointed me. The performance was above average but in such an iconic role we would have loved to see him getting more involved. His urdu looked forced and I felt there was some lack of practice.

Other actors were below average. Rajshree Deshpande who played Ismat Chugtai did not do justice to one of the role of most dynamic and courageous female writer.

Song tracks were not great. Direction and editing were also average.

Cinematography was very good and probably the only face saver. Full marks to Kartik Vijay.

Star Ratings : 2/5

Verdict : These type of movies aren't meant for general audience. Heavy urdu words and reference to Manto and Ismat would not be bearable if you have not read both of them. Even Manto fans may avoid the movie. Let us hope someday the legendary writer would get a good movie that he rightly deserves. 

Movie Review : Sanju.

Manipulative and Apologetic Melodrama

If the movie was a PR exercise for Sanju baba, it has failed miserably. It is bizarre to think that somebody started drugs just because his father gave him a short lecture on the menace of smoking. The fact that your girlfriend doesnot like your midnight drama and decides to leave you, makes you start doing drugs again. And it does not garner public sympathy if you have to spend a few ‘uncomfortable’ nights in prison because of your connection with terrorists. Having said that, the movie is a good Bollywood cocktail. It has all the characteristics of a blockbuster. Sanskari father, sacrificing mother, rich brat who becomes drug addict and came back from addiction. He was high on drugs even when his mother was on her death bed and needed him the most. However, everything becomes all right in the end. The rich brat understands his responsibilities and blah blah blah.

Acting :

In the opening scene, Ranbeer Kapoor was a bit overacting. However lateron you get along with him well. One exceptionally well performance other than Paresh Raval is of Vicky Kaushal. He is in the role of Sanjay Dutt’s best friend. His cute Gujrati will leave you in splits. Do grab some ‘snakes’ after coming out of cinema ‘hole’. Mainisha Koirailla, Diya mirza and Anushka Sharma were average.

Editing and Screenplay :

Full marks to Raj Kumar Hirani for editing. From ‘Munna Bhai’ to ‘3 Idiots’, he is the king of Bollywood atleast in this area. Screenplay was also very very good. It would have been an extremely difficult script but the writers have done their part well too.

The makeup artists have done their job well. All the characters fitted in their depictions well.

Songs:

One very good song is “Main badhiya tub hi badhiya” by Suneedhi Chauhan and Sonu Nigam. There is nice sprinkling of old songs throughout.

Overall Judgement:

Since there is no other good movie around for some time, this movie is not a bad choice. However go and come out without getting manipulated.

All the Best.

3.5 stars out of 5.

Image Source : Internet

Movie Review - PARI

We live in a multicultural society. There are different religions, traditions and ways of life. Every tradition has developed its own answers to the unexplained questions. One of the question, for example, is about the mysterious world of supernatural characters. Hindu tradition has the concept of afterlife, wondering souls of the dead etc. Some Muslims, similarly believe in djins. This movie has something to do with djins and their supreme leader Ifrit.

Now without divulging too much of the details, let me tell you that the movie is not about ghost characters made up by poor makeup artists from Ramsay brothers movies. The movie is infact a unique experiment in the horror movie industry. Although it has failed to leave a mark but not failed enough to be dismissed.

Full marks to Anushka Sharma, Parambrut Chaterjee and Rajat Kapoor for putting life in their characters.

The direction was good but Cinematography looked lacking. The movie would have been a comedy if not for the background music support but that is how most of the Bollywood horror movies are.

The movie Also lacked spontaneity that we usually see in movies by this director.

Screenplay was good and the work done on dialogues was also good though not brilliant.

Although the movie has opened up a completely new possibility in horror drama, let us wait for some better movies on the subject. The movie can be given a miss.


I will give the movie 0.5 stars out of 5.

The man from the Mountains.

The steep concavity between mountains, with the soft and sensuous sun light trailing through their bends make me feel as if I can read their curves, bends and slopes like books of sonnets and stories, tracing each page in its sacred soliditary; as the curved landscapes ramble , roam and converge with each other like enchanted lyrics.

Although they seldom talk, but when they do, their thunders frighten me, their swift flowing rivers try to take me along their deep canyons that had been labourously carved out by million of years of erosion. To everyone else their song seems ever frightening yet my fear dissapears for I know they love me, as I am the man from mountains.

One Fine Evening

He was rolling in laughter
In chocolate dirt.
He was falling in love with his mud castle
And I with his beautiful dreams,
The shells were shining beside him
And so were his baby teeth.
He played and played till sun called it a day.
I kept sitting there as the dusk was over, but too old to play.

Alas, the days will not come back.
Alas, the world will be Grey and black
Alas I will never be a child again
And believe the world to white once again.

To the crimson sun over the ocean so deep.
I bid a farewell but did not weep.
I took a shell from his mud castle and in my pocket I keep.

Hindi poem - A reply to Sharad Kokas jee

Sharad Kokas's famous poem

वह कहता था,
वह सुनती थी,
जारी था एक खेल
कहने-सुनने का।

खेल में थी दो पर्चियाँ।
एक में लिखा था *‘कहो’*,
एक में लिखा था *‘सुनो’*।

अब यह नियति थी
या महज़ संयोग?
उसके हाथ लगती रही वही पर्ची
जिस पर लिखा था *‘सुनो’*।

वह सुनती रही।
उसने सुने आदेश।
उसने सुने उपदेश।
बन्दिशें उसके लिए थीं।
उसके लिए थीं वर्जनाएँ।
वह जानती थी,
'कहना-सुनना'
नहीं हैं केवल क्रियाएं।

राजा ने कहा, 'ज़हर पियो'
*वह मीरा हो गई।*

ऋषि ने कहा, 'पत्थर बनो'
*वह अहिल्या हो गई।*

प्रभु ने कहा, 'निकल जाओ'
*वह सीता हो गई।*

चिता से निकली चीख,
किन्हीं कानों ने नहीं सुनी।
*वह सती हो गई।*

घुटती रही उसकी फरियाद,
अटके रहे शब्द,
सिले रहे होंठ,
रुन्धा रहा गला।
उसके हाथ *कभी नहीं लगी वह पर्ची,*
जिस पर लिखा था, *‘कहो'*।



My reply to him

अब खेल वही है, लेकिन उसके, मायने गए है बदल |
क्योंकि अब वो पढ़ना लिखना सीख गई अविरल ||

पहले उसके साथ होती थी एक निर्लज   बईमानी |
मीरा, अहिल्या और सती, पर्ची का 'कहो' पढ़ना न जानी ||


अब जब इसकी पर्ची पर आता है 'कहो' ऐ नारी |
उसकी सिंह दहाड़ से कंपा जाती है भू सारी ||

जो काली का क्रोध भी है और महिसासुर का वध है ।
वो मलाला का साहस और विजयलक्ष्मी का नट है ||

एक दिन नारी ही चलाएगी इस भू की कमान  |
क्योंकि उसके आंचल से ही निकले सब, मूसा हो या राम ।।

कह गए कवि अदिश सुनो वो दिन जब भी आएगा ।
देख लेना तुम ये विचलित जग तभी शांति पाएगी।।in

Movie Review : Hindi Medium.- Class is the new caste.

There was a time when caste decided norms of the society - dining, marriage, education et.al. Caste is now limited to remote villages, in cities it is now restricted to arranged marriages. One good thing about class is that it can be improved upon whereas caste cannot. The movie is a fine struggle of a young couple trying to up their class.

The first step towards this is of course to secure an admission of thier child into an 'elite' school. Complete movie is centred around this. Whether they were successful or not, only movie will tell.

Screenplay and Direction

Screenplay was awesome in the first half but average in the second half. Many scenes were dragged in the second half and unnecessary drama was introduced. Same is true for authenticity also. Direction was good though.

Acting and Cinematography

Cinematogrphy was average. Irfan khan stole the show with his awesome acting. You will fell in love with the charm of Saba Qamar. Other actors have also played their role well.

Music and Sound

This was the best part of the movie. All songs are paisa wasool. You will be humming "tainu suit suit karda" while leaving theaters.

Final Verdict

Die hard fans of Irfan Khan should not give this movie a miss. The movie is safe to be watched with family.

I will give it 3 stars out of  5.

Movie Review : Haramkhor

Lust and jealousy are older than human existence. Many bollywood movies have tried to potray lust as love and jealousy as competitiveness, this movie is different from the other ones in the fact that it has not done that.

The movie is narrated from the point of view of two kids. All the small town 90s people who did not study in today's corporate schools would relate to the two. At least I could relate. There used to be a lot of free time to think about un-necessary stuff, do various chutzpa. Many of us would also go to tutions where we would do everything but studying. We would have a best friend. Of course the best friend and you will plan and execute various gimmics for one of your 'crush'. The gimmics would be successful or unsuccessful depending upon your luck. The movie is all about those but with two twists. One is that the 'crush' loves your teacher. The second is that the teacher is 'Haramkhor' unlike our teachers who were living examples of morality, uprightness and discipline.

Acting, Screenplay and Direction

Movie seems incomplete. I donot know if sensor board is to be blamed or the writers. Direction seems to be poor and lacking. Acting was average except Shweta and Nawaz. The side actors and the two kids could not match up the high standards we set up for a Nawazuddin movie.

Screenplay was very poor. There are some points when Nawaz finds it difficult to carry the movie. The director probably wanted to make a very dark movie, but failed miserably.

Who should watch the movie:

Other than statutory exclusions, people who are not die hard fans of Nawazuddin should skip the movie. Kids and Newly married couples should especially avoid.

My ratings for the movie : 1/5


Image credit :Internet (official poster)

Kahani Review Part 2

In the part 2 of movie reviews, I will concentrate on the following.

1.     What is the social impact that the movie has tried to make ?

2.     If there are some improvement points.

1.     Social Impact

1.1  Women Characters : The movie boasts of strong women characters but the case in not so. The character of Arjun Rampal’s wife was especially troublesome. Even after knowing about his another marriage, she remains apologetic is disturbing and sets a wrong example. The central plan was also executed by the character of Arjun Rampal himself. This waters down everything that I had expected of the so called strong character of Vidya Balan. Although her character remains strong uptill the last 5 minutes, but the take home feeling is that she just executed the plan made by someone else.

1.2  Taking up Social Causes : The movie takes up a very important yet neglected social evil of ‘in family sexual exploitation’. It happens everywhere. The issue is taken up fairly well. However the problem is that no solution is proposed. Running away with the girl and shooting the culprit is not the correct thing as per me.

Overall the movie scores low on social impact. The impact is limited to realization and highlighting of a social evil.

2.     Improvement Points

2.1  Movies are a powerful medium to bring about social change. They impact the subconscious mind and indirectly the decision making. If I were the story writer, I would have given more power to the women characters.

2.2  The indifference of the small girl’s grandmother to the sexual exploitation of her grand children is unrealistic.

2.3  The over attachment of Vidya with the small girl is also unrealistic as per my understanding.

3.     Social Impact Rating 0.5/5

Dangal Review - Part 1 - For viewers who have not seen the movie

It is incredible to see how an expected storyline was so beautifully crafted by the screenplay and writing team. I had expected the story line to be something like this –

• Ø There would be a failed wrestler,
• Ø  He would train his daughters and
• Ø The family would eventually win.

Unsurprisingly this is exactly what happened, yet I could see tears rolling down my cheeks whenever the girl misbehaved and whenever the helpless father was defeated (once even by his daughter). The audience in our theater thoroughly enjoyed though, there was roaring applause after every point scored, massive clapping and whistling after every match won.

The movie opens up in a government office where Mahavir Phogat (Aamir Khan) is working. He then makes a grand statement by defeating state level champion both in fight and in wits (What we call Baatbaazi in hindi and urdu) and with turn of events the movie ends with the girl winning CWG gold. Father Phogat infact won the much deserved standing ovation towards the end of the movie.

Authenticity

The movie is very spontaneous. As some critics have argued, it never tries to manipulate you. The movie does not fell prey to any 'isms'. Even while making a strong push towards feminism, it has not a single dialogue attributed to it. The deeply patriarchal society is shown without becoming an apologist or a critic. Things are shown as they are and left to the audience to reflect and decide.

I want to say a lot more on this in the second part of review that will be released on second sunday at 10 PM. I hope everybody would have watched the movie by then. PS - Kahani Review Part 2 will be released this sunday.

Screenplay

The characters are so real. I think I have lived with almost all of them. Aamir khan, the always stern and serious father, Sakshi Tanwar -caring and low profile mother, a random helping cousin, an arrogant coach and a sister who is also a guide. These things comprise a typical Indian family. The movie scores high on importance of indian family values also.

Technicals :

• 1. Costume Design – Fabulous  – Especially the description of local Haryanavi women and men..
• 2. Cinematography and Direction – Nitesh Tiwari is Awesome as always.
• 3. Sceenplay is superb. Not a single frame is without purpose. Not a single dialogue is without reason.

Go and watch this movie to pay your respect to Mahaveer Phugat and for the charm of Fatima Sana Sheikh. (I know most of you had secret crush on her from childhood days).

Who Should Go :

Everybody should watch this movie. It is definitely in the league of best movies that Bollywood has made so far (Eg. Sholay, Border etc)

My Ratings for the movie 4.5/5

Kahani 2 Review – Part 1 (For readers who have not seen the movie)

The movie starts with a very powerful walk-through into the life of any other single mother, working middle class Bengali woman. The first 30 minutes are so power packed, audience would definitely feel a chill with every twist. Vidya Balan, is awesome both in acting and dialogue delivery. The audience gets carried away with her at times. She has done the role so well that you would forget her gorgeous diva avtar. The carelessly unkempt hair, rough saree and dirty by lanes everything feels so real.

Movie is written extremely well. It has everything that a perfect suspense thriller normally offers. A strong character, good choice of twists and a big suspense reserved for the end. The final twist was, however, not as awesome as that of Kahani. But let us not tie the burden of outperforming a superhit movie Kahani on Kahani 2.

(image credits – Internet – Rediff.com)

One more good thing about this movie is that there are no un necessary songs, no dilli dallying on exotic locations. Even the limited romantic scenes are kept very simple and realistic.

The movie gives a solid message against domestic child abuse and how it may easily go un-noticed.

There are however a few short comings that I could find. There are a lot of, lot of coincidences. Almost all strong characters are somehow connected. Although even large number of coincidences could not remove the tinge of realism from this movie.

Few movie critics argued that story line was to some extent predictable, however I did not felt so. This was partly because I did not see the trailer which was allegedly too revealing.

I have refrained from giving away story line or suspense. I will write another section “For readers who have already seen the movie” for more detailing.

Technicals :

1. Editing – Superb work by Namrata Rao
2. Costume Design – Average – Nothing special – Opportunity lost in displaying the character of Vidya Balan.
3. Cinematography – Awesome
4. Direction – Fabulous

Who should go :

People who love non romantic, fast paced thrillers. The movie has some violent scenes also, viewer’s discretion is therefore advised.

Go watch this movie for the charm of Maninin Chadda and acting of Vidya Balan.

My Star Ratings : 3.5/5

A letter to my Younger Self.

There are times when we wish we could go back and correct things (not) done in the past. Obviously no one can, no one could. This life is beyond our control. This life as they say is like sand gripped in our palm. The more tightly we grip it, the more it slips away.  Osho has long back given his famous sermon “Life is for living and not controlling”. I know all these things, and therefore, am conscious of the fact that past cannot be changed but what if despite knowing the fact that we cannot go back and correct things, we may still try to write some advisory to our younger selves.

These are the 5 things that I would like to tell myself 7 years back, when I entered college. These are written in descending order of importance.

5. Do not believe in that senior who says “Studying is not important. 7 pointers get the best placements.” I do not know if such people still exist. There were a lot of them during our time. When you pass out knowing very little and will have to return to Ganeshan and Cengel  time and again, you would understand the folly of this misconception.

4. Make 5 friends with whom, 5 years down the line, you can talk atleast once in a week. A friend made in college life comes out to be your most valued treasure.

3. You have a lot of time. Everything can be done. Learning Music, dance, taking up College responsibility (Fests etc) and still scoring a 9.5 pointer.  You can manage. You will have to manage your  time during your job, and you will enjoy it in college.

2. Sports are as important as studies, extracurricular and a good job. Donot put your health at stake for tomorrow’s exam. You will be writing enough of them. One exam out of more than 100 does not count much.

1. Revoked 

Having said that the four year time is going to be the BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE. Even before you realise, it would be over. Dear self, enjoy it to the fullest – Take part in fashion parade, all the weird quizzes, play basket ball, football and what not.

Regards

Your Older Self.

Here we Start afresh.

I never expect to lose. Even if I am the underdog, I prepare a victory speech.
- H. Jackson brown Jr.

The ‘D’ day

The ‘D’ day  

Morning 8:00 AM

I was having a sound sleep when I heard Abhisheek (our CR) madly kicking my door trying to awake me up. Out of anxiety I was not able to sleep until 4 in the morning. I noticed 29 missed calls from home and other friends who were responsible to wake me up on time.

Morning 8:45 AM

I somehow managed to reach on time, although I had to miss my breakfast for that (however it had become my routine to miss breakfast). After a short powerpoint presentation about the company, and its offered packages, we were handed over a question paper for screening round.

Morning 9:50 AM
 

After the screening round, which was not a hard nut to crack, we were asked to prepare ourselves for Group Discussion round, luckily the topic was of my choice, “Has privatization lead to increased corruption?”. I kept three things in mind while going for it, (added here for final year people and to be final years)

1.      

       Tried to start the conversation. It is a good confidence builder and additionally, it helped me to steer the complete discussion the way I wanted. For example, I wanted to bring in the word “License Raj” in the conversation, so I just mentioned it during the very first sentence I spoke. Once it got into the discussion and 2 or 3 other people also mentioned it, I knew this GD would be a cakewalk. I definitely knew better than other people regarding this.

2.        

      Tried being a good listener, from my body posture the judge must get an idea that I was  receptive of others’ points.

3.      

            Gave a conclusion and included the opinions of others also so that it looked like a group conclusion.

I was confident of getting shortlisted for the interview round.

It was the interview round that was most crucial part of the recruitment process; therefore I will try to reproduce whatever I am able to remember from that 40 minutes interview.

There were two members in the panel, one was a lady member from HR and the other was head, Maintenance department of their Haridwar plant (Electrical Engineer).

Evening 5 : 45PM
 

I entered the room with my certificate file and two copies of CV’s (one for each member).

Member 1 (Head, Maintenance department, from now on M1)

Member 2 (Company’s HR from now on M2) ;

AA = Adish Aggarwal

M1 (Looking at my CV): So Mr Aggarwal, you are from Nahan.

AA: Yes sir

(He tried to remember something by the name Nahan.)

AA: Sir, it lies on Dehradun Chandigarh National Highway, and you being currently stationed at Haridwar plant must have crossed it.

M1: oh, so how do you go to Nahan.

AA: Sir I follow Chandigarh route.

M1: So there is no direct route to Nahan from here? (Well, I wanted to tell that the one from Chandigarh is also direct, but he wanted an all himachal route I guessed)

AA: No Sir, the one present is one way and dangerous. Moreover there is no direct bus service available for the all himachal route.

M1: (looking at my CV), so you like listening to soft music.

AA: Yes sir, Jagjit Singh and Md. Rafi are my favorite.

(I just prayed to God that they must not ask me to sing, because I am an awful singer. Thankfully they did’nt)

M1: Tell us something more about yourself ?

AA: Sir, I belong to a business family blah blah blah (I tried not to repeat the things already written in my C.V)

M2: you have mentioned that you also write blogs?

AA: Yes mam, occasionally.

M2: Tell me your favorite entry.

AA: Mam, it was the last one, regarding Education System In India, it was entitled: “The Great Indian Education System: from Gurukuls to IITs”. In it I tried to enlist the major differences between our traditional system and the current one. (Since she seemed interested in knowing further, I continued)…
In gurukuls, we had the concept of continuous learning and testing, the pupils during their formative years used to reside with their teachers and as and when the teacher or guru found it right to promote a child, he would do so. However now this is being replaced by a 3 hour examination system, that is insufficient to judge a person.

M1: In the same manner don’t you think it is impossible to judge a candidate in 10 minutes of interview time?

AA: Yes Sir to an extent you are correct, but there is no better alternative left to that.

M2: So in tune of your argument in your blog, should we resort back to the old system?

AA: No mam it is not possible, because it is impossible to change the whole system. Moreover we would
not find that high level of morality and understanding in today’s teachers.

M1: (cutting my sentence) What are your favorite subjects?

 Heat Transfer and Manufacturing process sir.

M1 : OK, so can you draw Iron - Iron Carbide Phase diagram?

Yes Sir, (I made the Fe-C phase diagram, and started explaining). These are two isothermal lines, one dictates Heat treatment process and other one Casting process.

M1 : Please explain in detail?

Sir, when we have to go for casting we have to increase the temperature above this isothermal line only above this the metal liquefies and when we have to go for heat treatment, we have to see to it that Austenite phase is formed and only after austenite phase is reached, we can go for cooling and requisite properties can be obtained. Blah blah blah…….

M1: Why do we need Heat Treatment?

Sir, primary aim is to alter the properties of any substance according to our needs and it has an added advantage that it relieves the workpiece of the stresses that might develop during machining.

M1 : Any Example?

Suppose we made a product on shop floor, only to discover that some of its dimensions are improper and would need further machining, we in that condition must go for annealing which would soften the metal, machine it and then again go for quenching to harden it. In addition to it……

M1: Ok , good.

AA : Thanks sir

M1: Do you know about Induction hardening?

AA: Sorry sir, I don’t know.

M1: What quality distinguishes you from others?

AA : Sir undoubtedly, my honesty.

M1: Laughingly, can you compare honesty?

AA: yes sir, it is a relative term?

M1: What relative term? Can you say he is 40% honest and 60% dishonest?

AA: No sir, but we can always say, he is more honest than him.

M1: But either a person is honest or dishonest there is nothing called a middle path….

AA: Yes Sir I think you are right.

(Then there were various questions related to my projects, a majority of which I answered satisfactorily except this one.)

M1: Since you mentioned, you used pumps in one of your projects, can you tell me how to connect pumps in series?

AA: Sorry sir, we have not read pumps.

M1: But I am asking about pumps and you have used them, just try?

(I kept quite because I had no idea about Pumps.)

M2: If a worker comes to you with a broken tool (in order to test your knowledge) and ask for a remedy, you being his boss what would you do?

AA: Mam, initially I will try to figure out whether it is actually a problem or he is just befooling. I would try my level best to help him…….

M2: But he is trying to escape from work by testing you, as I said?

AA : Mam, I would try to make him understand that he would ruin his performance report by doing such activity ……

M2: But will he listen to you?

AA : Mam, I have taken up various responsibilities, which involved handling my juniors and seniors during my college span and I am confident in handling people, I think I can handle the situation.

M2: What would be your preferred area of research?

AA: Mam if given a chance I would like to work on gearless bikes. I would specifically try to reduce cost and increase efficiency of the same, which at present is very less.

M1: What are your future plans MBA, M.Tech ………

AA: Sir they change every now and then. I wish to first stabilize myself in any reputed organization like yours.

Then there were some questions regarding Finance Team and  SOME (Society of Mechanical Engineers) of which I was the finance secretary and joint secretary respectively. They were general questions and were answered comfortably.

M1: Tell me your greatest weakness?

AA: Sir I have some level of stage fright.

M1 : OK, so what have you done to overcome it?

AA: Sir, we celebrate Hindi Diwas every 14^th September, I recited a poem during the last Hindi Diwas celebration. Although I fumbled in between but I was successful in completing it.

M1: That’s good, you must always try to improvise. OK, Mr Aggarwal we are done with the interview, would you like to ask anything?

AA: Sir I would like to know the prospects of foreign postings?

M1: Well, it depends upon the requirements abroad and your personal caliber. It is too early to ask this question. Anything else…..

AA : No Sir.

M1 : OK, it was nice meeting you, you may go now.

I wished thanks to both the members and left the room.

Late Night 2:00 AM

The interviews stretched upto 2:00 AM late night and the results were declared just about an hour after that. All the interviewees were asked to assemble in the auditorium.

M1: It was a tough task short listing these students, we wish to take more but we have our number constraints……………………
Following 5 students will become a part of Hero Motocorp family from now on, I would be speaking alphabetically

1.        Adish Aggarwal - Mine was thefirst name ...

I lost a beat, and was not able to hear other names declared and could know them only afterwards from my friends sitting beside me.

Having completed about two years in Hero Motocorp now, I could still feel a gush of fervor while I remember the sequence of events that day.

 Seth.

An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of India

To

The Prime Minister of India
With due Love and Respect


Sir, as we inch closer to August 15, with our country turning 64, let me as an honest citizen, dare to put forth to my government some recommendations.

Though I am in no authority to do so, I am still presuming that it is a people’s government. I advocate an increased funding and regulation for higher education, especially in the engineering and technology sections.

There are thousands of private Engineering colleges forced on Indian youth today, and most of them are owned by the powerful elite. This powerful elite in the process of bending laws to meet their suitability turn out more as a money churning institution rather than a centre for learning. It is for this reason that most of the HR managers globally take Indian Engineers as nothing better than supervisors (any diploma holder can also do the needful). I am not talking about fine engineers from IITs or NITs here. With more than 11 lakh students giving the All India Engineering Entrance Exam, consisting of a few thousand seats, one cannot blame an individual for a bad rank based on his performance in a 3 hour objective exam. I don’t think everybody has a fair chance in this fierce competition. Therefore sir, everybody turning out towards private Engineering Colleges is not a looser. There is enough talent in those students as well. But given the infrastructure, frustratingly ill qualified faculty and equally frustrating high fees, their talents go wasted. They end up being engineers only by name, jobless or a job of like 6000/- rupees or so.

Whereas on the other hand there is an intense demand for Engineers both in the domestic and international market. The problem Sir, is not unemployment but unemploybility. There is no dearth of employment opportunities but there is a dearth of employable engineers. Just a little done from your side sir, can help millions.

I am one of the greatest admirers of the loan interest subsidy scheme of your government but Sir please also ensure that these shopkeepers turn so called deans follow some minimum quality standards, and this minimum should be decided in the most judicious manner possible. An Iron Hand is needed for this purpose. These people are well capable of getting away with weak and feeble laws. It is good to have private public partnership, but something that is most important is public welfare.

One more thing sir, Ayurveda- the ancient Indian Medicine Science deserves our special attention. This particular style of medicine is so special not only because it has no side effects but also because it has stood all tests of time. Although there has been practically no investment in the R&D facility of it and still the measures directed by Charak are still used, it is serving as an excellent alternative to the current Allopathic form of treatment which is backed by tremendous funding.

These two moves will not only improve self confidence of Indians but also enhance the confidence of others in India.

This will also strengthen India’s role as a world Leader.

Jai Hind.
Adish Aggarwal (A concerned Citizen)

The Great Indian Education System :- From Gurukuls to IITs.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.":-Albert Einstein


In the context of above mentioned - simple but deep lines, let us evaluate the current system of education in India. The Indian education system, despite being the second largest in the world, has poor international standing. It emphasizes and produces quantity, not quality. Ironically, even that quantity is insufficient because half of India remains illiterate. In addition to this unfortunately, we are stuck with the age-old examination system to assess the student’s capabilities. The understanding of the subject is not important until and unless you are able to score 80-90 marks. As my friend Rohin Dogra would time and again comment, “We overeat the night before the exams, so that we may sit and vomit easily in our answer sheets.” The way we are made to attempt the paper is nothing better than vomiting. Instead of monitoring our progress at regular intervals, we are judged only in the examinations.

Knowledge, as they say is imparted in these institutes. Let us first elucidate this very term, knowledge as is mentioned in our sacred texts,
विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः॥
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परा देवता
विद्या राजसु पूज्यते न हि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः॥

Meaning:- Knowledge is certainly a man’s greatest beauty. It is a safe and hidden treasure.It provides prosperity, fame and happiness. Knowledge is the teacher of all teachers.It acts as one’s friend in a foreign country. Knowledge is the Supreme God. It is the knowledge, not wealth, which is adored by kings. Without knowledge one remains animal.


In ancient India, we were the pioneers of quality education. We excelled both at primary as well as higher education level. The concept of participative education was prevalent. In a gurukuls, formal education of mathematics, physical fitness, spirituality and moral science was imparted. The teachers (gurus) used to set examples of high moral character and sacrifice. There was no system of unnecessary examination as it is prevalent now. When the teacher felt that his pupil has attained enough knowledge to be promoted, he would do so.

However I would never suggest reverting to this type of system now. Neither the teachers are qualified and corruption free nor the students devoted and obedient to resort to such type of learning environments.

During the time of Chandragupta we had the famous Nalanda University. At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as China, Greece, and Persia. The great library of Nalanda University was so vast that it is reported to have burned for three months after the invaders set fire to it.

There is no need of a survey or world rankings to know the present condition of Indian universities. To quote Prime Minister Manmohan singh ..
"Our university system is, in many parts, in a state of disrepair...In almost half the districts in the country, higher education enrollments are abysmally low, almost two-third of our universities and 90 per cent of our colleges are rated as below average on quality parameters... I am concerned that in many states university appointments, including that of vice-chancellors, have been politicized and have become subject to caste and communal considerations, there are complaints of favoritism and corruption."
– Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

India is home to many universities which have been founded with the sole objective of making easy money. Students from rural and semi urban background often fall victim to these institutes and colleges. In January 2010, the Government of India decided to withdraw Deemed university status from as many as 44 institutes as they did not qualify for elevation by any standard and that "they were being run as family fiefdoms".

What we need today is increased accountability from these so called centers of higher learning. Increase spending on primary and high school education. Increase the salaries of teachers and bring more accountability by implementing the concept of performance driven promotions and salary.

Regarding technical education, I was studying a survey yesterday which highlighted the poor condition of our Technical Institutes and prompted me to write this article. As of 2007, there are 1522 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000, plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. However, these institutions face shortage of faculty and concerns have been raised over the quality of education. Most of them are by all standards grossly below standards.Focus should be more on original thinking and problem solving then on comprehension type learning.Hope you understood what I meant.

As far as moral education is concerned, no textbook can teach a child to be honest, while he observes that his government, his parents and his teachers are corrupt. What moral lessons on honesty can an immoral and corrupt person give?

All these things are better said than done. None of this is possible without a strong political will to improve and strengthen our country. The future of the country lies not in the old but in the children. If we can inculcate the feeling of devotion, patriotism and hard work in our children, we can surely forecast a strong and powerful future ahead.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते!
Here (in this world), there is nothing as pure(sublime) as knowledge.

Jai Hind.

Kashmir: The nature's veil

"If I were to look 25 years back (said my grandfather in his usual calm and meaningful tone) whenever I thought about Kashmir, some very beautiful and exoting pictures of nature figure in my mind. I always consider it something everybody must visit atleast once in his life, a Mecca for nature lovers. I visited it once, son. How beautiful it is, just as if you are in heaven, far away from miseries and tensions. It seems as if you are sitting in the Lap of God itself. That's what made Shah Jahan to title it as "Paradise" It is in fact a Paradise."He went on comparing it with Singapore and explaining how there is immense scope of development of its tourism. "Whenever I think of Kashmir I always picture out a young boy pelting stones and shouting anti Government slogans." I said and left the room conforming my willingness to search and study the current political situation of the state. In this process I met many kashmiri students studying in our college and internet of course is a great source of information. So, thank you friends and internet. However at times I felt very angry and irritated seeing some videos on YouTube and reading some separatist articles and meeting with those separatist people. However this is the ground reality and we will have to cope up with it.

One thing which I asked myself after all these reading was that why is Kashmir seen only as a terror factory? Why we only talk about the increasing terrorism and not the declining tourism in Kashmir. We in rest part of India might think that both of them are closely interrelated but a close research will show that it is not true. There is surely a lack of political will among our leadership. Maybe our leadership want to keep us in a false illusion that everything is normal in Kashmir. Maybe they donot want us to hear Kashmiri’s shouting “Bhuka Nanga Hindusthan – Jeeva Jeeva Pakistan.” Whatever the reason may be, the ground reality is that a good leadership both at center and state is needed to restore peace in paradise.

I am an engineer by profession and always try to reason everything. We engineers are keen to solve all the problems practically and not theoretically. But this problem seems much more complex than any typical Fluid Mechanics or Heat Transfer problem. So, that’s the reason to worry! When Engineer fails tension prevails. Yes friends I am honest enough to acknowledge that I failed to derive any substantial result on this issue. I am not willing to give any practically impractical solution to the problem and add up the heap of articles from all sections of the society, which are grossly unpopular ones or autocratic authoritarian and undemocratic.
Lets discuss all the possible solutions to the problem and discuss that why these are not possible/acceptable.

First one and the most debated one is the option of plebiscite. Well I have read it all, the promise of Jawaharlal Nehru on AIR , UN becoming independent observer and all those things. Look, we have to understand the difference between the conditions then and now. There is a huge difference in both of them. Then, way back in 1947 we could have cushioned this blow of loosing our own Kashmir to Pakistan or as a independent state, because at that point of time, India was in the making but now after 60 years we cannot just do that.
Just think of possible outcomes of Plebiscite:
1. Unification with India ,which is a welcome move, but I am not sure that procuring P.O.K will be that easy (and not to forget Aski-Chin), and if we don’t want to get into conflict with two Neuclear Weapon states, it is better not to think of POK & aski-chin merger with India.
2. Unification with Pakistan: - Well first of all India is a secular state and we cannot afford one more partition based on religion. Just imagine the condition of those 150 million Muslims spreaded across India. They already have tough time proving their patriotism time and again to some senseless pseudo nationalists. Some unsocial elements try to play with the emotions of Indians and riots will prevail all over making us more venerable and very weak. It is thread to our multiethnic identity.
3. Granting Azadi/ Independence:-Granting Independence to Kashmir?????????????
Will Pakistan and China agree to surrender territory occupied by them? As the partition is somehow on religious lines, what will happen to Hindus (non Muslims) of Jammu and Buddhists of Ladakh. We have to understand one thing very clearly that India is a secular country and muslims are living happily and can live happily here, however Hindus and Buddhists will have a tough time there and things like 1989 Kashmiri Pandit Massacre could be repeated.
Secondly a landlocked country and surrounded by three nuclear weapon states will make its economy venerable and I seriously doubt if communist China will spare Kashmir given its vast water resources and tourism.

Thirdly Taliban and Al-Quida will find a easy heaven in Kashmir which can make Kashmir another Afghanistan.

Now having explored first option lets move on to second option that is making LOC as international Boundary.

This option will leave the things as it is with a little adjustment in the maps of both India and Pakistan (Both of them show the whole Kashmir as their own territory). The chances of restoring peace in this option are very less. Separatist element will continue to spell hatred. Training camps in POK will continue to function and infiltrations will continue to happen. So, why this futile exercise, as this will only add tensions and constrains.

Third option is to keep Kashmir under United Nations watch for 10 years and then conduct a plebiscite. Well this option may seem viable and just to few third parties but it is not so. UN generally work according to interests of developed countries (completely personal opinion). What if even after 5-10 years UN feels that time is not ripe for plebiscite or comes under Pakistani/Indian pressure and keep on delaying plebiscite. Then situation will become extremely dangerous.

Therefore the only option available with us is to maintain the positions as it is and bring about the development works, improve literacy rate, provide them with employment so that slowly and gradually we may win the hearts of our Kashmiri brothers and eventually they will proudly proclaim themselves Indian.

My article will not be complete if I will not mention the role of security forces in Kashmir. Think at least two times before saying something against the people who are safeguarding you, who have left their families and are constantly fighting with enemy on one hand and separatist leadership on the other. Just put yourself in their position and think. We must respect our Indian Army and must not say any thing objectionable against them. Let them function properly.


I will be back soon with something new,
Till then good bye

Cheers,
Adish Aggarwal.

Jai Hind.