Ruby’s shine lost. Disgrace on Indian Education System.

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Ruby Rai is trending, not only in her small village ‘Hasi Malahi’, of Bihar; but all over India. She may have dreamt of being famous one day, but not this famous that one day she will be the face of our corrupt Education system. Popularity is good, unless it is followed by arrest and humiliation.

For those who are not aware of our 17-year-old shining girl, Ruby Rai (although I think there will be only a few of those); she is the Arts Topper from Bihar, India. She is a state topper with 444 achieved marks out of total 500. Commendable, isn’t it? Very much so, because the subjects that she has topped in, she didn’t even know what they are all about. It became crystal clear when she sat in front of a Tv camera declaring that Political (prodigal as pronounced by her) science teaches cooking. She must be confused between home science and political science; or, in her home, there is too much politics going on. Anyone can get confused between these two, right?

To be caught red-handed, and that too on national television in this time of social media bloom; she must be devastated. I don’t know, what she must be going through since telecast of her famous interview, but it won’t be pretty for sure.

First, it was hard for me to see her as a victim or as a culprit, but, it was made pretty clear when state government arrested this 17-year old, for cheating in her 12^th class exam. She was arrested and had to take a re-test of exam; which she failed miserably. She wrote a single small statement, when asked to write down an essay. I wonder if she could even pass the exam, leave aside to top it again.

How did she manage to top not only her school but her state?

Simple – Our Corrupt Education System has helped her to do so.

What has been uncovered is that a local school run by Bachcha Rai, takes a huge amount of money as fees in exchange for giving sure shot high percentage marks. It is like you can order the marks you want and pay for it so. As stated by another person involved in the scam, fees charged were 10 times more as compared to other schools; and in return this school had the highest number of toppers in whole state.

Ruby is not the only one arrested here. Overall 17 or more people are arrested in this scam, which includes 3 other toppers like her; Saurabh Shrestha, Rahul Kumar, and Daughter of Bachcha Rai, Shalini Rai. Almost 300 BSES staff has been transferred, some are suspended. It was a racket with huge money involved. I am sure its root will be deeper than it looks, but arrest of Ruby has proven one thing that this huge scam will not be unearthed fully. In fact, a blame game will be played where the smallest pawn will be made an example of.

Ruby is not a victim. Victim is that student who could have been a rightful topper for his/her hard work, but lost because of these Ruby’s and Saurabh’s lack of desire of getting educated in right way.

Ruby is not a criminal too. But she is for sure a beneficiary and totally involved in this. For those who say that her parents are culprit and not her. They are right somewhat, but a 17-year-old, asking her parents to make her pass in exam by bribing officials, does not look so innocent to me. She is an ignorant child, a stupid one. All the humiliation she is facing is because of her own deeds. She may not deserve to be treated like this, but she sure knows what she has done was wrong.

She refused to give a re-test. She didn’t appear for it first time round. Second time she was to be arrested to get a re-test out of her. She refused to wear scarf/mask to cover her face, which is suggested by officers arresting her. Later she obliged. To media she said – Are you going to kill me, if I don’t answer your questions? There is no remorse in her words and her actions. She also said, that she asked her father to make her pass her exam only. She does not wanted to be a topper.

She forgot, a thief is a thief, no matter you are stealing a grocery store or a bank. Your punishment may vary, but you will be punished for it.

Another point I would like to mention here is for those people who are targeting Bihar and Bihari people for this. I have personally worked with some of them, from my first company to my last one. Those I have worked with, were geniuses. They were intelligent and hard-working, and they still are learning and growing in their respective fields. I have also seen one Bihari manager who was a control freak lunatic, without any field knowledge. Point being – you cannot label anyone based on where they are from. Not every Bihari is Ruby Rai. Some Ruby’s live in UP, Delhi, and Haryana too…

It is not only Bihar’s education system who take money to pass/top a student. It happens everywhere. Some places this corruption level is far less than compared to Bihar, but it is an overall Education system failure.

If you want to change this system, first change yourself. Do not expect that every child will be a topper. Do not expect them to do good in every subject. Education is much more than how much marks you have got. Make education simpler. Make it practical. Make it reachable.

Ruby probably cycled 10 km to reach her school (if she had attended any class). How many kids are passionate enough for school, to cover this distance daily?

Kids and Me

Language of Love

Image June 20, 2016 jcisnowjs 2 Comments

We have developed so many languages to talk to each other but still we rarely understand others. Isn’t it ironic that even after having so many languages, we depend on universal language of human emotions when we share our feelings. Words are never enough. In fact, words, may they be of any language, could not do justice to our true feelings. We need something else to understand each other.

To understand love, we need language of love.

Why I am suddenly talking about languages and Love. Well, I do talk about love a lot actually, but it is first time for languages. There is always a first time. Lol.

We visited a friend few weeks back. They just became proud parents of the most beautiful girl, I have ever seen. She is so damn pretty, just like a doll. It is a beautiful experience to see the miracle of birth and hold a tiny living being in your hands, who is your tiny version. Well, both parents were elated to have her, but most happy were the grandparents of the little one. Taking care of the new Mom and little baby doll… looking after their every small need… fulfilling every responsibility and much more.

They came all the way from Chennai, India to help their daughter in law and son, to prepare them for the arrival of the first-born. They speak Tamil, only Tamil, no other language. Auntie however do try to speak/understand few words of English. No problem, as whole family can speak Tamil. Problem – we the visitors were illiterate in Tamil. No Tamil for us. Only Hindi or English.

Was it hard to talk to them? No not at all. They were so lively and so lovable, we didn’t felt any barrier of communication. It was more so as our friend, their son, was acting as translator between parents and us. We loved their hospitality and pure love. What surprised me was kids.

We grownups were all having dinner and kids refused to eat any food. They were fussy and just wanted to watch their cartoon. We decided to give them some time and then feed them. So we were having dinner, when suddenly I realized kids are too quiet… too much to make me uncomfortable. Looked back, and there they were quietly sitting on couch and eating food from uncle’s hands. Auntie ji was serving dosa after dosa to them, while uncle was feeding them small bites with love. All three of my kids eating silently. That was a first. More shocking for me was that they were eating food from someone who was a stranger to them few hours back. Specially Otu, who don’t even sit in the same room as any grownup; he was sitting closest to Dada and was eating from his hands. Kids called them dada and dadi, as in grandpa and grandma. Dada was smiling and feeding them. Dadi was serving them. Grand-kids were enjoying all the attention and love showered on them.

Surprisingly they have never eaten from anyone else’s hands, other than us (me and hubby); not even their own grandparents. I guess when kids see pureness of heart, they just see love… no language, no religion, no age difference, no culture, no relationship, nothing else…. Only love.

Where there is love, you don’t need any other language to understand. Love is enough. It is always enough. ❤

Photographs

Beauty of Spring

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Kids and Me, Photographs

Crochet Mermaid Blanket

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Life, Movies

‘Mona Lisa Smile’, but is she happy?

Image April 18, 2016 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

Watched ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ yesterday. It was the second time I watched this movie. Can’t remember when I did watched it first time, must have been long. Well, it was released in 2003, and clearly, not a masterpiece to remember after such a long time. But, it still is worth a second watch. More so because of its basic story line.

What amazed me this time was, that how much it still makes so much sense. This movie was based on the women’s independence and role in society around 1953. Did I say 1953?

Now it is 2016, and is much changed for women since 1953?

A lot has been changed since then, but not for all the women. Some of them, who are still dependent on their husbands and families, or are not educated/strong willed, enough, still suffer the fate of being a woman. This is not a crime to be a woman, but to be a weak woman, and let males of your family/society walk all over you? That is a crime, in my view.

There is a dialogue in the movie – Mona Lisa is smiling, but is she happy?

The protagonist in the movie, a teacher played by Julia Roberts, asks one of her student, who was leaving her slaw study so she can marry, “Why can’t you have both?“

Why can’t someone have a career and a family too?

How many of you agree to this statement? How many of you have left their studies, or their job to take care of their kids, or to get married?

When a marriage discussion takes place between both sides of families, if the girl is working, first question that they ask is, so how will you manage your job and family? Are you going to quit? Are you going to relocate, in case girl works in different city? Nobody asks this from boy. Well, there job is far more important than a girl’s one, right? If you manage to keep your career on track, while getting married and fulfilling all your family responsibilities; wait till you get pregnant. Than question will be changed to, are you going to quit now? Are you going to give your kid to elders of the family to take care of as you will be busy in job? How are you going to manage a kid and a job? Nobody asks these questions to soon-to-be father.

Why can’t you have both?

Because no matter what you do, you leave your job to take care of your kid, or you decide to carry on your job while having a baby; you will be judged. You will be judged mercilessly.

Irony is most of the time people who are judging you will be women. Yes, we women, are like that.

This is still 1954. It is not 2016. we still live in a society where a woman is expected to sacrifice her professional life or else, she will be reminded of how bad a mother she is. Oh! your child stays in day care whole day, while you go to office. How he/she will turn out? Poor child is not getting mother’s love. What about poor child’s fatherly love?

I think women are not supposed to have it all. Wait. This sounds so negative. Let me rephrase that.

Women are destined to have it all, as long as they don’t give a shit about what others think of her decision.

I am happy now. Smiling too. Not a fake Mona Lisa smile, but having a hearty laugh while writing this shitty 1954 article. Happy smiling ladies.