Stability of a System !

Law of Inertia is a natural law. It is Newton's First Law of Motion. It says that a body in a state of rest remains in the state of rest and a body in a state of motion remains in the state of motion, unless it is activated by External Cause/agency/force. This law is applicable to the living organisms and the human-evolved systems as well.

Let us take an example of the present education system in the engineering field. The system comprises of Teachers, students and infrastructure like laboratories/workshop/library and other facilities/amenities. Indirect institutions linked with this are AICTE, University etc. Indirect elements linked with this are parents, coaching classes and Industries. Let us take a general model of an above-average Institute having good repute in the past. What we observe there in the present moment. Let us jot down our observations point-wise.

1. Teachers : In such an organisation cum model we selected, either there is dearth of teachers i.e. large number of vacancies or there is a deficiency of good experienced, senior faculty. Out of the appointed teachers, many of them are not sincere. They are not duty-bound. They are paid good salary as compared to that paid couple of decades back. But still they fail in delivering goods. They, however, generate the record cum documented weightage proofs efficiently so that they can prove at any moment time that they were punctual, regular and sincere in their duty. Their records are so nicely articulated that they will be ranked as number one amongst all the teachers of the Institute. They go to the extent of even managing the feedback from the students to the highest level. These teachers use the efforts on optimum level in teaching and examination level. They avoid to become extremist who fail the students unnecessarily or who gave very high marks to the students. In Autonomous Institutes these teachers play a very predominant role. Selective Teaching and Selective questions in question-paper. Loose and safe assessment. Such teachers always take efforts to be in lime-light. They get involved in publicity-type non-academic activities. They refrain from the duties under the cover of administrative duties assigned to them or under the act of pestering the authorities. They impress the Authorities for their political, social acquaintances and their inevitability in the smooth running of the Institute. Sometimes these teachers expose their nuisance power also, to generate the fear in the minds of the Authorities and make their position shaky. In all what we see that academics takes a back seat in the minds of the teachers or teaching community.

2. Students : Students in this model Institute enter with some dream in their minds. But slowly the dream gets shattered. They realise that they are not getting the knowledge upto the mark. They become nervous. But they find out an alternative. They don't grumble about the defaulting teachers and the inefficient teaching. They join outside coaching classes. No sooner the urge of gaining the knowledge dies down in these classes. However during all these efforts, they appear for the examination. The results declared make them happy. They are happy because the marks are good as compared to the knowledge gained by them during the term. First they conclude that the assessment is loose or liberal. But as days pass, people inquire about their marks/result and they receive their response, they start feeling that they have acquired knowledge which is equivalent to their marks/result. Once his phase is over, they also optimise their efforts and learn a safe and fast method of clearing the examinations. They forget the knowledge part. They concentrate on the technique of appearing for and clearing the examination. And their results they correlate to the knowledge acquired. Hence Rank 1 student stars assuming that his acquiring knowledge gained is 100%. The students in the Autonomous college prefer to adopt still simple method. They do not feel to join outside coaching classes, knowing fully that this will not be of any help to them as every thing including rank and grade is in the hands of internal teachers only. So they give highest priority to remain in the good books of the Internal Teachers. For them the teachers become God. They accept from the teachers what they get and forget about its quality or quantity. They become perfect professional. They appease the teachers rather than approaching for clearing their academic . They shut their logical eye in the class rooms and accept without understanding what is delivered to them in the classrooms. They wholeheartedly remember every single word given in the class. Rather than self-study, they believe more on the notes given. No text books, no aspiration for knowledge, no curiosity for knowledge-gain, no initiative, no discussions and debate, no self-thinking. This becomes the path of least resistance to them. And they have a proven faith that this is the way to fetch success.

3. Infrastructure : It does not matter now as students are oriented to the system i.e. acclimatisation. The students will never grumble about poor infra-structure. The system does not permit them to complain against the deficiencies. And it has got nothing to do with the Examination System. Teachers also do not bother. Because this is of no use. They fail to establish the contact between theory and practical, the real knowledge through the books, the innovative ideas through the projects etc.

4. Parents : Parents have only one outlook i.e. they will provide money for additional facilities asked for by their ward. They don't have time if both of them are intelligent and well educated and hence busy in their highly paid jobs and responsibilities. They will not fail to provide facilities like computer, net, classes, tuitions, guides etc. They are the ideal facilitators. They will get contented by the good results and will curse them for the bad results. They will feel that they have their duty well as facilitators. They forget their role of parent. They are always worried about their prestige in the outer circle. They work as a bank for their children. ATMs, that is all.If the parents are not well educated, they will prefer to keep mum under their inferiority complex. They will curse the system rather than their wards. In every sense, whether educated or non-educated, the parents' worlds are totally separate that those of their children.

5. Industry : The people from Industry recruit the graduate students as per their requirement and not on the basis of their absolute potential. They know exactly what is the raw material and the process to groom as a product what the company requires. They fully understand the hollowness of the students as far as the quality of education in concerned and as far as other personality-skills are required.

6. Society at large is dormant.

So we see the real picture like this. Now the question occurs in our mind, whether the system is stable or unstable. Academic Answer will say immediately that is inefficient and highly unstable. But in reality the system looks like a perfectly stable system. Why so? Answer is every element is happy about the system. Let us see how !

Students are happy as they get the good marks/rank for very less efforts. Teachers are happy as they get their salary for very less efforts. Parents are happy as their wards are scoring high proving the efforts of the parents as fruitful. Parents are happy as their repute in the outer world is raised. College Authorities are happy as the college results are in time and very good. They immediately conclude that this is because of the high standard of academics prevailing in the College for which they are solely responsible. Coaching class owners are happy to generate large revenue in the minimal time. Industry is happy as they are getting cheap labour from these graduates. Society is happy as the repute of their constituents is raised. And as such as all the elements are happy, the system is felt fully stable. Every element shares the credit for this amazing thing.

Do you agree?

Are Intellictuals Cowards?

Dear Friends

We are facing many problems in day-to-day life. Problems might be of different kind. Personal, family-level, Institutional, Company-level, Social, National and so on. The response or reaction to these problems, common to all, vary with the section, especially educational-level.

Uneducated people react or respond in more or less in an intense manner. Many a time s they come together to address the problem faced by them. They are ready to act on the problem for resolving. They can go the extent of sacrificing everything what they have, money, energy, physical efforts, family, property etc. Once they decide to resist the problem, their act follows in the devotional manner. Intellect nearly stops at that point. This can be described as they fight against the problem in a 'tooth and nail' fashion. They face the problem courageously.

While if we see the similar response of the Educated, Intellectual people, when the nature of the problem is same, our conclusion is shocking. First thing this intellectual entity does it he starts assuming or thinking that the problem does not exist. If he cant do that he starts thinking that the problem is there but not for me , it is for others. After this stage is also over and once he starts thinking that it is his own problem even, then he thinks that what others are doing. And if others' efforts can fetch the expected solution or results, I will also get the benefit. So he/she tries to avoid to participate in joint action. Or else he participates but in a safe way. For example, he/she gives mute consent, gives signature, gives frank opinion orally but in confidence, talks loudly in family or with unrelated friends, blames others who are fighting for the cause or sometimes/ same time who are against the fighting. He/she avoids to give even a logically correct opinion with reference to the problem. He exposes himself in the most mysterious way so that no one can conclude on which side he is telling something. Ramaay Swasti, Raavanaay Swasti. He uses all his intellect to safe-guard his job, name, fame, reputation, wealth, property etc. He does not wish to take any risk. He wont participate in any open movement. But will use intellect to prove how he is correct and all others are at fault. How he is the only rational, intelligent person out of all. He will try to break the unity of the fighting people. He can talk to both the sides with equal zeal and competence, protecting his self-benefits. If any movement fails, he will be the first person to publically declare that he was telling everybody that this move will not work. If the movement yields success he will roar like a lion and project himself as if he was the only visionary to suggest and conduct that movement to its logical end. He will use his vocabulary to describe his sacrifice, his dedication, his courage and boldness, his total involvement in the most impressive manner. He will try to suppress his exactly opposite behaviour during his talks and speeches, public and private.

Why this difference exists between the behaviour of uneducated people and so-called educated/intellectual people? Do you at least agree to my observation? Is the social system responsible for this? Is the educational system makes them Coward? Does the degree, wealth makes them condensed/narrow minded in their thought process? Is the selfishness directly proportion to the educational degrees they obtain? Is it the aim of the present education system to produce slaves or slave minded professionals. Is the examination system snatches from them Nirbhayata/Boldness or forces them to become horizontal throughout their life? Is it the pressure of the parents or family that forces them only to look after their studies when they are students and nothing else? You look after yourself only, why you are bothered about others? Is this slogan is literally followed in almost all the families? Competitions everywhere, right from admissions to employment is heavy. Is it responsible for the mentality of Parents and Their Wards? Is the present teaching-learning process is totally ineffective to develop or inculcate the basic qualities like 'Fight against any injustice?', 'Resist the unjust', 'Nirbhay Bano', 'Fight for the Right' etc? Are Teachers unaware that they are responsible for this type of development of the students as well? Are Social and political leaders a shear failure to inculcate such qualities in the youngsters or intellectuals through their own Ideal life?

When one will go for the answers he has to apply the same yardstick for both the categories, uneducated and educated. If one logic works for one group, it should be logically true for other group as well.

Another thing which one may consider is that if we see the prehistorical days of our Nation, the leadership, a very influential and powerful leadership, of the nation was in the hands of highly intellectual people who sacrificed everything for the freedom of Our Nation. Some were reputed Barristers, some were IAS/ICS officers, Some were Teachers in reputed Universities, Some were Educationists, Mathematicians to the level of Ranglers, Engineers and Scientists of High profile. Then where from all the courageous qualities emerged at that time? This study will also help you all to arrive to the right analysis and conclusion.

Will you please help me to arrive to a correct conclusion?

SNN

Ideas about self !

Priy Vachak-Varg

One important thought occurs to our mind frequently. How to describe ourselves. A really difficult question and still difficult answer.

On the very first day of my Final Year Class, I asked my students to write about themselves. What they are? What they were when they passed HSC with good marks and got entry into the prestigious Institute and What is the change in them after nearly 4 years? I also told them that this is to be written in their own words as the information was pertaining to themselves. I further told them that this was not to be shown to anybody. Hence there was no possibility of fear to write true things and there was no possibility of mass-copy. This was to be kept confidential to themselves, not even to be disclosed to me also, as their teacher. But for first five minutes nobody wrote a single word. All pens were in air. I asked the difficulties for not writing. No answer. Class remained silent. I told the class that this was their own self-analysis to be done by them and that too for themselves only. After 10 minutes students gathered courage to scribble something in their note-book. Many started looking into their neighbor's notebook. I announced immediately that this is not fair as you cant analyse yourselves on the basis of your neighbor's analysis. The class took nearly 15-20 minutes to write about themselves. After inquiry I found that max lines written by the students did not exceed 10 lines.

I knew that this question is difficult for everybody including yogi. But I did not ask the students the spiritual inquiry or answer to 'who I am?' . I felt that my question was regarding the attributes or skills developed in last 4 years. But still students, at large failed to write even 10 lines. I started thinking for the reasons. I was restless. out of the thought process many reasons flashed before me.

First reason was the present Education System. This system did not train them to think about themselves. The students learnt dependability on Teaching/teachers, books, friends, question-answer type guides, coaching classes, class-notes, net downloads to find out answer to any question, technical or otherwise. If, for example, they got stuck to solve a difficult sum/assignment, they will immediately approach the teacher, or the friend or search for the guide/text-book or net etc for ready-made solution. They are impatient for hours and days and nights. But they will not think of spending few minutes relying on their own thinking process. Friend is always right, in fact, everybody else other than him is always right than himself. This is the slogan for them, though hidden within. Throughout these many years (from KG to HSC) they are trained by the system to rely on these tools only, external to them. However, all these tools really fail when the question regarding themselves needs to be answered. Because this question never occurred to them. To write Bio-Data or Resume is simple, as they are to be written regarding achievements, where evidences are present with them in term of the documents and certificates., mark-sheets and awards. But what documents will helpful to them for answering this question. So one reason is the present Education System which made them handicapped for describing what they are in reality. So the answer became difficult for them.

But is this correct?

Whenever any person why alone student talks freely to his colleague, a large proportion of the dialogues is devoted for describing what he is. 'I am like this, I am like that', 'I cant tolerate that', 'I am of this type','I scolded him, as I got heavy reaction', my nature is like that', 'I', 'I','me','mine','my','myself'. In a day, if a everything is well recorded what that person talks to others, more than 70 % is regarding his own-self, his nature, his habits, likes-dislikes, his identity etc. Then where-from he describes all this about himself? When did he find time to analyse himself? Who trained him to say so many things about himself?

Hence the situation or the right reason looks more difficult? Can we try to write about ourselves few lines? When we can describe any other external thing/person/act, which is external to us in number of lines or pages or essays, why cant we write few lines about ourselves? Is honesty and transparent analysis, though perfectly confidential to ourselves, are the barriers? Are we afraid to establish a good rapport with ourselves? Is the real friendship with one-self is totally impossible? We are very free to our close friends. Is it impossible to establish the friendship with one-self? Let us think over it, taking a leisure time, few minutes, few hours, few days!

Your comments are always welcome!

Feer Milenge!

SNN

Namaskar!

Saprem Namaskar!

Blog-Udghatan!

I got an opportunity to express my thoughts on various socio-cultural issues. I can share with many people known or unknown to me!

Today being the first day of using the blog I wish to write few thoughts occurring in my mind for many number of years.

I believe that everything in this world happens by design and not haphazardly. We may not be knowing. Its a continuous band, we can read a tiny fraction of it and that too depending upon our capability. We are sent on this planet earth for a definite purpose. In a routine activities and busy schedule we don't find time to search for this aim. But the aim still exists. The Supreme Power has given us the necessary tools, skills and qualities to travel towards the aim of our life. But because we don't travel to the aim, we don't feel of this possession. When we travel towards the objective , we have to face many hurdles, unseen difficulties, we have to face many challenges. If without turning our back, we decide to continue to travel in the same path, these qualities and skills, hidden within us, do get exposed and manifest to help us. They provide confidence and energy to overcome the obstacles. Thus the difficulties and hurdles become the boon for us and not curse. In addition these qualities gives us qualitative and continuous stream of pleasure. In fact, experience of this Divine pleasure assures us that we are on the right track. It inspires us to proceed on our path. This is called in real sense as JEEVIKA. Whatever we do for daily life is called as UPJEEVIKA. It gives us money and material benefits and not the inner quality-pleasure. Both the types of pleasures are must. However we generally get drowned in the pleasure given by UPJEEVIKA throughout our life. We remain thirsty of pleasure given by the inner wealth. In my view point to get this pleasure of real JEEVIKA is the spirituality. One of the many ways is to do our own duty as worship to the Supreme Power.

'AGAA JAYAA JE VIHIT KARMA, TE ISHVARAACHE MANOGAT' said by Sant Dnyaneshvar Mauli.

Suresh Nakhare, VJTI